GemStone III provides you not only with a fantasy role-playing environment where you can interact in real time with other characters, it also features GameMasters who are on-line to add color, challenge and an extra dimension of role-playing to the game.
GameMasters (GMs) are game operators under Simutronics' employ who are available on-line to help with any problems you might have with game mechanics, software anomalies, or problems with the mechanics of your character. Assistance may be requested or unusual problems reported by using the ASSIST or REPORT commands. Using the command will give you a response indicating whether or not a GM is available. Checking STA (status) will also inform you which GMs are on duty at that moment.
The GameMasters have two main purposes in GemStone III. First, they can assist you with technical difficulties and answer general questions about game mechanics. Secondly, the GameMasters are there to add challenge to the environment that no software alone can match.
A GameMaster can help with player problems, but cannot not give hints, tips, inside information, or clues about actually playing GemStone III. Nor can GMs interfere with normal disputes, arguments or controversies between characters (or players) that arise in the usual course of role-playing and adventuring. For instance, if you are murdered by another character, a GM cannot intervene to rebuild or resurrect you or punish the offender. You must take that up within the scope of the game itself (usually through politics).
There are exceptions to this rule. If a situation arises that could cause a widespread player 'war' involving multiple people, a GM may intervene. Similarly, if someone is abusing game mechanics or bugs in order to harass another player, a GM may step in. Please refer to Simutronics' general policy documents for more information.
From time to time, it will be the task of GMs to set up special events, such as quests or contests, within the role-playing environment of GemStone III. Such events will give you the opportunity to earn experience in different ways, and will greatly spice up the game. Sometimes, when a GM is in the game, he or she may see a good occasion for some impromptu or unannounced role-playing enhancements, such as unleashing a new type of creature, a few demons here and there or even hiding precious items or magical trinkets to be found. In sum, you never know exactly what might happen when a GM is around, so be prepared.
While GMs are on line, they are involved in working to expand and enhance the world of GemStone III as well as to help out with player difficulties. Aside from that type of assistance, they should not be called upon to become directly involved in the affairs of adventurers in the "mortal" world. They should not be expected to give you unfair or extraordinary help, particularly with aspects of role-play and participation in the game.
GMs provide entertainment and challenges in GemStone III. The way they choose to role play their own persona also gives greater depth to the game. This means that when GMs do generate special or unusual events, the outcome for your character may be either good or bad, depending on how you fare. For instance, a GM may decide to let a few monsters loose in a place where they are not usually found. The monsters may offer more experience than generally available from normal creatures. A horde of characters descends on the monsters, attacking until the foul beings are vanquished. Some will gain gobs of experience from it, but some may die trying. The point is that the monsters are a part of ongoing events in the world, and it is likely that if this occurs, it has some significant meaning (such as a new resurgence of the undead) and other such events will occur again soon. In fact, it may be the beginning of a quest, perhaps even an unannounced one. A death, due to this, is not "unfair". Roleplaying is a simulation of life and what occurred is part of that simulation. There is no guarantee that monsters will occupy only certain rooms, or things will happen the same way every time. In fact it is guaranteed that they will not!
Your task, then, is to watch for what is happening and to be sensitive to changes in the world. GMs do plan things in advance and make wide-ranging events occur that characters must deal over time.
GMs have the prerogative to shift the course of events in the game as they deem fit, however they tend to do so only on a strategic level. Affecting individual combat results is atypical, and only done for a specific purpose that is, indeed, strategic. The element of the unexpected that GMs offer is part of the unique environment of GemStone III.
Given all this, you will find that it is important to learn how to live with GameMasters. Your character has every right to be angered if something unfortunate occurs and he/she is not capable of overcoming it, but that is part of roleplaying. In balance, GMs will increase the level of entertainment of GemStone III more than software can ever do alone.
Lastly, please try and keep in mind that GMs are people too! They will do everything possible to keep the game running smoothly, evolving as a constantly entertaining product, and interact to enliven the game while remaining fair. Often a GM will be trying to do several things at once, or have a long list of assists to see to. Your patience and understanding of their position goes a long way in making their job easier and more productive. A smile, a hug or a kind word once in a while never hurt either!
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If you have problems, comments, questions, or complaints about the GemStone III pages you can send mail to Nora Melton (ntm@tamcon.com) aka Wanton Destruction.
Last modified 2 May 1996.