There are committed players, and the lack of players isn't really that true. Not to cut you down for that. It was mentioned before.
OSP areas and the Stonehead are from my understanding experimental. Which means the ideas still are being built upon. Both area designs have provided what their goals were as far as I am aware. OSP promises monthly planned events and open RP opportunities. Both OSP areas are managed different, they have different rules and guidelines so the requirements needed and the outcomes are different based on the approaches they use. The Stonehead was meant to provide continuous RP opportunities and to provide an atmosphere that helps players to develop their RP by interacting with those that RP well. This is provided by the characters that stop by and by the staff present.
Both Designs have been successful, DUE! to the commitment of the players managing them. As IT was intended (with some or little help from the PS team) From what I gathered from the first round of the last OSP contest. It was only intended that they help you set the area up. After that it was up to the players WHO took on the responsibility to make it work. With an occasional OSP check on, to see how you are doing.
Does it require a lot of work - yes
Does it require a lot of time - yes
For those and a few more reasons I pulled the CoD's application in the first round, or rather decided we were not ready at that time to continue to pursue it. Fully aware at that time of the requirements and work involved. HOWEVER, that was based on how WE would have approached it with the idea that WE submitted. There are easier ideas and there are easier ways. That is dependent on the guidelines set forth from the party that is running the area. Let me quote Salona telling me about rules. "More rules mean more work
" So some flexibility should be incorporated into the management plan to get it through slower periods.
So, maybe before we get into another contest, everything learned from the existing areas should be reviewed first.
[Sample questions]
What seems to work and what doesn't?
What would make it easier?
What problems are there?
What makes them successful and why?
What can be done to make the next OSP area successful? (based on what was learned from the first ones.)
What needs to be changed?
How should it be changed?
What could be changed?
Are the requirements to demanding? (based on the average player's playing time) If so how?
We already know who has a campfire, who has a Red Wand and who has a kikikiri (all pointless, falls under helping to set up the area)
So how about we offer some constructive information as feedback for a change.
I did see a post about OSP areas competing with each other. I disagree with this. If they do get into that, then there is little likely hood that they will be successful. Scheduling is important. In that they need to check either the forums or with each other first so that they do not over lap each other. So far as I seen this has been done, except maybe once but that was corrected. There is little difference from them posting their events and those posting other events. It is common courtesy to make sure you do not over lap someone elses planned event.
I do believe there is room for more OSP areas in-game. That there are able and willing players that can handle those areas successfully. That the ideas that they present can be adapted into the game without hurting the existing areas or themselves. That the participating number at events is overrated. The major topic here concerning OSP areas is RP. So, you might get a big crowd, you might not, more often not. But, ask yourself and the other players that participated if they enjoyed themselves. If the majority say yes, and most often they do, then that is all that matters in the end. The ones out mining and training will get tired one day and stop by to see what you are up to. They almost always do. Or, they go play WoW!