I agree with most of the sentiments laid out by the previous speakers, but I'd like to highlight one thing that was mentioned that stuck with me:

Reading back over what I wrote, it's obviously that I got a little heated. I really enjoyed this competition, and dozens of other people did as well. To call the collective efforts of the 81 people competing in this event "an epic failure" really rubbed me the wrong way, and I thought it was both unfair and demoralizing.   To have the leader of this game seemingly officially ringing the death knell of writing/RP and the dominance of "click click click" is extremely disheartening

This particular competition is unique in that it appears that this is the only competition is having its two previous "feelers" counted against it, unlike other competitions that are simply announced and then held regardless of turnout.  I don't think that's fair.  When 2017's Baton is compared to the previous iteration in 2013 and is deemed a failure despite having a higher turnout - which happened to not be mentioned at all in your initial post - that doesn't paint the entire picture in a very forthright way, which is perhaps why some users are incredulous that the term "epic failure" is being used to describe something that 81 people entered and seemingly enjoyed, and I'd be surprised if any other user shared your sentiments on how the competition turned out.  Yes, more readers would be a great thing - but it's clear that many users disagree with you using that as the main metric in whether or not the competition was a success.

Finally, this announcement wouldn't have taken off like an oil fire had this been approached in a different way, and indeed you've heard from plenty of people who have an extremely different take on their experience with Pass the Baton, with most considering it a success (myself included).  When the site has multiple "click click click" competitions ranging from Double XP, Halloween, V-Day and the like, snuffing out the only Admin-sponsored competition that focuses on writing doesn't really do anyone favours when we lament the lack of roleplay engagement here - and perhaps that's what people like Kathryn are getting at.  While no one is trying to force you to continue a competition, as an Administrator you must concede that putting your weight (and the chance for oodles of prizes) behind something will always have a substantial effect on whether something happens or not.   You don't have to host the next one, and perhaps it would be easier for you to pass the baton to someone else (volunteer users) who can judge entries on future competitions.

When there are ~6 annual competitions that reward click click click and only 1 that goes against the grain and rewards people for writing, it gives those users an incentive to stick around, and serves as a homage towards this games roots - roleplaying.   That's not the worst thing in the world, is it?

The only reason i stuck around after my death initially as i had told the people involved in the south side i would of been taking part, i know i owed them nothing in death but i like to keep my word instead of being the salty type.   The competition was delayed, and then the results, then VDay so close i thought, could stick around a bit longer see how this pans out.

Funny enough when a pile of gun stats seemed to be coming peoples way VDay showed as usual a massive turnout as people looked to boost their guns and funds.   Now both events i enjoyed for different aspects of the game, even if both went to the core of team work, co-ordination, communication and a level of flexibility.   I had a blast in both to be honest and i know my leader in particular wanted to work a similar system for RP in future based around the same style and team work that served us well in PTB.

In general though is not hard to see half ass written posts at stages in business district, businesses unused for weeks or months and streets at stages often fall into an eerie silence as some hide or just reali\e to many if they have the friends in the right place or a crew who do not care for posting or just use it as part of their promotion process;  this is of course interrupted by those peeved at their death, bosses death or wanting answers.

As much as leaders, hands and members can try and plan within we can't force people to roleplay and becomes detrimental to the whole system as only so many burgers, shakes, beers can order with no reply and with sections still holding an opinion unchanged in similar discussions on the street may feel nothing or little to offer to a debate without saying my generation have said this 100 times before.

I can understand the frustration as supposed to be a role playing game, but was no different when people wouldn't come online except for just before the credits would drop and be off as quick.   The fact is i ended up til about 2-3am i think it was to get my post in for PTB as people dropped in and out at the last minute or were re-arranged but i felt had done something for me, my boss and my district at the time; as much as i would like to see something further the problem is often activity, a gun and bgs like Fitz said are a difference maker to many and sadly this is not something that hasn't been coming for a while drop in RP wise.   People write, read their own as they write and those before it, and thats their main interest at the time; their own district.

Okay, so first of all I want to thank Kathryn for standing up saying everything she did. I have to say that when I first read that it was an "epic failure" I was rather demoralized because what I saw was anything but - however, Kathryn has stated that argument very very well so I am not going to rehash it any further. 

What I will add is this. I can only speak for myself but I HATE the clicky clicky click competitions and aspect of this game. I accept them as part of the game that allows me to do what I am really here for - the RP. This competition was a huge breath of fresh air for me because I saw people RPing who I never see writing and it was a TON of fun. I know you are saying that we can do it on the local level still and I hope that districts and cities will do this but given that this is an RP game I would hope that the game as a whole would occasionally emphasize the RP aspect through competitions. I don't know how often "occasionally" should be but let's be real here - no one is playing this game because of how fun it is to click the pretty "P" in the top right corner and do a petty - we are playing it as an escape into the world of mobsters and a large part of that is the RP so doesn't it make sense that that aspect of the game should be emphasized as often as possible?

Izzy, I thought PTB was awesome, it was amazing watching the district I was in pull together and make this epic post, I'm not gonna lie, I didn't even read all of the posts in our district. THere was too much, I did a lot of skimming because I simply don't have the attention span to read long posts. I'm sure there are a lot of others that are the same way, but either way I felt it brought the district closer as a whole because we worked as a team. 

If you don't want to host it anymore, I can't hold that against you. But to me, I felt it was a smashing success because the teamwork involved with the district to get the post done and organized felt more difficult than planning a war these days, and to see us accomplish it, was a great feeling.

Congrats to everyone on a job well done!! *\o/*

The last event was by far more successful and considering the current events at the time this event was not bad. I had to work nearly the entire event and manged to get in a few words. (True story) I hit up another district and read when I could afford the time. Don't brow beat yourself to much. You're a good seed who cares with good intentions.  

I thank you for the prizes. Very generous of you  and I respectfully requested a Swiss account. The job boards are not responsive. The in favour and who are you  is in effect. 

Maybe someday fams can pull up and not be be subjected to current happenings? 

Denzel,

I don't know who your bloodline is and frankly don't care, I don't judge someone by who their parents were and I know a lot of others don't either. You say that the job boards aren't working and yet I haven't seen you complete a single job for us while I have seen plenty of others do so. I have also seen plenty of others picked up by other crews after doing work - so I have to wonder how hard you have actually tried to find a home. 

I'm not saying he hasn't done any work for anyone, and I obviously can't speak to what New York has done but there are 6 cities. I just wonder if he has tried anywhere else. I'm honestly not trying to judge him but he is making a pretty big claim and it is one that I haven't seen to be the case at least based on the number of people who do jobs for us and get contacted and then the number of those that go with other crews which have obviously also contacted them. 

did I miss something ptB maybe you could have try it as an announcement I didn't heat about it

My apologies, but I usually only contact the people who finished all their jobs for us. Because if they don't it usually means they either went offline or decided to do jobs elsewhere. He had only finished 4 jobs, and there are 5 jobs in total. Just so that this doesn't make me look like i'm someone who ignores the people who do jobs for us. Because I always contact each and every individual person who does jobs for us.