Play by Post Introduction
A play-by-post game offers a flexible way to take part in a collaborative, evolving story without needing to stick to a set schedule. It’s ideal for players in different time zones or anyone with a busy life in general for that matter. While these games can seem intimidating at first, my goal is to simplify the format into an easy, inviting experience. Think of it like a modern take on the old-school Multi-User Dungeons of the '90s—except in a play by post you’ll have a dedicated GM guiding the story at a relaxed, thoughtful pace.
The Basics
What you need to play :
- Access to Discord - The game is completely free to join, but you’ll need Discord to access the chat. If you’re not familiar, think of it as Facebook for nerds—a mix of group chats, private messages, and shared storytelling spaces.
- Character Concept - You don’t need stats or mechanics right away—just a spark of imagination. Who do you want to be? What do you hope to change or uncover? Think about what drew you to Cycleborne, and what kind of person might shape the next hundred years of an Earth rewritten by fractured history and experimental science.
- Chill Vibe - It’s normal to get frustrated, especially when you’re learning something new. We’ve all had moments where a character makes a questionable choice or the GM forgets a detail. That’s part of the charm. Light teasing is all good, but let’s keep clear of drama. We’re all here to have a good time and tell a cool story together.
Tools and Assets
Character Creation
A good reference if you -do- want to get into some nuts and bolts.
How-to-Play
Some more explanation on how the system itself works.
Sample Character Sheet
A look at the character sheet that will be used to track progress throught the game.
AI Assets
Useful tools to help ease the learning curve, more on these later.
Where to get Started
- The easiest first step? Just say hi! - If the idea of a text-based game sounds fun but you're not sure where to begin—just click the link below to join and we’ll help you get started! Not ready to post? You can message 'Zyx' anytime.
- Explore the Timeline - Cycleborne takes place just a hundred years into Earth’s future—but with a few key twists that change everything. Getting a feel for these shifts can make it easier to imagine your first character. You can dive into the timeline and explore the setting through the link below!
- Talk to AI - ChatGPT is a great way to think out loud, ask questions, and explore ideas—especially if you’re new and feeling unsure. Some of the AI tools listed above include chat-style bots designed to help you get a feel for what play-by-post games are and how to jump in comfortably.
Example of Play
Three players sit at a tense exchange within a bar off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. They have been captured by a fringe criminal organization that operates like a nomadic cartel. Fortunately for them, the leader seems to be eccentric and lonely, so he has offered them a chance to win their freedom in a game of cards. Unlucky for them, he is much smarter than he lets on, and is seeing if anyone would come looking for them should he decide to use them for his own purposes. This will highlight how the pacing of roleplay goes and how to seamlessly incorporate your dice rolls into your posts.
Channels
- #ooc-chat : Use this space to ask questions, share ideas, or coordinate with other players. Your characters can’t read minds, of course—but planning everything in-character can get clunky, so we allow a little meta leeway here.
- #ic-actions : This is where your narrative lives. Describe what your character is doing, thinking, or attempting. The channel name may vary depending on the campaign, but its purpose stays the same—storytelling in motion.
- #dice-rolls : Dedicated to bot-handled dice rolls. This keeps the mechanics clear, balanced, and transparent for everyone involved—players and GMs alike.
The Cast
Javier Salas - The Dealer
Health
(3) Wounds (3) Will (3) Wane
Traits
Strength 2 Intellect 2 Resonate 1
Endurance 2 Memory 2 Sigil 1
Dexterity 3 Charisma 3 Flux 2
Skills
Combat 2 Mobility 2 Influence 2
Loadout - (+3 WB / -3 AB) Standard Issue (2 DV / 2 AV)
The main antagonist and challenge for the players to overcome in this scene. He may not be pointing a gun at them but his bodyguards sure are watching everyone attentively. If they mean to make it out of this alive they'll need to figure out a plan and play his game just long enough to get him to lower his guard, even just for a second.
