Quote:I think the community itself is fine. Not great, can use some improvement (maybe a functioning hub for all?) but the game itself had a rough start, and I'd be surprised if our community was thriving while the overall player base dwindled . . . I've been a part of it since its inception so it's hard for me to put myself into the shoes of a new RP'er, it likely feels a lot less welcome and friendly to them.

Quote:From what I have seen, the RP community as a whole is a disaster, precisely because of the player exodus. I myself feel it a lot, as 95% of the RPers I've recruited in the past just kept disappearing soon after, sometimes not even completing the recruitment process.

Quote:...in general, this community is NOT friendly to new members.

Quote:Sometimes I feel as if RPers can be snooty about their RP. They automatically judge someone within a first few words and decide whether or not they want to RP with them. Some people are new at it. Some people have a different style of RP. ... I just think that we need to be more accepting of each other’s styles. I understand avoiding godmodding and metagaming, but do we have to be so picky that everyone has to do it the same way?

Quote:It's meh . . . It'd be nice to RP more with other people, but when it comes down to it... I would feel like I'm intruding on most of the random RP I see. That or be extremely uncomfortable getting involved in any way shape or form . . . I'd have to agree with the premise.

Quote:On my end at least, I find it hard for members of [my linkshell] to do cross link shell events with other shells simply due to poor reputation created from members of other shells talking down on us and labeling us in a way that pushes us away from the community as a whole. I do my best to try to keep relationships between myself and the other LS leaders healthy, but the same can't be said about the members within each shell. I would say it is a problem, but not one that can't be corrected. I think we're just lacking the overall communication between link shells as a whole.

Quote:Initially, I was ecstatic about it. It was something every other roleplaying game I'd ever partaken in sorely lacked. But then once I was on it and got a feel for it, I was disappointed. Nobody would post on your events and things unless they were your ls members. It's gotten so cliquish, and I generally find it very unfriendly.

Quote:My personal take on the RPC as it is right now is that it is a joke. The concept of uniting the link shells on the server is one I support, but the lack of actual support from the leaders of the community and the perceived sense of control over the community by those running the RPC hinder that goal.

Quote:I think it's okay, though it probably does more to harm the reputation of rpers in the eyes of new people. As groups like that can be seen as elitist and/or unaccepting of other ways of doing things. I think a lot of people were initially rubbed wrong by a lot of stuff that was said there.

Quote:I know that I check the boards there, and I try to keep up with what's going on, but it's been mostly dead... A lot like the RP in game. People just don't seem to want to talk to each other.

Quote:People I speak with don't like it as an organization, and make a clear distinction between the RP community as a whole, and the RPC. I think as a community website, it failed, because of the lines drawn at the very start of it. ... The RPC for me personally is a tool for advertising my Linkshell. While it was intended to be a gathering place for all Role-Players, it is clearly not.

Quote:It's by discovering the RPC itself that was able to hope for RP in this game. I suffered from the lack of a united RP community in FFXI and I was expecting more or less the same here. So, in a nutshell, I feel that the RPC is important to gather, if not all, a significant part of the RP community.

Quote:When it was first created, I loved the idea. It was awesome to think of a space where RPers could come together and communally build a world. The reality was a giant drama-fest to rival the cheapest of reality TV shows. ... I feel like over the past year and a half the RPC has done more to split the community apart than bring it together.

Quote:I just had to tell one of my officer yesterday to start reading it, and most of my members as far as I know don't visit it at all.

Quote:A lot of people in [my linkshell] (members, not officers), when we've had group discussions on whether or not to use the RPC, have said that the RPC fulfilled its role in their eyes: they Googled for roleplaying groups for FFXIV, looked at the lists on the RPC, picked a guild and stuck with it.

Quote:We've a range, I'd say, going from extremely against even bothering to check it, to optimistic members who hope to still savor it and use it for the community.

Quote:They take one look at this massive site, seeing no one they recognize and say "Forget it." I remember myself when I first joined I found it frustrating, trying to remember what threads were where. ... It helps the inactive threads get bumped down and all, but in general, I think it could use some simplifying/thinning out . . . If you can't find what you need in a couple minutes, something needs to be done.

Quote:People getting over themselves and realize their actions affect more than just them.

