Forums » RP Discussion » The RPer Dilemma

Don't mind me, just gonna state a few things and opinions on here and see if anyone feels the same. I'm might sound like a bit of a butt, but I do believe it needed to be taken notice of.

So, multiple times, I've proposed an RP on LFRP forum, got some interest in a few players, made the RP, state it exists in the original thread with a link, and maybe only one, or half of the original people who shown interest in it actually post in it over the course of three or more days. Now mind you, I provide EVERYTHING needed in order to make a proper character introduction or post, but still, the problem arises. And then I have to scrap the entire thing because not enough players joined, move it to pms with the people who actually posted, or re-open it and attempt to try to get it back off the ground either sooner or later.

Yes, I do indeed understand that some people can only post about once a week or so, but usually they tell you about their hectic or sluggish schedules before-hand so you know what to expect, yes? As well as people like that mainly do 1x1's, where as I do group RPs. But, the problem still persists one way or another. It's like, an hour ago they were active, and then three days later it's nothing but radio silence from them. Like, I am not alone in this right? Do other people experience this? Or is there something wrong with me and I'm just a bad GM?

I have a confession to make, and that is : I have never completed an RP with a group before on here. Primarily due to the reason above, as well as the RPs I'm in usually end up dying or become inactive. (at least not any legitimate ones.) Not. Even. Once. It never happens, I can never get to the end of one at all. And truthfully I'm getting pretty sick of it. So, I thought why not say something about it? Surely, there are other people who are also noticing these things, right?

Maybe people just need to be reminded that it's not cool to just ditch RPs or something at the last second? Or maybe say something about your current situation if you need to back out or can't continue with it? I mean for pete's sake just say something! Even something as rash as "Hey, I'm not gonna join/can't continue, bye!" will suffice, just so that I know to see if another person wants to take your place before I kick off the RP Thread. Also, the rate at which RPs have been dying lately has been flippin' enormous! Anyone else notice that?

Well, I got that off my chest. Eh... I'm gonna go ferr now. Bye.

Also, general words of wisdom. . : "If you can't post in an RP, tell the GM. If you have to leave, tell the GM." "An RP can't die if you keep posting."

...*raises hand* I've noticed this. I've noticed this a lot, even with my minimal RPs. A lot of people just keep dropping when they don't show any interest anymore or they get too busy and forget RPR exists. The latter is fine and understandable because life happens, things happen, computers/phones break, internet gets cut off, and most times we can't control when, how, and why that happens. However, what I've noticed is that some of the people that I assume are busy still show up in the forums every so often and ask for RP even though they haven't contacted me for months, which feels kind of insulting.

It's just... If you're not interested for whatever reason, tell me. If my characters or the story don't feel right for our RP or with your character, tell me. If my style of playing isn't what you're interested in, tell me. If you just don't feel right in general about continuing, tell me! It may sting, but it's better than ditching someone and showing up on the forums a few days later looking for RP.

I do my best to tell others when I'm not interested or when something's up or just happened, even if I have to let them know after I return. I may be painfully, horribly shy, but I do care enough to keep making attempts to pull up my courage and tell people what's up. And it works. It's scary, but it works. ...Maybe people are just too scared/shy to admit they're not interested? Maybe they're just forgetful? Or maybe they really did just lose interest and drop for something better. Who knows. Maybe this needs to be brought up in a community discussion sometime.

It's bound to happen, more often than not. It's kind of something I've had to come to terms with. Whether or not the player says bye, they're not interested anymore. I'd rather they leave then force themself through a RP they're just not interested in, right? They're not obligated to me and I'm not obligated to them, if we're unhappy. ^^'
... altho I'd give an arm and a leg for a long-lasting group RP with an actual conclusion. what a wild idea wow omg....

I've been both the victim of RP's dying off without a word and, unfortunately, the flake who stopped posting.

It is frustrating so I feel bad I've done it to other people; a lot of times I think people feel bad about saying the thing is done. It can be hard to want to be the assertive one who just says "it isn't working anymore" or "I'm just too busy to keep going". By and large I think most people like to try to spare feelings but then what happens, leaving a partner to rot, has the opposite effect. It is rude but with the anonymity of the internet I don't think it is a problem that will disappear any time soon. Same as at a table top RPG, there's always that one guy or girl who irritates the heck out of you, poofs are the online role-play bane.

This is only my own opinion but I think part of the problem is differing expectations from the get go but this is largely compounded by a phrase I see in a lot of ads... this will be a long term RP. Sure, they're great when you can find them, but I think people slowly peter out in them and eventually stop posting. An episodic format feels like it would work so much better, much like Star Trek used. Each 'episode' can have the standard rising action, conflict, and climax; if you enjoyed RPing with each other, do another episode, otherwise part ways as friends who told a fun story that is part of your characters overall epic.

Food for thought is all .