Lin Yuxin 林雨昕 - UEC Specialist
Health
(3) Wounds (3) Will (3) Wane
Traits
Strength 3 Intellect 3 Resonate 1
Endurance 2 Memory 2 Sigil 2
Dexterity 2 Charisma 2 Flux 1
Skills
Combat 1 Mobility 1 Insight 2 Tech 2
Loadout -
(0 WB / 0 AB) Unarmed (1 DV / 0 AV)
(3) Wounds (3) Will (3) Wane
(0 WB / 0 AB) Unarmed (1 DV / 0 AV)
A Chinese national serving the UEC in a hybrid role as both a medic and drone operator. Normally equipped with support drones capable of deploying nanites in the field, she now has little more than the uniform on her back. Just before capture, she injected herself with a dose of dormant nanites, allowing her to automatically restore the first Wound she suffers in combat.
Billy Mercer - UEC Scout Sniper
Health
(3) Wounds (3) Will (3) Wane
Traits
Strength 2 Intellect 2 Resonate 1
Endurance 3 Memory 2 Sigil 2
Dexterity 2 Charisma 3 Flux 1
Skills
Combat 3 Mobility 2 Influence 1
Loadout -
(0 WB / 0 AB) Unarmed (1 DV / 0 AV)
(3) Wounds (3) Will (3) Wane
(0 WB / 0 AB) Unarmed (1 DV / 0 AV)
Once just another London street thug, the UEC gave him a chance to turn a lengthy prison sentence into an elistment. Although it took a while for him to warm up to it, he couldn't imagine himself doing anything else at this point. Managed to slip a microblade past the guards in his boot he is waiting to reveal.
Counts as :
(+4 WB / - AB) High Tech (2 DV / - AV)
Jonas Adio Lagos - UEC Pilot
Health
(3) Wounds (3) Will (3) Wane
Traits
Strength 2 Intellect 2 Resonate 2
Endurance 2 Memory 3 Sigil 1
Dexterity 3 Charisma 2 Flux 1
Skills
Combat 1 Mobility 2 Tech 3
Loadout -
(0 WB / 0 AB) Unarmed (1 DV / 0 AV)
(3) Wounds (3) Will (3) Wane
(0 WB / 0 AB) Unarmed (1 DV / 0 AV)
A man from Central Africa, he joined the UEC to get access to their cutting edge aircrafts. He never imagined he’d end up in a warzone, and this American deployment has been nothing short of a nightmare. They have underestimated him however, and left him with a key piece of tech he could use to hack their security, if he just had the right opportunity..
//GM Narration//Three UEC survivors sit across from their captor. Though they’ve been searched and questioned, their treatment so far has been surprisingly civil. Now, seated at a weathered poker table beneath the dim lights of the jungle camp, the mood begins to shift. “That’s right. Take all my chips, and I’ll let you walk right out of camp. Where else are you going to find a deal like that?” He leans back with a lazy grin, his accent soft but unmistakable. “Come now—help a lonely man pass the evening in good company…” His tone stays warm, even playful—but beneath it lies something sharp. The kind of threat that doesn’t need to be spoken out loud to be understood.
//Billy's Turn//
“Can’t expect a man to play for his life with a dry throat..”
He tilts his head, slow and easy, eyes on the bottle like it owes him something. “Come on then, pour us a drink and let's keep the cruelty civilized, shall we?”
//Lin's Turn//
Lin shifts in her seat, forcing a thin smile as her eyes scan the tent with practiced ease. “Tidy setup,” she murmurs, nodding faintly at the lights strung overhead. “Efficient.” A pause—then, barely audible in Mandarin: “Liù gè,” she adds softly, as if finishing a thought. Six of them.
//Jonas's Turn//
“Wh-what do we use as collateral?” His voice wavers slightly, but his eyes are moving—scanning the camp with intent. Then, under his breath in French, barely audible: “Automate de combat…” Making his comrades aware of the wrecked Orphan automaton not far from the tent.
