Gamemaster facts for kids

A gamemaster (often called a GM) is a special person who helps run a role-playing game (RPG). They plan the game, make sure everyone follows the rules, and help solve any disagreements between players. GMs are usually found in games where all the players work together as a team.

In a traditional role-playing game, where players meet in person, the gamemaster brings the players' stories together. They control all the characters that aren't played by the players (called NPCs) and any monsters. The GM also creates the places and scenes where the players' characters will act. Even though the main job of a GM is similar in most RPGs, some games might ask the GM to do special tasks unique to their rules.

For online games, a gamemaster makes sure everyone follows the game's rules. They also help players with general problems, like customer service. Sometimes, online GMs are players who volunteer for the role, just like in traditional RPGs. Other times, they are paid workers from the company that made the game.

Different Names for Gamemasters

The idea of a gamemaster has been around for a long time, even in older games played by mail. The term "gamemaster" for RPGs first appeared in a game called Chivalry & Sorcery.

Many different gaming systems have their own names for the gamemaster. These names often describe what the GM does in that specific game. For example:

• In games using the Storyteller System, the GM is called the "storyteller." This shows that the game focuses on telling a story.
• The Marvel Super Heroes RPG calls its GM the "judge." This name fits because the game focuses a lot on rules and the game world.
• The cartoon-themed RPG Toon calls its GM the "animator."
• Perhaps the most famous name is "Dungeon Master" (or DM) from Dungeons & Dragons.

Gamemasters in Traditional Role-Playing Games

The gamemaster gets everything ready for the players and their characters (called player characters or PCs). They describe what is happening in the game and decide what happens when players take action. The GM also keeps track of non-player characters (NPCs), unexpected events (like random encounters), and how the game world is doing.

Think of a game session as a play. The players are the main actors. The GM sets the stage, creates the scenery, and provides the basic plot. On this basic plot, the players and GM create an unplanned story together. The GM also plays all the smaller roles and supporting characters. GMs can also run RPG board games, creating events and challenges.

The Four Main Jobs of a GM

A gamemaster has four main jobs, often called "hats" they wear:

• Writer: The GM loosely plans the story where the Player Characters will become heroes, villains, or whatever they choose. They create (or pick) the game world, fill it with bad guys and other NPCs, and give them backgrounds, reasons for their actions, and any items or wealth they might have.

• Director: During the game, while each player controls one Player Character, the GM controls all the NPCs as needed. Sometimes, the GM might even control an NPC that travels with the player group (called a GMPC). However, some people think this can make the GM unfair towards that NPC or the group.

• Referee: In most tabletop RPGs, rules are there to help solve arguments. The GM is expected to make decisions when the rules are unclear or don't cover a certain situation. The GM might also create "House Rules" to change how the game plays. Since the gamemaster is often in charge of their gaming group, they might also help solve arguments that aren't about the game's rules.

• Manager: This is the least official but sometimes most surprising job of the GM. They are often the one who brings the game group together. They might pick the players, choose when and where to play, and try to balance what all the other players need.

Gamemasters in Online Games

In early virtual worlds, gamemasters acted like moderators or administrators. In text-based online games called MUDs, GMs were often called "wizards."

As online games became bigger, gamemasters' jobs grew to include helping players with customer service. An online GM might be a volunteer player who has been playing for a long time, or someone who works for the company that publishes the game. They make sure everyone follows the game's rules by dealing with spammers, players who attack others (called player killers), cheaters, and hackers. They also help solve players' problems. GMs use special tools and characters that let them do things like teleport to players, create items, and look at records of players' actions. Players who are unhappy with the game sometimes blame GMs for problems, but this isn't fair because most GMs are not developers and can't fix big game issues.

World of Warcraft has employees from Blizzard Entertainment who work as gamemasters. They help players with many problems, including gameplay, chat, and account issues. A GM in this game can talk to players using blue text in chat. They also have a special "GM" tag and Blizzard logo next to their name.

RuneScape has over 500 moderators who work for Jagex Games Studio. They help players and do administrative work in the game and on the game's forums. These "Jagex Moderators" have "Mod" and a gold crown before their account names. The game also has "Player Moderators" and "Forum Moderators." These are volunteer players who help with moderation and can temporarily stop other players from chatting if they break rules.

Some video games, like Neverwinter Nights and Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption, are online versions of tabletop role-playing games. In these games, one player can act as a gamemaster just like they would in real life.

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See also

In Spanish: Director de juego (juegos de rol) para niños