What makes an rp successful?

[Razqua]

I'm sure this has already been discussed many times but what exactly makes an rp successful? How do you get people to stick around for more than a short time. Both in rps Ive hosted and ones Ive been a part of it always seems like they die off quickly. People seem to lose interest and stop posting. It doesn't seem to matter what the rp is about or if you even directly state that you want dedicated players. People just seem to slack off and leave. Is there some secret to making an rp work or is it just luck?

[sarinstrdr]

In my experience it takes lots of planning dedication and a good rp community. Luck helps though.

[Razqua]

So how does one attract a "good rp community"? Should you look into peoples previous history on the site before accepting them?

[Ellri]

If there had been a clear formula for success, it would have been very valuable. However, one element for success is to have people you mesh well with. People who think somewhat alike to how you think. Checking the history of the people your RP with is also a good idea. For example, some people will be very skittish, easily jumping between RPs. What you want for a long-lasting RP is people that stick around no matter what happens. Unfortunately, those aren't always easy to find. after all that comes the stuff like making sure the RP is capable of running long, that the players and player characters fit well together.

[sarinstrdr]

So how does one attract a "good rp community"? Should you look into peoples previous history on the site before accepting them?

Razqua

I am not quite certain the last site I was on kinda spoiled me in this matter it was specific to one lore and that made it pretty easy to find people who were interested in a specific rp and most were experienced enough rpers to help carry on the good ideas but as most of them went inactive and newer less experienced rpers came in the quality of rps evaporated almost and then the rp section died off. It resembled this forum near its end lol so I am not so faithful in terms of rps here.

[Jig]

Did you enjoy it? Successful. Did you not enjoy it? Unsuccessful.

[Razqua]

Did you enjoy it? Successful. Did you not enjoy it? Unsuccessful.

Jig

Well by successful I was more thinking along the lines of it not dying quickly. I enjoy every rp I'm in but id it dies off before the story goes anywhere then it's extremely disappointing.

[Dinh AaronMk]

Magic fairy powder makes an RP successful.

[vancexentan]

dedication that's all.

[NuttsnBolts]

I believe it comes down to the members in all honesty. A group of dedicated people will always produce something worthwhile, whereas people that aren't dedicated will cause any RP to fall apart.

[Gwazi Magnum]

It reliant on the people mainly. You need loyal and dedicated people. You also need to have a good community among everyone, so they want to stay. Just one aggressive/hostile relation can be enough to divide a group and make it fall apart.

[Robeatics]

I'm seeing a lot of people talk about the players, and it's all really sound advice, but I think the longevity of RPs, most especially in the beginning stages, relies upon the GM, the GM's discretion and the GM's pacing. Many people try to hype up their RPs as much as possible and put the cart before the horse so much so that people lose interest after the initial excitement and drop off when the setting, plot or whatever doesn't meet the supremely high bar the GM has set. Start at a moderate pace to let the players get their bearings, but don't wait too long for the hook, or else you will get impatient people dropping off. GMing is all about vigilance and flexibility. If the GM, while things are starting up, can't answer questions swiftly, post as expected or has to be summoned from the depths of Tartarus to commune with--simply, not showing to their players that they are willing or able to put in as much effort as they can to make the RP work, players will pick up on that and drop it before they get attached. But then again, it's also total luck and being able to deal with player wipeouts. Accidents happen, computers have to be replaced, internet connections go out, people get swamped with work or blindsided by writer's block. You, any co-GMs and the players must be prepared for that to happen and have the capacity to operate as normally, or at least chug along at an appropriate pace until the missing limbs can return. If not, be prepared to at least open up for more, newer players (That has a danger all its own, of course--an RP I was in before Guildfall lasted over a year and died because veterans dropped off and newcomers piled on in big muddled droves. Choose your newcomers wisely and frugally). Both for the benefit of newcomers and returning players, as well as to keep everything in order and have plenty of unresolved plot points to go back to in times of need, try to keep up with a recap page. Put it in a passworded doc for a co-GM or even the players to add on to, but keep it concise and only as detailed as it needs to be. I know it would be a bit of a hassle, but in the long run, it could save RPs or provide interesting fodder for plot development. So there's my two cents, mostly from other peoples' advice as well as things I've discovered through both GMing and participating in many, many RPs. Another extra tidbit: Know when to quit, when to reboot and when to salvage. It'll save you time, energy and stress.

[Keyguyperson]

Magic fairy powder makes an RP successful.

@Dinh AaronMk

I can confirm this.

[Razqua]

Magic fairy powder makes an RP successful.

@Dinh AaronMk

I can confirm this.

@Keyguyperson

I should get me some of that.

[Keyguyperson]

Magic fairy powder makes an RP successful.

@Dinh AaronMk

I can confirm this.

@Keyguyperson

I should get me some of that.

@Razqua

Yeah, it's good stuff.

[TJByrum]

I also think a RP is more successful when the characters and the RP itself really comes together as one. When a player feels the character has connected to the roleplay, and takes an interest in the potential consequences (whether good or bad), I think they're more likely to want to keep going. Of course, you'll need a good community. It's great to see player-characters actively engaged with other player-characters. And don't forgot a good GM - and that is something I am not.

[Darcs]

Has there ever even been a successful RP? Like ever?

[The Mage]

Has there ever even been a successful RP? Like ever?

@Darcs

like they said, it depends on the people you have in the community and such. I happen to have 2 good 1X1 RPs on another site and the oldest one has been going on for 2 YEARS!(It did have about 2 periods of no posting, but it didn't stop us from kicking the roleplay back to life :3) From my personal experience I'd say that the more watered down you make the RP on details it attracts HUNDREDS. which is sad, very sad.

[Dinh AaronMk]

Has there ever even been a successful RP? Like ever?

@Darcs

Precipice of War. Four years old as of earlier this month and about to be a year here.

[Darkraven]

Has there ever even been a successful RP? Like ever?

@Darcs

Just a few that I know here. That makes the survival rate of RPs close to nil. To know what makes RPs successful, we need to know what would cause them to crash. The reason hy RPs have almost no chance to survive is because there are so, so many things that could go wrong. I'll list a few. Literary - RPs are unlike novels, which has a single author with a single vision. Go too far from this, and an RP dies due to lack of direction. - There is no set goal but to have fun and tell a good campfire story. - The internet happened, that's what. 12 year old kids have just as much power as a 24 year old. Anonymity. Anarchy. Anything goes. And all that nazi talk. - RPs are far less prestigious forms of literature than novels. Novels get published, gets sold. The authors get a paycheck, recognition. Personal - Real life happens all the time. - RPs require alot of dedication, almost as much as writing a novel. How many true writers there are in the world is pretty much how many true roleplayers there are in the world. - RPs require people of mature and good character to be successful. - Conflict happens all the time, to the best of us. RP Specific - The roleplay needs good direction and planning. Otherwise, it falls flat. - It needs a good GM. - It needs good members, so it's the above category multiplied by how many members there are. - It needs good rules and people to follow them. And I'm very sure all this is just the tip of an iceberg.