(01-05-2017, 09:50 PM)zaviire Wrote: We didn't used to have a channel for that because it doesn't seem like something most people are totally interested in; most of the applications we get don't link to a tumblr or RPC page and they don't tend to talk about it a whole lot so I assume that's because people don't want any information about what their character does to be public for whatever reason even if it would help OOC with figuring out how characters fit into the grand scheme, just as a general thing. But I made one anyway just now because it seems like a good idea because being able to easily refer back to character information is important!
But yeah, I'm definitely feeling a little bit like Netflix given that even though the upcoming story is the only one I've gone out of my way to plan... The various socials we've held have borne no fruit with regards to stories or connections, even when one of the ones long before the Holiday season began was framed as a chance to basically sell your skills and get jobs out of the network because... IC, that's what it's for. the nature of the network isn't strictly insider info or anything. (Maybe 5 people showed up outside of myself, despite scheduling it about two to three weeks in advance. A tavern night held by one of our members later that same month rounded up about 20 of our members in the same room. Gee, I wonder where their priorities are...)Â
Speaking as someone who runs quite a 'picky' linkshell and runs RP events and plots like I assume you're wanting to do, I really recommend reading up on the characters applying to the linkshell. Not to reject them if they're lore-breaking or anything, but having an idea of who is actually in your linkshell, what their character can do and what they are interested can really help in making an interesting and captivating plot for your members. For example, OoO has quite a few interested in void-hunting, so that's quite a common occurrence and we always have a full group of about 8 to 12 people showing for those sorts of things. You can also see how they write, how invested they are in getting that RP or if they're going to be another face in the crowd that only like sitting in taverns (of course nothing wrong with that, but your issue is that they're not using your linkshell as intended).Â
I just wanted to say, as a DM, you really don't want 20 people showing up to your plot-driven events. :VÂ It can get sooo messy. Just trying to manage more than two can be troublesome, and in every FC/event I've been in, I feel that six to ten members mark showing up is very healthy. If you're going larger, you're going to need a second DM to keep up, especially if you're not very experienced. Not everyone can turn up to the events for whatever reason, and especially in a linkshell, they're not obligated to turn up either. They have priorities elsewhere, whether it's their friends or their FC. The linkshell's goal is just to provide a supplement criminal-based RP, no?Â
However, it's really hard not to envy the successes of public events and the turn-out for those, but the amount of effort from the organisers and the RPers are quite different compared to say, running a story plot that arcs over three different events. You set a date, advertise like hell and then hire a few bar staff and boom, done and you just monitor the tavern to make sure no one's causing drama. Plots take a lot of planning, the combat takes a lot of planning and even with all that, your members will throw a spanner in the works either IC or OOC or both. "Hey can my character do this?" or "Ah, I can't make Monday despite everyone else being able to, can you change it?" Different RPers will value these things differently, as others here have said. I prefer plot-driven RP but I can appreciate sitting down and having a drink and talking about my dark past in a random bar, too.Â
Just remember, social RP and plot RP are two different things so trying to compare them is a bit... yeah. I feel like... a large, engaging group = good social RP event, players walking away going "man, that was fun, my character got beat up/learned shit/earned gil, let's do that again" = a good plot event. Different rewards for different types of investment. As a fellow linkshell leader to another, it's really hard. Really hard, but worth it in the end when someone turns around to you and thanks you for the roleplay and starts turning up every week. The small victories are important. This got way too long, sorry. >.<
