Helping your online group communicate

The storylines that my role playing RPG act out move quickly.  (That's the great thing about using Twitter to role play - the action is so fast!)

With our group, we like to have everyone help with coming up with storylines.  We also need a way to communicate while the scenes are being acted out.

There are several ways I've used to help my RPG communicate.

1. Google group (used in conjunction with Gmail):  This is fine for sending emails back and forth as a group, and it can help with communicating while a scene is being played out; however, members often complain about the sheer volume of emails sent back and forth.  (Ours would send more than 100 back and forth each week.  Sometimes more than 100 a DAY if there was a lot of discussion on a scene.)  Another drawback:  If someone sent an inappropriate email to the group, you had no control over it after the fact.  It was in everyone's inbox.
2. Website (I used www.freewebs.com):  The website was good for posting ideas and such.  They even have site templates specifically for roleplayers!  The site is easy to use and also easy to update.  It's also free with the option to upgrade.   The only downside:  no way for instant communication.  Members also had to be reminded to check the site a lot. (And even I would forget to check it.  I know, I'm a bad girl.....)
3. Ning. com:  I have starting using Ning for our group, and so far I love it.  It has a forum, member pages, and even has a chat room.  The chat room has been a HUGE benefit.  People can post ideas on the forum, and then we can talk it out in the chat room, then we can post the details on the forum.  I also use the forum to let the group know when I won't be available for RPing and such.  It's good for other announcements.  I love it.  And it's FREE - but you have the option to upgrade if you want.  (Check out our RPG site here:  www.swstrpg.ning.com )  The chat room is also a HUGE boost for site visits - people hang out in the chat room a lot.  It's awesome!

So those are my thoughts about helping your role playing RPG communicate.

Questions?  Observations?  Leave a comment!

Again, you can visit our space role playing RPG site here:  www.swstrpg.ning.com