Mechanics |
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The GM opens with a narration.Billy calls for a contested roll.
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//GM's Turn//
(Billy succeeds Influence)
Javier slaps his thigh with a sharp laugh and slides a cracked glass across the table, the sound echoing louder than necessary. “Right you are, lad. Right you are.” His tone skirts the edge of mockery as he sloshes whiskey into the dirty cup. “You might be the only one of your friends worth the trouble tonight.” He leans forward with a grin. “My deal!” The deck snaps in his hands as he starts to shuffle and toss out the first round.
(Lin succeeds Insight, but raises suspicion)
Javier’s gaze shifts to Lin, his smile thinning. “Let’s keep the conversation in a language we all understand, kay pasa?” He peeks at the corners of his cards, eyes flicking up just long enough to make the threat feel casual.
(Jonas succeeds Tech, but raises suspicion)
As his cards go out, Javier’s glance lingers on Jonas—too long. “Well, well... aren’t we clever.” He taps a finger against the table. “Thought you lot said you lot were UEC. You lying to me, jefe? One of them Nords in disguise? Sent by El Nuevo Legado to shut me down?” His stare tightens—no grin now, just cold calculation behind his words.
(Javier explains the stakes)
“As for collateral... each of those seven chips in front of you?” He raises his eyebrows. “That’s a meal. Run out or cash out, and that’s what you eat this week.” He spreads his hands like a showman. “So... you boys and girls ready to play some poker?”
Some time passes at the table as the gambling continues, but we’ll gloss over much of it here—this scene is more about learning the flow than playing every hand. Without any points in Influence, both Lin and Jonas find themselves steadily losing ground. It’s no accident; Javier’s wearing them down, waiting for the right moment to press deeper. Even Billy, hardened by a rough London upbringing, finds it hard to keep pace with the cartel boss’s charisma.
Not every turn will call for dice or mechanics—sometimes, it’s just about building the narrative. This part of the scene is a good example of how to write those moments, especially when you’re not rolling. It also shows how to roleplay respectfully: suggesting actions without overriding another character’s agency, whether it’s a fellow player or an NPC.
//GM Narration//
The game unfolds as expected—with fortune favoring their captor. Javier leans back in his creaking plastic chair, smug and slow, picking at his teeth with a knife the size of a machete. The blade flashes between his words like punctuation. “Well now... looks like it’s gonna be a lean week for the lot of you.” He grins, cruel and casual. “Tell you what—I’ll let each of you cash in a finger. One chip per knuckle. Fair trade, yeah?” He glances to a nearby guard, sharing a laugh. It’s not the kind of laughter that invites comfort—more the kind a predator offers before it stops playing with its food.
//Billy's Turn//
Finally convinced he won’t get a better chance, Billy plays the part of the hopeful loser. No reason to tip his hand—he knows the moment the act slips, that fake camaraderie will curdle into open violence. He furrows his brow, studying his hopeless cards like they might still hold some secret, glancing between the others as if weighing odds. The last of the whiskey touches his lips, and he tries to enjoy it. He lowers the glass like it’s any other night, but his other hand is already drawing steel with the quiet certainty of a man who’s out of options.
//Lin's Turn//
Lin had already marked which guards carried her gear—drones, medical nanites, the things that made her useful. Now, she waited for a signal from Billy, tension coiled beneath her calm exterior. Even unarmed, she felt confident. Compared to the fringe society grunts around her, she was faster, cleaner, and stronger—fueled by a higher caloric intake, cutting edge training, and a purpose they couldn’t begin to fathom. And if it came down to it, the dormant nanites in her system would make sure she stayed standing.
