Things I’ve learned about major rp arcs:
1) You can’t make everyone participate, even if you want to. You can’t make everyone interested, or commit their time to your project.
2) One dissenting voice can change everything, for better or for worse. If you’re running a story, and it’s your story, be ready to break some eggs and make some omelets, because no matter how good your ideas are, someone’s always going to want to change it or break it or do something differently with it.
3) Delaying projects is as bad, if not worse, than rushing them. You need to act on the enthusiasm your people have up front. The longer you wait, the more likely it is to dwindle.
4) Your RP arc is only as strong as the person leading it. If they’re unfocused, lazy, or short on time, the story will suffer for it as will anyone investing into it. It will not work.
5) It’s okay to offer to help a GM. In fact, it’s appreciated a lot of the time.
6) Keep hard dates for deadlines and events. Nebulous dates allow for procrastination which facilitates number 3. Hard dates keep you honest and on a timeline.
7) Understand that you can’t please everyone, and if you’re trying to, you’ll hate GM’ing the event. Please yourself and as many people as you can.
Be flexible when it’s not a pivotal matter. Being open to other people’s ideas makes small plot lines into major ones, and stories flourish.
9) You don’t know everything. You might think you do, you don’t. Keep humble.
10) People who make commitments of time and effort might not live up to them. Have back up plans.
11) Have a soundboard. Running major RP arcs is stressful. Find someone who’s willing to listen when you need to bitch, and tell you when you need to shut up and work.
12) Make a promise, keep a promise. You’re only as good as your word. If you say X, Y, Z will be done, buckle the hell down and make sure X, Y, Z does happen.
13) Ask for feedback. Don’t be a dick when someone gives you constructive criticism.
14) Don’t overwhelm people with too many big arcs. Give other people limelight time.
15) Know that it’s okay to delegate to others who want to help. If you have open communication about what needs to happen about an event, and they’re willing to run with it, let them.
Anything YOU can think of, readers? Lay it on us.
Ta!
Filed in RP,World of Warcraft One Response so far
Shad on 22 Jul 2010 at 6:11 pm #
I’d say the thing that I have most -failed- to learn is to Keep It Simple, Stupid. Don’t over-plan and/or over-write an arc; a simple, strong, open idea is way better than a special snowflake opera. It’s way more interesting to let other people build the little side stories and details than to write them yourself. Also way more fun for them.