Advice on what mistakes to avoid in forming an RPSG?

Hi all,

I was looking to try and start a RPSG on Virtue based around magic origin characters. I wanted to try and recruit people interested in 'non-epic' mutual story telling RP. (Well, non-epic as far as makes sense for a super hero themed setting goes, and sticking to the CoX canon material.) And I'd really appreciate hearing any RPSG founders and leaders stories and advice on what mistakes to watch out for going forward.

I think that this would make a great sticky if we get a bunch of responses. I too have noticed that there isn't really any advice on starting and running an RPSG and how to manage storylines.

Dont...

... let it get stale. Keep things fun and more importantly *Moving*

... be a hardass about RP/Non-RP standards, canon, participation. The tighter your grip, the more systems... err... players will slip through your fingers.

... over complicate your base. Design for functionality as well as fun.

... forget to maintain an outside forums/mailing list. These go a long way to keeping your casual members in the loop.

Do...

... stay in touch with your members, even if it's just to say "hi." Encourage your members to be "chatty."

... make sure you/other officers are around more oft then not. Nothing kills a group more than "nobody's ever on."

... encourage people to have alts in the SG as well. Remember, alts earn prestige too.

... hold events and such. "We never do anything," is a killer as well. Events are also good recruiting tools

It's 106 miles to Grandville, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing faceless helmets

... Hit it ...

Thanks for that list of do/donts Jet_Boy.

here's another tip, I would suggest something here if someone isn't on for 21 days unless they contact you or another one of the groups leaders and say that their going on vacation or whatever. Make it clear that this will happen when they join the group, and make it clear that they can always come back if they want to.