Encouraging New Members to Post

[Boy_Wonder]

Mar 11, 2016 11:41:52 GMT -8 Mixed said:

Mar 11, 2016 11:40:11 GMT -8 Boy_Wonder said:

I remember my favourite rp forum was one with a unique concept.

However I'm finding that in the current rp culture original rps are also something that is hard to get off the ground.This could be another reason for your problem getting members

Seriously? I thought original RP was the way to go. I know I personally prefer originals. But, if I'm understanding correctly, you think that something based on a franchise is better (not for you personally but for the masses)? But then, if all RPs are based on something, and everyone wants to be the same person, then no RP will get very high off the ground.

From my observation people feel "safer" in a fandom rp over an original. They worry that an original world etc is too open and they worry more that they'll ruin the owners vision (that for some reason they don't feel so much in fandom rps!) I do have a niche character I might be interested in rping again but... finding a board that fits his back story is awkward.... but that's off topic

[Mixed]

Mar 11, 2016 11:50:27 GMT -8 Boy_Wonder said:

Mar 11, 2016 11:41:52 GMT -8 Mixed said:

Seriously? I thought original RP was the way to go. I know I personally prefer originals. But, if I'm understanding correctly, you think that something based on a franchise is better (not for you personally but for the masses)? But then, if all RPs are based on something, and everyone wants to be the same person, then no RP will get very high off the ground.

From my observation people feel "safer" in a fandom rp over an original. They worry that an original world etc is too open and they worry more that they'll ruin the owners vision (that for some reason they don't feel so much in fandom rps!) I do have a niche character I might be interested in rping again but... finding a board that fits his back story is awkward.... but that's off topic

That seems a bit convoluted especially when considering that a fandom RP is based off something that has already been monetized. And isn't that everything that Fanfictions and other similar genres are based upon. I mean not ruining persay, but giving the universe your own personal spin.

With originals, I would think there is more space for adding your own spin. This, of course, goes better when the staff and admin of the forum actually speaks with their members.

By the way, you could always check to see if your character fits with one of my RPs.

Anyway, I'm guessing likely the biggest factor is how welcoming the RP feels. This would include how flexible the staff is with the plot.

[Former Member]

Mar 11, 2016 10:19:15 GMT -8 Mixed said:

Mar 11, 2016 9:22:35 GMT -8 STLUEE said:

For me, the character submission on some role playing forums are so overwhelming.
For instance:
200 words describing this character.
why you like the forum and want to join-yes I have actually come across this! - another 200 words!

Who are you really? I'm like bye! I want to join without feeling like I am at a job interview.

So then would a phrase like "paint a picture with words" come across as too close to a job interview-esk impression even if there was no mention of a minimum word count? The RP is an intermediate to advanced RP so the players are left to decide how long is long enough. At least that's what I'm hoping would come across.

And thank you to Boy_Wonder for the definition.






















No as long as there isn't a minimum of words required. The request is not unresonable.

[Mixed]

Thank you, STLUEE. I look forward to seeing what others may recommend.

[Bones]

Yes, but what if your site is not an RP site. They might be the dominant type of forum on ProBoards, but other types struggle as well.

For instance, I have a wildlife board that was closed for several years and reopened last year, but only in winter 2015 did I get really serious about making a proper go of it again. Despite a Christmas e-mail and one back in January, those 2005 members aren't coming back. Whilst it's gained a few members they're not really engaging, and my main focus is to just keep making new topics and keep fresh content coming. As well as advertising here, I'm trying to get into the forum.promotion site (If I can ever remember my details to get in) to make a new advert for this site. I also welcome advertising and affiliates. I'm working really hard to keep the site fresh but I'm not engaging my new members so it seems.

[Skidjit]

Mixed

Not sure if what I've got to say will help. I used to role play years ago. I was part of a great role play group who rp'd nightly for years. From what I can tell, things are done very differently these days. I've occasionally peeked in on a couple of rp forums and found myself very lost. Very overwhelming to say the least.

