Posted by: natedogr
I have seen this happen far too often. Groups rise and then fall. Few groups stay popular and active in the long run.
That's the case with any online social cluster, be it a Bungie.net social group or an independent community of gamers that hosts its club house off-world. I have seen illustrious virtual movements build themselves up, only to cave in like ancient rome. Some were allies. Some were rivals. All were sincere about wanting to create action for themselves.
Starting a group is easy. Longevity is the real challenge. It's a marathon, not a sprint. I think it helps to form a group that is based on something specific, like a shared passion or a unique approach to playing the game. Some groups share art. Some groups play games competitively. Some groups build better worlds as venues for new kinds of gameplay.
The groups that I have seen survive usually have the following in common...
1. A strong staff of leaders who put the health of the group first.
2. Predictable shedules of planned activities that keep members coming back.
3. Some sort of expressed mission, statement of purpose, or code of conduct that unifies the membership around a common goal.
4. Strategies for outreach and hospitality. You gotta recruit!