I think it's also fair to say that the introduction subforum sees a lot of activity still.

How much activity does it get from a member point of view in engaging and talking to these newbies?

>creativity
>coming from the people who can't get three pages into an RP before getting bored and moving on
>a large % of them probably browse 1x1 purely for the romance subplots too

You know that writing twenty "Chapter Ones" doesn't mean you've written a book, right? You have to actually follow through on some of your ideas or you're not really roleplaying, you're just writing character sheets and then taking them on a test run for a week and a half.

@NuttsnBolts I see at least 1 new introduction thread every day. Which is enough for me.

Frankly, no.

Until other issues get worked out and we have an active moderator team enforcing things I see more than the current rate of influx to cause more problems.

>creativity
>coming from the people who can't get three pages into an RP before getting bored and moving on
>a large % of them probably browse 1x1 purely for the romance subplots too

You know that writing twenty "Chapter Ones" doesn't mean you've written a book, right? You have to actually follow through on some of your ideas or you're not really roleplaying, you're just writing character sheets and then taking them on a test run for a week and a half.

Yeah...that's something I've sort of seen a lot as well. Another reason I really haven't GM'd anything here as of yet. Because I've done it plenty in the past without many problems but I think I'd get frustrated from how slow things I've gotten into seem to progress. I get real life stuff, but doesn't change the fact that it feels like everything seems to takes an eternity. Some people take so long to either create their characters, start a post/RP or nitpick things for days and days when the whole fun of RPing is getting into them and participating. If someone seems little overpowered don't have it take a 1 week to solve and stall your RP, let them in the damn thing as is, and see what they do with their character...if you dislike what they actually do. You're the GM, roleplay!

I've just never wasted so much time when it came to starting a RP before...<.< It took a week at most and usually three days after conception/interest started on the last forum I was on. And it was not due to that much larger population. So it hurts that much more when either GM's quit, people just stop replying without reason and/or assholes are allowed to harass without consequences, which doesn't help give people positive connotations with a site, no one should think "Gee, I wonder what insult I've been called today" when they start up a website. <.<

<Snipped quote by pugbutter>

Yeah...that's something I've sort of seen a lot as well. Another reason I really haven't GM'd anything here as of yet. Because I've done it plenty in the past without many problems but I think I'd get frustrated from how slow things I've gotten into seem to progress. I get real life stuff, but doesn't change the fact that it feels like everything seems to takes an eternity. Some people take so long to either create their characters, start a post/RP or nitpick things for days and days when the whole fun of RPing is getting into them and participating. If someone seems little overpowered don't have it take a 1 week to solve and stall your RP, let them in the damn thing as is, and see what they do with their character...if you dislike what they actually do. You're the GM, roleplay!

I've just never wasted so much time when it came to starting a RP before...<.< It took a week at most and usually three days after conception/interest started on the last forum I was on. And it was not due to that much larger population. So it hurts that much more when either GM's quit, people just stop replying without reason and/or assholes are allowed to harass without consequences, which doesn't help give people positive connotations with a site, no one should think "Gee, I wonder what insult I've been called today" when they start up a website. <.<

there's a lot of active roleplays, it's just that they're incredibly shit. also, there's not much admins can do about people hurting other people's feelings, but it's not left entirely unpunished. i mean, look at buddha; lots people hate his guts for "being an asshole". sometimes societal consequences are better than mod-related ones.

<Snipped quote by SleepingSilence>

there's a lot of active roleplays, it's just that they're incredibly shit. also, there's not much admins can do about people hurting other people's feelings, but it's not left entirely unpunished. i mean, look at buddha; lots people hate his guts for "being an asshole". sometimes societal consequences are better than mod-related ones.

Well I mean they can...if it's actual legit harassment...if you're directly harassing or name calling to another user...not just sharing an opinion or making a broad generalization, that's called breaking the rules. And then you can get banned, or at least privately/publicly warned. Just because they can make a smurf account or something else, it still shows they won't tolerant blatant rule breaking.

And honestly I prefer shitty or simple roleplays that are active, to ones that take months to even fucking start...it's more fun to watch a bad movie with friends, then doing nothing but standing in the corner admiring how great your CS is. And honestly, it really might has well of been at one point. As far as punishment for vulgar actions are concerned.

