Play by email (PBEM) roleplay, explained
In a play-by-email game, the story arrives in your inbox one post at a time.
How PBEM works
Each crew has a mailing list. When a writer sends a post to the list, every member of the crew receives it. Replies go to the same list, so the inbox becomes the story, in order.
PBEM: play-by-email. Also written PBeM.
Why people like it
- You write when it suits you. Nothing happens in real time.
- Everything is in one place you already check.
- The archive of posts reads like a serial novel.
Not the same as play-by-email strategy games
"PBEM" also names a different hobby: turn-based strategy and war games such as Diplomacy. In those, players email their moves to a referee. Those games are about winning. Simming is about the story. Most simming groups write freeform, with no dice, though some play-by-email roleplaying games do use dice or a rules system.
Email or forum?
Play-by-post on a forum works the same way, with threads instead of a mailing list. Some groups use both: email for the story and a forum or chat server for planning.