Syrenrei
Connoisseur of Romance
How to Guide #2: Finding (and recruiting for) a RP
Another Subpar Guide by Syrenrei
One of (if not THE) biggest questions new people have when they join is, "How do I find a RP?" Many times I also see newer people recruiting for a RP and having difficulty because, well, they just aren't sure how people might find them. I'm going to explain some of the ways to find one- from simple to downright creepy-stalker-like.
1. RolePlay Recruitment Forums
It doesn't get simpler than this! Before you adventure into the roleplay recruitment threads, it helps to know what you want to do.
- If you want to roleplay with just one other person (which we commonly call 1x1) you will want to go here to find a partner. You can either sift through the threads of people already there and reply to your favorites or you can make your own thread!
- If you'd rather roleplay with a group of people in a text-based format, you want to visit the forums here. People will post ideas they are trying to measure interest on as well as RPs they have just started and need more people for. It is a great resource for both people looking for a RP and those trying to find people for theirs!
- If you fancy a dice-based roleplay look no further than here to find the right game or right players for you! Since the other two recruitment forums center on text-based roleplay, we made a separate forum for the dice and system games.
2. Browsing RolePlays Themselves
At the top of your screen that has a button that says "ROLEPLAYS." If you click on it, it will take you here. When you scroll down you should see icons for Fandom, Fantasy, Realistic or Modern, and Futuristic. Clicking any of these will take you to the group RPs for that genre.
How does this help? Well, there are lots of people who don't advertise in the recruitment forums. For one reason or another they do not need to, want to, or think to... which means if you are only using the recruitment forums you may be missing out! If you like a RP that's listed and it's not marked as "closed" you can sign-up, post in the OOC to see if you can join, or PM the creator.
3. Signature Links
If you're already in a group RP or you've made friends with someone who's "totes awesome" you might see a link in their signature for their RP. A lot of creators do this to help attract people they already know/like in other RPs and create visibility for their RPs. This is a great way to follow someone's writing/style you adore. Conversely, if you are trying to attract players, a simple link in your signature might get their attention and interest!
4. Networking
Making friends on RPN is one of the best ways to find a RP. They will tell you all about the RPs they are in and can sometimes give you an objective opinion on one you're looking to join. Just like any other community they can tell you who makes stellar games, who goes AWOL right after they start, and who they admire. Heck, they might even call on you to join theirs when they start one! I know I've joined several RPs when my friends from other groups started them- because I knew we'd have fun and I wanted to write with them!
5. And Getting a Little Stalky... (Sorry admins)
After browsing so many threads and RPs, you've probably come across several people you like and/or admire. Perhaps it's their writing, or their character creation, or the way they toss their hair in the moonlight. >.> When you click on someone's name or portrait, you have the option to "Follow" them. Doing so allows you to (if they don't have privacy settings) see them on your news feed. There you can see their posts, status changes, etc. On some occasions people advertise their RPs in their status, post on their wall, or you can see them post to a new thread that could be potential RP for you!
I know what you're thinking- that's not like stalking! You're right. But if you click on that same user you can select "Profile Page" to see their profile. Oooh, ahhh! There are several tabs here of interest. A fair number of users put a lot of information about their RP preferences and history in the "Information" tab. If you want to RP with someone super-badly though, or see if they are in some cool RPs, you can click on "Recent Activity" or "Postings" to see what they've been up to... maybe something's there!
6. The Search Option
When you visit the main forums page, you might have noticed a search bar in the top right corner. You can search both titles AND by member to find something of interest. This is a sort of 'last ditch' effort for me personally since you can either go too vague or too specific most times. The best application is when you see someone mention a RP in Shoutbox, their signature, or forum posts but you can't find the link. It can also help when someone mentions to you a member they think you'll like playing with, but refers to them by nickname or doesn't link you their profile.
7. The New Feature!
In December 2014 a new feature was implemented to both look for and find potential recruits. I haven't used it yet, but you can find out more here. Give it a try! You can both advertise that you are looking for a RP (and what type) as well as find people to message/recruit for your RP.
So what's the best success rate? What advice do you give, Syrenrei?
- You should join a RP (or two) before starting your own. Some people are successful recruiting from the first go, but it's MUCH easier if you have networked with players you'd like and can convince to join your RP.
- Don't be afraid to chat with people in the SB or discussion threads and 'follow' people with similar interests. They are worth their weight in gold!
- Browsing Roleplay Recruitment and Roleplays themselves have given me great experiences and friends I wouldn't have met otherwise. Not everyone uses the SB (no matter what Grin tells you).
Please let me know if you have any questions or if you think anything should be added! I hope all of you find this a valuable resource. I do want to offer one other word of advice: whether recruiting players or joining a RP, don't be afraid to research! Look at your players' profiles! Look at your storyteller's profile! Make sure you don't seen signs they frequently leave RPNation, drop RPs, or haven't posted in months because they are too busy to post. Save yourself from the heartache of starting this process again. Be kind to one another, but also be informed. There is a lot of resources at your disposal: you can find greatness in the RP world!
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Thanks for the helpful advice!
