How to get more RPs!

[yuri]

Maybe you're new, maybe you're a veteran, and maybe (either way) you're looking for more ways to get RP! Here are a couple of situations/questions/suggestions that might help:

I've started several open threads, but no one ever responds to them.

• People are busy in real life, and don't always have time to respond to every open thread that comes along. The better strategy is to tag someone specifically after you've spoken to them about a potential plot between your characters. Even without a specific plot, be sure to contact the person you'd like to thread with prior to writing and posting the thread. Sometimes people are swamped with other threads. Sometimes your thread is in a "high traffic" zone and might get lost in the shuffle. Just be sure people know it's there and, realistically, make sure you've given people enough time to respond to you, ok? Posting something short and without a lot of "wriggle room," doesn't give people a lot of a chance to develop their own characters' responses for you.
  

I've managed to find someone to post with, but our thread died pretty quickly. What happened?

• • First, let's take a look at the length of your post, just like the suggestion above. A one or two paragraph post that doesn't offer a lot of chances to interact is not going to get a lot of a response. Posts that have two to four paragraphs, with conversation, maybe some action, these give people something to respond to and allows a thread to naturally develop. The biggest thread killer is lack of development.
    
  
  
  
  • Second, lets take a look at edits. We all go back over our posts and see where they could have been better; grammar, spelling, punctuation, codefails - these things happen. The problem of editing comes into play when you might have changed something fundamental or critical to the thread in a post people have already responded to. If a character has already responded to an action yours took, please don't go back and change it, because what that does is invalidate the other person's work and can seriously discourage someone from posting again.
  
  
  
  • 
    Third, is what is happening in the thread realistic? Is there a potential that the thread might be forcing a character to act outside their normal behavior? Is it a situation wherein someone would have to play against type? If your character, too, constantly wins fights, or doesn't get hurt, or is magically super human, people might not want to RP with you. Deal damage, take damage - thats the rule for fights on Redemption. Staff are always more than happy to play Dice Masters for an altercation.
  
  

I've been waiting on a reply in my ongoing thread, but I haven't gotten one.

• How long has it been since the last post? If it's been a day or two, be patient. People have lives outside of Roleplay, which must come first. The other member will get back to you as soon as they can. If it's been closer to a week or more, you might want to send them a pm or email (but only one!!! don't risk making them mad by bugging them constantly), reminding them that it's their turn. People forget sometimes! Any longer than two weeks, it's probably best to give it up as a dead thread and move on, unless you have discussed with the other Creator an issue that has prevented them from responding [i.e.: Life]. Constantly bugging people about open threads will only turn them off to RPing with you. But while you're waiting on a reply, make sure you're caught up in all your other threads, too. After all, your fellow members like waiting on you about as much as you like waiting on them. A reminder after a few days is fine, a reminder after a week is fine : Begging for or demanding posts will get you a Warning under our AntiBullying policy.

No one wants to RP with me!

• I'm sure that's not true, but if you've noticed people avoiding RPing with you, take a look at your past threads or behavior (in both CBOX and as your Characters). Are your characters played realistically, with flaws as well as strengths? Do they react realistically to events? If your character seems perfect, if s/he knows everything before anyone tells him/her, if s/he breaks a bone and calmly decides s/he should seek medical help for it rather than screaming in pain, people are less likely to want to play with them.

• Do a little research before you create a character, give them flaws or defects, or research about injuries your character could get during spell battles. Research can actually be fun, and can give you ideas you wouldn't previously have thought about. And it generally makes for a more realistic and enjoyable RP experience. Other things that might turn people off are powerplaying/god-modding (either controlling another person't character without their permission, or doing something to their character without giving them a chance to react and avoid it), assuming their characters will act a certain way when they have given no indication one way or the other, taking IC things personally in an OOC way, or constantly bugging them about posting with you.

• Finally - take a look at your conduct in the Cbox. Have you been harassing people for posts? Have your characters been acting in such a way as to turn people off? If you've been coming on strong in the Cbox, or needy, or clingy, or down right Stalker-ish, tone it down a bit. This is a fun site, where people come to be creative and express themselves outside of the real world. Adding pressure to people here turns them off from RP and can end up with you on a member's blacklist because of the pressure they see you putting on others. Keep in mind that your behavior, IC and OOC, will determine how welcome others treat you.

I've got writer's block and can't seem to think of an idea for a thread.

• Brainstorm! Get together on IM or Skype with another member and toss around ideas for getting your characters together. If that doesn't work, try a free writing exercise. Just sit down and write whatever comes to mind for a half hour or so. Watch movies. Read books. Go out and people-watch. There's tons of things you can do to get rid of writer's block. If you having really troubles reach out to a MOD or ADMIN wed be happy to help.