Ok, I have a big cat RPG that has been running over a year now. It doesn't really have a base plot line, like the reason why they are all there or anything. And to be really honest compared to some sites that obviously have so much thought put into them my site looks like I whipped it up in 5 minutes.


I was wondering, does any one else have an RP like this? One that is quite simple really, that has a bit of information and then the rest is up to the RPers? Would you ever be turned away from a site like this?

And I was thinking as my site is running slowly, would it be a good idea to maybe take a break, think everything through and bring it back - maybe better than before? With a lot more thought, information etc...

i, personally, would not at all be turned away from that, as i like to have my own plots within the major information rather than having to know all the details and fit into that. gives me more room to spread out and flesh out.

I think the point is whether people enjoy it. Obviously, your members enjoy the site and the setup if you've been running for a year and are still active.
You don't need to compare yourself to the other sites, becuase what you've been doing does certainly appear to be working.

I agree with rosalieart though - I prefer open ended plots (Like, 'setting' plots) that challenge members to create their own twists and stories. I think that's much more interesting, actually, as long as people are committed enough (as they appear to be in your case) and the site can exist. All the sites I've admined on and been a member on that I loved the best have been like this. I find it a lot more fun.

The only reason to do what you're talking about is if you're losing interest. In my exerience, a site does fine if the admin stays active and interested. If you're getting bored, that means that it's maybe time to shake things up.

I kinda had a site like that. We had very little information, and what we did have was pretty minimal. However, in the last while, we've started changing the IC forums, so now we'll be having a few nations with brief histories and whatnot. I, personally, don't really care for how much information a site may have - chances are, I won't read half of it anyway, because it won't relate to my character, or it just won't be all that important to me. I figure people should be able to create their own stories - the only information I'll provide is perhaps a backstory, basic details about the nations, and then people can do as they please. I don't really care for sites that are like, "THIS IS HOW THEY GOT THERE, SO THAT'S HOW YOU GOT THERE TOO, K?" I like to do things my way, if at all possible.

If you feel there should be more information, add more. If you don't, don't. But if you're having trouble keeping active or getting members to post, I would suggest you advertise your butt off. If nothing else, it'll get traffic going through your site.

Longer is not always better, remember that. A lot of unoriginal sites take up a ton of time explaining how Harry Potter did this, went here, died there, details on the burial, blahhhhhhh.

If you do expand, keep it concise. Having a short plot is good, since your readers attention won't wane. I know I don't read plots if there is dialogue. Too much work for me x__x;

But anyways, one rpg I was working on with some friends was pretty simple. I like simple plots, to be quite honest. It told you the basics- where people were, how many years in the future it was, the rationale behind the humans-with-powers, the current situation.

If you do expand on it, keep in mind that people need to read it. Explaining how the cats got their, some history is good, but don't start naming names. :P

You could have a second history that follows the full details of the pre-history and the history made ic'ily- that way people can read it if they want, but don't have to.

And if your members aren't active, I doubt it's because of the plot. They already know the story, so a plot fixup would be more for the current members general understanding, and to hopefully rope in some more members.

Perhaps try a new boardwide plot to instigate activity or hold some sort of ic posting contest with a cool prize. :3

Good luck!

To add to what has been said, I'd suggest if you choose to add things to your site, do it a little at a time without closing down. Some sites can survive a closing, others cannot. People are fickle and have a short attention span, so if you close down, you risk losing people's attention. Some will come back, others will wander off, get out of the habit, and not return.

I think differentiate from what others have said.
See, I like when people have everything planned out. OK, so not everything, but they know their forum like they know their BFF. I can see that an Admin has done a lot of planning when I see their plot. Short ones usually cry out to me "We are going to die in 2 days, but join anyways!" Of course, this depends on your definition of short. Short to me is one paragraph, but it may be different to you.

I don't think it depends on what other people like, I think it depends if it fits your board. Sure, some may be lazy and not want to read a long one, but then they can just move on. If your plot is good, gives enough detail, and shows that you've thought this through, then you'll get members easy.

You said that yours looks like it's whipped up in 5 minutes. Was it? It'll show if it was. If you like a forum with an easy plot that's a baseline, go for it! You may want to explain somewhere that your forum is different from others, because it doesn't have a complicated plot. This will make you unique and I think you'll get a lot of members that way, since they won't feel like they are tied down by the plot.

Really, you can start an RP with anything. I had a gryphon RP where, literally, the only explanation for it was a poem. It basically described the place as a macabre world of eternal night where gryphons rule and they're really fricken mean but for some reason they never leave... The bloody thing evolved into a monster and it's ancient (7 1/2 years old) with it's own language, culture, etc... It depends on the members, too. You have to have open-minded, creative people to brainstorm with and fuel plots. Lazy members who don't contribute sap the activity out of a liberal RP like yours by taking ages to post and abandoning threads and never participating in polls or ooc discussion... If your members are gung ho, then go for it.

(We DID develop a plot after a while, though, so you may want to suggest some kind of addition to the story that'll liven it up)