Frustrating new trend?

[Nydie]

This is mostly regarding 1x1 requests.

Lately I've been noticing a pattern that is rather annoying. I see a request for a 1x1, send a PM to discuss the plot and work out all the details, everything is working out well, and then it comes time for the first post. Normally, if I came up with most of the ideas for the plot I will offer to do the first post. That gets finished, and I wait. And wait. And wait some more. Meanwhile days have passed with my post sitting untouched and filling up space in my inbox, and my supposed partner never to be seen from again. It's to the point now that I don't even want to put any effort into posting because I feel like it's a complete waste of time! It's rather depressing, especially when I'm responding to someone else's request.

Am I the only one that's been dealing with this?

[Genkai]

i don't see this as "new" or strictly seen in one on ones.

People tend to flake out or lose interest and the worst part is, they don't have the balls to fix it or at least give someone a proper heads up. I don't think it's a "trend" as much it's just humans being humans. Communication usually fixes these issues but if one person just refuses to talk about why they're no longer interested or why they're ignoring someone after getting someone's hopes up, it's better to move on. Waiting doesn't do much, I'm afraid, it's better to be proactive and reach out to someone who's being a dick rude, than to want them to suddenly look in your direction. Sometimes people get intimated when it comes to starting the story or their interest has waned. There are many reason why people do this but if both parties (in one on ones or in groups with the GM and problem player) can't come together, it's best to shrug and carry on. I'm rambling and reiterating here now.

All in all, it happens more often than it should.

But it's something you just have to get used to. People are finicky creatures and are hard to please. Communication to ensure everyone is on the same page, and happy, is the only solution I have but there's no use forcing something if not everyone is on board. *shrugs* Good luck, though.

[Eden]

I thought it was normal. At least that's what my experience has been. Out of the four role-plays I have tried to start, only one of them made it past the first two or three posts.

[Ellri]

That sounds a lot like player incompatibility. Or errors in RP design. Or Something else.
Still, 1/4 isn't a horrible ratio if that one is one that lasts.

[Captain Jordan]

This is the main reason I don't like 1x1s. If someone flakes out, the game is done.

At least with group RPs, if one goes, there's a better chance of the story staying together. Even if it's the GM that goes, if the story is fun and others want to continue, there's a chance it won't die.

[Foster]

Nydie said
This is mostly regarding 1x1 requests.
. <--- This period is more of a response I got than from anyone I've contacted this week
Am I the only one that's been dealing with this?

Now immagine getting that same feeling, but despite the fact they gave a few short replies to humor you.

[kryusa]

Yeah, this has been happening a lot to me lately as well. ;o;

I dunno, maybe my writing is just extremely shitty and they lose interest fast or something lolz

I just wish they would tell me if they weren't interested anymore, that way I'm not waiting for their reply weeks on end. I do from time to time contact the other person through another message, but I just feel like I'm bothering them. I don't want to be that person who nags, haha.

[akela]

Oh my I thought it was just me!! This has happened to me on the last about 5 rps I've tried to start. I put up a post and they disappear. Not just from me but the entire site, I never see them post anywhere and they never respond. It's the strangest thing, I've never had it happen to me so frequently. Ever.

It's incredibly frustrating because I go through so much trouble with a stupid into for nothing. And I hate doing intos. Anyway it makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong...I know I'm not the best writer but come on, this frequent?

[Pfroggy1]

Yeah it's frustrating, we need a way to know if, and when, the last time the person viewed the message was and then we'll know.

[Drache]

I admit that I have flaked out on a few RPs. But I try my best to send a message to the person to at least let them know why. Sometimes I find that I have too many RPs going at once and when I get home from work at night I don't have the time to make a decent post for each of them. Personally, I feel that it is better to stop a game than try to keep it going with half-assed posts. It's not fair to the other person to do that.

Sometimes I spend a lot of time developing a plot with someone and everything is going great and then after a few posts it turns out that in spite of us agreeing on the plot and creating a wonderful concept, their playing style is just doesn't mesh with mine. It's no one's fault, but it happens more often then you might think. Even then, I try to at least give the person a polite message telling them I don't wish to continue.

I agree that it's frustrating when people disappear randomly. I'd rather someone tell me that I'm a shitty RPer and that they don't want to play with me anymore than to just sit and wonder wtf happened.

[akela]

I get disappearing or flaking. What I DON'T get is when we talk it all out and nothing happens. Like, they disappear before they even post. Or maybe after one.

