Course Correction: Discussing the Future of USS Theurgy

July 05, 2026, 10:11:24 PM

ATTENTION ALL WRITERS!

@Brutus @rae @Nolan @chXinya @Griff @Stegro88 @RyeTanker @Pierce @Nesota Kynnovan @P.C. Haring @Eden @ob2lander961 @Dumedion @Eirual @tongieboi @Tae @Hans Applegate @joshs1000 @Krajin @TWilkins

There comes a point in every long-running story where the crew has to stop staring at the viewscreen and ask a harder question:

“Where are we actually going from here?”

The USS Theurgy has a long and meaningful history behind it. If you take even a brief look through the forum statistics — including post counts, member activity, and the sheer number of stories and characters that have passed through these halls — this board has mattered to a successful many people over the years. Some of those writers are sadly no longer with us. Others drifted away because life changed course. But the history is there, written into every thread and archive, and it deserves acknowledgment and respect.

The statistics also tell another story: a steady and undeniable drop in activity and participation that we can no longer ignore or quietly work around. This is not meant to be a doom post. It is meant to be an honest one. It is also not a matter of hoisting the blame upon any one person or one variable post, as the GMs acknowledge their place in the sliding as well.

Many of you were here during the difficult period surrounding AL’s departure in 2023 and the scramble that followed to keep the board running and preserve what had been built together. For anyone wanting to revisit that discussion, the original thread can be found here:

Initial 2023 Discussion Regarding AL’s Departure

Likewise, we also had our last fireside chat regarding the future of the board and the direction we hoped to pursue moving forward:

Previous Fireside Chat Results and Future Discussion

And for those who want to review the broader picture of the board itself, including membership and posting trends:

USS Theurgy Forum Statistics

Our current setup is not generating enough sustained activity to keep things healthy long-term. That means we need to be willing to discuss everything from the ground up, including:

* Posting expectations and rules
* Character creation and acquisition
* Storyline structure and long-term trajectory
* Accessibility for new writers
* Retention of existing writers
* Forum/Discord engagement and socialization
* Leadership structure
* Onboarding new writers
* Plot pacing and collaboration
* Community culture overall

Nothing should be considered too sacred to discuss.

This also means we need people coming into the conversation prepared to contribute constructively. Bring ideas. Bring solutions. Bring experiments worth trying. Think about what would make you more eager to write, more invested in the stories, and more connected to the community.

Understand that not every idea will be accepted, implemented, or agreed upon. That is part of collaborative storytelling and community-building. Please do not come into the discussion solely to vent frustrations or catalog failures. Everyone here is already aware that things have been struggling — even when not every concern has been openly stated. That awareness is precisely why this conversation is happening.

There is not a firm date for the live chat yet because schedules are currently flexible and chaotic for many people (summer has a way of doing that), but please take some time over the coming weeks to reflect and prepare your thoughts. When the discussion date is finalized, we hope as many of you as possible will participate live.

If you cannot attend because of time constraints or scheduling conflicts, please still contribute either through the Discord or in response to this thread. Your voice matters whether spoken live or written afterward.

And finally: thank you.

Thank you for your time, your creativity, your patience, and your passion over the years. The USS Theurgy has always been more than a collection of forum posts. It has been a collaborative world where people came to imagine together, tell stories together, and escape the grind of everyday life for a little while.

Its longevity is worth fighting for.

Its quality is worth fighting for.

And the friendships built here — both the ones we already have and the ones still waiting somewhere in the future — are worth fighting for too.

May the Sim, and you, Live Long and Prosper.

Re: Course Correction: Discussing the Future of USS Theurgy

Reply #1 – July 08, 2026, 08:01:17 PM

Posted here because ill probably miss the pow-wow due to work/adulting. These are my thoughts on the matter (so far). Will add/edit as more come.

NOTE:If you agree/disagree, that’s fine, but please don’t clog the thread with replies to this – I'd prefer to use Discord for that; this is simply a list of thoughts and points id like brought up at the meeting if I am absent.

Alternatives to letting the sim die:

•   Eliminate posting requirements altogether (nobody is following the rules anyway). Alternative: If you havent contributed shit in three months, and we havent heard any reason why, you’re out.

•   No more art. (Hot take, I know). I think folks focus too much on art – don’t get me wrong, I like it too – but reading doesn’t require it, writing shouldn’t either. You can still make it if you want, share it in Discord, etc, but it shouldn’t be mandatory and shouldn’t stop folks from writing.

•   Eliminate character inheritance. If someone leaves, their characters go with them. Their story ends unfinished, and that’s it. Writer’s can handle their characters involvement/relationships with that IC (or not) if they choose to.

•   Eliminate requirements on current writers adding new characters. If inspiration strikes, they write; the bullshit process in place takes too long and acts more like a gatekeeping mechanism than anything else.

•   New writers get approval from one (1) person. It shouldn’t take months to onboard newbloods. Everyone needs to do better about making themselves available to write with new people. If we cant attract new writers and grow, we face stagnation – and people that do engage with new writers all the time will get burnt out doing it.

•   Wrap the current narrative. Shelve it. We did our best to complete AL’s story – but its clearly floundering and dying on the vine. We can keep the history, but it’s a lot for new people to absorb; we need to dumb it down and pick a new direction. There are so many options available to use for this; I hope you all have some ideas – I am thinking on it.

That's it for now. More to follow.

Re: Course Correction: Discussing the Future of USS Theurgy

Reply #2 – July 08, 2026, 10:00:33 PM

I suppose this is the place to share it: as some of you know, I've been having health problems for the past few years, but especially since last year. The physical issues aside, the illness has also affected my cognitive function. It's not dementia, but my creativity has definitely been affected. My writing both here and elsewhere has taken a nose dive in quality.
I am sorry for not communicating this better, as I know that I bear a fair bit of the responsibility for not posting. I keep trying to force it, but that simply does not work. It is clear that something needs to change.
I am due to get surgery in September. I am hoping that this (plus other things I am now doing) will get me back on track, but if not, I will bow out. I very much hope to stay, but only if I can still write.