Grace Wilson

The circularity point is worth taking seriously. An empty category doesn't just fail to attract interest, it actively signals that interest isn't welcome, so the evidence you're waiting for may never show up on its own. A single pinned thread is a low-cost way to break that loop: it gives people something concrete to respond to instead of asking them to start from nothing. If the replies stay sparse, that's a real answer too, and it costs little to find out.

The point about scheduling within an already active window makes sense, though I'd add that a short repeatable format also lowers the barrier for the returning players dnsPacanele mentions, since they can drop in without committing to a long session. On the question about past events, I don't have server data to draw on, but it might help to separate metrics: new registrations versus returning logins during each event. Those tell different stories about whether a themed event like Easter 2025 actually expands the base or mainly reactivates it.