Game Masters?

[Zinn]

Just lately it appears that we have some new GM\'s, so obviously applications must be being accepted now.

Could I make a suggestion that we have a current GM thread in the Rules and Notifications forum listing all current GM\'s and maybe a short intro from each giving expected times online, primary language + others etc.

[Karyuu]

I\'d like to have some sort of GM list made public, aye :) As well as time zones and all such info. Should probably be discussed internally first, but I\'ll see what I can do.

The application process still isn\'t made \'official\' or \'formal\' - right now if you\'d like to be a GM, make your desires known to the current team, get to know them and their current duties/responsibilities, and if they see no obvious conflicts, you get put on the \"Interview with Talad\" list ;)

[Tarel]

Originally posted by Zinn
Just lately it appears that we have some new GM\'s, so obviously applications must be being accepted now.

Could I make a suggestion that we have a current GM thread in the Rules and Notifications forum listing all current GM\'s and maybe a short intro from each giving expected times online, primary language + others etc.

I don\'t see a real problem with writing an info about me.
but expected times online i can\'t give you at all and don\'t wish too.
I am online when i want it and when i have time for it.
This can be changed by the minut, because of my work.

Also second motive to not tell when i will be online,
is that it would interfere with my job as Game Master.
The \"problem\" players can use the times we are not online to take advantage of the bugs and stop players at having a fun time. I use the element of suprise for them.

Besides the fact that we are Game Masters, we are also allowed to play with regular character and as normal player. We choose by our own will when and how much time we spend for our job as Game Master.

I can tell you my primairy language, but i can already tell you, that i am only talking English in Planeshift and
not my native language and secondary languages.

A list of the current GM\'s will be no problem in my opinion, but this will not give you much more information.
Sometimes we are using another character to find some problems.

[Karyuu]

Yes, I had exactly the same thought as Tarel about listing \"time zones\" initially, but I think as long as they are timezones and not \"expected hours to be in-game,\" I don\'t think it would be too much of a problem. Anyway, this is something that GMs should discuss between themselves first to agree on what information to give out and how to give it, and we\'ll probably give this a poke during our next meeting on Sunday.

[Drey]

there was a list... once.

[Zinn]

I didn\'t mean to suggest that you list exactly when you would be online only as Kary said just time zone type.

The reason for Language is although you may speak excellent english there are players who struggle, and if they need help may be able to better explain to a GM who speaks their language


and as for Players causing trouble then a quick /who game will soon show that there are considerable periods with no GM online


@Karyuu: I wouldn\'t apply as I am far too intolerant to be a GM

[Tarel]

Originally posted by Zinn
The reason for Language is although you may speak excellent english there are players who struggle, and if they need help may be able to better explain to a GM who speaks their language.

You have to use /petition when you are having problems ingame. we will contact you then, when we
have the time. If all players start using /tell, whenever a GM is around, the GM\'s get crazy of all conversations.
On a normal day there are about 100 players online at the same time. If all players started talking in /tell with a single GM, what would you think, what will happen?

and as for Players causing trouble then a quick /who game will soon show that there are considerable periods with no GM online

I can tell you, that there is discussionpoint, in the GM-group, about Gm\'s being visible in the buddy-list and in
the function /who game.
Expect that it can happen, that you won\'t find GM\'s anymore in the near future this way.

Sending petitions should be the only way to contact GM\'s ingame, not using /tell directly.
This is for dealing with the \"bad\" players too.
We are doing a lot more then talking to players and getting them out of places where they are stuck.

[Zinn]

I would just like to refer you to this Post which clearly states the use of /who to find online GM\'s and implies the use of /tell to avoid swamping /petition. Until that advice is changed everyone will continue to use it.

If all hundred users all /tell at the same time I would expect a GM to patiently and efficiently deal with each request on it\'s merits.

I also think that using Petition would not necessarily overcome a language problem, so my point there still stands


Finally is it wise to have a completely invisible police force, sometimes the mere presence of a Policeman can have a dramatic effect.

[Karyuu]

GMs are supposed to be invisible at all times, though definitely reachable. You won\'t see a GM walking around unless some command is broken or someone really needs talking to in visible form.. :) As GMs are completely OOC beings, their presence often breaks the RP atmosphere we\'re trying to maintain. So \"ghosts\" they remain.

GMs sometimes already get swamped with /tells, and so some players with less important issues get put on hold - usually they understand and have no problems waiting until the GM is free again. I really don\'t know how this will be handled when the playerbase triples and the like, but by that time I expect the GM team to grow just as fast, if not faster.

I\'m not entirely sure about making GMs reachable through petitions and petitions only... I really like dealing directly with players, answering /tells or giving /advice, etc. If an option is implemented to be invisible entirely, in both buddy lists and the /who list, I hope that it remains an option only and not the default, personally.

[Robinmagus]

Can we rate the GM\'s too? Make it count in their promotions? *thinks of low, low rating titles*

[Karyuu]

Yes, and ratings from Robinmagus will be put into a special box.

[Robinmagus]

I would have given Bakuun a 10/10..but just because my box is special..

11 out of 10!

I win

[Tarel]

Making an option to be masked is also a good idea.
All advisors who are using /advice are masked too.

It\'s not a problem to put players on hold, but it\'s
sometimes hard to keep focussed on the chat of one person, when several players are talking to you at the same time.

Thank you for referring to the post \"In-Game Support and Reporting Abuse\", Zinn.
If i was only contacted for ingame-problems and bugs,
then there was no problem at all.
But many players contact me for game/quest hints and development plans, while this is told in the post.
When i point the players to the section \"PlaneShift Rules and Notifications\", i hear the following response back: \"Where can i find the Planeshiftforums?
I have never heard about it.\"

We are able to become visible too.
Everyone can see and talk to us then.

I like everyone to have a fun time ingame, but i can\'t be everywhere at the same time.
I expirienced that not all player like to wait and start being rude towards me, to get what they want.
I am only human too.

I am not so bad as it sounds in the earlier posts.
I want to talk to everyone, but i have my limits
and hope everyone will repect that.

There will be a GM-meeting, where this idea will be discussed, to get maybe a better way.

Originally posted by Karyuu
GMs are supposed to be invisible at all times, though definitely reachable. You won\'t see a GM walking around unless some command is broken or someone really needs talking to in visible form.. As GMs are completely OOC beings, their presence often breaks the RP atmosphere we\'re trying to maintain. So \"ghosts\" they remain.

GMs sometimes already get swamped with /tells, and so some players with less important issues get put on hold - usually they understand and have no problems waiting until the GM is free again. I really don\'t know how this will be handled when the playerbase triples and the like, but by that time I expect the GM team to grow just as fast, if not faster.

I\'m not entirely sure about making GMs reachable through petitions and petitions only... I really like dealing directly with players, answering /tells or giving /advice, etc. If an option is implemented to be invisible entirely, in both buddy lists and the /who list, I hope that it remains an option only and not the default, personally.

[Bebel]

I like Zinn Idea

[Karyuu]

All I have to add onto this for now:

Any player who repeatedly bugs a GM for hints, spoilers, or asks questions that should be asked elsewhere, will get three official warnings, and then a mighty kick from the server.