Private Messages In-Thread

[AQuebman]

So this is a small feature from the RPOL site that I don't think we have here and if we do please point me to it.

I want to be able to send private messages to individual players within a thread. This at least for me can be used from sending myself a message with the monster's HP/AC or to send specific info to another player. This way instead of using spoiler tags that everyone reads I can really keep info secret and keep that element of surprise.

It's not a big deal and in the mean time I think i'm just going to reveal anything because tracking it via a site wide PM or a text message on my phone is tediious at best. Just thought it might be useful to others as well and as I said I know the RPOL site does it granted their's is based on characters added to a game but even something in thread to a specific user would be good enough to me.

As always love the site Tonixx you do a great job, just a suggestion I thought i'd throw out there.

[onlyme]

Why can't you just click on the PM button from the recipient's last post. I assume you are answering that one, but want to do it offline?

If you are sending PMs to multiple players, just make sure everyone pays attention to the reply all feature. It is not user friendly. Other than that, it works fine for the purposes you describe. At leat the way I read it.

[AQuebman]

Well then you have that big long list of previous PM's and it's not easy to track. The RPOL in thread PM's basically display as if you wrote it in the thread just in a different color so me and that player can see them looking back and it makes tracking some in game scenario like that much easier. I save a lot of my old global PM's and they aren't really easy to dig through if you have a lot of them.

Built into the thread is much easier within a game scenario. I'd love to send something like the following in a thread that I as a dm can look back at 3 months from now if I need to and it removes the disconnect. I check my PM's and sometimes don't check the game thread for a while, so it becomes disconnected from the game itself.

*This in game is awesome, this in a global PM is forgotten*
"You keep having suspicious dreams of a demon. These dreams are becoming scarier with every passing night as the desire to murder one of your companions grows stronger and stronger"

[Alethan]

I used RPOL for some time and I know what function you're talking about. I have to be honest with you, I found the General PM/Game PM functions to be very bulky and it was confusing at times, because the GM would switch back and forth between sending messages using the General PM and the Game PM functions. That function was one of the main reasons why I quit the game I was in and dropped the forum completely. Even after a full month of use, the format was never comfortable to me and it seemed unwieldy.

In any case, if you're looking for a separate PM function like they had, I don't think it is possible in this type of forum construct. At least, I've never seen it on any of the forums I've been on that use the phpBB forum software.

The best solution I can suggest would be to just make sure you create a Subject Line for the PM that you know you can remember. Then to delete the superfluous PMs you receive after you've finished reading them so that only the important PMs are retained.

[Alethan]

Another suggestion:

ToniXX can add a folder subsection to your game thread that only you can see (similar to how the Tomb of Horrors thread is set up, except they made it so all of us could see the subfolders). I know dmw71 uses this function in his game to create additional topics/threads with all of his game notes in it. You could do something similar and create a thread called "PMs Sent" or "PM Content" or something like that.

The nice thing about doing your game that way is you have a place to store any GM-related game information in The Unseen Servant forum, so you don't have to rely on having any data outside the forum, for the most part (editable maps being the one big exception off the top of my head, though you could load up full maps or sections of maps easily enough).

[AQuebman]

Yeah I always found the in game PM's were helpful but perhaps it depends on who the DM is that you ran into over there and how they did that. Granted none of the games I was in had a GM who sent both general Pm's and messages in game it was 95% in game posts.


The additional place for my own thoughts/ideas & notes might not be a bad idea just so I can put information down someplace connected to the game instead of having to dig for it. I'm bad about removing Pm's because I will do it and then realize I had one that was important information I forgot to jot down elsewhere or right now it's the only way I have to get a new player started privately before having them post in the actual game thread.

Thanks for the responses as always they are valuable and insightful.

[dmw71]

I'm checking in from my phone so this won't be as complete a response as I would like, but the biggest negative of using PM's is that you can't link to them (which is a big part of my game).

[ToniXX]

I looked into a mod that would allow users to search their PMs. I shy'd away from it because it seemed quite complex and I don't want to kill the forums But, if I could get that installed, would you think that would help?

ToniXX can add a folder subsection to your game thread that only you can see (similar to how the Tomb of Horrors thread is set up, except they made it so all of us could see the subfolders). I know dmw71 uses this function in his game to create additional topics/threads with all of his game notes in it. You could do something similar and create a thread called "PMs Sent" or "PM Content" or something like that.

Let me know if you'd like me to set up what Alethan is talking about here.

[AQuebman]

Thanks Tonixx, no don't do anything special on my half. I may PM you if what Alethan suggested becomes needed but for now I think i'll just start exposing this info and if I feel that doesn't work out contact you.

Thanks,

AQuebman

[ToniXX]

Thanks Tonixx, no don't do anything special on my half. I may PM you if what Alethan suggested becomes needed but for now I think i'll just start exposing this info and if I feel that doesn't work out contact you.

Roger! PM me anytime.