RP's That..Don't Make It

[Jannah]

Sgtklum, you may be right. I have tried a few original plot ideas of my own. They never get very far, but that could partially be because I'm shit at coming up with intriguing plots.

[Hagazussa]

Roleplays I've run have died mainly not because of lack of interest at all. I've had a wildly enthusiastic and excited player group, eagerly posting characters and a lot of back-and-forth chat in the OOC about the upcoming game, the game universe, and whatever else they're doing... and then all at once, everything will stop abruptly because of something completely outside of the game. Usually related to school/college/uni/whatever, and then none of them will come back afterward.

I have had this problem allot as well, very enthusiastic players who have just then dropped out of the game for some real life reason. I do however think that one of the biggest troubles is that many are seeking instant gratification. If a game is taking any time to build up, then often players will drop of, if the GM is sick for three days and can not post, then players will drop of, if the game is going a little slow for a few days, then players will drop of. I am often feeling like I do when I try to start a cow run in Diablo 2 when starting new RPGs on this site that unless things is happening at once, and constantly then players will drop of, that the problem is that many lack any patience and so games get rushed and then they get less interested and you end up in a damned if you do, damned if you don't kind of scenario where if you do not rush the game then your players will get tired of waiting for the good things to happen in a few days, and if you do rush your game the storyline ends up less interesting and the players will leave anyway.

[Phaelin]

I said Other because a lot of mine ended with in-fighting. Bastards.

[Brovo]

I said Other because a lot of mine ended with in-fighting. Bastards.

Sounds like fun.

[Dredigan]

I believe that a strong point in the fact that many roleplays don't make it is that in many cases the story is set in stone. If the GM says we're gonna go get this but fail and find this instead, then take it to this place and kill the badguy, it's not suspenseful. You know what's gonna happen and regardless of any plot twists you know where it will end up so why bother? I'm personally a fan of Sandbox rp's with a basic idea and problem in a big world that players just need to solve. I also like it when characters CAN and DO die. I don't want 3 people to stand still and fight off 600 master-chiefs with seven long sticks. I like to have to worry.

[Mezma]

Pointless plots NEVER make sense to me. And that's why they're pointless.

As for players having no interest... you can get new players and continue the RP if the plot is stoneground and good enough. However that was my 2nd choice after no good plots.

[Hellis]

Well I just lost one of my best players =(. Luckily I had a plan just in case but It reminded me that you never know,

[Grayink]

confusin

[Mr Odin]

I think finding the right players for the right story is what keeps a thread going for the long term. Complexity can be a bad thing if your players want the freedom to mold the world around their characters (a sign that they may be a budding GM). However, if you have an established world with depth, history, locations, etc... verging on the level of cannon, that may not be a bad thing if you find the players that want to operate within that structure and become a part of it.

I am running a story now that I would consider complex and one that I am consistently loading background information into... creating a group specifically to be a reference for the world I am using. It is going well so far (I hope that is not a jinx) because the players that were recruited understand and enjoy the multiple facets of that world and being a part of it while slowly, thorough plot development, becoming influential points of the worlds history.

On the flip side of that coin some players may only stay interested if they can have a hand in directly shaping that world around them, for me, personally, that's a bit too chaotic but for many people it seems to work. I think what I am trying to get at is that... it is a GM's responsibility, IMO, to create a setting with enough structure and plot hookage to drive continued posting but at the same time leave enough lead on the leash so the players can contribute to the world and become more than a blip on the radar.

[Crazy Scion]

OK, from everything I read interest is an obvious problem, and long lasting interest seems to be the hardest thing to do without all the right elements coming together.

Since this thread asks my reasons for leaving an RP I will try to explain them. I've been told I have some what of a Doctor Who like style. I drop into a world and find a companion, and I will stay with that companion until they leave, or I burn out. Unfortunately my companion leaving happens more often. I'm not good at plot, so I choose to invest in characters to keep me motivated. That's why I seek out companions. As far as plot goes I am the type to like to influence the world, but not have control over it like a GM.

Wow I feel like I making a resume. Incidentally, again like a lot of people I'm bored as hell, since my last two RP's burned to the ground, and would like to join an RP.