The question of how to be a better player for a GM

Community Larp discussion
#1

So at the debrief Jackie asked us how she could be a better player for a GM. At the time I said that it is a difficult questions to answer, but since then I have thought a lot about it. This is my perspective from my experience of GMing Teonn. I invite other GMs to put in their two cents, and please remember that this is not at all aimed at anyone or meant to be negative. Also this is my opinion only and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other Teonn GMs.

In no particular order:

[size=150]GMs do not have a hive mind and are not psychic[/size].

Just because you have told one GM something, doesnt mean that all the GMs now automatically know what you have said. We did try to communicate as much as possible, however a game the size of Teonn we had to juggle up to 70 players, 70 NPCs and traverse the length and width of Motu Moana. So please dont get angry if something gets missed, rather please gently remind or inform the nearest GM if it is important.

Also importantly, when you are coming up to one of us with the intention of doing something, it is helpful if you can let us know the intentions behind what you are trying to achieve. This is also very important when sending in character updates, it is often much more useful to know your characters thoughts and intentions than what you actually physically did.

Lastly, even though we dont have a hive mind, we do talk. If you get an answer you dont like from one GM, please dont go to another and ask again, hoping to get a different answer.

[size=150]We do want you to have fun, and we are not out to get you![/size]

No one in their right mind would put in the amount of work it takes to run a game the size of Teonn with the intention to make it a horrible experience. We actually want more than anything for our players and crew to have fun. In saying that, as GMs, we have a responsibility to have the big view and balance the world. This means that there will always be some people who may feel hard done by as we can not automatically say yes to everything that you ask. It is hard to be fair to everyone and keep everyone happy at the same time.

Although we really do want to make sure that everyone has fun, in the end it is each individual players responsibility to make their own fun. In a game like Teonn, it is not theatreform, we havent written your characters for you, so if you feel like a character is not gelling or there is something about the character you dont like, change it! It is your character. Please dont make it the GMs problem or expect the GM to fix it for you. There is always opportunity for fun in any situation, even if your character has the most tragic history or experiences, that is often where RP gold can be found.

[size=150]Communication[/size]

The worst thing for me is hearing negative feedback secondhand, especially when if only that player took the time to talk to us about it, a resolution could have been achieved. If you have a problem with something that has happened in the game, or something a GM has done, talk to that GM. We cant do anything about it if we dont know and often there are misunderstandings and it can all be resolved with some communication.

GMs are human and make mistakes like everyone else, however there is nothing quite as hurtful as hearing negativity and horrible things said about you through the grapevine. Remember that we are all doing this for fun, and if something really just doesnt work for you in the game, and you cant resolve it so that you can have fun, then maybe not playing in the game is the best option.

[size=150]Read the instructions/rules[/size]

Before asking a question about logistics or the the rules, please can you take the time to read the information out about events and the rules themselves. Most questions I have received about events, the answer has already been given in the information. It gets very frustrating when you get asked by several different people about information you took the time to write down and put in the event details. It actually takes a lot of time and effort to respond to everyone individually especially when the information is already out there.

Please always check that you are paying into the right bank account and putting the right references. It is a pain to have to look up payments and bother the treasurer to find out if someone paid.

Anyway this is some of my thoughts on this question, some people may not agree with me, but in my experience the above would have made my GMing experience that much easier, allowing more focus into the game itself. If I think of anything else I will post here.

#2

One area I’ve never been sure about, especially in a large game like Teonn, is the amount of communication you want with players. How much is too much? Too little? Are there types of information you especially do and don’t want in character updates?

#3

I have also wondered this, because you never want to overburden the GM, but you want to make sure that they know what is going on.

#4

[quote=“Nikki”][size=150]Read the instructions/rules[/size]

Before asking a question about logistics or the the rules, please can you take the time to read the information out about events and the rules themselves.[/quote]

It’s true that everyone memorising the material makes life much easier for the GMs, and for other players and crew too.

