Concerns as a potential GM - could use some advice.

[Nerendier]

I guess I just need some advice. I’ve been lurking for a while and have yet to find an RP that tickles my fancy (at least one that seems accessible to new players). And even when I do find a roleplay, it just dies, usually within a week. Or they make one post and nothing else.
Now here’s my issue. I have a pretty hectic life. I work more than most. I typically don’t have time to post during work. And sometimes, when I come home from work, I really am not in the mood to roleplay, and if I force myself to, the quality of work often diminishes significantly. Which in turn causes me to really dislike the roleplay or my characters in the roleplay.
However, I find myself really interested in designing worlds and characters for a roleplay. But, due to my limited schedule I find that I just can’t put in the time to actually host an RP. I’ve tried a couple of times with a co-host who has every major plot point, and the general direction/storyline that I want to go. But that, unfortunately, brings me back to issue one, inactivity of a playerbase, where my co-host simply up and leaves.
Unfortunately, all these issues seem to add up to sporadic activity for me, and as a GM, it’s tough to have players stay with me. I usually feel pretty disappointed if I lose players as, most of the time, the major plot point hasn’t been hit in the story. Even when I’m just in the RP as a player, my characters usually have this big reveal that makes them something more than what they appear, and I rarely, if ever get to that point.
In the rare event that it continues, the story moves along what can only be described as a glacial pace.

Basically, I’m asking if anyone has experienced these issues, and I’d like any advice that you can give.


Additionally, I tend to enjoy fantasy, usually low or dark in nature, and may, in the near future, try my hand at GMing again.

[vancexentan]

Honestly boss if you don't have time to GM you shouldn't run a roleplay in my opinion. It's all well and good but a gm is needed to advance everything unless you give a lot of control to a Co-GM then it will die off quickly. Likewise there will be times where people don't want to post themselves and then you find yourself busy.

The only reasons my own personal rp's fail is that people fail to see past the boring starts and wait until I can actually spring events into action allowing things to get interesting. I personally find fast paced roleplays distasteful due to the nature of them normally lacking character development at the start and letting people ease into the character. In my mind a roleplay needs a slow start, a rising start, and a quick end just like a book but so many people who do this as a hobby simply don't want to and or don't feel the way I do.

My personal opinion if you're really into stuff trying out 1x1 roleplays will prevent you from having to worry about more than one person and losing the mass with the acceptance that you will be playing with only that one person.

That's just my say and you could completely disagree with me but that's my two cents take it as you will.

[Nerendier]

One of the things that I have been considering would be to basically design a roleplay that I would want to play in, and basically search for a GM that would want to take the reigns completely, and just be a player in the RP. Basically design the world and see if anyone wants to take it over for me. I wonder how that would pan out.

[vancexentan]

It would have to be someone pretty dedicated I would never personally ask anyone to take over my roleplays unless I absolutely had to and or design a roleplay and have someone do it themselves with me as a roleplayer unless the person specifically requested it of me and it was a person whom I know had a talent for roleplaying and or is dedicated like my friend Arthanus whom has been playing the same roleplay with me for over a year now.

[Innue]

It is a challenge. It too share your frustration in finding stuff that fits my tastes that I think will last long enough that it is worth doing a bio for. That is why I stuck to GMing for a long time - especially given that there are a few GMs that I trust. Sometimes though, if you just need that design outlet, there is no shame in designing something and then releasing it (sink or swim). If it survives, great, if it doesn't, oh well. Part of it will come down to you being willing to let the project fail if it fails without letting it dishearten you. You can always, always pick it back up. I used to struggle with this frustration, but I've learned to move past it and just enjoy what I can from it.

I would more than welcome you to participate in my roleplay in the offchance it strikes your fancy. It crosses a number of genres and we've been doing this thread off and on for over 8 years now. We are at a fresh restart right now (although we make sure it can always add players without making them feel left behind), so it'd be a good time to check it out.

And, if you really just want a creative outlet for designing characters, worlds, etc, we did lose one of our main designers for this cycle. If you are as passionate as you say you are, we could maybe have you participate on that front primarily and do things at a more manageable pace for you IC (providing your design style fits with us). You can always catch me on the IRC or just shoot me a PM if you want to talk about it. ^.^

Here.