Quote:People have to make a conscious effort not to judge. But I also think that being more open with events and such would help as well. I know that I know a lot of RPers, but do I know them all?

Quote:I think to help resolve, or at least work towards a resolution, is actually gather the LS leaders to meet on a more normal basis. As it stands now, we don't, and if we do, I haven't been informed of such.

Quote:Stick together, forget about all the drama that occurred a year ago, and try to think about the future.

Quote:Just burn it all to the ground. J/k. Or am I? I think RPC needs to be re-vamped somehow. It needs a new brand so to speak. It needs to quit being a center of drama, and feel welcoming to new and current RPers.

Quote:Administration? What administration? :p Since the disbanding of the council there’s no more administration.

Quote:I feel that the site itself is well done, I think the main thing that had been poor is the lack of communication between leaders and linkshells overall.

Quote:...first and foremost the RPC should represent the entire community, that means ALL RPers with all their views, even if they go against the views of someone who pays for the web service. Two, it should NOT be used as a stage for the administration to exert any kind of power over the community. Everyone's voice should be just that and nothing more, that is including the admin.

Quote:To be honest, I think their presence is pretty faint. I'm not very familiar with them, and can honestly say with certainty, the majority of [my linkshell] hasn't a clue who they even are. I feel like they laid down a great foundation, but the community has strayed from what they initially wanted it to be.

Quote:I'd be happy to be a part of a roleplaying community forum that . . . was aware of itself as simply a community forum and nothing more, with no leadership and no stress put on its members to all behave in a manner put forth by false leadership.

• Greater community interaction is desirable
  
• Communication is the foremost way to achieve this
  
• A centralized location is the best way to achieve widespread communication
  
• A forum fits the bill nicely
  
• Members of the RP community are not satisfied with the RPC forum, causing them not to visit
  
• Despite RP community activity, the RPC remains quiet
  
• We may conclude that RPers are active and communicating, just not on the RPC
  
• The RPC forum is not achieving its purpose
  
• Three alternatives exist: Allow things to continue, start a new forum, or make the RPC palatable again
  
• Allowing things to continue as they are does not resolve the concerns raised
  
• Starting a new forum may cause confusion and divided loyalties, therefore is undesirable
  
• The RPC is the first, best known, and currently only of its type, therefore its use is preferable
  
• For the RPC to fulfill its purpose, it must have the support and use of the community it serves
  
• The community as a whole will not use a site that parts of it find irrelevant or distasteful
  
• Displeasure has been voiced with the RPC's current state, resulting in a significant portion of the community declining its use
  
• To annul this displeasure and restore activity, the RPC must begin to operate differently[/list:u]
  
  Easy to say, but what does that mean exactly? To my mind, a lot of things clear from the top down to how individual members think of these forums and each other. There are a few core concepts that must be laid into the foundation of the community from which all other details arise. Among these, I see two main divisions: How the RPC and community ought to relate, and how the community ought to relate to itself. (This is actually part of the problem – right now many want to relate but can't!)
  
  Above all, respect others' choices and RP styles, but at the same time acknowledge and accept that their RP preferences may run counter to yours. The fact that we are all RPers doesn't actually mean we have that much in common! What people want to RP about, how, and with which type of character can vary hugely. If how you roleplay doesn't appeal to someone else, don't try to guilt trip them by labeling them elitist – just move on and find someone whose style suits yours. On the other side of the coin, nobody gets to tell anyone else how to roleplay – if someone is doing something you don't agree with, just politely nod, smile, and keep walking. The community is big enough for all of us if we're willing to talk without judging each other unnecessarily.
  
  We do this for fun, to enjoy ourselves and the company of others. While it's certainly nicer and more inclusive to always RP with everyone all the time, RP should not be an obligation. Accept that for any one of a variety of reasons, someone might just not want to roleplay with you right now. Don't take it personally! In fact, I'm going to be extreme here and say that due to differences in styles, goals, and motivations, not everyone SHOULD roleplay with each other! But you should never make that call without first giving it an honest try.
  
  Everything above carries to out-of-character, too. The cornerstone of RP and really ANY sort of interaction is communication. If you don't talk, you won't know. Misunderstandings often spring up, and many have in this very community. For communication to flourish however, people need to feel comfortable and free to speak. People will always disagree but so long as they do it courteously, respectfully, and with discretion it shouldn't lead to heated arguments or drama.
  
