One possible thing to do is to perhaps have some form of story arc within the FC that winds up entangling the 'wall-flowers' into it, resulting in the group overcoming a challenge and thus forming a bond. It's the RP equivalent of the sitcom cliche when characters get stuck in a malfunctioning elevator and come out of the silly ordeal with a stronger relationship and better understanding of each other.
That would at least help things internally. Getting NEW members with a group such as that, well, your group should make some OOC connections. Typically, when I make friends OOC with someone, they tend to tolerate my shy/obnoxious/crude characters a bit more and that sort of helps breaks the ice to others in the community, thus letting them hop in. And of course, as what RiniKett and Maia said, make it clear to others that IC does not equal your OOC. It SHOULD be clear, but some people do need that clarification.
Also, to make you feel a bit better, being in this situation doesn't make you an inexperienced RPer. This sort of situation happens to the best of us from time to time. Besides, I'd say after a year you're not a noob anymore!Â
That would at least help things internally. Getting NEW members with a group such as that, well, your group should make some OOC connections. Typically, when I make friends OOC with someone, they tend to tolerate my shy/obnoxious/crude characters a bit more and that sort of helps breaks the ice to others in the community, thus letting them hop in. And of course, as what RiniKett and Maia said, make it clear to others that IC does not equal your OOC. It SHOULD be clear, but some people do need that clarification.
Also, to make you feel a bit better, being in this situation doesn't make you an inexperienced RPer. This sort of situation happens to the best of us from time to time. Besides, I'd say after a year you're not a noob anymore!Â
