>> Do synths have to be OSC/RRAD encapsulated to use?

netpd uses maxlibs netserver and netclient. it also provides some abstractioins to broadcast+sync floats, symbols, lists, tables, textfiles...
instead [hslider]->[osc~] you can do something [hslider]->[netpd-a name]->[osc~]
there is some info in netpd/tut and netpd/doc if you have built a synth like that it already has netpd's internal statesavingsystem ...
just connect and people there can explain you more.

>> Any good jams happening?

yeah sometimes....
...we started to have weekly sessions on thursday evening 10pm CEST