  This attitude ought to carry to the administration, as well. Opinions will vary. Some will be strong, others not so much. At no juncture should the forum meant to give the community a place to talk be the very thing that silences or makes unwelcome members of that community. If at any point a forum administrator intervenes in a matter purely of the community, they have transformed a community matter into an administrative matter and that can lead to all sorts of messes. It indirectly creates a hostile, polarizing atmosphere that is self-defeating and counter to the very purpose of the forum. An administrator's role should be facilitative and encouraging, not restrictive or suppressing.
  
  Naturally there will be times when someone is just plain out of line and in need of correction, but administrative action ought to be a means of last resort, used only after the individual has proven themselves unreasonable, disrespectful, and disruptive to the smooth operation of the forum itself. The community's confidence in administrative discernment depends on trust; trust built by the continued vitality of the forum.
  
  That covers the basics. All the specifics below grow out of these principles.
  
  
  The Nature of the RPC
  OK, so. We've already agreed (by 70% majority!) that the RPC is not a governing body. Quoted from the poll:
  
  

  Quote:The RPC will become a hub and nothing more. . . The RPC would hold no structure, no form or hierarchy (aside from basic forum administration in regards to forum drama and organization), and basically a normal community like the rest of them out there.

  
  Well, sounds great! That's exactly the sort of thing I was hoping for. I basically see the RPC as the "least common denominator" – something that brings us together, but above all doesn't get in our way when all we want to do is get some RPing done. By necessity, anything of this nature that tries to unify so many views, preferences, and styles that vary so widely under one flag must fail. RP styles vary. RP tastes vary. Viewpoints vary. Try to get everyone to toe the same line and those who don't want to will simply go somewhere else!
  
  Let people disagree. As long as they do it respectfully and, if possible, quietly, we should be just fine.
  
  
  Linkshell Identity
  So, how do we disagree nicely? Well, for one I see a lot of talk about Linkshell A and Linkshell B, as if linkshells were the basic unit of decision-making and roleplay within the community. I really don't think that's the case – individuals are individually motivated. People do what they want; linkshells aren't half as binding as people seem to think they are. Most of the time they don't RP with a certain linkshell because they like that linkshell, they do it because they like the members of that linkshell. Linkshell policy usually emerges as the result of all the members expressing and blending their individual opinions, not some sort of hivemind phenomenon.
  
  Naturally, like-minded people tend to clump together but isn't this ALWAYS the case? They still have the capacity and right to disagree, and frequently do. Furthermore, often one person is a member of multiple linkshells and switches between or even bridges them at will. A linkshell is no more than the sum of its individuals, just as the RPC is no more than the sum of the linkshells in its community. I feel the linkshell-centric school of thought is inaccurate, misleading, and harmful to meaningful discussions of the RP community. Let's let each individual be weighed by their own contributions to the RP community, not prepackaged according to what design they have in front of their name at the moment.
  
  
  Linkshell Leader Forum
  Reference: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ffxiv-roleplayers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2590">http://www.ffxiv-roleplayers.com/forum/ ... f=5&t=2590</a><!-- m -->
  Almost every linkshell leader I broached the topic to liked the idea (and the rest were willing to try it), though I didn't think to ask about it specifically until I'd already gotten through several interviews. Oops! I can't be 100% confident on community views of this, but given that a lack of communication seems to be at the heart of many of our issues, I don't think more would hurt... Provided it had some very definite guidelines that everyone agreed to beforehand. Many understandably still have a bad taste in their mouth over last time, but I think with the proper framework this can be the useful tool it was originally meant to be.
  
  Perhaps a bit ironically, my post in the above thread seems to have been taken as speaking against the reinstatement of a leader forum, but I'd actually meant it to support the idea. Why? I see the benefit of a place where community leaders can come together as one without distractions and random interjections to efficiently discuss and plan how to raise interest in getting the members of their linkshells to interact. I'm not alone in this, though I won't go claiming total leadership solidarity.
  
