I rarely see stat-based RP's last very long in forums, the turns simply take too long to be really enjoyable. There's certainly exceptions, but you need to know what you're doing before you pull out your DnD Player's Handbook. Programs like Redblade tend to make DnD go down much easier online.

Completely stat based systems are a pain.

An RP can be much more successful if it uses some stat elements though.
It mixes things up and isn't always as predictable compared to RPs with no stat systems.
Well, at least from what I have participated in though.

if you are RPing, the only thing that should decide who wins whatever or what happens is the skill of the RPer, not any number that says you are better than somone else.

But then it seems rather fixed against those who aren't as good, especially if your RP has players of varying abilities.

if the other person has never RPed before, it doesnt mean they arent good, it means they have unseen potential not yet realized. the outcome, is in the hands of the RPers themselves, not reputations of being good as an RPer.

Whimmy you might also want to add "Good Starting Post" to the list. A good starting post will give players some sort of direction from which they can proceed.

updated

Badly Thought out Story?

Almost rarely.

When that does happen, the story is modified by the players as they go along.

I think he means stories that are so underdeveloped that they don't hold up. For example: "Everybody is in a forest and a monster attacks!" is not a good story. Believe me, there are people that do this.

Or when they're TOO developed.
"Okay guys, you go here, then you do that, and you do this. EXACTLY AS I TOLD YOU."
it's like wow wtf is the point

Right. Exactly my point.

I see your point, but I'm pretty sure mediocre RPers can make something happen out of s*** like that.

But they make anything happen out of anything, including nothing