If you’ve just joined a new game, you’re probably raring to go. There are new players to meet, a bunch of in-game settings to explore, new characters to play with and so much stuff to do! What now?

A good place to start is introducing your character to the game, but where should you start? There are a lot of exciting scenes happening. There’s a character yours might like to get to know over here, but there’s interesting interaction going on in another. Then there’s that section of town you want to explore – the one all the locals warned to stay away from…

The next thing you know, you’re flitting in and out of scenes as if you’re tasting a buffet.

Time Out

In a tabletop game session, you may have only a couple of hours in which you and your group have to get as much done as possible. Then it’s a week’s worth of time off until the next session.

One of the joys of play-by-post role-playing games is that there isn’t a time limit involved to restrict exploration. With online rpg games, action is happening 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

New players who aren’t used to this type of gaming tend to rush their scenes. They start a new topic or enter one already in play, whip through an encounter, and whiz back out again. That leaves the rest of the players wondering what happened.

How to Get the Most Out Of Your Scene

Scenes are meant to be savored. Each is a mini-story in itself. There is a premise, an introduction, the build-up, the climax and the denouement, then action slows during transition to the next scene. Skip over one of these elements or move through them too quickly and the scene falls flat. It leaves players with an empty, unsatisfied feeling.

To avoid that problem, here are a few tips to get as much as you can from a scene:

• Have a purpose. What does your character want to explore? Whether it’s the old ruins in The Forbidden Zone or a personal emotional issue, have a clear goal in mind when you begin a scene. You may not reach that goal and the scene may take you in a new direction, but that clear start helps you focus. If you involve another character in that scene, you’re acting like your own Storyteller for the moment. You know where you want to go, so take action and lead the scene.
• Interact with NPCs. NPC characters are there to add some flavor to scenes. They’re extras, bit parts. But be careful not to dismiss NPCs quickly. If you ask a question of one, give the NPC the opportunity to respond. The result may be predictable, but very often, the scene could take off in one of several different directions, depending on what the Storyteller has in mind. Sure, the cashier in the convenience store could give your character change right away and your character might be off on his merry way soon enough, but what if that cashier decided to be a jerk? What if she said something important? What if she could answer a question? Unless the Storyteller implies there’s nothing more to happen in the scene, don’t move on too quickly.
• Avoid abrupt transitions. Nothing is more jarring to other players than a character that suddenly leaves a scene for no apparent reason. If your character is in the middle of a conversation or waiting on an answer, give players a reasonable amount of time to respond. Don’t have your character pose a question and then walk out the door in the same post. Wait for a response, and then move on.
• Explore possibilities. Use a scene to its fullest potential. Explore every virtual nook and cranny available, open a few cans of worms, or stir the pot for conflict. What your character does or learns now affects what happens next.
• Speak up. Share some internal thoughts from your character with other players. Use dialogue. Unless your character speaks up, no one else can react to what’s going on in your character’s mind unless an action gives a clue.

Writing in a play-by-post online rpg game is like playing a game of chess. Chess takes time and consideration. All angles are considered before a move is made. Quite often, players are thinking ahead, sometimes two or three moves in advance.

Players are also trying to outthink each other. Sometimes they can guess or even predict what the other player does next, but plenty of surprises still happen. Find the surprises, savor the scene and take the time to slow down before moving on.