  I support the notion of a forum only leaders can read so that they can discuss plot twists, shocking revelations, and other surprises without ruining it for everyone. However, this raises some unfortunate specters. For this to work, we'd need the community's faith that nobody will get up to hijinks. The following principles might help alleviate those fears:
  
  • The leader forum is a restricted access forum but it is NOT a private forum. Just because everyone can't read it doesn't mean it's not public. Anything you say is fair game to be shared among the community at large. Post as if the community is listening; it probably is.
    
  • Leaders have absolutely 0 authority over anything but their own linkshell.
    
  • Policy and politics are not appropriate topics of discussion. Neither is the behavior of specific groups or members of the community.[/list:u]
    There are all other sorts of rules and specifics we can debate for hours, but I'll leave that to others to decide.
    
    
    Community Epic
    Reference: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ffxiv-roleplayers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2401">http://www.ffxiv-roleplayers.com/forum/ ... f=2&t=2401</a><!-- m -->
    This came up several times over the course of my discussions. A couple people wondered whatever happened to it, one even suggested starting one as a means to help unify the community. Another said:
    
    

    Quote:I do not like the idea of a 'community epic' where some other guild leader controls where our guild fits in to a world. There already is a community epic: it's called Final Fantasy XIV.

    I'll be honest, I was 100% opposed to even the idea of a "community epic" until quite recently. I'm still pretty uncomfortable with it, but one of the linkshell leaders with whom I spoke proposed a framework I'd be able to work with (more on that later). "But why don't you like it?" you may ask. Well, the reason is simple... but wordy. If you've read this far, did you expect any different?
    
    As proposed, I feel the community epic missed an essential mark. Specifically, it sought to create alterations to the setting that the entire community was expected to acknowledge – it even went so far as to use the term 'canon'. To my mind, there is one determinant of canon only, and that is Square-Enix. Anything and everything we do as roleplayers is by consent and agreement of those roleplaying. No one can force anyone else to acknowledge something they do not agree with if it is not supported by official Square-Enix lore.
    
    The current format of the community epic forces a Hobson's Choice to anyone who doesn't fancy the premise: You are a member of the roleplaying community. Will you roleplay something you'd prefer not to, or be cut off from the community's newly-divergent setting? While this would certainly encourage interaction among some, it would force isolation on others! In my opinion, the community epic failed because it backfired.
    
    Does this mean we can't do community epics? They can still be a fun, engaging way to draw in people from all over the community BUT they must be carefully and tactfully handled; the RPC itself should remain the neutral hub it professes to be, not placing official seals of approval or validation upon anything. Participation would be completely voluntary, and the plot should not include any events that change or affect canon setting in such a way that anyone who's not interested is forced to awkwardly choose to either acknowledge or ignore it.
    
    With all the pressure off of both sides – planners don't have to make something grandiosely sweeping and epic and everyone else can join in or stay on the sidelines as they please – there will hopefully be a more relaxed OOC atmosphere that encourages people to take a peek without fear of it overturning a world they rather liked, actually.
    
    
    Events and Alternatives to Getting Involved
    This leads neatly into the next two points. I think the way we as a community think of events could use a very minor adjustment. Nothing overwhelming, promise.
    
    I notice that the community is very event-centric. It makes sense after all, it gets everyone together and roleplaying in the same place at the same time with a common draw! However, I feel there is an almost-exclusive focus on events that underplays the importance of the event's lesser-appreciated sibling, the plot arc. But didn't we just cover that with the talk of community epics?
    
    No, I'm talking about something much smaller scale. Something that may or may not involve your character directly, something that develops gradually over the course of one or many RPs. Often these happen naturally as your character develops and draws friends and companions into their personal story but I'm not quite talking about that. I'm talking about coming up with a plot thread for the purpose of drawing in and engaging others.
    
    As with everything else, OOC communication is key here; it's entirely possible that you toss out some tantalizing IC hint that nobody picks up on because nobody's sure what to make of it! Approach people you'd like to roleplay with and give them an OOC nudge. Run the premise by them without giving away too many of the details and see if they're interested. Discuss what might interest them and their character and adapt on the fly. It doesn't even have to be anything complicated, it could be as simple as "Hey, I notice you're a pugilist ICly. So am I! Maybe the Silver Mirage assigned us to the same job?" See what they think! You could even toss up a post on these very forums saying "I'm thinking of doing a plot thread / mini event / etc along these lines, who would be interested?" Events aren't the only way to meet new people. If they don't seem interested, it's probably not because they're a jerk or because they hate you – it may just not be their style. Respect that and try something or someone else.
    
