>Jim,
>
>Could you fill us in on the game mechanics a little more?

I guess you mean the PBEM mechanics.
1) I'd send a description of the situation to the players. I'd usually
send the same thing to all of you. I'd name some deadline date for your 
responses. How does two weeks sound?
2) You would send e-mail back and forth to each other to decide what 
to do -- assuming your characters are able to communicate. You could
also send me clarifying questions or rules interpretation questions.
3) Eventually (hopefully within the time limit), you'd each send me 
(and each other) your character's "official" instructions. For some 
situations, you'd also have to offer some alternatives ("I'll try to 
sneak quietly to the south behind Wombat. If the orcs spot us, ...").
If you guys want to use an honor system for die rolling, you could also
include things like "I rolled a 29 for my Stealth check" for rolls
you figure your character will have to make. If we start adding relative
strangers to the game, or if you'd rather have the game feel more like
role-playing and less like dice-rolling, I'd handle all the rolls.
4) When the deadline rolls around, I'll see if I'm missing instructions
for any characters. For them, I'll either have them do what they usually 
do in the situation if it's obvious, or I'll have them take some minor 
action just to stay with the group and defend themselves.
5) I'd determine the results, rolling all the dice except where you've 
provided some relevant rolls.
6) This puts me back at step 1 to tell you what happened and to describe
the new situation.

For combat, I'd want to avoid taking weeks to handle each 5-second round.
Instead, I'd rather resolve as much of the combat as possible before I 
have to go back to the players for responses. It would probably be useful 
if you provided some default instructions for each weapon and spell you 
might use. ("I prefer to use my broadsword and shield. I'll always Evade 
unless three combat rounds go by without anyone taking a swing; then I'll 
attack. I'll signal the retreat for the party when anyone is down to 7 EN or 
less.") You could always override your standard instructions in selected 
cases.

Jim