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12:10, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Very slow start.

Posted by Draegnoth
ladysharlyne
subscriber, 2913 posts
You get out of a game the
effort you put in it !!
Mon 23 Nov 2020
at 20:03
  • msg #4

Very slow start

Make sure it is not Adult rated games you are trying to RTJ to.  Check your rmails and if it is from an ad then rmail the poster.  Each GM runs their games access not the Admin or Moderators.  If it is Adult rating then you have to wait two weeks before the GM of a game can even see your RTJ (request to join).  If it is not Adult rated then you are doing the right thing just click on the games request to join and leave a PM or use Rmail to only them.

The Admin/Moderators have nothing to do with who gets allow in a game or the time it takes for a GM/DM to reply to you.  Patience is the answer.
drewalt
subscriber, 111 posts
Mon 23 Nov 2020
at 20:08
  • msg #5

Very slow start

It's most likely not personal.  3.5/3.0/Pathfinder and 5e games are all in pretty heavy demand and I think it overwhelms people who wanted 4-6 players and got 15+ applications.  I've put out plenty of RTJs which were never responded to.

There's a few things you can do:

Be very careful to read all instructions and fill everything out in short, complete, and grammatically correct sentences.

If a game is particularly competitive to enter, be willing to play something that's not popular to play as, but is popular to play with.

Finally, I dare suggest trying new systems.  You get the bonus of trying something new you might wind up really liking, and it tends to be the best way to actually find games in popular systems because people tend to recruit from those who they are already familiar with.

edit: atrocious grammar
This message was last edited by the user at 20:12, Mon 23 Nov 2020.
Cygnia
member, 299 posts
Amoral Paladin
Mon 23 Nov 2020
at 20:11
  • msg #6

Very slow start

And, for US folks, it's a holiday week -- game management can slow down during that time.
bigbadron
moderator, 15964 posts
He's big, he's bad,
but mostly he's Ron.
Mon 23 Nov 2020
at 20:35

Very slow start

In reply to ladysharlyne (msg # 4):

People who haven't been here long enough to be granted Adult access can't apply to Adult games, so it's definitely not a matter of Adult GMs ignoring RtJs from somebody who doesn't have Adult access yet.
Draegnoth
member, 8 posts
Been playing for 25 years
Can fill any role
Mon 23 Nov 2020
at 20:52
  • msg #8

Very slow start

I have played a great many types of games before. Cyberpunk, WH40k, D&D from first edition to 5th, Aberrant, Conan, Vampire, and lot's  more. I just enjoy 3.5 the most.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the user at 20:54, Mon 23 Nov 2020.
Sir Swindle
member, 268 posts
Mon 23 Nov 2020
at 21:29
  • msg #9

Very slow start

Very cool. There are new games all the time. But I think it will really come down to patience and persistence.

-Follow the requirements GM's ask for in RTJ threads.
-Have decent writing samples (or backgrounds if they don't ask for a writing sample).
-Be a team player (we like reading about Wolverine not playing with him)
-Engage with the story/world the GM has presented (asking questions rarely hurts, Gm's that homebrew worlds usually like to talk about them)
-Accept the requirements the GM has set. (Nothing is worse than getting a "hey can I be a wizard" RTJ to a game I said there was no magic).
Draegnoth
member, 9 posts
Been playing for 25 years
Can fill any role
Mon 23 Nov 2020
at 21:44
  • msg #10

Very slow start

Something that caught me off guard was when one of them asked for a background they apparently meant for it to be in character. I can RP with the best of them but before a game even starts and I'm giving a rundown of a character I usually do it in the 3rd person.
donsr
member, 2111 posts
Mon 23 Nov 2020
at 22:37
  • msg #11

Very slow start

there's a bunch of  games out there?, Have  they flat out turned you down?

