Talking to Minerva today, the subject of being an "active member" came up.
This is the problem I have always had at Morthika, and I would like to know what others think, what they have found worked/didn't and how they solved the following problem:
Player A has this amazing, exciting idea for an RP. Player A pitches the ideas to Players B, C, D, E and F (who we shall call Freddie.. cause.. well.. anyways..) and all players jump on the bandwagon and begin playing a brilliantly creative, fun and exciting plot where people are looking forward to posting and check the thread each day to see if anything has been posted. Once the flow of play relies on one or two characters responding or interacting in some way to each other.. and once those players slow down in their posting.. or becomes a Freddie... everything stalls. And.. unless Player A or a Gummi Berry Juice bribing Goddess comes along and pokes everyone to post, the story dies.
Sadness ensues, and its all just icky.
So, my sollution? A simple clause at the beginning of each RP for any prospective player, clearly stating the .. I hate the words "terms and conditions" but .. that's kinda what I mean. MY personal stance is a GM will post at least once a fortnight. This is me juggling full time school and work and running a household.. etc etc.. *rolls eyes* So I know I can committ to post at least once a fortnight. I would ask anyone who is prepared to commit to a plot with me to do the same. But that is MY sollution. What say you guys?
This is the problem I have always had at Morthika, and I would like to know what others think, what they have found worked/didn't and how they solved the following problem:
Player A has this amazing, exciting idea for an RP. Player A pitches the ideas to Players B, C, D, E and F (who we shall call Freddie.. cause.. well.. anyways..) and all players jump on the bandwagon and begin playing a brilliantly creative, fun and exciting plot where people are looking forward to posting and check the thread each day to see if anything has been posted. Once the flow of play relies on one or two characters responding or interacting in some way to each other.. and once those players slow down in their posting.. or becomes a Freddie... everything stalls. And.. unless Player A or a Gummi Berry Juice bribing Goddess comes along and pokes everyone to post, the story dies.
Sadness ensues, and its all just icky.So, my sollution? A simple clause at the beginning of each RP for any prospective player, clearly stating the .. I hate the words "terms and conditions" but .. that's kinda what I mean. MY personal stance is a GM will post at least once a fortnight. This is me juggling full time school and work and running a household.. etc etc.. *rolls eyes* So I know I can committ to post at least once a fortnight. I would ask anyone who is prepared to commit to a plot with me to do the same. But that is MY sollution. What say you guys?
In all honest? The issue of 'active members' is a common one, regardless of whether it's online RP, tabletop gaming or hell, even wargaming campaigns. The best general approach is for a storyline to progress at a pace and with a timescale agreed by both players and GM - as one requires the other. Setting a hard timescale of X weeks can be restrictive, particularly if players and GM are both agreed on a timescale of Y weeks.
Flow of play can depend on people interacting however the pace at which they interact should be something they all agree on. If you, as a GM want to impose a timescale at the beginning then players essentially agree to adhere to that. But do be prepared to work around players if they are absent, RL intervenes etc.
I give this advice as someone currently running an ongoing D&D game which meets once monthly and who is also helping his local GW alter and develop a campaign for WFB to begin in February (again, having to tweak things and adjust based on players and timescales).
Flow of play can depend on people interacting however the pace at which they interact should be something they all agree on. If you, as a GM want to impose a timescale at the beginning then players essentially agree to adhere to that. But do be prepared to work around players if they are absent, RL intervenes etc.
I give this advice as someone currently running an ongoing D&D game which meets once monthly and who is also helping his local GW alter and develop a campaign for WFB to begin in February (again, having to tweak things and adjust based on players and timescales).
*nods* yeah that's the conclusion I have come to too Rocco. It's an awkward thing, but I found with Morthika that I lost so many players due to inactivity in plots after one, and then another core players go AWOL. I think I will keep it that as GM, if anyone wants to play in one one my led plots, that I will propose a 2 week turn around, and of course, Im always flexible. 
I'll just edit the MT rules we have regarding the active member status so we don't have any confusion.
This is why its so good to have so many experienced players building this thing. *grins*
P.S you ever seen The Inbetweeners??
I'll just edit the MT rules we have regarding the active member status so we don't have any confusion.
This is why its so good to have so many experienced players building this thing. *grins*
P.S you ever seen The Inbetweeners??
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