Is RPGuild dying?

[Syben]

RPG is like that nice, prestigious school your mother always wanted you to go to. Then an earthquake shook things up a bit (guildfall), and renovations are happening but you can still come here, still be with the same people, and still do the same things. It's not the same, but it's here.

"But I want fonts, and colors, and an easier life because.." Because a few of you are whining. Take the good, ignore the bad. Just because you don't see Mahz, or the modders, doesn't mean they're not around. You don't actually have to talk to Mahz, I mean you could. But it's not a need, it's a want. You want this, you want that. I have what I want.

Our little run down school of roleplay is still the same. Imagine if it closed for good, what would you do? Move on? Make new friends? But you'll always miss rpg, no matter how small, no matter how popular. I have been here a pretty long time. I've watched many things. But I don't post much outside of rp, hell I don't even have permanent friends like some of you do. Every roleplay I try to start, I succeed at starting, unfortunately things get in the way sometimes.

I have less that some of you, and more than some of you. But you no what? We're all pretty equal here. We like to roleplay, through writing. That should be good enough. Mahz will take care of himself, you should take care of yourself. So there are bugs, there are bugs in your bed to. Deal with them.

[Ermine]

I was just here. Saw it, got curious.

For clarity, I am also a member of Iwaku. I never "migrated to Iwaku" as ThatOneGuy put it. I was actually invited there by someone I RP with from a different site I ALSO RP on (Infrno; I'm a tabletop RPer). I'm still here, and I've been around...for quite a while. Depending who you ask, 2007 or 2009-10, and Iwaku 2011ish (and 2009-10ish for Infrno, not that it matters to this conversation). Awkwardness there.

Sure, I don't have any RPs going here, and I am in 4 (almost 6, 5 of which are 1x1s) on Iwaku, but that doesn't mean I'm not still loyal here. I'm just really active in their chat room and people like me there. Somewhat. At least some of them like me enough to be like "hey, you want to RP with me?" But you know what? About 90% of my Skype contacts are people I met here, on RpG. I RP with them nearly constantly over Skype (Have ongoing Numenera games with two of them). So while in your opinion, RpG is dying, it's not. AND EVEN IF Mahz decided to let it die (which I don't see happening; as Drakel said (in a weird, drawn-out way), this is his baby, though I'm pretty sure that wasn't the point being made), it wouldn't make any difference: people like me would still be RPing with THE SAME PEOPLE we RPed with here. Sure, Mahz should let people donate. But with no incentive to do so, people tend not to donate to things. Nor SHOULD there be incentive to donate. Also, some of us who WANT to donate, can't. Not that it has anything to do with my point: Mahz should set up an account or something (if he hasn't already) for that.

Okay, more coherent version of the same post: People who want to stay, stay. Even those who are inactive on the site can be active with the same people elsewhere and still maintain the community. And instead of complaining about how bad it is here, how about you support it a bit? Boobs'll sag without a bra. BE THE BRA. LET RpG BE YOUR BOOBS.

Also, I LIKE QQcode. I don't see the need for a ton of formatting and whatnot. You're RPing, not making a text-discotheque. Content is more important than appearance when it comes to text. RpG is not a coloring book, it is a REGULAR book. It's like Game of Thrones. Srsly. Also, some colors are quite garish.

[Madman]

All talk about Iwaku vs.RpG is annoying me.

Why not both?

[RBYDark]

Also gonna fall on the side of 'guild is not dying'. I first joined in 2008 or so, and some may recall a 4-day crash in '09, I believe. It may have been '08 but the point is, a lot of people didn't come back from that. Considering the actual fall wiped the guild out for a month, knocked the guild out from Google a bit, and we're still getting oldcomers coming back once in a while, I'd say this is pretty decent. A lot of people were lost, to be certain, but the Guild itself seems to continue to exhibit reliable activity in the main rp categories. I'm not sure if it's more than before the fall - since, keep in mind, some people had to restart rps and were also testing the guild's capacities and trying to reunite with old buddies at the beginning which may have inflated the average post count. It's hard to be certain if the guild's still doing well or is merely stable but failing without that data to consult.