Hmm? Something else to think about, my role play group met on a very popular site at that time that was mostly set up for fans of that like mind just to talk on. We found our group within those several hundreds of people doing all sorts of things. When we left to form our own site, we brought with us our core group of friends that we hung out with daily. We really didn't need to recruit. I think that's one thing I've noticed that is much different these days.

I personally prefer to join in on something I really just want to jump in on head first. Something that does not feel like WORK but fun. Since I've already read the book or saw the movie, I already know what the bones of the role play would be. So, I think it's very important that the group I join MUST be strictly canon. No one would ever break those rules set up by the original book author or movie franchise. It helps keep everyone in the role play on the same page when creating their own characters to add to this world. It aids for guidance if you have a baseline this way. When people deviate from canon, that's when I back out. It's this way for me even when writing fanfiction. Sadly, I've had to back out of a story that I was co-writing with my friend, when I didn't see the characters the same way as my friend. Keeping canon is still important.

FOR ME, not having a fandom that already exists, makes for a more difficult starting point to jump in. Then if there's too much reading to figure out what is going on, at this point I'm not hooked YET, I'm just at the curious stage, I might think it's too much work to join. It helps to already be a fan of something first. Hmm? For instance, I clicked on someone's rp forum link that said it was a Star Trek role play site. HEY I'm already a huge Star Trek fan. I know the people and that universe very well. I have to go see what this is about. Same for some of the Harry Potter or other things I'm already interested in. I have to stop just to check them out. It sounds like fun before I even click the link. But if it's just general like: come join our vampire roleplay.... or come join our werewolf site... or video game roleplay... I think that is too open for my taste. Not that I'm not interested in those subjects.

As for canon, (fandoms like book/movie series) the ones that have so much of a world that already has been written, there's so so much more that we can add to that world that not all can ever be told entirely.

Sorry, if my post was too long. Also, I didn't click any links if there were any. So, many apologies if anything I might have said offended in any sort of way.

PS- just to add, I really don't have time to roleplay anymore. When I mentioned some sites I clicked on, I did not post or join only because I don't have the time anymore. Not because I didn't want to be a part of that world again. Some were really cool sites too. I also wanted to see what they looked like. My site's not rp, but still, it helps to see what else is out there.

[Mixed]

Hey Skidjit,

No worries about checking out any links, since there were none here. Your perspective is actually very interesting to read and I think you put together your thoughts very well. Just wanted to tell you that.

Unfortunately, this is where the difficulty comes in for me. The RP I'm looking at is an original. I had hoped to bring in more from another original when I opened this up, but the members there had already dispersed so I missed that boat.

I have a few ideas I am once again employing to help my site grow; I am by no means giving up. It is, however, a small concern about encouraging those members who have joined to post and actually join the game and discussion.

P.S. Don't worry about your post length. I enjoyed the read.

[Skidjit]

So you are basically, trying to reactivate old members (from another site, but the same storyline) as well as add more members.

Maybe if you knew better what made them stop posting on their old site (or lessen the amount they post these days) you'll have something more to work with. Sometimes people leave a group and don't really want to. (New job, having a baby, going off to college and simply lost interest in the subject matter are a few things I've noticed happened within my circle through the many years I've been online.)


If I can think of something more, I will definitely come back in here to leave a comment. Sorry, I have not been of any help so far. I hope your ideas work out the way you hope.

Bones

I know the feeling. My site is small, and not really rp either.

[Mixed]

Yes, I had tried. But very few check out that old site to get my notifications there (I had been staff). Plus the emails are old so I doubt any of those are active anymore.

Anyway, I believe that old site faded when the admin disappeared. Even as co-admin, I couldn't make up for her absence. I stayed as long as others checked in. I still had checked in (and do) even after. Then I had thought I'd try bringing it back. I wanted to get permission from the original admin, but it took a long while to get in contact with her. But, yes, I knew it was a long shot. Still I try. That's all I can do, right?

Also figured life changes as time goes on. It's all cool. I only hoped a few still had time and interest.

Thank you for your comments and suggestions thus far, Skidjit. All the best to you.