 Just keep trying, its like that on the GM/DM side  as well..some time there's a few  folks, some times ono one...

 for my part, after  the  'interview' i'll let the player know if i think he or she is  right for the  game.
Draegnoth
member, 10 posts
Been playing for 25 years
Can fill any role
Mon 23 Nov 2020
at 23:49
  • msg #12

Very slow start

Some of them are starting to respond now. None have accepted but I'm working on it. I guess I just expected a quicker response on here. Its all text based so if you don't check in and respond there'd be no point right? So you'd check your applications and private messages too in theory.
NowhereMan
member, 396 posts
Mon 23 Nov 2020
at 23:57
  • msg #13

Very slow start

How long were you waiting?
facemaker329
member, 7271 posts
Gaming for over 30
years, and counting!
Tue 24 Nov 2020
at 00:03
  • msg #14

Very slow start

In reply to Draegnoth (msg # 10):

Every DM/GM is going to have their own process for selecting players.  As others have mentioned, I wouldn't consider yours a particularly slow start.  You joined the site the end of last week, from what others have said.  That's maybe three days or so, over a weekend, right before a holiday.  For some people, weekends are great and they post all day, both days...for others, weekends are actually their least active time.  It's been a while since I joined a game through the regular RTJ route, but I dare say that I waited several days for replies just as often as I got immediate responses.  It's just the nature of play-by-post gaming that some games do everything more slowly than others.

As for your background...if they wanted it in first-person and you prefer writing in third, maybe the game's not a great match for you.  A lot of players and GMs use 3rd person...if that's your preference, there's nothing wrong with that.  Better to take your time and finds games you REALLY enjoy than to plunge in head-long and discover the GM's style doesn't mesh well with your tastes in gaming.
Greymist
member, 5 posts
Tue 24 Nov 2020
at 01:39
  • msg #15

Very slow start

In reply to Draegnoth (msg # 12):

It might be a good sign if you have not heard back for several days. It hopefully means the GM is not just taking the first 6 RTJs and starting the game; rather he or she is actually reading them and vetting them for what appears to be a good fit for their game.
Draegnoth
member, 12 posts
Been playing for 25 years
Can fill any role
Tue 24 Nov 2020
at 02:14
  • msg #16

Very slow start

I just had unreasonable expectations it seems.

As to the background it wasn't specified as to whether it was supposed to be first or third person. That seems like it should be specified unless the default expectation on here is to do it in character. If so thats something I should know I guess.
facemaker329
member, 7272 posts
Gaming for over 30
years, and counting!
Tue 24 Nov 2020
at 02:41
  • msg #17

Very slow start

That's the thing...there is no 'default expectation'.  If the GM has a strong preference, they should make that clear in their RTJ information, but not everyone does.  When I've written backgrounds for my characters, they've always been third person, and I've never had anyone knock me for it.  Almost all of the games I've been in have had people posting in third-person/past tense, a few people prefer present tense, and every game I've been in where the GM had a definite preference one way or the other, they made it known.

I can see why a GM would ask for an in-character background, as it gives you a chance to express the voice of the character as opposed to just cataloging the events of the character's life.  And, for what it's worth, I agree that the GM should have stated they were expecting the background to be written in-character.

But that is entirely a matter of GM preference.  It may be that particular DM is looking for players who default to writing in-character when not told otherwise...might be his way of pre-screening for players whose style he most prefers.  That's his prerogative.  And if he did it that way, and it bugs you, I'd say that's a good sign to bow out of the game now.  If the GM's style is already rubbing you the wrong way, I consider that a strong indicator that the GM and player are not going to jive well with each other and that just seems to make playing a chore, in my experience.

I will say, by way of caveat, that if he hasn't already selected against you, airing your grievance in a relatively public venue like this so soon isn't likely to help your case.  A lot of GMs are unlikely to gladly accept a player who is demonstrating a lack of patience...anyone who's been on here long enough has experienced at least one occasion where Real Life reached out and messed up a GM's regularly-scheduled posts, and if being a few days behind creates extreme frustration, and they know about it in advance, there's a good chance they'll say, "I'm just gonna spare both of us the potential headaches and go with someone who's more patient..."
Draegnoth
member, 13 posts
Been playing for 25 years
Can fill any role
Tue 24 Nov 2020
at 02:47
  • msg #18

Very slow start

I was not knocking them for their preference. Just talking about it. If they get that bent out of shape about it then I probably wouldn't have enjoyed gaming with them anyway.

