What Should We Do?

[[Celestic]]

How do you propose we find members that fit that specific category? I need more than just the type of members we need, I need to know HOW you plan on getting those members.

Advertising on better RP sites. Advertise on RP sites that aren't other wolf RPs. If we go to other themed boards, and post an advertisement for Aelyn and the story surrounding it we may attract interest. Perhaps we need people from outside the wolf genre to come into the genre. Add some new flavor to it.

As for the plot, I've mentioned different ways of doing that, I've PUSHED wolves into those ways, created wolves JUST for that reason... those posts get ignored. No one cares to respond to them and if we don't have anyone being active, then they're going to continue to get ignored. I have done everything I can aside from saying "Poof, everyone has their powers back", which I won't do. We got rid of them because 1) No one used them, or they were getting WAY too ridiculous and 2) The last MAJOR plot we put in KILLED the other forum... because wolves weren't wanting to interact with each other. Its not a matter of plot, if you ask me. Its mainly to do with the members and a lack of motivation... which if that's the case, then I'm not going to put forth the effort that I do anymore.

I think I finally understand the problem. Whenever we do a plot it is mentioned at first, people forget about it and don't know what to expect. I know you're not gonna wanna do this but we may need to create a whole thread on how a plot works and what people NEED to do in order to advance it. Participants are scared to advance their plot or develop their characters because they don't know if they are allowed to do it, or if anyone expects it. And I think the plot is partially to do with it, it may not be as big of a factor, but it is a factor. I mean come on, I know you've RPed for 10 years but it's not like I don't know how a story progresses and how it SHOULD advance etc. We get a little ways into the story, and people get scattered and don't know what to do, or they get bored and quit.

RPing is one of the ONLY outlets I have anymore, which is why I'm pushing this issue. If we don't get the input and participation in THIS thread, how can we expect participation and input ANYWHERE else? A lot of people agree that sometimes a brand new, shiny forum brings in new members and gets everyone inspired... Its worked in the past, but I won't do another Wolf RP Forum if this one tanks.

Honestly I don't see how that strategy will work anymore. We've done it so many times and it's just fizzled out. I know it's frustrating, but you have to stick with it.

Oh, trust me... I have thought that way since the beginning... I've put forth the effort to try to get members to participate. I don't think I have anymore "CAN" in me to give without a little boost of hope from THE MEMBERS.

I know. Believe me I know, and you have me here trying to help. We just need other participants. *COUGH HELLO PEOPLE COUGH*

I have advertised out my ass and back, and on more sites than just Facebook, other RP sites and the like. I've listed our page in Search Engines, created hash tags, posted on Forum Directories, mentioned it to people IRL... the works.

How do you plan to get an older audience? I don't think age is the issue, I think its just a general lack of interest or motivation. Older people generally don't participate in Wolf-oriented RPs... that's more for a younger crowd anyway... Older people tend to gravitate toward more mature themes, which this forum is not listed or labeled under... which is another reason I thought about making an entirely new forum.

I'm not trying to sound rude with this comment but instead of striking down the prospect that it could be the age problem could you at least hear me out first? LOL. Age is a problem because younger people (nowadays especially) are getting more and more lazy when it comes to writing and remaining dedicated to something. Perhaps in order to fix that we need to make Aelyn a more mature-focused RP with more graphic/focused content. Aelyn COULD be made into a mature-themed board. And I think that's the solution to your problem there.

[>>Sway<<]

Advertising on better RP sites. Advertise on RP sites that aren't other wolf RPs. If we go to other themed boards, and post an advertisement for Aelyn and the story surrounding it we may attract interest. Perhaps we need people from outside the wolf genre to come into the genre. Add some new flavor to it.

That's part of the advertising I've done. I've advertised on Anime, Wolf, TV Themed, Book Themed (Harry Potter, House of Night, etc) and several other Non-Wolf RPGs. I've advertised on super active RPGs and not so active RPGs and everything in between.

I think I finally understand the problem. Whenever we do a plot it is mentioned at first, people forget about it and don't know what to expect. I know you're not gonna wanna do this but we may need to create a whole thread on how a plot works and what people NEED to do in order to advance it. Participants are scared to advance their plot or develop their characters because they don't know if they are allowed to do it, or if anyone expects it. And I think the plot is partially to do with it, it may not be as big of a factor, but it is a factor. I mean come on, I know you've RPed for 10 years but it's not like I don't know how a story progresses and how it SHOULD advance etc. We get a little ways into the story, and people get scattered and don't know what to do, or they get bored and quit.

