GM Rules

GM Rules

Abbreviations:

• GM: GameMaster (staff member)
• PC: Player Character
• NPC: Non-Player Character

0. Disclaimers

• 0.1: These rules may change as they are further considered or additional rules are thought of.
• 0.2: Some of these rules may have situational exceptions that weren't thought of at the time of this writing - when realized/brought up, updates to the rules can be made.
• 0.3: There are a select few trusted individuals/family members loosely thought of as "GM Consultants" that GMs occasionally use as idea sounding boards and the like. GMs cannot appoint these individuals at will and should get approval from the developer if they feel it would be beneficial to discuss GM matters with a particular non-GM.
• 0.4: The existence of this written document does not mean that it is necessarily all-inclusive and that anything not covered here is acceptable. Do your best to be reasonable and use good judgment in all things, and when in doubt - ask! (This goes for both GMs and non-GMs)
• 0.Z: Just be cool, man.

1. Behavior

• 1.1: GMs must not discuss any specifics of staff matters, duties, or projects outside of official CLOK chats/posts meant to discuss such matters. This includes, but is not limited to: timelines, current or upcoming projects, discussion of potential future events or developments, gameplay mechanics, deep lore, information regarding other PCs or GMs, events, or disciplinary actions.
• 1.2: GMs may play as PCs, but they must be under a separate, non-GM account without access to any GM commands.
  • 1.2a: GMs must not provide any benefits, tangible or intangible, to their PCs, unless the perk is specifically listed in the "Perks" section below.
  • 1.2b: If a GM spends significant time planning, coordinating, or otherwise contributing to an event, even if they are not specifically running it, they should not participate in it as a player.
  • 1.2c: GMs must not design events based around their own PCs. A GM's PC can get involved in the events run by other GMs, but must do so tastefully and without any favoritism or abuse of GM knowledge. Players are encouraged to contact staff if they have concerns about any favoritism or over-indulgence in these matters.
  • 1.2d: If a GM wishes to allow another GM's PC an opportunity to be the primary focus of a significant event, the event-planning GM can pitch such an event idea to the developer for approval. This must be done tastefully and sparingly, as non-GM players are the preferred actors for furthering a plot or event. However, GMs shouldn't be completely excluded from their own potential opportunities to have a PC enjoy a moment in the spotlight. Players are encouraged to contact staff if they have concerns about any favoritism or over-indulgence in these matters.
• 1.3: GMs must not reveal their non-GM identity nor association with any of their PCs to non-GMs. People can be quite good at guessing the identities of GMs and associated PCs, but if ever asked, GMs should just respond that they can neither confirm nor deny the matter regardless of whether the guess is right or wrong. Without any indicative sly winks or similar.
  • 1.3a: Similarly, when talking with non-GMs, GMs must not reveal the identities of other GMs, nor hint, comment on, speculate, guess, suggest, or outright reveal which PCs might be associated with another GM. (It's significantly less fun to try and play a PC when everyone suspects you're a GM, for a whole variety of reasons. Don't ruin that for the GM just wanting to get some normal playtime in, it's important that they maintain an interest in playing the game itself!)
• 1.4: GMs must not ever have NPCs engage in ERP (Erotic Roleplay) with PCs. (Note: To the best of our knowledge this hasn't happened or even been suggested, but best to be crystal clear on the matter.)
• 1.5: GMs must not excessively involve themselves or their NPCs with, or spy on, any one particular player, whether in-character or out-of-character, to the point that the player feels uncomfortable or like they're being stalked. If a player feels they are being targeted in such a way, they are encouraged to get in touch with the developer, or another GM that they trust who can in turn bring it up with the developer if they are uncomfortable going to the developer directly.
  • 1.5a On the flip side, this does not give players the option to simply opt out of any interaction with a GM's NPCs on a whim. Players are still responsible for the situations their characters get themselves into. If necessary, staff will have a discussion with the player and the GM involved (separately) in order to make an informed decision on the issue.
• 1.6: GMs must avoid involved direct private conversations with players about the game, save for resolution of private OOC matters (such as investigating/fixing a bug or similar issue, gathering details on alleged harassment, etc). We want a deliberate layer of separation between GMs and players to avoid issues of favoritism, sense of entitlement or preferential status, or leaking of GM info. Game discussion, feedback, and suggestions can be made on the BBS or in the in-game OOC roundtables to be seen by the GM team, and general discussion can be had on the official chat channels.
  • 1.6a: GMs must not entertain special requests through private communications, such as custom item creation or alteration, cosmetic feature changes, special ESP auras, etc. PCs should procure these in-game via provided mechanics or events, not personal GM connections.
  • 1.6z: (All this does not mean we don't want the GMs being friends with any of the players, we just don't want involved private discussion of the game going on to the exclusion of others and potentially creating an air of exclusivism, privilege, or favoritism.)

2. Expectations

• 2.1: There are no hard quotas or time requirements for GMs. This is a hobby, not a job.
• 2.2: That said, GMs that have been inactive for an extended amount of time will be moved to "inactive" status and will need to get in touch with the developer in order to have their GM status and accounts/roles reactivated. (Casual chatter on the GM channels or observation of goings-on does not count as remaining active.)
• 2.3: Any work done by a GM for the project will be maintained upon that GM's departure from the team, and may be further used, altered, or removed by the remaining team members without requiring any requests for consent from the departed creating GM.

3. Perks

• 3.1: GMs may give one RPA per week to one of their PCs to help compensate for time spent working on the project as a GM rather than playing as a character.
• 3.2: GMs may request one extra cosmetic item alteration whenever there is a merchant alteration event provided in the game (sometime after the event, don't have to be present for the event itself). The standard item alteration restrictions and overall setting aesthetic guidelines apply, and in-character availabaility will still be considered. (No requesting alterations that couldn't reasonably be provided by the people/resources available to the Lost Lands, for instance. If we wouldn't give it to a non-GM's PC, we won't give it to a GM's PC either. And no excessive finery!)