    Despite that, events are still a pretty good way to meet new people and their importance should not be discounted. Keep 'em coming! But realize that not every character will be interested in your event. Heck, not every player will be interested in your event. If not many people show up, don't be disheartened. Just keep trying! Lack of attendance is not an indication of poor community health or interest, it's only an indication of lack of interest or just plain poor availability for that event. The key to a thriving climate of events is to have enough that are varied enough that everyone will find something that they'd like to attend, during a time they're able to attend.

• Dispute the argument, not the arguer. Don't get too personally entangled in your own views and remember you're not debating to see who wins, but to see which idea is better supported. Acknowledge the possibility that you MIGHT be wrong and if someone else disagrees with you, that doesn't mean they are attacking you personally. Respect works both ways.
  
• No veiled/underhanded/backhanded/etc insults, put-downs, accusations, jabs, or the like. Especially no "some people" or "parts of the community" or "certain linkshells" if you're actually referring to someone or something specific. Chances are we all know who you mean, and if we don't, the misunderstandings that result could make things even worse. If you won't name names, don't play games. Discussions are to be kept open and straightforward.
  
• No explicit insults, put-downs, accusations, jabs, or the like. Probably obvious, but included for completeness' sake!
  
• No assumptions about anyone else's motives or emotional state. If their points are valid then it doesn't matter if they posted out of the depths of a boundless rage because someone else's views would prevent them from kicking puppies, their points are still valid.
  
• Don't tell someone else what they said. Let their posts speak for themselves; often times the way they phrased it is vital to understanding how they meant it. If you're not sure, ask! Assumptions are the bane of communication.
  
• No accusations of immaturity. It's, frankly, pretty immature. If you're mature enough to respectfully and constructively contribute to this discussion, you're mature enough to have your contributions taken seriously.[/list:u]
  
  Discussion Suggestions
  These won't be enforced, they're just little tips to help the discussion along!
  
  • Support your views, if possible. Well-reasoned arguments are much more compelling and much harder to shoot down. Don't jump straight to a conclusion without first going over how you got there.
    
  • Avoid kneejerk posting. After you write a post, take a quick time out before you hit 'submit'. See if it sounds level-headed and reasonable when you come back.
    
  • Try not to sulk. We know the community has had its rough spots, but this is neither the place to settle scores nor nurse old wounds. We need to discuss how to move forward, now how to slide back.
    
  • If you think someone IS sulking, calling them on it will probably just start an argument. Politely ignore it and move on.[/list:u]
    
    Closing
    Bet you thought I'd never get here, eh? I do like the occasional surprise. I expect this will probably prompt some discussion, though I have no idea how much. Frankly, the more talking this results in, the happier I'll be. Why? Because at the end of the day, I want the RPC to be somewhere I can go free of drama, guilt trips, politics, and snark to connect and communicate with the many and varied members of our community. I don't want to sweat the small stuff. I want to roleplay.
    
    I leave the rest of this discussion to the RPC. But who is the RPC? You are. Sitting in your chair, checking your iPhone at the bus stop, with your laptop in the airport terminal. Every person reading this is the RPC, if they only choose to be. Your voice needs to be heard. If for whatever reason you have an opinion but do not wish to post publicly, PM someone! A friend, me, Kylin, anyone – maybe even all of the above. But don't lose this opportunity to help guide the future course of roleplaying on Besaid.

Quote:To annul this displeasure and restore activity, the RPC must begin to operate differently

Quote:I want to improve the community, but I cannot say that the RPC at its core is any different than it was before, from an administrative side of things. To avoid circumlocution, Kylin, can you elaborate on your position with regards to these forums? Does your status as the administrator, provider of bandwith/monthly forum charge going to matter if there is (and there are bound to be) disagreements? Will you argue points one way or the other using your title as administrator? Are your personal views separate from your position as admin of the boards?

