This topic pops up every now and then, and we feel its been a while since last time.

Interest checks. There are a thousand and one recipes for them. But what do you look for in one?

Fancy pictures? P(r)etty formatting? Goblins? Bullet points? Sparkly vampires? Simple, short descriptions? Long, elaborate storylines?

What works best on you?

Good formatting. If you have the time to colour headings, list dot points and add hides then you're showing that you're willing to do the work to make an RP flow.

And then there's an easy example of the theme. Just saying "fantasy" or "sci-fi" will cover so much in the variation department and when I'm looking for an RP to join I'm usually looking for a set style with certain attributes.

I like it when people list lots of options and are explicit about what they enjoy/look for in a roleplay. I also tend to try to feel out the poster's personality to judge whether I want to spend time writing with them ;3

I like to bash my head on the keyboard until things happen to build up fluff and pomp and to make the thread look more thought out then it is. I'll only include a paragraph of loose information on top, because that's all everyone reads.

I just type a bunch of shit and hope for the best. Occasionally I just go in and post an OOC instead of trying to check for interest.

Also have considered just repeatably reusing the same RP every month it dies to keep drumming up interest. Might work, dunno if others tried that.

An idea randomly pops into my head (probably got it from an offhand comment someone made), and I take a sledgehammer to my keyboard with the idea in my mind. Through the use of magic, the sledgehammer ends up typing something related to the idea, and then I post it without a second thought. All the shit in my house's septic system is digitized and transported into the internet where it is added into my interest check (think of it as the sprinkles a five year old kid puts on his broccoli, lots of it, and it just makes things worse). This becomes the end product, which is seen by people who look at my one successful roleplay and say "Two thousand posts is a lot, he's probably just bad with interest checks." and post "Totes interested". A month later, I remember that the interest check section exists, and I let it fade into obscurity because I feel so shamed.

Good Formatting: If I click on the Interest Check, and its plain looking, uniform paragraphs I just back out. Just not appealing. On the other side, if its too much make up, its unappealing.

Also a good description of what the RP is, and what the GM is looking for - so I know if I can meet both sets of standards.

Something that allows the players to control things. Broad,yes. Trues, yes. A good use of imagery also tickles meh fancy.