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I need a GM to possess a professor or other NPC, or need GM help with something. How should go about getting help?
Simply send a request to the DM channel. Please do send a request before heading to the professor's office and knocking on the door. The GM's may not be available, might need time to look things up or consult with other GM's, or may simply need time to prepare. It is always the least frustrating for you, if you set up the meeting in advance rather than just heading right there.
If you send a request and don't get an answer, please don't feel ignored. The GM's are often busy or otherwise not immediately available, or simply there may not be a GM on. It's also very easy for GM's to miss a request if the DM channel is active. If you send a request and don't hear back, by all means simply send a second request to the GM channel a couple minutes later.
What requires GM approval, and how is the approval granted?
The general rule for the GM team is “Always grant approval if possible.” We have no intention of squashing your role play. Some things however simply need to be approved for the mere fact that it changes the setting of the server, affects others, affects the balance of the server, sets precedents, or simply might conflict with other things that are going on. When “approval” is required, think of it mostly as just checking with the GM team that something you are wanting to do doesn't conflict. We'll approve whenever possible, or at least offer alternatives that would be alright when we can't approve something.
The rule of thumb is if it's going to affect others, the setting, the server, or define something or set a precedent, run it by us to make sure there aren't conflicts. When in doubt, just ask us. We will respect your willingness to ask by approving, if possible.
If this is something that only affects your character and does not affect others, the setting, the server, or set any precedent, that generally does not need an approval.
There are many specific things that we request you run by us. Those are mentioned elsewhere in the FAQ.
GM Plots
A “GM Plot” is a plot, event or situation that is controlled directly by a GM. In most cases, the GM is the one that initiated the role play, but that does not have to be the case.
The advantages to a GM plot are clear. The GM, being directly involved, will make heavy use of the DM Client in playing out the plot. The players involved in the plot will usually be able to enjoy more of a mystery about the plot, as it's the GM that's running the show.
The disadvantages to a GM plot are also clear. The plot is run on the GM's schedule, which can very often mean very slow. The players have very little say in what's going on, other than their direct involvement.
PC Plots
A “PC Plot” is a plot, event or situation that is directly controlled by a player, rather than a GM, even though there is still a GM indirectly involved. In most cases, the role play for a PC plot is initiated by the player rather than a GM. In a PC plot, there is a GM “sponsor” that will make critical decisions, rulings, grant approvals, keep track of DC's if there are any, and if needed, log into the DM client to assist in the role play. Generally, the GM is only indirectly involved for the official rulings and approvals, and the player will actually GM their own plot.
The advantages to a PC Plot are that the player has far more control over the role play. Exactly what is going on is up to the player rather than the GM, with the GM simply granting approvals and making rulings on what's happening when needed. Because the GM is not directly involved, the player is able to RP the plot on their own schedule, allowing much more RP to happen in a much shorter time period, and allowing the player to tailor the specifics of the RP to their desires. In many cases, this also simply allows for behind-the-scenes implied RP to be used as well.
The disadvantage is that the role play might have to be tailored around the fact that a GM is not actively there with a DM client at your disposal. While it may happen time to time, usually it is left up to the player to role play out the situation.
If a player involved in a PC plot happens to be a GM (that is not the “sponsor” GM), that player is allowed to make use of the GM client to facilitate role play but may not make decisions, rulings, or grant approvals for the plot.
A GM just sent me to detention, ruled my character has died, has been sent to Azkaban, or has been expelled! Why doesn't the GM Team like me?!
It is very easy to start thinking that because the GM Team made a ruling that “perma'd” your character (that is, the character is permanently gone), that we don't like you. It is important to understand that when we “perma” a character, it is done completely for in-character reasons, based on role-play, not because we don't like you or as an out-of-character punishment. The GM Team will not use in-character punishments for out-of-character issues, or the other way around! If your character was “perma'd” it's because the role-play led there. Here are a few important notes:
-GM's are just as hard on the characters of other GM's. A few examples: One of our GM's has a character that was a main character currently serving a life sentence in Azkaban. One of our GM's (the Head GM) had his character's wand removed by professors for more than a real-life month for fighting. One of our GM's (the host) had his character permanently brain damaged because his character persisted in learning a particularly dangerous magical ability, and rolled poorly.
-GM's will never “perma” a character unless they have had ample opportunity to role-play themselves out of the situation. If they intentionally and willingly role-played themselves into a dangerous situation, that's another story, but we still try to be fair.
-If the player has not obtained approval for a particularly dangerous action, like the casting of an Unforgivable spell, then we have little choice but to take the limited information we have and make a ruling. This is why we ask that you get it approved before even attempting a cast! A GM present at such events is an absolute must so that everything can remain fair, otherwise we will have to rely on hearsay.
-While role-playing into, or not role-playing out of, a dangerous situation can in fact be a real threat to your character, keep in mind that it's the dangerous situations that can often be the most fun.
-If your character is “perma'd” it does not mean you are banned. A “perma” is an in-character consequence of in-character actions, and has nothing to do with you as a player. A ban is an out-of-character consequence for breaking out-of-character server rules. The two have absolutely nothing in common.
A GM possessed a professor and yelled at me! I don't like getting yelled at, that's not fair.
It is very, very important to understand that when a GM is possessing an NPC, they are acting out that NPC. When your character is getting in trouble for something, it is the professor who is upset at your character- that is completely different from the GM being upset at you! Don't feel like -you- are getting in trouble, because you aren't. Your character is, which actually, can be a lot of fun.
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