Running RPs on DW - How To?

[trouble]

So, I know that people run journal-based games on DW, LJ, IJ, and JF. I've run online RPGs before, but always in a forum-based setting, where we'd declare particular forums a "space" that people were in.

So, a typical forum would look like this:

CHANTRY:
Library:
Lab:
Outside:

COFFEE SHOP:

Tanya's House:

Stuff like that.

So... how do people run RPGs on journal based systems? Do they set up threads? Do they have one main community? I know people use their journals for stuff, but I don't understand!

Halp?

Comments

[surpassingly]

Typically, RP games have at least two comms: one for IC interaction (usually split into two or more; e.g. one comm for prose/action logs, one comm for "network" interaction if the game setting allows for that kind of communication) and one for OOC coordination. Many RPs have separate comms for memes and fanwork, too.

Character journals are used to post to these comms, and if the format of the RP allows for it, they may be used as personal communication devices for the characters as well. A character's info/RP application is often posted to the journal, for ease of finding contact information and character details; for many, it's also considered a courtesy to have an anon-enabled feedback/"How's My Driving?" post too, although it's by no means mandatory for a lot of RP games.

As for events/storyline... It depends a lot on how the RP is being run and what the premise is. Apart from player-run plots, many RPs have all sorts of game-wide events, ranging from out-of-the-blue temporary curse events to events that span a longer period time and are incorporated into a story arc. Players react to these events through first-person posts (to the network or their journals), third-person logs, or a mix of both.

Some DW RPs you may want to look at to see what I mean: paperkey, pandoras, gateway_rp.

[trouble]

Thank you!

Okay, so people use tags and stuff to indicate spaces? Hmm. Interesting. I wouldn't have thought of that.

I'm more used to a very hands-on GM/Storyteller role. I ran LARPs & table-top games with online components. I'm not sure how well that would translate into a journal based game. *ponders*

[surpassingly]

Yup, tags and headers in logs. There's a log format where you indicate information in the header such as time, setting, characters, and whether it's open (anyone is welcome) or closed (limited to participants), and the overall content of that header is pretty consistent across all RPs I've played in.

Hands-on is good if you're running a plotty game! Just... I don't think too much micro-managing will translate well. In addition, players do a lot of their own plots too, and often they have "endings" or at least desired goals for those plots, so you might want to keep that in mind as well. :)

Ah, and if you're thinking of opening a game, I do recommend asking support for mass invite codes (I think support calls them promo invite codes? something like that). Having a promo invite code for the RP helps encourage players to join, and the support staff is fantastic about handing them out.

[trouble]

I'm still sorta tossing it around in my head. :)

[surpassingly]

I hope it goes well for you if you decide to do it!