So you want to create forum game? Well that is great! The Town of Salem Forums has a great forum game community and it is because of creative hosts and passionate players. But there are plenty of pitfalls for a new host. It can be orginally overwelming or the game could loses its mojo and die off. I'll go over some basic to help you through your game.
1) First of all you have to know what the game will entail. Will it be a last man standing in a jungle or a working together in a wasteland settlement?
2) After you know the goal you need to know what will be the setting and theme. This will go with the goal as it is unlikely you'll have a horror theme in a game about dog gromming.
3) Now you need to decide on the mechanics of the game. If it is a game where every one is working together, likely the entirety can be done in just the main thread. But if player will be at odds with others you may need to use PMs. It is up to you to decide which will be best for your game.
4) Make a flow chart, either in your mind or physically, about how your game will play out. Think about how one step to transitions into the next.
5) Flush out what will be in your game. Just decide what will be the events, actions, and story in the game. It is again recommend to write this down.
6) Finally, one last review. Think about how your game can derail and how you can correct it. Make sure everything will go smoothly. And once you've done that, you are ready to up sign ups!
-Forum games will almost always have a "honeymoon period". At the start of the game it will take off quite fast, but as it progresses people will lose interest. It is very important to keep people's interest. You can change things up and make it exciting. Another way is set a time limit for people. Such as if they do not post for X amount of hours they will be replaced. In my experience, you will never have a lack of willing volunteers for that new spot.
-You will at times be swamped. Running a forum game takes a lot of time to run. I wouldn't suggest starting one if you aren't willing to put the time in.
-You have to start small. Starting as a co-host or hosting a small game to get your feet wet. Once you've done one you'll be more confidence and know what works and was doesn't. Do not bite off more than you can chew.
-Don't make too many games at once. (YoukCat)
-Wonder, is this going to be too complex for me to run? (YoukCat)
-Listen to users on ideas, unless you hate those ideas. (YoukCat)
-If it's complex, that's more things you have to do for ONE players turn, and then there's the rest of the players. (Youkcat)
-Punish those who break in-game laws. (YoukCat)
-Be ready to improvise. Players may act differently than you would have thought so you have to be ready to create new content. (InsaneSmile)
-Make sure you look for ways the players could break the game and try to fix them before starting the game. (VucubCaquix)
-Don't expect your game to fill quickly (JazzMusicStops)
-The best number of players is between 10 and 20 (JazzMusicStops)
-For a game involving PMs, Folders are your best friends (JazzMusicStops)
-Folders seriously are amazing (InsaneSmile)
-When it comes to moderating player behavior and posts, a Host must have an iron fist that is lined with velvet; you need to be firm and serious when it comes to enforcing rules, but you need to give some breathing room and understanding (Schultz128)
-ALWAYS before clicking out of your game's thread update the OP and the database (mihail66)
-To attract more players, add some mystery to the game, like and unexplained role or mechanic, or if the game is story based try to put some mysterious person/object. (mihail66)
- [Update 2023] This section is pretty much dead, don't expect to fill a game that asks for more than five or six players.
Here will be a list of people who have been around the track a few times and want to help to newer hosts. Send a consultant a PM about your game and if you like to be added as a consultant, PM me with some examples of games you've hosted.
(H)= Host and (CO)= Co-Host
-InsaneSmile: The Mansion (H), The Mansion 2 (CO), Full Circle (H), The Ship (H), The Zeppelin (H), The Zeppelin 2 (H), Full Circle 2- Both Predator and Prey (H), The Vanity of Snow (H), The Zeppelin 3 (H), Oxygen is a Luxury (H), Full Circle 3 (H), The Mansion 3 (H).
-Ibney000: Poker Night (H), The Text Adventure (H), War Story 2 (H), The Mansion 2 (H), Gladiatorial Arena (H), Phoenix Wright Roleplay (H), The Murderer: A House of Horror (H), Danganronpa X (H)
-JazzMusicStops: Behind The Masks 7.1 (H), The Tower (H), The Election (H), A Royal Visit (H), Behind The Masks 8.1 (H) The Tower 2 (H), Guess Who (H)
Here is where hosts can come and find people who want to co-host, and vice versa. If you want to be added to this list PM me with a brief description of the game you want to host or a description of the type of game you wish to co-host.
Green= Wants to be a co-host and Orange= Needs a co-host
-
-
-
-DJVoxel: Is currently looking to be a co-host for a smaller game.
-
-
-
-Destawaits: Co-host and support any smaller games or strategy games.
-
-
- [Update 2023] Most of these users have left the forums for good, their names have been struck through but remain on this list for archival purposes.
This is for games that, for one reason or another, the host could no longer continue. This is so others that have an interest in it might be able to resurrect the game. PM the creator and post in here if you have an interest in it so I know to take it off the list as well others know an old game is coming back.
-
-Hidden: You among millions have been the sixteen chosen to compete. 64 rooms. 16 players. A huge competition. Creator: WindBlqde
-9 DAYS: A game that combines elements of puzzle/escape games with social experementation to create an experience that leaves the tip of players tongues tingling. Creator: NeptuneJump
Free Ideas
Here will be a place where people can put ideas for forum games they do not wish to host on their own, and allow the community to take them as their own. You may use any of the ideas below, but just as a courtesy, give credit to the original user who created the idea.
DJVoxel wrote:Rules:
- Game creators submit game ideas to the host, once there are enough players the game begins.
- A random player is chosen as the judge and the host puts a random submitted game concept into the thread.
- Everyone who isn't the judge PMs the host with whether or not they would join this game, and why.
- Once all PMs have been submitted, the host puts the players' choices and reasoning into the thread, keeping the author of each anonymous.
- The judge then selects the reasoning which they think is the best and the player that created that reasoning gets a point.
- The next player on the list then becomes the judge and a new round begins.
- Play continues until a player reaches x number of points.
Damafaud wrote:Free Idea
Useless Heirs and Cursed Servants
The king decides to pick a heir from his twin and send the other out as a commoner. The Prince and Princess didn't want to be a commoner. They want to live lavishly while their kingdom is controlled by corrupt lords as a ruler.
The royal children have both a cursed servant that will do their every bidding. The curse will break if the master is no longer a noble.
The game is separated into four phase: Morning, Afternoon, Evening, and Night.
Spoiler:
Role Cards: Spoiler:
------
Four players game. Each player has their own goal to fulfill. There can only be one heir to the throne. The royals may improve themselves with actions such as /Learn to read to learn a new skill, though how successful it goes vary. Learning things can change the rolecard description, and will notify the servant (But not what the change is)
The servants main goal is to escape survitude. They must follow every order given, but they have the freedom to enterpret it. To escape the curse, their master must lose their title or life. Similarly, the servant's mischiefs the castle will draw the king disapproval to the master.
So, yeah. Feel free to host this if you want. Just an idea.
Thank you to Arckas for the new big words.
Note: I would like to thank the mod Arckas for unlocking this thread. I want everyone to make sure they remain civil in all discussions here, so this does not turn into the Forum Game Hub.
![[Forum Mafia XI] Winner](./images/ranks/flair-fm11.png "[Forum Mafia XI] Winner")
