So you have PbP rpg and suddenly people stop posting or you get people who want to play Mr. Spock in a WOD forum. What is happening? And where is everyone? Here are some issues I have noticed while I was wandering around.

1. There are more OOC posts than IC posts. That is a sign to a visitor that people are not into the game but more into talking, planning or arguing than actually playing.

2. A chat box on the first page full of spam or the last conversation between players was over a month ago. Unless your site has times when people are ALL on at the same time, do not bother with a chatbox, use IM.

3. Empty boards or a board with too many sub-boards with no posts. This one gets tricky. Many people want their own house, apt. what have you, but too many empty boards is a signal to the visitor that the game is either very new or very dead. Wait for them to ask for one. Let them know you are willing to make one, but do not until they are ready to start posting in it. Any public areas, post in yourself at least, or ask one of your more active players to start a thread in one, if it seems logical that their character would be there.

4. Lots of started and unfinished threads. Lock ended threads. That helps visitors see there is progress, but leave them in board area for a while. Moving them makes a board look empty.

5. Over half the page filled with graphics from the banner. OK nice, but they take too long to load and I did not come to your site to look at the same pictures over and over. I came to read posts and perhaps join in. If you are a domain, try putting different graphics at the head of each board. If you are working on a free board, some may let you do that , some may not, if not limit your graphic size.

6. Spam in threads. Sometimes a spammer gets through we all know that. Delete the spam. A site with a lot of spam means it is not maintained or visited by it's admin.

7. Overly decorated or too small of fonts. No visitor wants to have to squint or zoom all the time to read a site. Ditto for color combos that are hard Who wants to highlight posts just so they can read them?

8. Overly complicated or vague posts about the site intent. Give a story synopsis, a place history and the major players. Keep it brief. Remember NO One gets through War and Peace. (Old Get smart Joke there for those who are too young to remember)

9. Overly complicated character sheets or too 'snobby' of a tone regarding writing requirements. Many visitors are looking for a game environment. By implying that you have to be good enough to be accepted those who feel they are not writers may be frightened off. Tone it down. Ask for a sample paragraph as a lead-in to the character's joining the game. sort of a scene, Don't ask for a 5000 word essay.

10. Poor grammar and spelling. Typos happen, but consistant ones are a red flag, especially if the site has a spell checker.

Zeta Thompson
Graycastle
Part of the Zeta Entertainment Network ,a Subsidiary of Dogs of War.
Dow and Zen