How Can I Make a Roleplay More Involving?

[CactusWren]

I'll get right down to the nitty-gritty: I want to know how I can help make a roleplay more interesting and more involving for other players.


My main motivation is to help everyone have fun.


I've noticed that some roleplay groups are absolutely GREAT at doing this, such as coming up with events every week that everyone can participate in, and obviously it would be optional if the other players are doing something else (such as interacting with others/doing their own little subplot).


However, a lot of times I notice that some players are just drifting around, waiting for someone to contact them, and when they're ignored long enough, they feel neglected, lose interest and leave, and that's the last thing I want anyone to feel since it's happened to me so many times.


Note: I know some people will lose interest in the roleplay anyway, and honestly that's just how it will be, but I still want to make it all the more fun and interactive.


I'm doing a high school (it's so original, isn't it *dripping with sarcasm*) but I want to come up with events and the like that can involve everyone.


Does anyone have any ideas, or know how I can do this?

 

[Lexielai]

The easiest way is to have the players insert themselves into the environment and facilitate involvement. Like, if there is a big art show going on, the big basketball player would show up anyways despite not being an artsy guy. Or if there's a fight going on, someone watching would try to step in and intervene.


The problem is that players are hesitant and unwilling to make the first commitment. The first thing you should do is talk to them about it. The second is to force the event to come to them, so they can participate without feeling like they're intruding (even if they really aren't).


For example, someone makes a really shy bookworm that watches people all the time, but doesn't ever participate. She just "observes the events that unfold." What do you do? You have an announcer pick her out in the crowd and tell her to come up as a volunteer! Or everyone's playing a game when someone accidentally hits her head, and now they're all asking if she's okay.


A lot of players tend to be conservative, and a bit gunshy, with their characters. If you're a GM, one of the best qualities you can learn is to step it up and help them overcome that obstacle so they can get involved. You've gotta be outgoing and inclusive of others.

 

[CactusWren]

@Lexielai


Thank you, that is awesome advice. I'll try to keep it in mind.

 

[Archie]

I'll get right down to the nitty-gritty: I want to know how I can help make a roleplay more interesting and more involving for other players.
My main motivation is to help everyone have fun.


I've noticed that some roleplay groups are absolutely GREAT at doing this, such as coming up with events every week that everyone can participate in, and obviously it would be optional if the other players are doing something else (such as interacting with others/doing their own little subplot).


However, a lot of times I notice that some players are just drifting around, waiting for someone to contact them, and when they're ignored long enough, they feel neglected, lose interest and leave, and that's the last thing I want anyone to feel since it's happened to me so many times.


Note: I know some people will lose interest in the roleplay anyway, and honestly that's just how it will be, but I still want to make it all the more fun and interactive.


I'm doing a high school (it's so original, isn't it *dripping with sarcasm*) but I want to come up with events and the like that can involve everyone.


Does anyone have any ideas, or know how I can do this?

PMs, making a big event, then encouraging everyone in those PMs to drop in. Have some of the creator's characters push the plot around and play with less involved characters instead of acting like you'd normally play an RP - its life depends on it and its the sacrifice they make

 

[AlexSilverX]

For a high school role-play, I would recommend making it a boarding school. Then, everyone gets a first interaction right off the bat when they meet their new roommates.


Honestly, once you push them into interacting for the first time, RPers usually get the rest sorted out for themselves.