Also I wouldn't exactly like to bring certain @usernames up when talking about this, that itself is a problem and doesn't need to be brought up if the discussion isn't about an individual. Though I've been called plenty of things on here too, but I can guarantee how inaccurate those statements have been. I'd rather not assume anyone here is a purposeful asshole who just wants everyone to be pissed off. Because I'd figure if someone existed like that. Why the hell do they still have an account here? Who is defending this? Why is it being defended? Which also shows, the lack of any punishment/consequences, which honestly pisses me off. Just because certain members treated me poorly, as long as they apologized for it and didn't do anything after. I'd be perfectly fine with forgiving them and moving on. I'm not saying, you need to ban someone for a single mistake. But "social consequences" just sounds to me like rumors spread and judging books by their covers and finding a witch to burn. How about instead of people making enemies, they can be assholes in private on their own time and keep this forum from having to see any of it...

It really shouldn't be that hard to run a forum properly...despite how I've seen many forums have ridiculous problems one after another.

Emotions are not a rational measure for moderation or management.

<Snipped quote by Grimhildr>

Well I mean they can...if it's actual legit harassment...if you're directly harassing or name calling to another user...not just sharing an opinion or making a broad generalization, that's called breaking the rules. And then you can get banned, or at least privately/publicly warned. Just because they can make a smurf account or something else, it still shows they won't tolerant blatant rule breaking.

And honestly I prefer shitty or simple roleplays that are active, to ones that take months to even fucking start...it's more fun to watch a bad movie with friends, then doing nothing but standing in the corner admiring how great your CS is. And honestly, it really might has well of been at one point. As far as punishment for vulgar actions are concerned.

Also I wouldn't exactly like to bring certain @usernames up when talking about this, that itself is a problem and doesn't need to be brought up if the discussion isn't about an individual. Though I've been called plenty of things on here too, but I can guarantee how inaccurate those statements have been. I'd rather not assume anyone here is a purposeful asshole who just wants everyone to be pissed off. Because I'd figure if someone existed like that. Why the hell do they still have an account here? Who is defending this? Why is it being defended? Which also shows, the lack of any punishment/consequences, which honestly pisses me off. Just because certain members treated me poorly, as long as they apologized for it and didn't do anything after. I'd be perfectly fine with forgiving them and moving on. I'm not saying, you need to ban someone for a single mistake. But "social consequences" just sounds to me like rumors spread and judging books by their covers and finding a witch to burn. How about instead of people making enemies, they can be assholes in private on their own time and keep this forum from having to see any of it...

It really shouldn't be that hard to run a forum properly...despite how I've seen many forums have ridiculous problems one after another.

people are free to act however they want, wherever they want. you can't police people's words and behaviour because it's a little controversial. that's fascism, yo. also, i'd hardly call it harassment. harassment is repeated offenses, and them not stopping even when you've explicitly said the words "please stop" or "i want you to stop". people aren't defending it, they're ignoring it instead of getting into potential shit by getting all wound up at the person. it's not that hard to just not type a response, so it doesn't really require moderation if it's an issue easily ignored by the user.

Emotions are not a rational measure for moderation or management.

this. i have had run ins with wayyyy too many modal letting their emotions lead them, or warning someone over a tiny little thing just because one of their friends got their feelings hurt. most of the time, half of these incidents aren't even that serious. harsh words are often thrown around lightly, and the intent behind them is just as light.

I do think Grimhildr is a bit blunt and liberal with their language, but it is not my imperative to lecture them on how to speak. If a moderator views their language as subject against the terms of use, then they will get a warning from the staff. A lot of what people realize here is being a moderator is not necessarily a public job. Plenty of work gets done in the background and to presume the staff is ineffective because they do not publicly make declarations often is likely largely incorrect. The sentiment uttered about moderator inefficiency seems largely sensationalist in origin.

Probably repeating someone else's point already, but I will just say it again to repeat.

Do not enforce rules due to emotion. Promote free speech by engaging in potential discussions and not trolling them whenever they appear, do not be PC.

On top of that, being nice is unnecessary. It is just a drag for those whom you know need improvement but you have to be nice because you don't want to hurt their feelings. What you want to be is good. To be good means to constructively criticise with the intention of improving the persons skills or views and not to laugh or make fun of them.

As a reminder, courtesy and respect are not exclusively nice.

I do think Grimhildr is a bit blunt and liberal with their language, but it is not my imperative to lecture them on how to speak. If a moderator views their language as subject against the terms of use, then they will get a warning from the staff. A lot of what people realize here is being a moderator is not necessarily a public job. Plenty of work gets done in the background and to presume the staff is ineffective because they do not publicly make declarations often is likely largely incorrect. The sentiment uttered about moderator inefficiency seems largely sensationalist in origin.

well fuck you too.

i'm joking, of course. i take full responsibility for my actions, i just won't change them unless a mod tells me to, instead of whining users. that's all.

