#1
|
|||||
|
|||||
How to Make a Perfect Advertisement (Essential for all DMs!)
Last edited by zevonian; 06-19-2017 at 10:00 PM. Reason: Noting system usage |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
State whether or not you're open to requests. For example, if someone wants to play something from Book X, will you consider it? This can be useful, because Resource Y might be perfect for your game/world, but you don't have the book. One of your players might. See?
State how you want people to apply. Some people want you to post in the thread, some ask for a PM, to keep character's backgrounds from other players. If you do ask for a PM, get them to post in the thread just saying "Sent you a PM", to keep the thread on the front page. List what ratio of RP/Combat you're expecting. List what posting rate you expect. If you're running a published adventure, name it, and specify if you'll allow people who've already played it to join (Otherwise they might know the shocking plot twist). List the climate. Useful for druids and such (If you're in the desert, then a polar bear animal companion won't fit in, nor would a bengal tiger). If you give nonstandard race/class selection, expect that people will ignore everything you've written. For example, if you say "low magic" and "no elves", expect an elven wizard.
__________________
GEORGE! |
#3
|
|||||
|
|||||
All of the aforementioned is good advice to follow. If your game is up it is also good to have all the specifics in a designated place so that prospective players can access it and if you ever need to make another ad for the same game you can link to it as often as necessary.
A teaser, of sorts, is a way to display your DMing style to prospective players. It could be made up on the spot or, again, could be a link to a thread within the game. |
#4
|
|||||
|
|||||
You should put in a section on how to actually recruit people.Im talking about stuff like answering queries, PMs, etc.Oh and how to actually be a DM, but thats for another thread i think.
__________________
Note to all players/DMs in the games i am in : I have serious problems reading bold on the site, so i would appreciate it if either the speech as bold format is dropped, or changed to an unobstrusive color such as blue. Last edited by Question; 04-05-2006 at 10:01 PM. |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
I don't have trouble recruiting, I'm good at talking simple, grabbing interest, and being passionate. But how do I convince the staff to let my game be created? Any advise on that? (Besides giving a decent description which I do and a review of what to expect.)
|
#6
|
|||||
|
|||||
I realize that it doesn't really pertain to this particular thread, but I will address your problem Big Evil. I'll be honest, my description of the actual game has been haphazard at best and I never tell them what to expect from the game. I have had two games go through without a hitch and I would presume that it is based solely upon my teaser. I give a real nice (over a page single-spaced in Word) teaser and allow that to speak for me. Then, for my advertisement (this is the part that makes this post a non-threadjack) I basically copy and paste that, add a few things like what I am looking for in a player and call it good. If you want to see what I am talking about, I have a game up right now "Ere there be Swashbuckling" or some such nonsense. The only thing I gave the staff was the teaser and a very very brief explanation that it was a sea-based game, all the rest of that garbage came later.
As for how to write a decent advertisement, I would have to put my weight behind the teaser. With a decent teaser, you need little else. The teaser works in two ways: first, it allows the players to see what kind of writer you are, there is nothing nicer than seeing a well-written and interesting teaser; the second is that it gives them all they really need to know about what the game is about, it gives the flavor of the game (if you have zombies eating people, then it will be an undead game; if you have people eating zombies, then it is something very different). The rest is just rules and mechanics that most players care less about than the flavor of the game.
__________________
DM: Roll a save vs. 2-sentence post. Noob: What!? That isn't in the rules! DM: Take 4d6 points lame damage. Noob: :( |
#7
|
|||||
|
|||||
Regarding creation, I can add nothing to what is already listed via the 'Help' section. Direct link to that material here->http://www.rpgcrossing.com/faq.php?f...q_new_faq_item
I suspect that the issue holding you back is format. You've just got to fill in all the blanks and give them the specific info they want. Content hardly matters beyond stating which rules edition you are using.
__________________
~
|
#8
|
|||||
|
|||||
My two cents on: Selecting Players...
Not as much related to your Advertisement as it is to selecting your players, but consider looking at the Profile of your applicants...
What is their current average number of posts per day? --might be handy to know... ![]() How many posts do they have to their name total?--People with a lot of posts are more likely to be the type to stick with your game, and they tend to have a realistic understanding of the pacing and mechanics of PbP. What was their join date? --Like above, it is an indicator to their experience and willingness to 'stick with it'. How much reputation do they have?--Nice rough idea of their ability to play well with others. Not all of the above are end all/be all, and we all have to start somewhere, I just think they are good things to keep in the back of your mind. My first DM'ing I was looking for other new players who were willing to learn the ropes with me, my second run, I was looking for players with a bit more expierence. Finally, read some of their past posts. Find out what their style is and see if it fits with the tone you are looking for. Works pretty well when picking DM's or games to join as well... ![]() Just my two cents... --AOM ![]()
__________________
DM for Death in Freeport <Finished! Gratz to Blayz, Crellen, Drnate29, and Mcdadew!> DM for Dark Tides <Finished!> Last edited by anoldman; 04-18-2006 at 11:45 AM. |
#9
|
|||||
|
|||||
Quote:
During the selection process, monitor your Inbox closely. If you have some saved messages, then get hit with a barrage of PMs, your saved messages (or maybe messages you haven't answered yet) might get bumped. A very good reason to be a Community Supporter, I might add: 1000 PM storage as opposed to 50 ![]() (Of course, all of this is my opinion; as someone above has said, YMMV....) |
#10
|
|||||
|
|||||
While this thread is several years old, there are still many good things to consider within it.
Personally, I'd like to mention that I see variations of the following questions asked regularly, in regards to D&D/Pathfinder based games, as they don't always get answered upfront in the initial ad, so potential DMs and GMs might consider them: 1. Are you allowing psionicists? 2. What's the tech level allowed, particularly in terms of guns and ship armaments? 3. Evil aligned characters allowed? (Iif you answer yes, expect considerable non-good aligned apps to come forth.) 4. Will you be giving feedback on applications a day or more before the app deadline? 5. What sourcebooks are you allowing, or not allowing? 5b. What online sources are you allowing for classes, traits, feats, etc.? ***Note: The term DM is a catch all for someone running a game. If you see the term GM (Game Master) or Storyteller, know that it's the same as a DM (Dungeon Master), just a different ruleset than "traditional DnD." Also, the above posts that deal with rules and regulations of a system do not necessarily work with all RPG systems. A reference to a 3.5e D&D book may not be the same as a 4e or 5e, for example.***
__________________
"Enjoy every sandwich." - WZ Last edited by zevonian; 04-25-2017 at 07:12 PM. |
![]() |
Thread Tools | |
|
|