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Jim's DragonQuest Campaign: PBEM Tips for Players

From the GM's perspective, here are my tips for players when they're writing their turns.

In a nutshell, I need specifics, and I need to hear your contingency plans. Whenever I read your message, my fundamental questions are:

• What is this character going to do?
• When? (if you don't say when, I'll usually assume "now")
• How? (if you don't say how, I'll assume the simplest, most obvious manner, if there is a simple and obvious way to do it)
• How far can I take the next turn before I need more input from the players?

With those questions in mind...

State your character's exact words and actions as much as possible.

If your character has something to say to another character, it's best to quote your character's exact words. Unless you tell me otherwise, I'll usually assume your character is speaking British in a normal speaking voice, without regard for who might be standing nearby.

If your character is going take action, describe when your character will do the action, and how your character will go about carrying out the action.

A "should" is just a suggestion to other characters, not an action.

If you say what "we" should do, or what some other character should do, then your character is simply making a statement to other characters. That's a perfectly good and normal part of the process, but it's still up to the other characters to decide whether, when, and how to respond to the suggestion.

Respond to suggestions from other characters.

If another character suggests what you should do, state what your character will say or do in response (also including when and how). If I don't hear from you, eventually I'll have to guess whether, when, and how your character will go along with the suggestion, but it's best if I hear it from you directly.

Remember to describe how your character will go about the action.

For example, saying your character will "search the area" doesn't tell me much. Where are you going to search? How will you go about the search? What are you looking for? How long will you search before you give up? What are you going to do if you find what you're searching for?

Another example: Saying only that your character will send a message to another character doesn't tell me much. What will the message say (specifically)? How will you get the message to the other character? When will it be sent? Do you want the messenger to report back to you? How or where will the messenger find you?

Plan for contingencies.

Include some if/then/else statements, if your character's actions might have variable results. What if the action fails?

For open-ended actions, state the conditions that would make your character do something different. For example, if your character is waiting for the arrival of another character, how long will your character wait? What will your character do if the other character arrives, or if the other character fails to appear in time?

Plan ahead.

It's all too easy to look ahead just a few moments, but that doesn't let me take the next turn very far forward. For example, "I'll rejoin the others" doesn't tell me what you'll say or do when you rejoin the others.

Leaders, speak for the other players as needed.

If your character is a leader over other characters, remember to review whether you need to state actions for those other characters.