Cause like you said, sometimes it just doesn't work out. I know people that are great writers, but our styles just wouldn't work. For example, I've tried a few awesome action filled rps, and I WANT to love it, that's why I start it, but then I end up having to quit because I suck at all action, no thoughts and drama. I get quitting...but not RIGHT when we finally worked all the boring details out :(

[Lotrix Molick]

I have never had a good 1x1 RP set-up. That being said, it tends towards the problem of lacking sufficient pacing. However, I did leave one RP, on relatively bad terms, after the other person said they expected a post from me more than 1-2 times per day. I explained that I am not a rapid fire poster. I think about my post and take my time to get it to what I desire. So, in that case, the style meshed so badly that the RP never had a chance.

So, I see both sides here. Some people post slow. Others fast. That being said, it would be nice to have two 1x1 sections to show this point so fast posters can look for other fast posters and slower posters can do the same. Another thing that would be nice is a private thread system. I for one sometimes don't notice a PM since the system does not provide sufficient alert.

[Drache]

I agree with you Unseen. I tend to do a lot of private playing, both because I enjoy mature themed RP but am not always comfortable playing mature themes out in the open where they could potentially bother other people, and because in the past some of my material has actually been stolen and used elsewhere without my consent.

If I might make a suggestion, if you utilized interest checks to find partners, perhaps you could add in your description that you can only commit to one post per day or whatever you feel your limit might be. If the pace of RP seems to be a problem, clarify that point with people right away. I can definitely see pacing being a problem, but luckily I haven't had that issue myself (yet).

[Pachamac]

UnseenShade said
That being said, it would be nice to have two 1x1 sections to show this point so fast posters can look for other fast posters and slower posters can do the same. Another thing that would be nice is a private thread system. I for one sometimes don't notice a PM since the system does not provide sufficient alert.

I don't really think have two 1x1 sections is really neccessary, although it would certainly be helpful if more people advertised when looking for interest their expected posting requirements in order to avoid this kind of situation. It should be one of the first things discussed between players.

As for searching other players in this way, I've suggested as well for whenever we get a 'tag' system that would allow users to search through rps based on tags such as genres etc, that posting frequency be one, since I do share your sympathies there.

With regards to pms, it'd be nice if there could be a notice indicating you have a new PM. So far there's a number tally by the PM function, but it can be easy to miss new pms coming in.

As to the topic on hand, it's frustrating but some people do simply have a lack of courtesy or consideration towards others. Dropping out of an rp is always annoying, but not informing the other player/s is twice as bad. It isn't hard just to send a simple message letting the other party know.

[Foster]

akela said
I get disappearing or flaking. What I DON'T get is when we talk it all out and nothing happens. Like, they disappear before they even post. Or maybe after one. Cause like you said, sometimes it just doesn't work out. I know people that are great writers, but our styles just wouldn't work. For example, I've tried a few awesome action filled rps, and I WANT to love it, that's why I start it, but then I end up having to quit because I suck at all action, no thoughts and drama. I get quitting...but not RIGHT when we finally worked all the boring details out :(

19th century names are hard.

*settles for Jack McFinn.

[Lotrix Molick]

I like Pachamac's idea with tags. I also like the proposed idea from Drache about stating specific posting pace in interest checks. I usually see a rate of "often" and can't make heads or tails of it.

[Kaga]

Captain Jordan said
This is the main reason I don't like 1x1s. If someone flakes out, the game is done. At least with group RPs, if one goes, there's a better chance of the story staying together. Even if it's the GM that goes, if the story is fun and others want to continue, there's a chance it won't die.

I'll second this. It's the reason why I'm rarely comfortable doing 1x1's.

I've done group RP's long enough to know that drop-outs are just a part of the game. They're pretty much inevitable. But, experience has left me fairly confident in my ability to work around player absences and keep the story moving, so long as there are still enough players remaining to run an RP. But with a 1x1, you can't do that. You're relying entirely on one person whom you've presumably just met and whose RPing styles and habits you don't know yet. The whole thing just feels... unstable, to me. Like a jenga tower supported by only a single block on the bottom row.

In a group RP, there's almost always one person who has to drop out right when the IC starts. But at least all your hard work doesn't go to waste because of them.

[Lozen]

I love 1x1's but that's definitely one of the drawbacks. I've never had a problem telling someone "i'm not feeling your style" or "this game isn't doing it for my muse" but there are other people who don't. I don't think they're necessarily being mean; I think sometimes people just think "well if I leave it for a bit, maybe I'll get inspired" and then underestimate their lack of interest either in the other person's writing style, or the game itself, then they take too long, get embarrassed, and don't bring it up.