"In game" message board. [Archive] - Wizards Community

"In game" message board. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
StMage
10-26-05, 12:35 PM What are your ideas for posts on an "in-game" message board. My idea is for the PCs to approach a cork board in the local town ( I may even provide the actual prop board and notes) and read posts that state job offers, or help needed, etc. = ideas for new adventures. Any level is fine, my players are smart enough to stay away from too difficult of a chalenge, until they are ready to handle it. I'm just tryin to generate ideas. Thanks in advance.
prettyripples
10-26-05, 12:55 PM - Guard needed for sheep at night
(they're being killed)

- Escort needed for trade caravan

- Will pay 1,000gp for rare spell components

- Cleric wanted, for Exorcism

- FREE! Longsword and a 20oz steak for the winner of the Four Firs Fisticuffs Tourney!

- OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Please would all villagers remove their notices once their quest has been completed.

- Need protection from assassins.

- Can you throw a large rock 30 ft? Can you wrestle an owlbear bare-handed? And if you think you're really tough... can you make it through The Chasm alive?! Bill Trundle has bet 600gp that no-one can do it - but hurry! The bet's only on for a month!
OctoberRaven
10-26-05, 01:19 PM -If you can read this, you're not a barbarian. :D
Red_Ninja
10-26-05, 01:59 PM I have done this in the game I'm currently running. The board is called "The Post"- it was erected by the lords of the city to help maintain the adveture based economy of the city.

The trick to this is... lots of preparation. You never know which adventure (maybe not even on the board) your PCs will take, so you need to be ready for each mission. Also, it helps to have rival NPC adventuring parties accomplish missions (and level up) that the PCs turn down in favor of other missions... that way if the PCs chase the red dragon, another group of adventurers may (say 70%) try to save the damsel from the lich... these other adventurers could be defeated, captured (and need to be rescued), or victorious...

It works great in my game, and since my PCs are borderline evil, they'll eventually get fed up with these rival groups and we'll have crazy show downs!
Fharlang
10-26-05, 07:26 PM I do the same thing only I use rumors for all the adventures available, as the party levels the lower level adventures are completed and new adventures are added. I currently have 12 different adventures available for them to choose from. It works well, as they can decide what interests them the most, so they are likely to complete the adventure. :)
psionichamster
10-26-05, 07:42 PM -killer scorpions sighted. 5 (or 50) gp/ tail. see farmer Bob

-down on your luck, check out Iguana Bob's Lizard-on-a-Stick. guaranteed NOT to be people. (note: it's people)

-wanted: 1-5 hearty souls with a taste for adventure. must have strong stomache, and excitement for the unknown. see Alchemist Eddy

-lost: one princess. 5'7" tall, blonde hair, green eyes. last seen wearing a taffetta dress w/ a pointy triangle hat, being carried off by a red dragon. for more details, see King Phillip. (note: not responsible for loss of life or limb associated w/ this message)

-BOUNTIES. bounties galore. even better: bounties on party members. make it worth enough, and you'll have even the palading having 2nd thoughts.

-UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU. join the military, see strange new things, experience exotic locales, contract malaria, eat bad food, and kill every living thing in your path. see Recruiter Waldo.

(fetch-it quests are cool, too. especially if the hirer has some ulterior motives in mind. perhaps this first job is a simple test of the waters.)