The people who say we're powerless are cowards tbh. They're trying to avoid the responsibility which inherently comes with the fact that we the ordinary little-guy players are the people in charge of the site right now.

Now, if Mahz and a strong moderator team come back to clean things up, that's different. But right now the players have been left in a power vacuum, and if we're not willing to clean up our site then no one will. Some of the people in this thread are offering their opinions on bringing some real change to this community and that should be commended, not criticized for hurting fee-fees and using strong language. Even though I disagree with some of them, the willingness to be outspoken about the changes they want to see on RPGuild is a virtue, not a flaw.

@Grimhildr

<Snipped quote by SleepingSilence>

people are free to act however they want, wherever they want. you can't police people's words and behaviour because it's a little controversial. that's fascism, yo. also, i'd hardly call it harassment. harassment is repeated offenses, and them not stopping even when you've explicitly said the words "please stop" or "i want you to stop". people aren't defending it, they're ignoring it instead of getting into potential shit by getting all wound up at the person. it's not that hard to just not type a response, so it doesn't really require moderation if it's an issue easily ignored by the user.

<Snipped quote by Inkarnate>

this. i have had run ins with wayyyy too many modal letting their emotions lead them, or warning someone over a tiny little thing just because one of their friends got their feelings hurt. most of the time, half of these incidents aren't even that serious. harsh words are often thrown around lightly, and the intent behind them is just as light.

Freedom of speech does not exactly work on the internet. You can be banned, if you do something that pisses mods off. It's not fascism. Not even close. :P No mods don't need to ban after every spat between people, (as like I said people have bad days and can make up.) or ban because they happen to be friends with a mod. (aka how I was banned from a forum. After it essentially being a guy harassing me on and off the site, and my ban was because I told him to please stop. >.>) But like repeated harassment of somebody or multiple people. I'm talking clear harassment...it's usually pretty clear...it's not like someone said a general offensive statement. Or something questionable or subtle in the slightest. It doesn't really matter how little the user feels/cares when they're abusing the rules...they're still doing it...maybe people that throw those harsh words at others need to learn to pick they'll battles or question even for a second if that's how they want to be seen online. Everyone deals with bullshit in real life, others probably more so. :D And yeah, still have never treated someone like shit because I feel like it...<.< People shouldn't have to tell them to "stop", everyone should know how the world works. We all live on earth, least last time I checked.

I don't think what I'm saying is particularly controversial...I also would argue ignoring harassment, is letting it happen, but I'm not exactly saying they should be punished. But I certainly find it a positive human trait, to stand up for people even if total strangers or even people that have mistreated you in the past.

Just saying ignore people who are purposely abusing rules, because free speech. Doesn't work on a forum and never should be the case and doesn't understand what freedom of speech is meant for, it's not censoring people for giving a different opinion. It's not "emotional" for a mod to react to blatant and repeated rule breaking, it's supposed to be their jobs.

I think it gets to a point where it gets clear, what a particular person is doing. I've seen so many mods (not specific forum mind.) bullshit me on things that the blind could see as an unprovoked personal attack is "just too hard to punish." because people will complain or this and that...But I'd argue, the fact you have people that don't like you, just means you're doing something right. And just saying "live and let live" probably doesn't make people interested in joining that community, even if it's a small percentage of people causing problems.

You do not have freedom of speech on a message board. If you think this you are either intellectually insincere or naive.

The people who say we're powerless are cowards tbh. They're trying to avoid the responsibility which inherently comes with the fact that we the ordinary little-guy players are the people in charge of the site right now.

Now, if Mahz and a strong moderator team come back to clean things up, that's different. But right now the players have been left in a power vacuum, and if we're not willing to clean up our site then no one will. Some of the people in this thread are offering their opinions on bringing some real change to this community and that should be commended, not criticized for hurting fee-fees and using strong language. Even though I disagree with some of them, the willingness to be outspoken about the changes they want to see on RPGuild is a virtue, not a flaw.

I do think there is a clear divide from being blunt with your language and honest. Over certain things I'm talking about. Though I digress, I do believe there's several things that can be done even without the mods to make this site better overall. And yes I agree, having a group conversations and talking about changes is always a good thing...

Somewhat irrelevant, but maybe not: what sites are being compared to rpguild here?

i ask because when i go on iwaku they have less than rpguild usually, and the only other place i know of is rpnation, which has a larger average active population, but also has an irritating method of organizing RPs that kind of hinders cross-genre improvisation which I like a lot

200 might not seem like a lot, but it seems fairly constant between 150-200 people most days

what other sites have a larger population that makes this site seem like it isn't big enough? I know guildfall had the guild take a big hit, and the slow redevelopment of the site is another reason for slow growth