Head Game Master
Hello, Head Gamemaster for USA here.
I am making this thread because I want to gauge the community's thoughts on a certain topic that I've wrestled with a lot during my time as GM. And that is the topic of:
Gamemaster Assisted Advantages
What do I mean by this? I am talking about when a player, group, or faction uses a GM's assistance to gain an advantage over another player, group, or faction, or to achieve something outside of the basic gameplay loop. It is a fundamental question as to whether GMs should facilitate "realistic" RP that may contradict the way certain gameplay elements/loops are normally done without a GM's interference, which may end up being unfair for someone else who doesn't have a GM with them since GMs are a limited resource.
For example:
A CI is kidnapped by the Foundation. They are given Class-F. Normally, they would remain with a CI model. However, the person who brainwashes them calls for a GM to change their model to a foundation one, and "/me gives the man new cloths."
This is not achievable in the normal gameplay loop. But it has lasting roleplay effects, for better or worse.
At the moment, GMs generally have discretionary authority to do pretty much anything. However, we do have reservations about affecting core gameplay loops due to the questions posed above and previous tradition taught by prior GMs. I think the best way to answer these questions is to go to those directly affected.
So I have the following questions for the community to consider and respond to thoughtfully:
1. Describe a specific situation you personally witnessed where GM involvement significantly altered the outcome of an RP scenario.
3. In your opinion, which types of GM intervention are acceptable, and which cross the line? Consider the difference between:
I will wait to state my own opinion until more community feedback is given to avoid tainting the input.
As always forum rules apply, so no arguing in the thread. I would prefer to not have to get this locked.
I am making this thread because I want to gauge the community's thoughts on a certain topic that I've wrestled with a lot during my time as GM. And that is the topic of:
Gamemaster Assisted Advantages
What do I mean by this? I am talking about when a player, group, or faction uses a GM's assistance to gain an advantage over another player, group, or faction, or to achieve something outside of the basic gameplay loop. It is a fundamental question as to whether GMs should facilitate "realistic" RP that may contradict the way certain gameplay elements/loops are normally done without a GM's interference, which may end up being unfair for someone else who doesn't have a GM with them since GMs are a limited resource.
For example:
A CI is kidnapped by the Foundation. They are given Class-F. Normally, they would remain with a CI model. However, the person who brainwashes them calls for a GM to change their model to a foundation one, and "/me gives the man new cloths."
This is not achievable in the normal gameplay loop. But it has lasting roleplay effects, for better or worse.
At the moment, GMs generally have discretionary authority to do pretty much anything. However, we do have reservations about affecting core gameplay loops due to the questions posed above and previous tradition taught by prior GMs. I think the best way to answer these questions is to go to those directly affected.
So I have the following questions for the community to consider and respond to thoughtfully:
1. Describe a specific situation you personally witnessed where GM involvement significantly altered the outcome of an RP scenario.
- What was the intervention?
- Who benefited?
- Who was disadvantaged (if anyone)?
- Did it improve or harm the overall experience in your opinion?
3. In your opinion, which types of GM intervention are acceptable, and which cross the line? Consider the difference between:
- Cosmetic worldbuilding (model swaps, weapons, props)
- Mechanical interventions (bypassing keypads/servers, handcuff removal, teleporting players)
- Narrative authority (declaring outcomes, injuries, memory alteration, etc.)
I will wait to state my own opinion until more community feedback is given to avoid tainting the input.
As always forum rules apply, so no arguing in the thread. I would prefer to not have to get this locked.
