I think that the main problem, for both masters and players, is that few people actually realize how demanding is Dungeons & Dragons as a game. When they become aware, they quit. I had a similar problem when [DMing] in my country : everybody wanted to join but I was always forced, after a week or two, to introduce [NPCs] to fill the gaps. About the slow pace of Play By Post games, I consider a strict timetable the only solution. Many will give up but that would happen anyway. But maybe a fixed deadline will give the hardcore players a stronger motivation. And who knows in the end also the sheep will choose to follow the herder?
In the case of the DM that needs replacing I think it may be a different reason, however I agree with you. For this reason in my own role-playing games I have specific requirements which must be fulfilled or nothing happens (or 'bad' things happens to characters). In the Member Wars area it is open... A qualified DM can set up his own rules but in order to have special fields set for their game it requires work on my part which I will not do unless the member shows dedication beforehand for example as Oliron has done with his games.
Nice of you Oliron to suggest a greater workload, but this is about having additional Dungeon Masters here and not burdening one. What I will like is to have 3-4 additional DMs on here always active updating their games at various speeds and levels so there is always something here for everyone at any time.
Misunderstanding (my fault). I was not talking about that particular case. It was just a reply to some previous posts I read in the thread. Sometimes I forget that many posts are dated and not actual anymore
Well the fact that we need more Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters here is not dated. It is important especially to keep this particular section moving so there isn't a reliance on one DM for the whole show.
I have been wanting to draw up another character for someone else's game too. I do enjoy playing the super hero and medieval game as well. However playing another Dungeons & Dragons character would be nice.
I was considering the possibility of running a scenario myself. I have experience as a table dm and, now that I solved my technical problems, I should be able to do it. I only have to reset my old setting and move it here. But I have to check first which kind of resources are directly available on the web (monsters and treasure lists, expansions...) because I left all my material in Italy so don't take my offer as a serious one yet.