Play by Post Heroscape

[Bothi]

Hello everyone, today I will be presenting you with some rules on how to play Heroscape IN THE FORUMS. Please wait while I spoil my inner turmoils...

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How is this not already happening? I mean, you have a forum PbP (play by post) area, and a guide on how to play Heroscape online! I don't know how many of you are familiar with the playground, but they host DOZENS of full-fledged DnD play by post games DAILY. If this is against the rules or something, or I have just missed it and can't find the PbP Heroscape, please let me know.

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I told you they were inner (the spoilers)

What you will need-
-PERMISSION TO START A MATCH.
-GIMP (and preferably some knowledge with it.)
-A map image. (The Heroskype maps are great and ready to roll, but any Virtualscape map taken at the same angle can work, as you don't need the numbers/letters.)
-A small image representing each of your figures.

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To get these images saved, zoom in to an appropriate level, open up the 'Snipping Tool' (comes on almost all windows OSs) and drag a small box around the image of your choice. You may also choose to get a picture from somewhere else and scale it down.

Setup-
-Once you find a match, start a thread... Something along the lines of "400P PbP-Bothi vs Joeshmo"
-Upload your figure images, and save your opponents pictures (the more PbP you play, the less you will have to save! (Because you will already have many usable images.)
-Both players roll the 20-sided die. Whoever rolls lowest must set up all of her figures first, and then the next player sets up hers.

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In GIMP, open the map. Then, for each figure, open a new layer for free movement. Next, place each of your figures in your starting zone, then go to FILE>EXPORT and save a JPG, BMP, or whatever. Upload this image and post it, explaining that you have placed your figures. DO NOT save your opponents uploads, just move there units on their layer to where they appear on the upload.

-Create a spoiler for each unit you are using. Must include a picture of the card, and the number of markers on it (ie; brown negation markers, grenade markers, wound markers...). You are (obviously) allowed to look at your enemy's spoilers.

Gameplay-

-Gameplay in PbP Heroscape is the exact same as in normal Heroscape, just remember that every turn you move a unit you must upload an image of the map. If you do not move (ie; you just attack, or pass the turn) your simply state so (ie; My Ne Gok Sa does not move, and attempts Mind Shackle on your Anubian Wolf) which would then be followed by a roll, etc.
-Rolls are nothing more than using the online die roller and stating your results. DO NOT LIE.
-Please, don't post in a match you are not competing in.

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Did I miss something?-

This section ought to be called "help me find what I messed up on"
I know I must have made mistakes somewhere, and if you find them, I will fix them quickly.

Happy 'Scapin!

[awesomeunleashed]

Yeah... That's cool and all, but why would you ever want to do it that way when the current system is both far more advanced and easier to use?

[Arch-vile]

Yeah, heroskype is a really great way to play (from what I've heard).

Why is this in the Contests and Forum Games section anyway?

[Onacara]

Originally Posted by Arch-vile

Why is this in the Contests and Forum Games section anyway?

Because he is proposing playing a GAME using the FORUMs...therefore...FORUM GAME

[caps]

Actually, this is a fairly clever way to play when you don't have time to sit down and play a whole game out. Generally speaking though, I like Heroskype better.

[Bothi]

Originally Posted by awesomeunleashed

Yeah... That's cool and all, but why would you ever want to do it that way when the current system is both far more advanced and easier to use?

This ^ is an opinion.

1-Time. Like caps said, this allows people in different time zones to play. You can play over a long span of time (days, weeks, etc.) and not mess anything up/forget anything. If you get busy suddenly, you can still go back to a match you were playing a few days ago.

2-Learning curve. (OPINION) Also, there is less of a learning curve (but then, most of us here probably are familiar with Heroskype by now), as long as you know Heroscape, you can easily pick up the PbP.

3-Spectating. This allows EVERYONE on the forums to easily watch the match, and you, too, can watch other matches and learn from others mistakes and victories.

[dok]

What you're suggesting is not easier or more accessible. It's just a hobbled version of what we're already doing, plus the added step of stopping to post about every move you make in a thread.

Originally Posted by Bothi

This ^ is an opinion.

1-Time. Like caps said, this allows people in different time zones to play. You can play over a long span of time (days, weeks, etc.) and not mess anything up/forget anything. If you get busy suddenly, you can still go back to a match you were playing a few days ago.

This is also possible with the current online system. Both the game log and the game board are persistent. You can walk away as long as you want and come back in the same spot - the only thing that is lost when you end a session is unrevealed order markers. Of course, you're suggesting doing this - and every other roll - by the honor system, anyway, so that's not a comparative disadvantage.

Heck, you can still look up games I played months ago if you have the links.

Originally Posted by Bothi

2-Learning curve. (OPINION) Also, there is less of a learning curve (but then, most of us here probably are familiar with Heroskype by now), as long as you know Heroscape, you can easily pick up the PbP.

I'm a bit baffled. You're suggesting people pull in images to a google doc, and then open up a seperate app to do dice rolls. Not to put to fine a point on it, but that's the same thing! The only real difference is that:

1. The current system has an integrated app so you can do it all out of one window if you like, and
2. Nobody is required to make a post after every turn this way.

The actual complexity of what you seem to be suggesting is almost strictly greater than what we're already doing.

Originally Posted by Bothi

3-Spectating. This allows EVERYONE on the forums to easily watch the match, and you, too, can watch other matches and learn from others mistakes and victories.

Again, already possible. Not only do people watch the online games, live, frequently, but nobody is stopping anyone from posting screenshots and log files for these events just as you are suggesting. I've done this myself; you can see a few different approaches here. This is actually easier than what you're suggesting, because the log file provides a built-in record of the game to draw from.

I've gotta ask - have you actually tried using the app? Have you ever opened a game and looked at how it works? Frankly, this reads like you dropped into those threads, didn't realize that all you had to do was go here and paste two strings (or not, if you're starting a new game and/or keeping the image in a second window), and decided to try some sort of work-around.

Come give it a shot - I bet you'd find that it's what you're looking for.

[Bothi]

Truth be told I was looking for something more familiar, as all of this Google docs, etc. is completely foreign to me. Not all of what you replied to was exactly what I was trying to get at, but then, I am not the best writer in the world. I have tried to get in a match with someone, but have yet to find an opponent.

Would you be willing to open a match with me?

[dok]

Just try playing with the app for a little yourself, to get the feel for it. The instructions in Filthy's post may seem intimidating, but most of it just involves setting up the figures on the map.

Just (log into a google account and) try playing around on an existing map. Here's one. Once you can do that, then just try opening a game here. Paste in the google doc link (1IWVzfdOKt7zXoq5LDhcXerexeWDpzy21WZfVrMP-UZk) if you want the map image in the same window.

Let me know if you have trouble If you're still interested in playing a game after you get the feel then someone (possibly me) will set one up with you.