Best Venue for Online RPG?

[mactavish]

What is the best method (in your opinions) for running a role-playing game on the Internet?

Are there software packages for this? Do people prefer instant messaging or IRC?

I ask because I want to run an online Star Trek game, but I don't want to do it forum-style. I want active participation by remote players. I want to schedule sessions and then get together online and play.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks.

mactavish out.

[Lt Cmdr Matt]

Okay lets see if I can help you out.

I have played almost exclusively online. For trek and D&D.

IN the past I have used AOL and MSN Instant messengers for chat based games. I like both. AOL and MSN have about the same features just named different things.

I have not used IRC but it would not be difficult to do as it provides the same features as the others except without the frills like different color fonts.

When I would narrate and play different NPCs I would change my color font to show that it was someone else. For the Romulan Captain I used Green, Klingon Redm Federation, Blue. etc..

All three work well. Hope that helps.

[Don Mappin]

Ack! I wrote an article sometime back about this but darn if I know where it is.

The short version: Online preference for me is IRC, either on a locked channel or on a private IRC server. Then you can use different channels as rooms. There are dice bots to faciliate the rolling of dice. I've been in a few IRC games and, if everyone is a good typist (important!) and comfortable with the medium, the experience can be awesome. Had some great times.

A peer-to-peer service such as ICQ or AIM with basic chat room functionality is a close second, in my mind.

I dislike 3rd party Java programs (or Python) like WebRPG or some of the others. I found them to be buggy, slow, and unreliable. Worse, to use any of their "advanced" features you usually have to pay for them. (GRiP)

Let me know what you put together mac, I might be interested.

[Capt. K. Vaughn]

I prefer PBEMs first, Forum-based Games second, IRC third, and IM programs last.

I have run a number of the first two over the years and must admit to having quite a bit of fun in the third as a player.
************************************************
"Now where'd that counselor of mine, Lieutenant Peri Sernia, get off to?" *grin*

Regards,
CKV.

[Grutos]

Due to connexion speed (56K), I normally stick with text based - like Jedi-Mud or Genocide. Although, a lot of my friends with broadband really like Ever-Quest and similar on-line PC based games.

[T'lara]

Well another Roleplaying company uses a program known as DigiChat using Volunteer Storytellers that monitor a large metagame played by the players using a program called DigiChat.
Many of the players have since started their own DigiChat games with the company's permission. Infact this is really popular for the company. I was one of their first DigiChat Storytellers and have seen this grow for the past 3 years.

You can find the program at:
www.digichat.com

There is a free version but it does not support a large group however you can have Icons created for players. Yes, it costs money alot of people have found sponserships to pay for this.

[MightyCthulhu]

Has anyone used
Open RPG ?

[Alathriel]

I've been using OpenRPG for over 6 months now, in regular weekly gaming sessions for D&D. Besides a few bugs here and there, it is 95% reliable. I love it! (and i'm always looking for a LOTR game on there)

[MightyCthulhu]

Originally posted by Alathriel
I've been using OpenRPG for over 6 months now, in regular weekly gaming sessions for D&D. Besides a few bugs here and there, it is 95% reliable. I love it! (and i'm always looking for a LOTR game on there)

I'm up for an OpenRPG game. I think I could be available once a week, Mon Tue Wed or Thur after 9PM eastern-daylight time.

I would like to play a PC but would consider running a short adventure.

PS: Where else do you look to schedule an OpenRPG LotR game besides here?

PPS:send me a private message if you want to set something up.