That said, I sympathize with those who miss the BBcode. It was used frequently with reckless abandon, but it could also serve as a useful medium-painting tool. Sentences could be hidden, as opposed to merely struck out. The GM could depict the speech of a gigantic monster in a different, sharper font and even colored for increased contrast. Others with faint whispers could switch to smaller text (admittedly, I had a character who constantly sounded as though he was speaking through a muffler, and used smaller text to depict that he'd be hard to hear at times, without needing to constantly retype that his voice was so quiet, so you can accuse me of bias). Different font could indicate some quality about a voice that was simply off without rehashing the same adjectives or abusing a thesaurus, while using the default font could indicate a voice expected from another person. I've seen several books and rps using such effects for impressive results and won't fault anyone wishing to emulate them (a few literary examples: House of Leaves, The Neverending Story, 1984, Harry Potter). I won't be leaving the guild over the loss, but it's understandable why some may miss it.

I also can't help but wish Mahz would allow others to help. I understand why he would be reluctant, but it seems the issue that comes up most regarding the guild's survival is that complaints aren't answered fast enough and Mahz, who has to hold a job among other responsibilities of his own, can only dedicate so much time to his work and to debugging a site he effectively wrote from scratch. Pretty sure the members here are a patient bunch, but they (myself included) need both a responsive admin able to fix bugs and for Mahz to not suffer a mental collapse over the guild. Allowing for help either in the form of a reliable secondary debugger or donations could be workable solutions.

[Ermine]

Or EVEN MORE than both? I've been a member of all three of the sites I said up there pretty much the same amount of time. I actually was meaning to say that doesn't mean it's dying because people are on both.

[RomanTheEgo]

Ignore-

[Missy]

Unlike most folk posting in this thread, i am not a oldie of 20 years in the business or even a veteran of the RPGuild. Did however, exist here when the old Guild was still alive and i been here with the new. And i am just going to plainly state what i find to be obvious as the colour of the sky. This version of the RPGuild is NOT as good as the old.

Why do i hold this opinion? Well simple: The old Guild had a better code (Where is BBCode anyway?), a more solid UI, better conversation and PM system. These are all legit issues with the new site and i don't Think anyone who holds opinions like these should be slapped by the wet blanket of ''Shut up and enjoy your pie, you ungrateful Gaul''. No these issues are not driving me away from RPing at this site, but it is making it slower, more inconvenient and just plain harder.

But do i still RP here? Yes. Will i go on hosting my games here? Certainly. But its not as good as it used to be. If the issues however, could and will be ironed out I’ll happily return to RPing just as much as in what i precede to be the Guilds heyday.

[Cath]

I like it here. I think its... quirky.

[AlteredTundra]

I'm actually glad there isn't no font or color features. Always made shit an eyerape at times. As for the guild dying or whatever, I don't think it is. The stats are there if you want to refer to them. Or just stroll through any of the sections and you'll find activity ranging from the bare minimum to unbelievable maximum.

[Missy]

Altered Tundra said
I'm actually glad there isn't no font or color features. Always made shit an eyerape at times.

At times yes, but at other times they where very, very nice.

[Sep]

Missy said
At times yes, but at other times they where very, very nice.

Depends, when people do it to signify characters speaking and you're partly colour blind it was a bitch. Not to mention sometimes I couldn't actually read the text on the grey background and had to highlight it :P

I actually think this thread should be closed IMO. People are complaining about people leaving, saying where they're going. Making more people look there. Mahz is trying his best, this isn't any other site. This is Roleplayer Guild, Mahz does things his way. I may not like it either when it goes down now and then but it is Mahzs, it his site and he gets to chose how it's done.

If you don't like it, quit your bitching and go.

I'll admit, some things I don't like. But in terms of the PM threads I like, the IC and OOC on the same bit I like too. Makes things easier to manage as a GM. The only thing I miss is the group system though hopefully that will show up at some point.

If you want to be here, stay here. Be supportive, point out bugs put forth suggestions and help people. Maybe now and then if you see something that can be useful to Mahz put it somewhere.

