Hello RPG,

I would like to speak to you all of you about the current issue I am having with the site. For a long time, I have been pouring my heart, my time, and my creative energy into building stories set within the universes of Middle Earth, Halo, Fallout, Warhammer 40k, and Mass Effect. I have taken notes, refined my out of character details, and spent countless hours developing story and lore, all with the hope that others would find the same love in these worlds that I do.

The reality is that I am currently feeling quite discouraged due to the fact that when I create these roleplays, the turn out is always very low. When you put this much effort into a project, it is hard to not feel a sense of burnout or depression when your threads go unanswered, or when the projects that I care about so deeply do not gain the traction needed to take flight. Seeing other projects move forward while my own efforts remain dead in the water, has made me realize that my stories are perhaps not working out as they are currently presented.

I am not leaving, I am still here, and I still have many stories I want to tell. However, I am admitting that I am feeling the weight of the effort versus the lack of results. I value this community and would appreciate any honest feedback on how I might move forward.

Hmmmm, you could perhaps be putting them in the wrong place. I see you post a lot in general, but maybe casual or advanced would get more views?

I have [...] spent countless hours developing story and lore, all with the hope that others would find the same love in these worlds that I do.

Beware misapplying this effort. Players want to see that the GM has a confident, self-assured vision and the skill to execute it—yes—but the effort it took you to plan and write the thing should far exceed the effort it takes to sign up. If they have to research your hiders-nested-in-hiders to understand the story, they're not indulging a curiousity, they're not exploring, they're not engaging with the setting on their own terms—they're doing homework. And nothing kills this hobby faster than having to study for a fucking exam before you get participate in earnest.

Joining your rp should have a low skill/knowledge floor, a high ceiling. Delving into its nuances should feel optional, yet rewarding.