//Jonas's Turn//
At first glance, the old Orphan automaton looked worthless—one leg sunk deep in the muck, the whole frame listing sideways, and the cockpit left open to the elements for who knows how long. But the longer Jonas studied it, the more promise he saw. A dense canopy had shielded it from the worst of the weather. Though stuck, belts of ammunition still hung from its weapons—maybe not mobile, but still a turret if he was lucky. He wasn’t built for close-quarters, and he knew it. But he took a chance—shifting, speaking, drawing eyes his way. If it gave Billy even a heartbeat’s edge, it would be worth it. "I.. uh.. fold.." He stuttered, feeling eyes beat down on him as he dropped his cards onto the table despite not having any more chips.
Next, we’ll skip ahead to a round of combat. This section is designed to give you a feel for how a turn plays out between players and the GM. It’s also the area we’re focusing on most during testing—so if something feels unclear, or if you have ideas that could make the experience smoother or more immersive (without piling on complicated rules), this is exactly the time to speak up.
Your feedback helps shape the flow of the game, and thoughtful input is always welcome. Don’t worry about getting everything perfect—this is about learning and refining together.
//GM Narration//
The jungle crackles with tension as the cartel scrambles to regain control. Smoke and gunpowder hang thick in the air, mixing with sweat and blood. Outnumbered but not outmatched, the stranded UEC team is pushing their skills to the limit. Jonas reaches the rust-streaked automaton half-sunken in the mud. He scrambles up its weathered hull, slipping on moss as the machine groans beneath him. Inside the shattered cockpit, his hands move fast—flipping switches, forcing connections, trying to breathe life into the war machine. The jungle blurs around him. If he can power the weapons, it may be the edge they need to survive. Lin, still inside the tent-turned-battlefield, wrestles with a cartel grunt for her drone pad. Smoke clings to the bloodied canvas and overturned furniture left in the wake of Billy and Javier’s clash. She stays focused—fighting not just for control, but to shift momentum. Her drone waits nearby, silent and ready. She just needs the pad. Billy and Javier have torn through the tent wall, locked in a savage knife fight. They roll through brush and mud, slashing, cursing, bleeding. The jungle tears at them as they go, a trail of red marking every brutal exchange. Neither gives ground. Neither intends to walk away. The remaining guards are split—some sprint toward the main camp, shouting for reinforcements, while others regroup at the tree line. They’re not retreating. They’re reloading. And what’s coming next could end this fight before it turns in the team’s favor.
//Jonas's Turn//
Jonas drops into the cockpit hard enough to rattle loose the rusted bolts beneath the seat. He dives into the systems, working fast with what little still responds. The Orphan automaton, cobbled together with no standard operating system or interface, spits broken code across flickering screens. He skims fast—missing a manual override for the legs, but catching something more immediately useful: the targeting system for the anti-personnel autocannon. His fingers dance across the controls, and luck favors him—the weapon’s already armed. He cycles through targets in a blur, then slams the firing switch. The automaton jerks with the recoil, stuck fast in the mud but still deadly. The cannon erupts in a brutal spray of fire, shredding cover and hurling cartel fighters and debris into the air.
//Lin's Turn//
They hadn’t expected her to fight like this. Despite her average frame, Lin’s time in the field meant five to six thousand calories a day, reinforced by relentless core training and close-quarters drills. Compared to these guerrilla fighters—malnourished and scraping by—she hit harder, moved faster, and didn’t hesitate. One man was already retreating with a broken wrist, but now Lin found herself rolling amidst the carnage, fighting for the controls to her nearby drone. She knew that they wouldn't win this fight with brute strength alone, but a well time distraction might be just what they need to turn the tide. Using a sharp elbow and a burst of leverage, she wrested the control pad free. Still tangled with the grunt, she pressed her finger to the reader, shouting — “Yānwù!" The drone activated instantly. Canisters hissed from a hatch on its back, belching dense smoke into the air. Within seconds, a thick wall of cover began to bloom across the battlefield.
