Vendetta is unique in the fact that the forums are largely unused for the activity that the game has. it's not high-population, but there is a serious disconnect from the RP forum and the activity in-game. Simply looking at the number of nation war posts with nothing in-between highlights this fact.

Create some sort of incentive which rewards players for posting on the RP forum. Limit the posts to active subscriptions only. Activity encourages activity, and a lack of activity creates the impression of a lack of players.

Some examples of rewards:
1) Monetary rewards for RP posts
2) Item rewards such as weapons or crafting supplies
3) Crafted items
4) Free cobras shipped Delta-Dash to your local airport, local regulations permitting

No. The forums aren't the game. People shouldn't feel like they need to participate in the forums just to get ahead in the game. Not to mention that this would require personnel to monitor for quality submissions worthy of a reward.

Ok, the alternative is to do nothing, forums continue to be unused by actual players, and the perception that the game is dead is perpetuated. This is clearly a recipe for success.

There are other alternatives beside that one. For example, you could arrange an RP short-story contest, and award the winners from your own funds. If you didn't want to rate them yourself, it could be done by having the participants themselves vote. No need for dev involvement at all. I'd participate in something like that.

I don't see how anyone would be able to ascertain that forums aren't used by actual players. This is beside the fact that it's an absurd claim to begin with, as at least 70% of posts I read are from players that I know are active in game.

Personally I find the forums quite active generally. The RP forum has less activity, though... but RP isn't a huge part of VO. People pick sides because it gives them something do to in game, not because they enjoy roleplaying per se.

Are you advocating snakes on planes?

+1000000000000000000 Rewards should increase exponentially based on the number of accounts an individual posts from.

Now fluffy has the right idea!