Once you've gone through the hard work of acquiring active players, keeping them engaged is now your primary concern! They've come to your universe to experience something they couldn't find elsewhere, so above all else is ensuring activity — the longer people have to wait, the more likely they'll move on to something else!
Engaging your players early with content gives them the opportunity to respond, getting everyone into play as soon as they're able. By taking note of their style and interests, you can adapt the story to respond to their expectations, keeping them interested and engaged for a steady, lively roleplay.
Some things to look out for:
- Post Length — if someone responds to an essay-length post with a single sentence, try shortening your next post to something like 50% of the original! It encourages the other player to lengthen their post to meet you in the middle, and you can repeat this process as more and more players join to find something that works for everyone.
- Subjects of Interest — keep an eye out for character motives and intentions! If you pick up on something they're keen on pursuing, consider having your character offer up some information to help them on their quest.
I'll post more later, and maybe aggregate these thoughts into a collection. For now that's all I have, but feel free to ask questions below!