//Billy's Turn//
It had been a long time since Billy’d been in a fight like this. Most people didn’t offer much of a challenge, and even when they did, it never felt like this. Couldn't remember ever seeing his life flash before his eyes as many times as he had today. The fear was impossible to deny. But likewise, so was the thrill.. He and Javier tumbled down an embankment in a tangled mess of fists and blood, their knives lost somewhere in the fall. They landed hard atop a tattered corpse—one of Jonas’s kills, already cooling in the mud. Both men spotted the surviving 1911 holstered at the dead man's side. They moved for it at the same time, but Billy got there first. In a practiced rhythm he wrapped his fingers around the grip and yanked the antique sidearm free from its holster. Slow and smooth, he brought the barrel up and leveled it with Javier’s face. The slide snapped back with a harsh metallic crack as he fired, his eyes never flinching in the effort. The .45 round didn’t hit its mark—it struck just below Javier’s collarbone, punching into the edge of his Kevlar vest. Not fatal, but enough. The fight stopped instantly. Javier gasped, staggered, and then turned, stumbling into the brush in a half-run, blood trailing behind him. Billy didn’t go after him. No need. He just let the weight of the pistol hang in his grip, smoke curling from the barrel as he scanned the battlefield for the rest of his squad.
Mechanics |
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The GM opens with a narration.All NPCs and players rolls Initiative.
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//GM Narration//
With the remaining cartel forces scattered or scrambling for reinforcements, the players catch a brief reprieve. The edge is theirs—for now—but the jungle hums with tension. More enemies are close, and this lull won’t last long. From here, the group has a few options: Flee into the Jungle - Attempt a group Mobility check, using the highest result from all combined Dice Pools. The group escapes a number of miles equal to half that total before the cartel can regroup and pursue. Push the Advantage - Arm up and press the fight while momentum is still on your side. Players get a chance to recover their gear and strike back—though no one knows just how many enemies are still out there, or how ready they are. Dig In - Find a place to hide and call for UEC reinforcements. Help will come—eventually—and when it does, it’ll mean the complete annihilation of your enemies.. and maybe a clean uniform if you're lucky.
Hopefully, this gives you a solid sense of whether a play-by-post tester campaign feels like the right fit for you. If you’re even a little curious, don’t let anything above intimidate you—this isn’t about perfection or experience, it’s about storytelling, learning, and having fun together.
We’ll be moving at a slow, steady pace, with plenty of room for questions, experimentation, and new players to find their rhythm. Whether you're brand new to this format or returning after a break, there’s space for you at the table.
Below, you’ll also find a few tips on how to use ChatGPT as a personal assistant while you play—great for working through mechanics, writing posts, or brainstorming character ideas at your own pace.
- Great for quick or simple questions you might not feel like asking in the Discord. You can talk to it just like you would a person—no need to guess the perfect combination of keywords or fight your way through a wall of ads and SEO-choked search results. It’s a more natural, focused way to get the help you need without the noise.
- Got an idea but not sure how to shape it into something complete? ChatGPT is great at helping you take rough concepts—whether it’s a character, backstory, or scene idea—and turning them into something more structured and inspiring. It’s like brainstorming with a writing buddy who never sleeps. While it’s always best to treat AI responses as a starting point rather than a finished product, it can give you a strong foundation to build on—something you can refine and shape into a voice that feels completely your own. Think of it as a creative springboard, not a shortcut.
- Perfect for turning scattered thoughts into something that reads like a real narrative without sounding like you're just quoting game mechanics. Like before, it’s not meant to be a final product, but a helpful starting point. You can keep shaping the text directly in ChatGPT by giving it more prompts or feedback, or make your own edits and send it back through for fine-tuning and suggestions. It’s a flexible tool, but how much you rely on it is entirely up to you. And if it feels like you're taking a shortcut through the learning curve? That’s not a bad thing. In truth, you'll pick up these skills just by doing them, without the pressure to get everything right on the first try. In my experience, that’s the best way to learn.
I usually try to keep my articles short and to the point, but this guide ended up needing a bit more space. If you're still here—or even if you just scrolled down to drop a like—thanks, I genuinely appreciate it! Links above for those who want to get involved or have more questions!
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