The Role of the GM
I realized that most people who are new to idea of role-playing, or people who aren’t used to playing under a Game Master’s mind will often forget that there is one. So I’ve put this up… And I hope they read this, especially my players, since I wanna make myself clear. (Thanks to Riisha-chan for the title ^_^) This goes out to everyone who hasn’t played an RPG, and to those who have and are currently playing. And most probably still don’t quite understand the GM’s role in a game.
Shall we begin?
The Role of the Game Master (who will be known as the GM from now on) in a Role-Playing Game, is basically simple– he is the god in the game’s world–but not everyone quite understands the concept of it for some reason.
Okay, let’s point out what the GM does in the game…
1. …oversees that the game has a beginning, a middle and an end.
2. …make sures that every player gets to that end, whatever they do. This ‘END’ can be changed in time due to the actions done by the player.
3. …has the sole control over NPCs (Non-Playing Characters) to achieve the plot
4. …judges the consequences of the player/s’ actions
5. …points out what the player sees in his environment– when asked nicely
6. …and even hints what the player needs to do to achieve what he wants
7. …he helps the player achieve his/her character’s goal
That’s basically it. I believe there are more, but these are the basic important points.
Okay, so you’re thinking that the GM mostly works for himself. Wrong. It is for the creative restriction of all those present (for this argument, the players).
I admit, having a GM is a bit traditional since so many games out there recently let the player decide the consequences of his own actions. But realize, that why a certain game has a moderator is because he has a purpose. Yes, it may be to torture your character’s life in hell at times– but it is also to give a much more fulfilling take on the events when he has surpassed it. It’s like having to enjoy something you actually worked for.
Tell me, what fun is it to play a game i.e. a console RPG game, when you KNOW what’s going to happen next? The best games are the unpredictable ones, and in a person-to-person RPG, having a gamemaster increases this unpredictability, which makes it more exciting. Take this game like a game of life. Logically, you can’t control other people, you can’t control fate– and you DONT KNOW what’s going to happen next, even if you want to. And that makes it fun. It is still a game after all. Life is a game as well… but that’s another kind of discussion.
Okay, now you’re thinking being a GM is more fun than being a player. Think again.
Plotting up events every single time your player does something unpredictable, overseeing each player’s events (just think if they are so many of the players and they’re at different places– and there’s only one GM!), motivating each one, planning for so many possible actions of the players, and STILL getting to the ENDING– is this your cup of tea?
Believe me when I say, it’s more fun being a player than a GM. You don’t have to think so much! You only get to take in what has been given to you to work with (or even around with), have more time carefully planning and creatively solve things, and enjoy reaping the rewards.
And the GM? He gets the fulfillment of being able to pull some strings and happy the players enjoyed it. (And I’m speaking for the game masters who maintain a game like me).
And probably the fulfillment, that somehow he has played god– even just in his own little world.
I guess that’s it…
Oh by the way, remember one thing and one thing alone. Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) the GM puts in front of the player (be it an event, a place, a person or an object) has a reason. No matter how small or big it may be. So don’t diss that GM yet if he just puts a small one in front of you– things are not always what they seem.
See? Isn’t this exciting? ^___^
