Thank you for sharing all of this! It's refreshing and interesting to see the steps and policies that other leaders take to create a fun RP environment within the community. As mentioned above, it's a lot of work, and often a completely thankless job. XD
I also edited the original post to include an example of a "script". I don't script everything - just the actions/cutscenes that would happen very quickly, or more elaborate descriptions. They usually take about an hour for me to write. (Although this 'planning time' doesn't involve plotting for events, or coordinating the divisions of large groups into smaller groups -- which is something else I try to do.)
As for the Rendezvous story, we're a slow-moving supernatural mystery plot. We have action and comedy alongside, but at the core of it everyone is investigating the strange occurrence that is happening to them. Since it takes quite a bit of writing, plotting, and coordination to run a "plot" event, these only happen about once a month. The same goes for the Host Club event, which also only happens once a month. (Someone once asked me why we don't run them more often, and I was like "Sure! If you want to run it, go ahead!
" Needless to say, they did not go ahead and run/advertise the extra session.
It's also nice to see that other leaders take the time to work with each person to a reasonable degree. I have had members join in the past who expect a personal invitation from someone for taking any IC action ("hand holding"), and it really doesn't work out so well. Someone who constantly needs an external IC reason (beyond the premise of the LS, which is kind of a built-in motivator) to ever do anything doesn't usually have a fun time with us. A player needs to take some initiative and OoCly decide "Okay, my character is going to show up for this event."
I've also turned down a couple of applicants due to lore reasons, and have worked with quite a few others to slightly modify their background to be pretty much the same, except with lore-compliant reasoning. I figure that, as a LS, we promise a reasonable level of lore compliance to our membership. It's why I ask question #3: to see if they would ruffle everyone's feathers with their concept or abilities. I'm not too strict on rarities, as long as there's a thorough explanation as to why it's necessary. Basically, if you have an unusual ability or background point, please be prepared to explain its source within the lore, and cite your sources if need be.
I also edited the original post to include an example of a "script". I don't script everything - just the actions/cutscenes that would happen very quickly, or more elaborate descriptions. They usually take about an hour for me to write. (Although this 'planning time' doesn't involve plotting for events, or coordinating the divisions of large groups into smaller groups -- which is something else I try to do.)
As for the Rendezvous story, we're a slow-moving supernatural mystery plot. We have action and comedy alongside, but at the core of it everyone is investigating the strange occurrence that is happening to them. Since it takes quite a bit of writing, plotting, and coordination to run a "plot" event, these only happen about once a month. The same goes for the Host Club event, which also only happens once a month. (Someone once asked me why we don't run them more often, and I was like "Sure! If you want to run it, go ahead!
" Needless to say, they did not go ahead and run/advertise the extra session.It's also nice to see that other leaders take the time to work with each person to a reasonable degree. I have had members join in the past who expect a personal invitation from someone for taking any IC action ("hand holding"), and it really doesn't work out so well. Someone who constantly needs an external IC reason (beyond the premise of the LS, which is kind of a built-in motivator) to ever do anything doesn't usually have a fun time with us. A player needs to take some initiative and OoCly decide "Okay, my character is going to show up for this event."
I've also turned down a couple of applicants due to lore reasons, and have worked with quite a few others to slightly modify their background to be pretty much the same, except with lore-compliant reasoning. I figure that, as a LS, we promise a reasonable level of lore compliance to our membership. It's why I ask question #3: to see if they would ruffle everyone's feathers with their concept or abilities. I'm not too strict on rarities, as long as there's a thorough explanation as to why it's necessary. Basically, if you have an unusual ability or background point, please be prepared to explain its source within the lore, and cite your sources if need be.
