In the last few years Star Army has experienced a flood of new factions, including several playable ones. This has introduced some issues for the site:
So, here's my plan:
As always your feedback is welcome.
- The number of active players has not increased to keep pace with the addition of new playable factions
- New factions have been introduced which don't seem to relate to the other factions in the site
- It's a lot of work to maintain and grow factions
- A lot of recent conflicts between members are closely related to development of new factions (in particular, arguments over submissions)
- I feel like the site has lost some focus and we seem to be trying to do too much at one time
- We also have an ongoing issue with people creating a new supposedly "NPC" faction and then jealously guarding it to the point where the GMs who would like to use it don't feel comfortable using it.
So, here's my plan:
- Star Army will not accept new playable factions after the end of July, until at least the end of the year.
- Old Playable Factions that aren't being played anymore are going to be transferred to NPC/non-playable status. (e.g. Neshaten, Lorath)
- New NPC factions will have to have a plot plan for RP to get approved.
- Don't let people "backdoor" factions by claiming their species is for NPC use and then trying to start a plot for them. I can think of recent examples where this happened.
- Make it more clear that submitting NPC background factions is for all GMs to use, not for personal use. This is a character-based RP, not a nations RP.
- Clarify the difference between people who submit NPC factions and people who actually run playable factions (FMs). Maybe different banners?
- Don't be afraid to remind people that the Star Army RP is primarily about the Star Army of Yamatai and while building out the universe is welcome we shouldn't lose focus on the core of the site.
- Figure out ways to reward people for building on to existing things instead of making little islands.
- Shift focus from making Star Army's universe "wide" to making it more "deep."
- Put more detail into the existing playable factions and try to set them up for long-term success.
As always your feedback is welcome.