As some of you know, I recently had an RPG passed down to me by the former owners. I took it because I was unsatisfied by what there was to offer in the show/genre I want to RP, and wanted to transform this RPG into what I had hoped to find. However, as a fairly inexperienced admin, I feel like I've bitten off more than I can chew.

I've just barely gotten around to navigating the admin CP on a basic level, and have put up a lot of the bare bones for the board, but there's still so much left. I recruited a co-admin who is familiar with the show/genre, but she's rarely ever around. She has school, and that's understandable, but when she IS around, she doesn't do much. In addition to this, she and I are both horrible with graphics. I've put in a request at Pandora's Closet, but there's so much I need help with, versus how much we're allowed to actually request.

I feel like I've got some great ideas, but I fall short with the technical stuff. Codes, skins, graphics...These are all things I suck at. I've tried to put time into learning them, and I know enough to get by as a member, but as an admin...Also, it's not just my lack of proficiency. I also feel like I don't know the right questions to ask, and the right graphics to use.

I guess the whole point to this thread is that I'm getting frustrated by things, but I don't want to see my ideas die because of a lack of experience or assistance. I just wanted to complain, that's all.

Edit: I know I just wanted to complain, but if there actually is someone I could talk to, one-on-one about this, it would make me feel so much better.

I've been roleplaying for a really long time as a member, and am now trying to open my own roleplay for the first time. I never knew how much I didn't know! I finally figured out the Admin CP after asking about everything I saw and didn't understand, and am now teaching myself how to skin so that I understand even more. I found a co-admin I absolutely love who can help me out with the graphics, but if you don't have one of those, find a skin that comes with buttons and forum markers so that there's less to request. If you get a skin that comes with graphics, all you need to request is a header and pips for your user groups.

My most useful suggestion: Don't try and make it happen quickly. Patience is a virtue.

These are all really great suggestions, thank you.

I guess my biggest problem is finding a co-admin that I really connect with, and who is around a lot more frequently than the one I currently have. I feel like once I can get a co-admin who knows the show, who is interested in the RPG, and is as motivated as I am, that I can be patient about the other things. However, getting a response in the Employment Center is like waiting for Saturn to come around again. Meanwhile, I'm navigating all these help sites by myself, and reading tutorials and filling out requests, but I really don't know the right questions to ask. (ouch)

Hey buddy. Oh man I know how you feel. I've gone through so many sites with bad co-admins. It can get pretty frustrating.
Don't waste time with a co-admin who does nothing. I just found this awsome co-admin for my site, from an RP we were both on. I find that the best co-admin relationships are ones from where you met eachother on another RPG.
I wish i could help you, but I'm crazy busy. But I'm always hear to give you any quicky help, I'm alright with graphics... And awsome on proboards, but terrible on invisionfree. Add me on msn, mica.gold@hotmail.com or send me a message on my site, you can add me for the address.
Sorry i couldn't help more.

Lol, I must have the worst timing ever! Everyone else seems to have just found "the perfect co-admin." Where are these people being hidden?! I want one!

As far as finding someone on another RPG...I would, but I think there's a fine line. The other RPG I'm on is about the same show--it wasn't quite what I was looking for, but I still enjoy RPing there--but I don't want people to think I'm "stealing" members or ideas from their site. I feel like it's tricky to even mention it there, and the site is nowhere near advert-ready. Plus, the most active members there are the admins, and they've got their hands full running three different sites.

I updated my Request form in the Employment Center, but I have a feeling I'll be waiting a long time for a response. There's been a lot of views, but virtually no response. That's something that frustrates me A LOT.

EDIT: I just wanted to add in a quick thanks, Micky and sarahj. There aren't many people who are replying with advice even if they can't particularly help me. So, I really appreciate you both taking the few minutes to reply to my thread.

Well, I found my co-admin through roleplaying with him at other sites as well. We're close friends now though, and talk over IM as well as on the site. I understand not wanting to talk about the site you're making on a site with the same topic, but that's really the best way to get a co-admin you can trust to be there. RPG-D is a great resource for staff- a lot of us have had experience and are pretty active- but it can also be kind of impersonal at times, and it's really tricky being comfortable handing over your site to someone else.

I don't think being familiar with the show/genre is a key factor is finding a good co-admin, especially since it seems like it's just the technical stuff you have issues with. If you need someone to get stuff done so you can get it ready, maybe that's all you should advertise for. My co-admin had never seen Dead Like Me before he agreed to help with the site.

Thank you sarah. These are really great points that I'll keep in mind, and I'm feeling a little bit better now. (happy)

Oh, good ^.^ Glad to be of help. I'd definitely be willing to help you out at your site, but I'm just trying to get mine up and running, so won't really have the time. If you have specific questions about coding or anything though, I'd definitely be willing to help. I'm kinda new to this as well, but I'm catching on pretty quickly and can at least find people who know the answers to help you out.

Thank you so much, you've been a big help. (blush)

Please don't include links to active forums, Micky Three.

JC (can I call you that? It's easier) I have owned a site for six months and still haven't found 'the perfect co-admin'. I have, all up, owned sites for probably one and a half years added together and I've never found the perfect co-admin. Some of us are still looking ^_^

Don't be disheartened. Just let yourself have fun with learning and let yourself realise that you're just a learner and that you don't have to be perfect straight off. If the site you got already has members, just explain to them that you're a newbie with the technical side of being an admin and just go through things slowly. sarahj was definitely right when she said don't try to make it happen quickly.

If you need technical help I'm always willing to help. My MSN is notmeant_tobe[at]hotmail.com (replace [at] with @) and I'm pretty good at getting around the Admin CP.

Don't give up! Even if this site doesn't end up happening don't blame yourself and think you're a failure. Just keep going.

Thank you so much. (blush)

Cheer up. I have never been an admin creator before myself - only a co-admin or else just a regular admin (or a mod). But I can see how all that work can be really... engulfing, if that's the right word. Just do your best and you'll be fine. Maybe you can even get someone who has a lot of experience to help you out with your questions. I can point you into the right direction of a few people who can help, just PM me and I'll tell you where to go. But, well, just cheer up. You'll be fine.