1. Do you think that the forums today come up short in activity compared to previous years?
Though I haven't been around since the starting days of Feral Heart, going off of what others have said I would believe so. Over time I've noticed games such as FH and other IT servers alike don't really live for long, or just never seem to be able to have a consistent booming of activity due to various reasons. Especially on the forum side due to attention not being brought to them a lot.
2. Where do you see more activity? On the forums, or in the game?
I definitely see more activity in-game, especially in new, young users. For me, when I first started playing, I only caught a glimpse of the Forum button before I dove straight into the game when creating my account. After that, it became so easy to just log straight into the main game and play away. For me, there was no reason to go to the main sight because I had everything that appeased my young self in the game, thus leading me to easily forget the forum was even there. I was happy with my username, my game luckily had no issues, and I was content with what I found in the main game. For most, that's how it goes. Then you have those who wish to seek information, fix an issue with their game, a change of username, or their password. After that they're more open to seeing the forum after having to navigate it and use it. That is, if they even care to use it afterwords.
If you look at it, not a lot of young kids would be drawn to the forums. They would be more focused on the fun and easy, "I wanna play and make animals and run around with cool characters" side of FH, rather than the read and type a reply, build on a topic or conversation based system that forums are. They would be more focused on running around and goofing off, rather than getting in trouble for not following the standards of forum etiquette. Be them simple, there would still be goofing off on their part. Now I'm not saying there won't be any young users who would be interested in using the forum, because I'm sure there have been plenty of young souls roaming about in the past, and even present. But what I am saying is that the majority of younger players would prefer the fun and easy nature of the main game, rather than the more "in depth" side of the forums. Granted there are forum games, however, it's still a different playing field for some. If anything, some just may not be interested in the forum, or brush it of as they have no need for it, and that they're just content with the main game.
3. Do you think that newer discussion topics are lacking in replies? If so, why do you think that is?
I would say yes for some topics. I have seen different topics get more attention and thought put into replies than others, but I'm afraid I can't say what kind of topics due to it varying so much.
I want believe that the reason some replies are lacking is due to some people don't want to put effort into a reply, but they still put down something to make it seem like they're around of the forums, or just add to their number of posts. They may genuinely don't know what to say but still want to add something to the pot or give support to their friend(s)/peer(s), or they once again just want to get another number to their post count and not know what to say. I'm not sayin' I'm perfect, and I admit that in the past I've done it myself. I'm sure a lot of people have to an extent. But, lately I've seen a lot of the same theme going around. Mainly about Feral Heart itself, and nothing more usually.
4. Have topic ideas/subjects been exhausted? Could that be why we’re not seeing many new ones?
Eehhh- It's possible, but honestly, again as of late, I just see a lot of the same theme going on here as said in the previous opinion. It always seems to be relating to FH in some way. We don't see a lot of off topic threads going about different games that they like, or different book series or TV series. Maybe we'll get something here and there, but not often it feels. Some users just might be afraid of starting a topic in fear of one already existing and being called on it, and not want to have to dig through old threads to see if one has been created or not.
5. If you think the forums are less active, do you have any suggestions on how to improve activity?
The only thing I can really think of, is have more attention brought to the forums somehow. Make events more known if possible through the main game. Staff and other members could go around and mention these fun events or contests throughout the maps to others so that their interest may be peaked, and they mosey on over to the forums to go check it out and maybe get involved. I'm sure they have done this in the past, due to one time when Nynx crept up on me and my lonesome in Bonfire and threw a wall of text at me telling me about, I believe it was the summer party last year? -with more information of the forum, and how to download the map and presets for it. I'm not sure what it was about exactly, but thanks again Nynx! xD But, even though I was already active on the forums, I feel like it would easily grab different member's attention to the forum for a party invite- and, maybe once they've seen it they'll be a little more interested in being on the forums, seeing as updates and information are mainly put on it. The same goes for different fun events, such as preset contests, art or video contests, ext. ext.