I was mostly seeking clarification with that post anyway.
facemaker329
member, 7273 posts
Gaming for over 30
years, and counting!
Tue 24 Nov 2020
at 02:56
  • msg #19

Very slow start

My mistake.  It came across that way to me, but the clarification helps.
Draegnoth
member, 14 posts
Been playing for 25 years
Can fill any role
Tue 24 Nov 2020
at 03:09
  • msg #20

Very slow start

No worries my dude. Happy gaming and thanks for responding.
Cygnia
member, 300 posts
Amoral Paladin
Tue 24 Nov 2020
at 14:16
  • msg #21

Very slow start

Yeah, some GMs can be sticklers.  One GM posted in his RTJ that you needed to have a couple of sentences about a certain animal before he'd read it -- because he wanted to make sure you read his entire guidelines.

Which I included, because I did read his entire guidelines ;)
donsr
member, 2112 posts
Tue 24 Nov 2020
at 15:00
  • msg #22

Very slow start

::chuckles::  i do online surveys to help build up Gifcards to sue  for Grandkids  xmas gifts and such.

 some of those surveys have  dumb questions like that to 'make sure you aren't a robot"..or 'paying attention".. If you are that paranoid?..why have the survey?

 on the gaming side, This isn't  corporate  america  here?.. I have an interview, and  the  play knows  what i and the other players  want in the game...some player don't make it past the    1 PM interview.

 In the end? there isn't any use to be anal about  'colors'...posting  ans such, because if a player  can't do it, you cut them, if its  bad enough?.. My main thing here is 'no one's getting paid for this"..so..GMs  run the game thier way..Avoid GMs  who  are overly  picky.GMs  should  avoid  players who are overly picky.

in short Draegnoth?..relax, you'll find  games..some games  will die  sgortly after  table setting, some might last a  few months..bottom line, Find a game you like, and walk away from those you do not.
Waffles
member, 193 posts
I may or may not be
an alien
Tue 24 Nov 2020
at 16:29
  • msg #23

Very slow start

If there are more than one GM for the game, the hold up could be having them all sign off on your character.

Sometimes one GM is more available than the other but with new characters they both like to look them over.

Also what was said about the trick question or hidden message. I've applied to games in the past and missed that because I was skimming the rules going "yup look like all the others I've seen"

Also, holidays sometimes are slower

Good luck! :)
ladysharlyne
subscriber, 2918 posts
You get out of a game the
effort you put in it !!
Tue 24 Nov 2020
at 22:09
  • msg #24

Very slow start

In reply to bigbadron (msg # 7):

Just so I am not misunderstood my wording may be confusing but I didn't know how it worked from the player side of it.  Thank you for letting me know but I never meant that GMs would be ignoring the rtj because I know they cannot see the attempts by players.  Sorry for the confusion I have caused with trying to help.
Gaffer
member, 1657 posts
Ocoee FL
45 yrs of RPGs
Fri 27 Nov 2020
at 14:17
  • msg #25

Very slow start

When I'm really eager to get into a particular game, I often check the game several times, clicking on the cast list to see if anyone else has been 'hired.' If not, I know the GM is just taking their time. But I'm a tough OCD like that.

Also, many GMs have found some players congenial and may prefer to go with those they know will post well and frequently and stick with them, rather than take a chance with an unknown. And not every GM is careful about turning off the 'requesting players' notice when their cast is complete.
Starchaser
member, 777 posts
Shoda mo tsumoreba taibok
Fri 27 Nov 2020
at 14:23
  • msg #26

Very slow start

I dunno if this would help at all but maybe a forum / thread could be set up as an intro for new players so they know how the site works. I mean this is pretty unique compared to other sites. I have been rmailed a few times by people wanting to join games and obviously not knowing how to click the rtj link. I've also had people wanting to join my games and saying they are new and I have to keep telling them that they can't join adult rated games until they've been on here a while.

A thread or something with newbie instructions would prevent all that stuff.
bigbadron
moderator, 15965 posts
He's big, he's bad,
but mostly he's Ron.
Fri 27 Nov 2020
at 14:34

Very slow start

In reply to Starchaser (msg # 26):

You mean like the Beginners forum?  link to another game

Also the FAQs and the Help, both of which are linked to from every page on the site.
This message was last edited by the user at 15:13, Fri 27 Nov 2020.
Starchaser
member, 778 posts
Shoda mo tsumoreba taibok
Fri 27 Nov 2020
at 16:06
  • msg #28

Very slow start

Umm... ..yeah. Exactly like that XD
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