I personally have lost that connection a long time ago. Back then, when I contributed on the RPC, I was under the impression that I was helping the community as a whole, but when it was made clear that it’s not exactly a place which was welcoming of every RPer, but more like an administrator-controlled forum (which sat in the camp I and others were opposed to), I and many many others stopped contributing because it no longer felt like I was contributing to the RP community, but rather creating content for someone’s forum disguised as a community website.

Quote:They are completely centered on the preferences and opinions of the person making the suggestions.

Quote:I’d like to make sure that we remain on the topic of the RPC, instead of RP in general. Individual RPers (of various/multiple linkshells) have been RPing together, despite the drop in activity on these boards. This means that encouraging people to RP with ‘strangers’ in game will not necessarily bring anything to this website. RP will go on, regardless if this site is used or not.

Quote: As a sidenote, let's not guilt-trip people who chose not to RP with every single person. If you're the type not to get bothered by jarring styles, or enjoy massive gatherings, and tavern RP - do not fault others for simply not finding those things fun to do.

Quote:For the sake of the discussion, could you please elaborate on this bit? I've been a member of the RPC since near it's inception, and I never saw the RPC as an administrator-controlled forum. What aspects directly influenced this thought to rise up? Do you have any direct references and examples that could help shed light on it? I actually thought Castiel's presence on these boards was rather lax.

If this is to be prevented from happening again, we'll need examples to follow so the same mistakes aren't made again.

Quote:I'll respond to this with a question. If players did not carry those opinions and preferences(wanting to bond the community and widen social circles), what would be left? The opposing suggestion would be for everyone to bar themselves in and refuse to make friends with anyone outside their circles.

Quote:I understand it's not for everyone, but for the majority it would be nice to see people actively getting out there and meeting people they don't know. Again, I know this already happens - but it's a point I felt should be brought up anyways. It is a step towards bringing the community closer, and therefor bringing the RPC closer.

Quote:I think the community itself is fine. Not great, can use some improvement (maybe a functioning hub for all?) but the game itself had a rough start, and I'd be surprised if our community was thriving while the overall player base dwindled . . . I've been a part of it since its inception so it's hard for me to put myself into the shoes of a new RP'er, it likely feels a lot less welcome and friendly to them.

Quote:If players form more friendships with their peers in game, it will carry over on a positive note to these forums. It isn't something that I believe should be ignored, either. They're one in the same after all. One can't exist without the other, while the other can - but will be limited in terms of communication. As stated in my post, I am well aware that plenty of cross-shell and RP outside of circles goes on in-game.

Quote:Nor should we misconstrue other's posts. I stated multiple times that I understand my views are not for everyone - and how that is completely okay. Not everyone is comfortable with the idea, and there's nothing wrong with that. By no means was it an attempt at guilt tripping anyone. It was simply a suggestion for those who would hear it, not as some sort of selfish demand as you appear to be painting it. My whole argument is based on wanting the community to grow closer to each other. I do not see that as self-centered. It's what I believe we need. In my opinion, the closer our bonds are, the stronger we will be.

Quote:If you are in opposition to the idea, you can simply say you do not agree with it - there is no need to say my suggestions are self-centered. That is rather offensive, to be honest, and this thread has no room for that. If we cannot respect each others opinions and suggestions, there can be no discussion.

Quote:This is a little outrageous. You ask me a question, and answer it yourself.

Quote:I said that we should NOT tell people how to play the game and RP. It's outside of this discussion. Whether I agree with your specific suggestions or not doesn't matter, I disagree with the entire premise of telling people what they ought to do. I don't think this belongs in this thread at all. The reasons I gave for WHY it doesn't belong in this thread, are

Quote:This is why I avoid making arguments similar Rain’s. They are completely centered on the preferences and opinions of the person making the suggestions.

Quote:1) RP in game doesn't influence this site nearly as much. Maybe in your experience, RP has been as dead/insular as depicted by the RPC activity, but from my POV, it's been pretty good (half-done game considering). I have seen and participated in cross LS RP w/o the use of these forums. It's not a matter of telling people what they need to do in game, but as I stated later in my post, incentives for people to use this website.

Quote:2) When you prescribe people what they should/shouldn't do, you're making a normative statement. It is based on your own personal judgement and subjective values. You telling people how they should play the game IS based on specifically your preferences/experiences/values/judgement and thus cannot be disputed or proven wrong by appeal to facts.

