What's the best way to handle timed advantages in PBP games?

[awesomenessofme1]

I might be starting a play-by-post game soon and I was looking for advice on the best way to handle timed advantages like Luck. I'm looking for one of two things: a) a good system to make it work with the format or b) a suggestion on what a good frequency for the Game Time modifier is for a low-powered superhero game. I find the default 1 hr = 1 day, 1 session = 1 week to be too harsh.

[Aldric]

Always wanted to try, but never had the chance, so I have no idea what the pace is on these PbP games.

Not sure about 1 hr -> 1 day, but 1 session -> 1 week makes sense, as that's how often I usually play with my group.

[awesomenessofme1]

Originally Posted by Aldric

Always wanted to try, but never had the chance, so I have no idea what the pace is on these PbP games.

Not sure about 1 hr -> 1 day, but 1 session -> 1 week makes sense, as that's how often I usually play with my group.

Think you're conflating two different things. The 1 hour-1 day and 1 session-1 week is the default conversion if you want to switch it to in-game time, not out of game time on a different format.

[Aldric]

I thought that was the conversion you wanted to apply from playing at the same table to playing by post

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by awesomenessofme1

I'm looking for one of two things: a) a good system to make it work with the format . . .

I have not tried this, because I've done very little PbP, but converting "an hour of play time" to "a major scene, or two minor ones" might work. It motivates the players to keep moving things forwards, as opposed to slowing down the game.

[Daigoro]

You might try giving them tokens which refresh or expire at a certain rate. In a tabletop game you'd give them 5 tokens for a 5 hour session, for example, then you don't have to watch the clock. So calculate how many would be appropriate for a week or month of PBMing, and that's all they can use and they can't be carried over between cycles.

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by Aldric

Always wanted to try, but never had the chance, so I have no idea what the pace is on these PbP games.

Not sure about 1 hr -> 1 day, but 1 session -> 1 week makes sense, as that's how often I usually play with my group.

In my experience GURPS combat usually takes one hour per turn for 4-6 Players. It can go longer or shorter depending on the speed of the Players and the speed of the GM, but in general it's between 5-10 minutes per named Character (including NPCs) in the fight.

So for my online games I refresh hourly Abilities every turn or two and after every encounter (unless it feels like the encounter is going long and Hourlies where expended in the first 'half', I'm likely to refresh at a 'midpoint').

For per Session abilities, you have to have a feel for how long your sessions run. I probably get in four to six 'encounters' per session.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by johndallman

I have not tried this, because I've done very little PbP, but converting "an hour of play time" to "a major scene, or two minor ones" might work. It motivates the players to keep moving things forwards, as opposed to slowing down the game.

When I pbp (and I primarily pbp) I use scenes or other narrative blocks as a way of measuring time for luck and associated advantages.

The proper rate for replenishing luck in game time will depend on your game. If days pass quickly but important things happen each day, 1/day may be too generous. If the entire campaign goes down in an action-packed 48 hours, 1/hour may be too little.