CoA has always been plagued by a horrible trend that goes around and around when it comes to plots. Today, I feel more so than before! To me, it appears a lot of the current conflict in the server, is heavily focused around specific DM plots, and thus it's mostly left to the DMs to plant the seeds of conflict and ingenuity. And when this specific DM either runs out of time or health to continue providing said seeds, another DM is "forced" to step up to fill the boots, until he or she burns out. And when that happens, and the said plot gets put to a halt, players get frustrated and start to leave. And then a New DM comes in and starts filling the boots with a new plot, and some players may or may not come back. All in all, it's a vicious circle.
Independent initiative is what needs to be more, imagination needs to be used more widely. Think about what your character can do on its own when there are no DMs in town to run their plots. When you log in, I have always thought that you have to have an idea about what you plan on doing. Entertain yourself, make plots of your own, and jump aboard when someone else wants to do something. I'm not saying you should fill the boots of a DM and start being the main star of the show if your character is not the type, all I am saying is- dont wait to be bored or frustrated, but make fun stuff happen with the time you game.
Now, it should be obvious this is not directed at any specific player, or DM. I felt like writing this, because I believe the server could use a fresh point of view. And since everyone here is mature enough to understand this wasnt a rant, I hope this brainstorm will inspire to assimilate new sort of A&I ingame.
Cheers!