We have done that in the past where we say "Hey, you should try this." Or even flat out said "DO THIS AND YOU CAN WIN/ADVANCE/ETC!" and that doesn't work. Members don't feel like advancing things or participating. Members just lose inspiration or have a general lack of interest. Trust me when I say I've tried everything I can think of.. I've held polls to see what members wanted, asked members for input on everything and put those into effect... I've changed things around to make the plot more interesting in the past, make it move along further, even practically thrown the plot into the faces of the members, giving them a path to take and a solution and everything and even then nothing comes out of it. It may have something to do with the plot, but overall, its members not caring. Notice its just you and me debating again over the past couple days? And what day is it today? I sent out a mass e-mail and even then, only you and Unoppo have responded. Chances are, there isn't enough interest to keep this forum alive, based on the gathered information I've gotten, the chances that I've given, and the general lack of response to probably one of the most important threads that I've posted proves to me that while people SAY they want to help, they're really not committed it would seem, which is our main problem.

Honestly I don't see how that strategy will work anymore. We've done it so many times and it's just fizzled out. I know it's frustrating, but you have to stick with it.

That was because we were beating a dead horse... I don't think that we have the membership or the background behind us to be an active Wolf RP Forum... Its a genre that seems to NEED to be well established with members that are dedicated anymore and not something that can stay on its feet without that. I think that Wolf RP was a fad that is now not so big and the members that would be up to playing a Wolf RPG are already content and established within their own forums that have been around FAR longer than Aelyn. Sure there are some newer ones out there, but they have a dedicated membership that we can't seem to get. Its frustrating, yes, but honestly if ALL of the advertising, affiliating, listing, commenting, social networking, etc that I've done hasn't brought in any members, we're probably not going to get any. Period.

I'm not trying to sound rude with this comment but instead of striking down the prospect that it could be the age problem could you at least hear me out first? LOL. Age is a problem because younger people (nowadays especially) are getting more and more lazy when it comes to writing and remaining dedicated to something. Perhaps in order to fix that we need to make Aelyn a more mature-focused RP with more graphic/focused content. Aelyn COULD be made into a mature-themed board. And I think that's the solution to your problem there.

Technically, we're as mature as we're allowed to be based on the Proboards ToS. A forum must be PG-13 rated, which is what we are. We can't allow sex with wolves, that's just creepy. We allow swearing already and we allow gore to an extent... how can we make the site MORE mature than it already is?

And yes, I hear what you're saying about a lot of the younger generation, but HOW do we weed that out? HOW do we get the older members? I don't think that changing any of that is going to help. I've advertised on just about every level of board I could... Mature, Literate, Advanced, Beginner, etc and nothing has worked. I've tried to keep things interesting, but when I get NO feedback, at least nothing that is consistent or anything can actually HELP the forum, its hard to keep beating this already dead horse. I do get what you're saying, but try to see what I'm saying as well. I've tried EVERYTHING... Trust me. There's not much more we can do to change the forum, aside from changing things entirely... again... or starting from scratch with an entirely new theme.

I had put a deadline that by TODAY, I needed input from members... and I haven't gotten much out of anyone. You've given me suggestions, but no real SOLUTIONS. I need solutions to make things work. HOW do you plan on putting into effect those ideas, considering I've ALREADY done just about everything you've suggested?

[[Celestic]]

That's part of the advertising I've done. I've advertised on Anime, Wolf, TV Themed, Book Themed (Harry Potter, House of Night, etc) and several other Non-Wolf RPGs. I've advertised on super active RPGs and not so active RPGs and everything in between.

Well I honestly don't know what else to tell you then. lol. I don't know why that advertisement hasn't worked. Do people on those sites actually look in advertisement sections?

We have done that in the past where we say "Hey, you should try this." Or even flat out said "DO THIS AND YOU CAN WIN/ADVANCE/ETC!" and that doesn't work. Members don't feel like advancing things or participating. Members just lose inspiration or have a general lack of interest. Trust me when I say I've tried everything I can think of.. I've held polls to see what members wanted, asked members for input on everything and put those into effect... I've changed things around to make the plot more interesting in the past, make it move along further, even practically thrown the plot into the faces of the members, giving them a path to take and a solution and everything and even then nothing comes out of it. It may have something to do with the plot, but overall, its members not caring. Notice its just you and me debating again over the past couple days? And what day is it today? I sent out a mass e-mail and even then, only you and Unoppo have responded. Chances are, there isn't enough interest to keep this forum alive, based on the gathered information I've gotten, the chances that I've given, and the general lack of response to probably one of the most important threads that I've posted proves to me that while people SAY they want to help, they're really not committed it would seem, which is our main problem.p

I do agree with you, that is our main problem. While I'm trying to not be entirely hopeless it really frustrates me that everyone here says things and doesn't do anything. I know how hard you've worked on this place and how much effort you've put into it. I've given ideas on what the lack of interest could be, but in my opinion, this all comes down to the age of the participants who are all most likely under 18 and going through the woes of terrible awful stressful high school.