[BingTheWing]

Nerendler, I personally think that what makes an RP go is to let the creative juices flow. (Dat rhymed.) Usually, I wouldn't put too much strain and effort on restrictions, history, magic and technology, races, nations, etc, because that limits a player to what YOU only have created. The players appreciate it better if you just let them fly. An example is my currently thriving RP down in my banner.

@Innue, checkin' it out.

[Nerendier]

BingTheWing said
Nerendler, I personally think that what makes an RP go is to let the creative juices flow. (Dat rhymed.) Usually, I wouldn't put too much strain and effort on restrictions, history, magic and technology, races, nations, etc, because that limits a player to what YOU only have created. The players appreciate it better if you just let them fly. An example is my currently thriving RP down in my banner.@Innue, checkin' it out.

Well, I rarely ever completely restrict things like that. I always have a section of example races, their historical significance and characteristics. However, I always put in a part where I say, "If you have an idea for something that's not on here, great, tell me about it and I'll see if it fits."

The roleplays I've done I've rarely ever turned down someone else's design. The most notable exception is when I made a dark low-fantasy setting and somebody wanted to be a flying koala-bear mage. Yea, that got turned down real quick.

Innue said
It is a challenge. It too share your frustration in finding stuff that fits my tastes that I think will last long enough that it is worth doing a bio for. That is why I stuck to GMing for a long time - especially given that there are a few GMs that I trust. Sometimes though, if you just need that design outlet, there is no shame in designing something and then releasing it (sink or swim). If it survives, great, if it doesn't, oh well. Part of it will come down to you being willing to let the project fail if it fails without letting it dishearten you. You can always, always pick it back up. I used to struggle with this frustration, but I've learned to move past it and just enjoy what I can from it.I would more than welcome you to participate in my roleplay in the offchance it strikes your fancy. It crosses a number of genres and we've been doing this thread off and on for over 8 years now. We are at a fresh restart right now (although we make sure it can always add players without making them feel left behind), so it'd be a good time to check it out.And, if you really just want a creative outlet for designing characters, worlds, etc, we did lose one of our main designers for this cycle. If you are as passionate as you say you are, we could maybe have you participate on that front primarily and do things at a more manageable pace for you IC (providing your design style fits with us). You can always catch me on the IRC or just shoot me a PM if you want to talk about it. ^.^

I'll definitely be looking into that within the next little while.

[Mirandae]

I would recommend that you read this. It's a 'guide' that highlights the differences between roleplaying and writing (or reading a book). They are not the same thing, not even in the same ballpark. It also talks about pacing and basic story structure, which if you follow, will make things easier for you. I've been thinking about writing my own article that highlights thinking and writing techniques for people who don't have the time or whose muse won't cooperate.

[Gowi]

Unfortunately, all these issues seem to add up to sporadic activity for me, and as a GM, it’s tough to have players stay with me. I usually feel pretty disappointed if I lose players as, most of the time, the major plot point hasn’t been hit in the story. Even when I’m just in the RP as a player, my characters usually have this big reveal that makes them something more than what they appear, and I rarely, if ever get to that point.
In the rare event that it continues, the story moves along what can only be described as a glacial pace.

It’s hard to combat inactivity, if people lose interest or they have a ‘real life’ obligation then that is really hard to combat. Of course, I feel disappointed when people drop but for me in the past it’s been my activity or lack of immediacy that has made players drop my roleplay and go searching for something else.

One of the things that I have been considering would be to basically design a roleplay that I would want to play in, and basically search for a GM that would want to take the reigns completely, and just be a player in the RP. Basically design the world and see if anyone wants to take it over for me. I wonder how that would pan out.

Your biggest challenge to do this would be to find a co-GM before you even have an interest check up and not hand over your world but build a setting that both of you are excited about. I’ve done this a few times and it can come up pretty interestingly but the big thing is have somebody familiar, who is interested, and helped build the setting you want to play in.