(04-09-2014, 03:56 PM)Kaoru Wrote: But I guess that's what I mean. It isn't really for lack of trying. I just don't really know what else I can do to "get out there" when everything I've been doing so far doesn't seem to be working? I keep wondering if maybe he's not interesting enough, despite my best efforts to make the RP sessions have some sort of drama or mini conflict or just something that can be considered interesting.
Speaking as someone who's been rping for a long time as a primary hobby, I've come to the conclusion that almost no one is going to reach out to you to get the rp going. It's likely different for some people, but I have never been the one who gets asked to rp on a regular basis. Even when my characters are well connected or have established relationships with other characters, it's usually me who is the initiator. Why is that? I don't have a clue. Sometimes I've asked my regular rp partners if my writing or ideas are shit or something and I just haven't realized it, but when I'm not having performance anxiety I think it just boils down to people being into their own things or, in some cases, a sort of unwillingness -- for whatever reason! -- to be the initiator.
And that's why I say to look at the characters you want to rp with. When you try to engage someone in rp with you, see if you can't tweak the circumstances so that it will affect both characters. For example, in my thread with Goodfellow we worked it out so the rp will largely focus on the strange book he carries. My character is focused on money and connections. Both characters will have skin in the game. Most of the interaction will be forced -- my character is the one who needs the connection for one of her jobs -- but it will personally affect both characters. It's not just about what the player is interested in -- you need to make sure it hooks the character, too.
And, sometimes, if we're being brutally honest, people won't be interested if they don't know you and don't see how the characters are going to interact. That's why it is imperative that you bring several ideas to the table. People like feeling like they have choices, and that you've invested thought into it. As Koninbeor said, most people -- unless they are in need of rp -- will not look at the wiki. So don't expect people to look at yours or pull plot ideas from yours. You be the one to do that. Will it feel a bit unfair sometimes? Yeah, sure, maybe sometimes because we're all human, but if you want the rp you gotta go out and wrestle that sucker down.
But let me put my money where my mouth is. Pretending for a moment that our characters are based in the same area, and that our characters have common interests --
Hey there!
So I was looking through the wiki and I stumbled across your character. I really liked how resourceful he is, and thought it could be super interesting if maybe he has a run-in with my character. Mine is a bit more socially aggressive than yours, so that could help get them started. If you're interested I have some ideas I'd love to toss around with you. Please let me know if you are or aren't interested!
^- that's it. Simple, to the point. I've shown that I've read about your character, that I liked what I read, and that I want to collaborate with you. Most people aren't going to turn their noses up to that. And if timezones/availability is an issue, work out a closed thread on the forum!