namaste'
the hamster
Andron
10-27-05, 12:52 PM I use the online message board that I set up for my group for multiple purposes. I have the town and area map posted. PC's have also posted their character's pic and brief outlines. There is a place for important personages, history, and legends. The PC's also post their character's journal notes. I'll also post things that happen between adventures. (Currently there is a trial happening and I don't want to waste time during the game, so I'm posting the highlights online.) Hooks can be done through what they hear at the tavern, about town, or if an npc contacts them. I've never actually had a particular place where the PC's could go to read about potential jobs/adventures. (They seem to get themselves into enough issues where I haven't had to do this.) If I did something like that, I would have postings at the Captain of the Watch's office, the main governmental building, and at the different guilds. I also use the board as a general OOG post for reminders for when and where the game is being held, or at a last minute communication. There is a list of all the PC's and the DM's contact information so people can get a hold of eachother individually or as a group if needed. (This is great for DM/Rogue exchanges) I can also make up polls, so I have taken advantage of that, to get an idea of what the players may want to do next. The board also gets a lot of OOG use, which I don't mind. If needed, there is also a chat room where we could all meet, but I hyave never used it for anything. This is the second year that we have used the board and it works great for us all.
Bartleby_GoC
10-27-05, 01:20 PM -wanted for peepel to help me cleen up sum truble inn mi bace - bayse - basemint. kep everthing you find as pamint. cee fred the blaksmith after sundowne

-Wanted: Tutor and bodyguard for young girl. Paladins, ladies, and eunich only.

-I am looking for my brother. He left town two weeks ago after taking a job from this post. If you've seen him, please let me know. Jeb Cartwright, REWARD

-If anyone can assist me in retrieving the body of my brother and his belongings, please contact me, Jeb Cartwright, REWARD

-For sale, Slightly used chain shirt, large wooden shield, and good quality sword. 25 gold crowns. See Jeb Cartwright
olshanski_home
10-27-05, 02:16 PM Nice Bartleby.

I prefer to have town criers do the work rather than having a post-it board.
I think the criers add a little more flavor.