Quote:This to me shows that you do not understand my point about RPC not being equated to the community overall.

Quote: What makes you think this is a direct reply to you?

Quote:As a sidenote, let's not guilt-trip people who chose not to RP with every single person

Quote:in fact I didn't even take apart your post, and mentioned you once.

Quote:>Temporary linkshell space. I was thinking how Archavolon has a page linked to the RPC, why can't others do the same? Slap a 3 month max time frame on it, and offer free LS hosting for starting RP groups! A pretty good incentive to start a Linkshell, if you ask me.

Quote:>Personal projects. If someone has an idea related to RP, the RPC should be able to offer them several resources to house that idea, and to grow it. The RPC shouldn't claim the ideas/effort as their own, but rather be a tool for community feedback and so on.

Quote:All I'm saying is that if you are to try and state that the RPC was administrator ran, it would be nice to have some direct evidence - if not for me, for people who weren't around during those days. I just had the discussion in mind, and for a point to be taken seriously it helps to have evidence backing it up instead of going off some one's word. The issue itself is simple enough thing to avoid even if it did exist. Either way, I see no further need to dig into this, so I won't continue to pick at it.

Quote:I never did state that I believe we should tell people how to roleplay, but I'm sorry if it came across that way. I believe that we should encourage those who want to branch out and widen their circles. I also believe that the RPC and the in-game community are one. That is my stance. They can exist without each other, but in my opinion they would be so much stronger if they both were in harmony. It's fine if you feel in-game has nothing to do with the core issues here, I respect that, but I believe it does. I'll admit, the overall appeal of the RPC comes first - getting people back, but I believe that mending friendships and making new ones is right behind that, and should be discussed at the same time. To me, that seems to have a chance at increasing the RPCs overall appeal. If people have friends on the RPC, they may be more inclined to post.

Quote:If you are in opposition to the idea, you can simply say you do not agree with it - there is no need to say my suggestions are self-centered.

Quote:We do this for fun, to enjoy ourselves and the company of others. While it's certainly nicer and more inclusive to always RP with everyone all the time, RP should not be an obligation. Accept that for any one of a variety of reasons, someone might just not want to roleplay with you right now. Don't take it personally! In fact, I'm going to be extreme here and say that due to differences in styles, goals, and motivations, not everyone SHOULD roleplay with each other! But you should never make that call without first giving it an honest try.

Quote:I actually think Castiel tried to offer this at one point, but linkshells already had their personal sites and it was deemed un-necessary. It honestly could be that it just wasn't advertised enough, or simply the fact that people currently don't really use the RPC as we are all aware.

Quote:Seems fair enough. However, I have an honest question. What sort of resources did you have in mind? I suppose the possibilities could be endless, but let's expand on this.

Would they get their own specific forum space if the project were large enough? Would it be resources such as compiled information - lore, etc. Calendars, or special forms of advertisement?

Quote:I do have a question about your proposal, Rain. Here is what is what you made clear is happening in the game already (correct me if I am wrong): Friendships are being made, RP storylines are happening, Cross-LS RP is present, big events happen, in general there is RP to be found.

Your answer to increasing activity on the RPC seems to be to strengthen in-game community cohesion and increase RP between people who usually don't RP with each other.

Is that the general gist of it? If I got it wrong, correct me.
If community = RPC, how do you bring more activity to the RPC?

Given, that people are already making friends/RPing - how much more of that needs to happen to bring more activity here? What is the actual plan going forward? A general statement supporting community solidarity and cohesion is easy to make, but I really didn't see an actual proposal/course of action based on your stated beliefs.

Quote:How do you get people to bond, who have completely different tastes in what they like/dislike or what they find fun/interesting? How do people like myself and Verence who would rather not bother with people who are known to have different preferences when it comes to RP (note: not people we've never RPed with, but people with whom we have and didn't find it rewarding) factor into this? Furthermore, if there is more bonding, how do you translate that over to activity here on the RPC?

What about the people who would love to RP with anyone, yet strongly dislike the RPC itself?

Quote:Just to clarify, my idea was based around new LInkshells. I understand why Linkshells who already have websites wouldn't need this.

Quote:maybe a space somewhere on this website (outside the forum) where one can cycle through the 'profiles'.