That was because we were beating a dead horse... I don't think that we have the membership or the background behind us to be an active Wolf RP Forum... Its a genre that seems to NEED to be well established with members that are dedicated anymore and not something that can stay on its feet without that. I think that Wolf RP was a fad that is now not so big and the members that would be up to playing a Wolf RPG are already content and established within their own forums that have been around FAR longer than Aelyn. Sure there are some newer ones out there, but they have a dedicated membership that we can't seem to get. Its frustrating, yes, but honestly if ALL of the advertising, affiliating, listing, commenting, social networking, etc that I've done hasn't brought in any members, we're probably not going to get any. Period.

As much as I hate to say this I do agree with you. I'd just hate to lose this place. Wolf RPing to me has always been something that you and I enjoyed doing and I just don't want it to go. I know we can't have an active board without members. Are you proposing we throw in the towel?

Technically, we're as mature as we're allowed to be based on the Proboards ToS. A forum must be PG-13 rated, which is what we are. We can't allow sex with wolves, that's just creepy. We allow swearing already and we allow gore to an extent... how can we make the site MORE mature than it already is?

Omg EW! I never said I wanted to write sex scenes with wolves. XD I just don't think people realize that we are PG-13 rated. Personally, I doubt people even read the rules here which is another problem.

And yes, I hear what you're saying about a lot of the younger generation, but HOW do we weed that out? HOW do we get the older members? I don't think that changing any of that is going to help. I've advertised on just about every level of board I could... Mature, Literate, Advanced, Beginner, etc and nothing has worked. I've tried to keep things interesting, but when I get NO feedback, at least nothing that is consistent or anything can actually HELP the forum, its hard to keep beating this already dead horse. I do get what you're saying, but try to see what I'm saying as well. I've tried EVERYTHING... Trust me. There's not much more we can do to change the forum, aside from changing things entirely... again... or starting from scratch with an entirely new theme.

Well here is a SOLUTION to the problem (and I have been proposing solutions. Whenever a person registers we have the write us a sample RP scene. If we deem them unable to write to our standards we let them go, if they are willing to improve we closely monitor their posts and we give them some sort of system where they can get points if they improve their writing. Honestly in some instances it isn't difficult to tell a person's age by their writing level. Unless they are completely illiterate.

Perhaps we should create a new board or focus on another theme. Maybe we should focus on "Whispers in the Wind" for awhile.

I had put a deadline that by TODAY, I needed input from members... and I haven't gotten much out of anyone. You've given me suggestions, but no real SOLUTIONS. I need solutions to make things work. HOW do you plan on putting into effect those ideas, considering I've ALREADY done just about everything you've suggested?

These suggestions can be solutions hun.

[>>Sway<<]

Well, for those interested, I did create a new board (Click the link) for the idea of a Mythological/Supernatural RP... or something else if we come up with it. Anyone who wants to take part in the creation of this world and whatnot, please join and let me know you joined. Those who wish to be staff need to fill out the following form:

[b]Name[/b]: your name, obviously
[b]Position Applied For[/b]: Administrator, Global Moderator, Moderator (Or name your own position idea)
[b]Statement[/b]: Post why you should be a staff member.
[b]Other information[/b]: Anything else you deem important.

You can either send this to me or post it here.

Also, for those interested in posting/commenting/creating the new forum, there is a PUBLIC thread for everyone to post in!

[[Hydecka]]

As you know, I've already joined the new board, and have put in an application. Should i start recruiting for the new one or should i send them here first?

[>>Sway<<]

Start recruiting. We could use all the input we can get and if we can build the hype, it should help us out more than hinder us.

[[Hydecka]]

I personally think we should wait to start recruiting for the new sight untill we get things a little more established. the members from here that plan on continuing on to the new sight, along with us should be enough to at least come up with the basics, then we can expand from there

[>>Sway<<]

Yeah... IDK what I was thinking when I said start recruiting... lol. Brain fart or something.

[[Hydecka]]

I think you should post the new sight into its own announcement thread, so that more people can find it, we're still the only three in there, even though a few people said they'd come over too.

[>>Sway<<]

I'll do one better. I'll mass e-mail. xP

[[Hydecka]]

that works too, lol.

[[Celestic]]

It's a bit sad that the most activity here has been discussing a new board. *sigh*

[>>Sway<<]

And even then its been a lack of activity. See why I wasn't expecting to get things running again?