Play by post is something that people sometimes feel daunted by or uncomfortable with, and much of that stems from the problem that people often don't know when they're allowed to post. Restless causes this to be even more difficult to understand by being a freeform system that does not have a prescribed turn order.

So when do I post?
The short answer to this question is whenever it feels appropriate. This isn't very helpful though, so read on for some guidelines. The first thing to consider, is who your character is interacting with at a given time. Sometimes, your character might be off doing things by themselves or with characters not controlled by any players. Other times, your character might be deeply embroiled in a situation with other players' characters and plots that involve them.

When your character is alone or not interacting with other player, you can post as often as you like. Generally, though, it's a good idea to wait an hour or so between posts, to allow other players a chance to join in. Keep in mind that a single post can only have one or two paragraphs, though a person can put a lot into those paragraphs. Don't just put a bunch of posts together in one because your character is the only one there. By waiting some time between such posts, you allow players to start interacting with your character and the plots surrounding your character.

If your character is involved with other players' characters or their plots, then it is a good idea to wait for another person to post before you post again. If a day goes by and there's no response, then it's probably ok to make a new post. If you're waiting on a response, though, it can be frustrating. If, after a day or two has passed and you don't have a response, then a post explaining why the other character couldn't respond might be appropriate. There might not always be a good way to do this though. If you need help, then ask your facilitator, who is capable of posting for the other player.

How often do I need to post?
This really depends on the players playing the game. As a general rule, posting about once a day is fine. Posting slower than that is also fine, just be courteous to the other players.

What if I can't post very often at all?
It's ok if you can't post very often. The best thing to do if you know from the start that you won't be able to post often, is to make a character that can pop in and out of the plot. Perhaps a prophet, or an information broker, or a sower of discord. Sometimes, a villain can be a character that pops up only so often. If you're discovering that you need to cut back on your posts, then that's ok, too. Let the facilitator know and then post about how your character is going off to do something, or transitioning into one of the roles mentioned above. If you don't post often, you'll probably want to check up on any new details introduced since you last posted, particularly if it has been longer than a week since your last post.

What if I need to stop posting for a really long time?
In the case you need to abandon your character and pay attention to other life things, that's fine. Just let the facilitator know, and if you can write a post explaining your character's in game absence. Send them on a journey, make them disappear, whatever you need to communicate that the character won't be coming back. The facilitator can do this for you if you don't have time to do it.

Pages On How to Play

What should I post?
What if I want to add to the world?
What are characters like?
What happens when there's conflict or uncertainty involved?
How do I know when it is my turn?

Extra Pages

Introduced World Details