Mixed emotions

[mitchy]

Just over 8 years ago, my buddy Troodler introduced me to this online role playing site she was involved with. She'd introduced me to the World of Darkness RP system and knew I liked Werewolf, and said I'd have a blast on this new site. And she was dead right, I had a fabulous time. The site was called Jusnoctis aka LbN (London by Night). It was founded by halcyon_shift and in those early days, there was a player base of about 30 active people. We had some great STs (GMs) and brilliant players and we soon formed a pretty cool community.

Two years later, halcyon_shift announced she was closing the site down because she was burned out. We begged her not to and persuaded her to let me run the site. Which is what I did for the past six years. It's been a hell of a ride, had its ups and downs, but overall, I'm really proud of the fact we kept going when our detractors said we wouldn't.

However, over the past year, player numbers have dwindled to below viability. This is partly, I suspect, because we couldn't keep a stable pool of STs and partly because the World of Darkness system had been surpassed by New World of Darkness and there just wasn't the interest in the old way. I nearly pulled the plug last October but there was a brief rally in interest which just wasn't sustained as we entered the Christmas season. So two weeks ago, I took the decision to call it a day and close LbN down.

Tonight we're playing one last big cross system scene run by halcyon_shift, in tribute to the year long story arcs that were a mainstay of the site's golden days. It's going great and I'm a little sad it's the last official one and yet.....there's a huge sense of relief that the site's closing, as if a weight's been lifted off my shoulders. I'll miss a lot of the people and I'll miss the great RP; I won't miss the player drama and the pestering for scenes. On balance, it's the right time to call it a day.

And the best thing is, the site will be mothballed so if we ever want to start it up again in the future, we can. We're leaving up part for the forums so people can keep in touch and there may be one-off scenes run as and when if there's interest and inclination. We'll see. But either way, today is the end of an era and that's always sad.

So here's to LbN, the little site that could. And yay to all who sailed in her :)

Comments

[therealsherbs.livejournal.com]

She will be sorely missed

[commoncomitatus]

Nothing quite so affecting as when a good RP goes under - I recall feeling similarly conflicted when Yahoo deleted its user chatrooms and the thereuntil dwindling-but-still-above-water community I'd been running with had to pull the plug on itself.

So, yea, big hugs to you and your fellow players. Enjoy your last hurrah scene. :)

[tithenai.livejournal.com]

That's a really surprising run, honestly, in the world of online RP! You should be proud.

Are char sheets and histories and such staying up in the mothballs? or should I be snagging those things now if I want to keep them?

[tired1680.livejournal.com]

Waaah Jusnoctis going down. Damn. that sucks. The fact that we ran for so long is surprising though, considering how often we've been on the last legs - mostly due to low player base.

I must admit though,l I've had a ton of fun including the year long story arcs. Wish I could have had more time ot play, but getting our regular gaming group together once a week is hard enough.

To good memories. *Raises Cup*

[cynickaldreamer.livejournal.com]

Aww byebye jusnoctis.

I wish I could have made it back to play after I left but I just never found the time, I sorely missed it.