Feral Heart

Hello~! I'm not sure if this is where a thread like this goes. Does it count as a help thread or a game discussion thread? I guess if this is in the wrong section, the mods will just move it, and I shall have no qualms.

Anyway, I've recently been hard at work over the last few days designing a new map, and as I've worked on it, I've considered leading a long-term, semi-real lion RP on it. The thing is... I've never hosted my own RP before. XD Played in plenty, but never hosted. To my understanding, the RP host is a large part of a roleplay's vitality, so I'm wondering if there is anyone out there who can give me some advice. The ones that I've played in often die after the first two days when they're supposed to be long-term, so I don't have a lot of good role-models to go on, as you can imagine. XD

My main inquiry is as follows: In your experience, how do you as a host (or hosts you have observed) keep roleplay members entertained when things slow down? What kind of RP elements keep things interesting? Is there anything I should keep in mind when starting a roleplay? Just add anything you think makes a good RP tick! IC-wise, I'd appreciate advice geared towards a semi-realistic/fantasy lion RP in particular (ex. one that may have ranks, kings/queens, heirs, etc.). Thank yooou~

Er, I know this is a bad way to introduce myself to the forum community. I am usually a nice, happy person, okay? I just have to get this off my chest.

I have a lion character named Zuberi. He's a well-meaning guy that cares a lot about his pride, but he's really blunt, rude, and brutally honest when he says what's on his mind. Basically, he's a jerk. He's horrible with other animals and that's his fault, I get that being crude and rude is a pretty nasty flaw in a person and it makes them hard to like. I'm doing it on purpose. We're just roleplaying, right? Nothing personal or anything we should take into real life.

So WHY are you blocking me and kicking me from your group as if I attacked you somehow? You DO know that Zuberi isn't me, right? Just because Zuberi said something, it doesn't mean I agree with it. Just because Zuberi hates your character doesn't mean I do.  Just because I attacked your character doesn't mean I want to RAWR MURDER YOU. I'm not mad when my character is mad, sad when my character is sad or anything of the sort! I'm not even always happy when my character is! I'm just playing my role and having fun with it. My character is NOT ME. I don't always create characters that share my views and personality; that would be boring. So, please stop taking roleplay so seriously and personally. It's just a game after all, and without conflict, drama, discovery and excitement, it's not as interesting.

A related scenario came up with my albino lion, Oyoo, who came to a pride of black lions with a racist leader. The leader was trying to ward Oyoo off because he's white, but Oyoo wouldn't budge because he wanted to talk to a lioness whom he'd seen moping outside the den earlier. I'm not sure if it was one of the roleplayers or my accompanying friend who whispered me, but she advised that I block him to avoid a fight.
 
Why? Why would I do that? We're roleplaying! It's part of the game! It's in-game drama, and I like it. It's fun!  What's the matter with characters not always getting along? I even explained this, and she still told me to block him!

Seriously? Are these people allergic to conflict or something?

I can't be the only one who runs into this when roleplaying...!