However, in reality, the D&D world has a nearly 100% literacy rate (excepting single-class barbarians), and therefore having things in writing makes more sense from a D&D realism standpoint.
Bartleby_GoC
10-27-05, 03:02 PM However, the D&D world has a nearly 100% literacy rate (excepting single-class barbarians), and therefore having things in writing makes more sense from a D&D realism standpoint.
And that's another gripe alltogether. My solution was to make Literacy like a language (1pt is all it needs) and list it as in-class or out-of-class depending on where the PC is from. No one is automatically literate. Half a rank gives semi-literacy (like Fred the blacksmith).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
StMage 10-26-05, 12:35 PM	What are your ideas for posts on an "in-game" message board. My idea is for the PCs to approach a cork board in the local town ( I may even provide the actual prop board and notes) and read posts that state job offers, or help needed, etc. = ideas for new adventures. Any level is fine, my players are smart enough to stay away from too difficult of a chalenge, until they are ready to handle it. I'm just tryin to generate ideas. Thanks in advance.
prettyripples 10-26-05, 12:55 PM	- Guard needed for sheep at night (they're being killed) - Escort needed for trade caravan - Will pay 1,000gp for rare spell components - Cleric wanted, for Exorcism - FREE! Longsword and a 20oz steak for the winner of the Four Firs Fisticuffs Tourney! - OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Please would all villagers remove their notices once their quest has been completed. - Need protection from assassins. - Can you throw a large rock 30 ft? Can you wrestle an owlbear bare-handed? And if you think you're really tough... can you make it through The Chasm alive?! Bill Trundle has bet 600gp that no-one can do it - but hurry! The bet's only on for a month!
OctoberRaven 10-26-05, 01:19 PM	-If you can read this, you're not a barbarian. :D
Red_Ninja 10-26-05, 01:59 PM	I have done this in the game I'm currently running. The board is called "The Post"- it was erected by the lords of the city to help maintain the adveture based economy of the city. The trick to this is... lots of preparation. You never know which adventure (maybe not even on the board) your PCs will take, so you need to be ready for each mission. Also, it helps to have rival NPC adventuring parties accomplish missions (and level up) that the PCs turn down in favor of other missions... that way if the PCs chase the red dragon, another group of adventurers may (say 70%) try to save the damsel from the lich... these other adventurers could be defeated, captured (and need to be rescued), or victorious... It works great in my game, and since my PCs are borderline evil, they'll eventually get fed up with these rival groups and we'll have crazy show downs!
Fharlang 10-26-05, 07:26 PM	I do the same thing only I use rumors for all the adventures available, as the party levels the lower level adventures are completed and new adventures are added. I currently have 12 different adventures available for them to choose from. It works well, as they can decide what interests them the most, so they are likely to complete the adventure. :)
psionichamster 10-26-05, 07:42 PM	-killer scorpions sighted. 5 (or 50) gp/ tail. see farmer Bob -down on your luck, check out Iguana Bob's Lizard-on-a-Stick. guaranteed NOT to be people. (note: it's people) -wanted: 1-5 hearty souls with a taste for adventure. must have strong stomache, and excitement for the unknown. see Alchemist Eddy -lost: one princess. 5'7" tall, blonde hair, green eyes. last seen wearing a taffetta dress w/ a pointy triangle hat, being carried off by a red dragon. for more details, see King Phillip. (note: not responsible for loss of life or limb associated w/ this message) -BOUNTIES. bounties galore. even better: bounties on party members. make it worth enough, and you'll have even the palading having 2nd thoughts. -UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU. join the military, see strange new things, experience exotic locales, contract malaria, eat bad food, and kill every living thing in your path. see Recruiter Waldo. (fetch-it quests are cool, too. especially if the hirer has some ulterior motives in mind. perhaps this first job is a simple test of the waters.) namaste' the hamster
Andron 10-27-05, 12:52 PM	I use the online message board that I set up for my group for multiple purposes. I have the town and area map posted. PC's have also posted their character's pic and brief outlines. There is a place for important personages, history, and legends. The PC's also post their character's journal notes. I'll also post things that happen between adventures. (Currently there is a trial happening and I don't want to waste time during the game, so I'm posting the highlights online.) Hooks can be done through what they hear at the tavern, about town, or if an npc contacts them. I've never actually had a particular place where the PC's could go to read about potential jobs/adventures. (They seem to get themselves into enough issues where I haven't had to do this.) If I did something like that, I would have postings at the Captain of the Watch's office, the main governmental building, and at the different guilds. I also use the board as a general OOG post for reminders for when and where the game is being held, or at a last minute communication. There is a list of all the PC's and the DM's contact information so people can get a hold of eachother individually or as a group if needed. (This is great for DM/Rogue exchanges) I can also make up polls, so I have taken advantage of that, to get an idea of what the players may want to do next. The board also gets a lot of OOG use, which I don't mind. If needed, there is also a chat room where we could all meet, but I hyave never used it for anything. This is the second year that we have used the board and it works great for us all.
Bartleby_GoC 10-27-05, 01:20 PM	-wanted for peepel to help me cleen up sum truble inn mi bace - bayse - basemint. kep everthing you find as pamint. cee fred the blaksmith after sundowne -Wanted: Tutor and bodyguard for young girl. Paladins, ladies, and eunich only. -I am looking for my brother. He left town two weeks ago after taking a job from this post. If you've seen him, please let me know. Jeb Cartwright, REWARD -If anyone can assist me in retrieving the body of my brother and his belongings, please contact me, Jeb Cartwright, REWARD -For sale, Slightly used chain shirt, large wooden shield, and good quality sword. 25 gold crowns. See Jeb Cartwright
olshanski_home 10-27-05, 02:16 PM	Nice Bartleby. I prefer to have town criers do the work rather than having a post-it board. I think the criers add a little more flavor. However, in reality, the D&D world has a nearly 100% literacy rate (excepting single-class barbarians), and therefore having things in writing makes more sense from a D&D realism standpoint.
Bartleby_GoC 10-27-05, 03:02 PM	However, the D&D world has a nearly 100% literacy rate (excepting single-class barbarians), and therefore having things in writing makes more sense from a D&D realism standpoint. And that's another gripe alltogether. My solution was to make Literacy like a language (1pt is all it needs) and list it as in-class or out-of-class depending on where the PC is from. No one is automatically literate. Half a rank gives semi-literacy (like Fred the blacksmith).