On the other hand, it’s up to GMs to make the instructions easy to absorb. The longer, more complex and more dispersed the instructions are, the harder it is for participants to learn and remember them. The harder the material is to remember, the more likely participants will make mistakes, fudge and ask for clarification.

It also helps to have processes in place to remind participants of the rules, like briefings and practice.

#5

Thanks for the write up Nikki, as a new player to campaign larp, I found it hard to get my stuff over to the GM’s to feel involved. I’m guilty of bitching to others about my experience at Teonn, but I certainly didn’t blame the GM’s. This kind of information will certainly help me in the future, when writing a character & supplying updates for a campaign.

#6

I have also wondered this, because you never want to overburden the GM, but you want to make sure that they know what is going on.[/quote]
This, I have no problem when I ask a question or so, but I generally have tonnes of questions of all sorts of things, and as I ask more and more questions, I start feeling like I might be annoying or burdening the GMs too much, and start asking less questions, and start making assumptions or just leaving out stuff altogether =P.

Also, thanks for this!

#7

I’m going to add some simple mechanical things:

  • turn up to the game on time;

  • when the GMs e-mail you materials, ping them so they know that you received them. (It can be unnerving when one doesn’t get an answer - did the character sheet get lost in the mail and need to be re-sent? Did it arrive okay and there’s no problem? If you don’t send a ping, your GM has no idea.);

  • help pack in and pack out;

  • and yes, communicate. Talk about what really excites you about the game, tell the GMs if you find that you can’t make it in, tell them if you’re feeling a bit unwell and things might get iffy… If we know what’s going on with you, we can adjust things for Greater Joy. And Greater Joy is good;

  • respect the venue, and respect the feelings of the people around you;

  • have fun :slight_smile:

#8

Actually, this works two ways, I as a player also had this problem =P. Now, I know GMs are probably a lot more busy than players, but perhaps just a simple notification saying “We’ve received the e-mail and will be processing it soon” or something like that would be nice =P. Especially since e-mails between hotmail and GMail have the nasty tendency to get lost >.>

#9

From my experience as a GM, ways that you can make it easier for me.

  1. Don’t be a douche bag. No power playing, min/maxing, Live Role Play elitism, snobbery or other douche-bag activities.
  2. Let people know in advance if you are going to turn up. Then if you say you are going to turn up, then actually turn up.
  3. Try and count your hits and magic points. Soemtimes we lose count, but honest attempts to keep track are appreciated by all.
  4. If you ask a question of the ref, respect the answer. If you want to argue a decision further do so after the game.
  5. Remember that the game is not just about you. A Live Role Play is a co-operative activity so all of the participants should be having fun. They are not all there just so you and you alone can have fun.
  6. If you lose an encounter or at an activity, take it with good grace and don’t cheat. Sometimes people are better than you, so find ways to beat them honestly and within the rules.
  7. Don’t hold grudges. What happens in a module stays in that module.
    8 ) Trade information. In this country if you give a player a piece of information they will never reveal it to any other player, even under torture or pain of death. it doesn’t matter that you told that person that they MUST tell people this or the game will fail. But they want the information from every other player for free.
  8. If you are playing monster, then follow the GMs instructions. Do not make up your own plot points without checking in with a GM first.
  9. Acknowledge communications.
  10. It is very rare that you should use the phrase “out of game”. Only do it in exceptional circumstances such as someone has fallen off a cliff and you need to know where the hospital is. Usually you can word teh questions so that it is in game.

I will add more as I remember them.

#10

“if you’re a monster listen to instructions”…

Why Alista you wouldn’t happen to be talking about a certain module where our plot was destroyed within the first 5 minutes are you?

I actually disagree with the last one though. Out of Game calls from what I’ve seen tend to be made when a player or npc is confused and wants clarification on what they’re meant to do or what is expected. When you have so much going on, it can be hard to figure out a way to ic a question that you need an immediate answer to.

#11

Not just that player. I acn mention a few more incidents. One of the most common reasons that modules are trashed or players end up really upset (to the point they never come back) is people playing monster that rewite the module.

As to out of character questions. I have one playe who I am sure spends more time out of play asking such questions than he does spend in game.