Generally, they’re easier to run is one thing. Things that are multi layered like a storyline RP can be very very difficult to run, or things that have to do with conflict.
First off, when it comes to casual events there are a lot of good things in regards to this. It can help people build their RP skills and socialize your character into making some friends. And a lot of people put these sort of events on because for them, rp is more about a sort of…Sims way of playing it. It creates a sense of normalcy in the universe of having things like cafes, parties and tea houses. A lot people like the slice of life take on things, family RP or casual RP.
As well as this, sometimes these events can give platforms to unique guilds. Guilds that focus on performance or story telling, or hosting games to give out prizes to increase community connection. So, yeah, its mostly because its an easier concept and not everyone has the patience for big scale or serious focused events. But in doing so, it does do a lot of good.
Now…does that mean it can’t get a little old? Yeah. Not saying people shouldn’t host events like this, theres a lot of unique things you can do with social related things, but sometimes they are really the majority of public RP.
Because unfortunately, when you have events that are focused more on serious topics or story, you have a larger chance at issues. When you’re deaing with in-game politics, things can get OOCly argumentive very fast. Everyone wants to be the star speaker on the topic at hand, opinions can clash and peoples perception on story can make others upset. If combat is involved, you’ll have to deal with endless questions of people not understanding the rules, needing to re-explain rules, needing to boundaries and dos or donts. People can meta-game, god-mod and so forth. You also have to plan a lot more for things that are more story driven. Or at the very least have an outline.
It’s faaaaaaaar easier for people to just design a poster, make a menu, and choose a location for a social gathering than it is to get deep into a heavy into story.
Because another key factor is, not everyone is going to be as passionate about story telling as perhaps you or myself. Most people don’t expand really on the creative writing aspect of RP. A mystery event requires you to know how to structure a mystery. Political intrigue needs to have some stakes that make the risk fun and full of tension. And that can be really hard. Really really hard.
A good example is, with the theater troupe guild I particpate with its very hard to get new recruits because people would rather sit in an audience and watch the show, than be in it. Not that it’s bad, but its a lot of work and coordination to put shows on and most people don’t think they have it in them to do it (which I can assure you, you likely do!!!)
So, thats a bit on that…
Edit: I highly recommend looking at the links Tamani provided!
Because there ARE plenty of non-casual type events that are very fun. You just have to really look, because sometimes these things can be overlooked. I also recommend looking into Warcraft Conquest!! It’s a mostly MG based collab effort with WRA involved too at times. They put a lot of hard work into week long campaigns that have several events each day based around the campaign story all DMed by one or two people. As well as Discord vehicle battles as well as the choice to do none of it and stay back at the base and perhaps particpate in the unique base event like a sudden attack to protect supplies or simply laying soldiers to rest. So you just gotta look out for stuff, sometimes things are not always advertised. So…maybe go to some of those casual events, and you might meet some people doing other things!!