Be more constructive about your criticisms :P

[Missy]

Sep said
Be more constructive about your criticisms :P

How in the name of the goat god i worship, is ''Here are the issues, they are not that bad but they are here'' being antagonistic or un-constructive? This is exactly what i talked about, that what you call ''bitching'' is a way to push away issues and never do anything about it. This thread has very legit complains and trying to label it as bitch is just plain being an idiot. And a ignorant idiot that.
''If you don't like it, quit your bitching and go'' is the kind of thinking that leads to plain old death of forums like these. Cause if issues aren’t addressed people will pack up and migrate to another site. something that nobody wants.

[Sep]

Missy said
How in the name of the goat god i worship, is ''Here are the issues, they are not that bad but they are here'' being antagonistic or un-constructive? This is exactly what i talked about, that what you call ''bitching'' is a way to push away issues and never do anything about it. This thread has very legit complains and trying to label it as bitch is just plain being an idiot. And a ignorant idiot that.''If you don't like it, quit your bitching and go'' is the kind of thinking that leads to plain old death of forums like these. Cause if issues aren’t addressed people will pack up and migrate to another site. something that nobody wants.

That part wasn't pointed at you.

But it is true, these issues have all been brought forward time and time again to the Mods and such. Raising it again here, and there have been people in this thread who have blatantly bitched.

But that's enough from me here. I've said what I had to say.

[CupcakePuppy]

I been here for a little while now and was part of the old guild before it went kaput. I don't see things as all doom and gloom, this place is on the decline, etc etc. HOWEVER the one thing I will say is that there does need to be better/more consistent communication about things that need to be worked on, what is/is not possible, and the like.

I totally get that Mahz is a busy bee, and am very thankfully he is keeping this place up and running as a place for people to come to talk and roleplay. However I also kind of wish he could partner with someone that he can trust that can serve as an ambassador or something to things that are being worked on, changes that are being implemented, etc. Someone that can more regularly keep the members of RPGuild informed and not give off the feeling that while this place has not been abandoned per se, but that there is at least someone (one or more) that are dedicated to working on the issues that need fixing, updates, etc.

[Frettzo]

A few months ago, there was this "RPG doesn't have any formatting at all" problem in my PC. I contacted Mahz, even though he seemed missing at the time. And surprise surprise, he replied and helped me! Ever since then, the problem is gone.

Was it luck? maybe? Was Mahz awesome back then? Pretty much, yeah.

The guild may not be as active or as big as before, but its certainly conserved its personality. We can still do the same things we did before guildfall with only a few changes that, in honest to heaven truth, are not palpable. You could go and say that the Guild is dying, but I see it as a... Renovation of sorts. A lot of the old, experienced writers have left and they've been replaced by new writers. New writers who happen to be as friendly and as active as the old ones were in their prime.

Where did the old writers go? I dunno, I like to think that many of them decided to try their hand at traditional writing and got themselves published.

My point is: Even though it seems like Mahz and the moderators are gone, they're still there. If you've got a serious problem, they'll help you in any way they can and will respond to you as quickly as possible.

[MetaRex]

Roleplayer Guild!

Iwaku is okay, I guess.

[Vash]

RPG will be here now and until time stops. End of story. I doubt it will ever truly be dead. Everybody else will feck off and be replaced and the cycle will continue until Maz says screw it.

I have faith in Mahz. He'll get it done. Eventually. Not today, not tomorrow. Hell. Probably not this year. But he'll get it done, or he'll shut the place down due to idiots erasing the server after a single missed payment, compewtal gleech, or he simply loses hope as the people that he's seen grow with the site fight and bicker and bitch over the dumbest of subjects.

Either way, Mahz'll get it done, as he always has, and always will.

Also, Iwaku has editing functions and fancy shmancy adult boards where you can go read smut created by horny teenagers/adults. Whoopdie doo.

[MetaRex]

It does?

When I read that, it sounds.. pathetically suspicious.

[Vash]

MetaRex said
It does?When I read that, it sounds.. pathetically suspicious.

Yeah. They're really open about their adult boards. The site tries to cater to every taste it can. Doesn't have the same...erm..."moxie" that RPG has though. However, if I started my RP history there, I suppose my opinion would be reversed, but eh.

Also, adult smut-writers can't mingle with under-age smut writers in standard boards. Pms are open season though, as it is with RPG.

[MetaRex]

I see.