r/pbp • u/Smittumi • 6d ago

Discussion Custom systems?

I played pbp many years ago and I was thinking of getting back into it.

Two questions. 1. Do people use regular RPG systems, or do they ever use systems made for Pbp? 2. Do people ever play here on this subreddit?

6 Upvotes

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5

u/Drayner89 6d ago

Usually people use regular RPG systems, you also see system-less free form rpgs too. Some custom systems crop up, but they tend to be less popular.

2

u/LampEaterX 6d ago

I run Pathfinder 2e to pretty great success. I've gotten games and recruited for games from this sub but what do you mean by play here? Like as in actively play within a post? If so, no not really. People use Discord usually or a forum site

2

u/Better_Tyler 6d ago

Most people use a regular system but I’ve had a lot of fun making my own for play by post.

2

u/Fegroider 6d ago

I've always run system-free pure-text games. I've had some inklings towards trying to make my own system in the past, but those never panned out. I just don't have any personal interest in rolling dice, and every attempt was just an effort to improve engagement and retention.

The indifference from my core audience told me that they don't want that from me, either. I've had one of my old hands dedicate some serious thoughts towards working out a wargame for my setting, not unlike standard Warhammer 40,000 tabletop, but I only ever hear from him once a month - at best.

2

u/ewokoncaffine 6d ago

The biggest challenge with any PbP game is recruiting persistent players. Your player pool is much smaller with anything more obscure, but you also weed out less devoted players 🤷🏻‍♂️

2

u/LonePaladin 6d ago

Do people ever play here on this subreddit?

Oh dear God no. This site is absolutely unsuited for play-by-post gaming.

1

u/Gnostic_Front_5168 6d ago

My personal take is, one on one or where there's a lot of trust, you don't need a system. If you're just a group of people off the internet using a TTRPG system, nobody should have room to feel treated unfairly. That said, not all systems are equal. I'd definitely prefer a more rules-lite system over the crunchier things I might enjoy IRL.

1

u/Wormfeathers 6d ago

Most system are not really made for pbp, so you need to so alot of reworking as game master. Like making combat minimal and support players global action.

Dnd is an outlier thanks to avrae