I have this funny conversation during one of my gameplay, while L is me, and A is a player in that game:
A: (shouting) GM, where can I find NPC Z???
L: (whisper to A) You can find NPC X by reading the website guide for NPC.
A: (whisper to me) Which part of the website?
L: (whisper to A, after take a look at the website) Just go to coordinate x, y, u will find NPC Z.
A: (whisper to me) R u a GM?
L: (whisper to A) No I am not.
A: (shouting) GM, where can I find NPC Z???
L: … SWT!!!
I thought to myself: OMG, just because I am not a GM and you don’t believe my information? And it is only some click away for you to find it by yourself at the website, but you need GM just to find an NPC??? So, I try to “enlighten” him about the usual GM function. I never become a GM in an online game, but I am sure that one of their job is not to help a newbie to find an NPC.
L: Have u tried the coordinate? It’s there, u don’t need a GM to find it. Contact GM if you find bug.
A: R u a GM?
L: I told you before, I am not, just try to help u find the NPC. Besides GM will only respond to you for bug or special report like when you try to report about bot.
A: If you r not a GM, then STFU noobs!
I just laugh by this reply, cuz this is where a player showing him/herself that he/she is the true noobs. So if you think you can only get help from GM, be my guest. And if finally a GM answer his question, I would say that this GM must be crazy.
Anyway, let me say this one more time, I never experience being a Game Master before, and I also believe that the job desc for each GM in each game are different to each other. But I am sure that most of that job desc, would be the same. Generally, they must maintain the “order” and balance of the game server, and respond to the bug that player encountered during the game. They are functioned as organizer, arbitrator, and officiant in rules situation. So sometimes they have to banish cheaters and spammers. They are not an online game dictionary. Most of nowaday online game players know GM’s function. But the little number of ignorant arrogant noobs player want to make GMs as their all time helper (read: butler or maid) of the game. It is just a little number. However, we know that many online game community have been ruined by only small number of bad players.
GMs may not being considered as the main factor of successful or failure of an online game. Many people, including me, will say that game feature is the main factor that determine the success of online game. But at some points, GMs may add the flavor of gameplay. Some of them are sweet, while others can be sour.
There’s rumor in my country about certain online game GMs that selling virtual rare equipment for real money. There’s also a story told by my friend about a GM that give him an extraordinary super equipment when he enter an online game as a new player out of nowhere. Well it’s not entirely out of nowhere, but he just ask him / her to give him a super equipment without any reason. And suddenly the GM become somekind of a genie in the bottle that grant your wish for whatever reason you have. I think that’s a bad example for building a community. Because it will make all other players begging the GM to give them a super equipment. These are, definitely not the kind of GM that give online game a sweet additional flavor of gameplay. This is where I will say again, GM must be crazy.
As far as I have experienced, DOMO’s GM is a good example. They always reply our question nicely, although they don’t always answer it. They helped as fast as they can when we found bugs and abusive players. And they try to communicate with players with a good set of rules. They never positioned themselves as Gods in that game, but they also won’t allow players treat them as their maid. A sweet additional flavor of gameplay.
I personally believe, that GM can also be functioned as a good stimulation for addictive gameplay. An example of that is when a GM visit a strong guild and challenge them to defeat 3 super boss that he will spawned, and promised to give them an item if they can defeat 2 of them. Yeah I know this is subjective opinion, but my point is, game feature is dealing with our routine game life. But GM can give a different taste for your game life in the middle of our crazy grinding. Just be creative, and we will say that GM is sweetener. On the other hand, I really feel sad when players say that GM must be crazy.
Well, how about you guys, what do you think about online game GM that you have met?
