| Gamemaster | Date: Saturday, 2010-Sep-18, 6:06 AM | Message # 1 |
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Sergeant
Group: Administrators
Messages: 29
Status: Offline
| GAMEFLOW: Players should try to keep the game moving along as seamlessly as possible, as too many long pauses and breaks can ruin a game session. This can be a challenge in an online game, because obviously it takes time to think, and type in your actions and descriptions.
ACTION SEQUENCE: At the beginning of battle we roll for initiative. While waiting for your turn, you are expected to think ahead to your next move; You should start typing your next action using the "Draft Board" on your online character sheet. (If you need to change your action before you post, you can.)
When your turn comes up, you can post your action, without waiting to be prompted. At the end of your turn, you will usually be asked to provide a description of the events that occured during your turn. Additionally, when you are attacked, you may be asked to describe your defense.
ACTION DESCRIPTIONS: Players are encouraged to participate in the story-telling process, by coming up with exciting descriptions of their own characters actions.(See DC HEROES HANDBOOK, Page 182, "Tell Me How it Happens.) This enhances the game and contributes to the enjoyment of all. A good narrative features (at the very least) a visual description of the action. An exceptional narrative may include other sensory details (lines of dialogue, associated sounds and smells, how the action might feel for the target or the player, etc.) See play sample here: http://mutantsandmasterminds.com/dc_adve....l-6.php
Failed rolls can be a good opportunity to earn additional hero points! By describing additonal negative effects related to that failure, players gain a hero point for imposing a complication on their own character! However, players cannot and should not impose additional hindering effects or damage onto other characters through their descriptions.
QUESTIONS FOR THE GM: Questions should usually be addressed in the main room (using the OOC feature to surround the post with brackets). At times it is appropriate for the player to address the GM with a question privately. (i.e.: During a battle between players, or when the player is asking for sensory details that only their character would be able to sense.) These questions can be "whispered" to the GM.
Most questions, however, are of a general nature. They should not be posted as a whisper, but should be posted in the main chat room where other players might also benefit from the answer (or can even assist in answering the question.)
Please respect the fact that the GM is constantly toggling between different screens and trying to keep the game moving for the enjoyment of all .. Whispering to the GM is only appropriate when one of the following situations applies:
- You are answering a question that the GM has whispered to you.
- You have a game related question and you are trying to keep the details secret from the other players.
- You are roleplaying your characters "thought bubbles" or you are roleplaying a scene that no other player character is present for or able to sense.
It is not appropriate to private message the GM in the following situations:
- To notify the GM that you will be away from the keyboard. (This is information that all the players should have.)
- You have a general rules question and all of your opponents are NPC's. (All players can benefit from a rules discussion, and they might even be able to assist the GM by answering your question!)
- You have a question about your perceptions, when there's no need for secrecy and there is at least one other player character present at the scene. (This applies even when you're asking about your perception with a special senses that another character does not have. If there's no need for secrecy, you should ask in the main room and, if only your character can sense it, the GM may answer you in a whisper.)
- To initiate out of character chit-chat with the GM (It's also unnecessary to provide "needless" response to the GM's whispers. ( While politeness is normally appreciated, please keep in mind that messages like: "Ok", "Thank you", etc... detracts from the game, because they require the GM to break concentration on whatever he happens to be doing, stop, and flip to the private screen to check the message. It may seem like a small thing, but between multiple players, while trying to research rules questions, and attend to all the players' needs, wasted seconds do add up.
A final, important note about questions is taken from TSR's Marvel Super Heroes Roleplaying Game's classic Campaign Book:"Do not argue during the game. If a problem occurs, make a decision, finish the game, and discuss it afterword. Even a wrong decision that keeps the game moving is better than stopping the game to argue about a rule."
Although that book's statement is directed at the Judge (i.e.: the Gamemaster), it's an important rule for all players to understand. With this in mind, please keep the other players in mind when a disagreement over the rules arises. It is no fun for them to have the game come to a grinding halt while rules are debated! Please remember: the negative impact that rules arguments have on the game are exacerbated in an online game, where expressing your thoughts takes double the time it normally would for a verbal discussion.
If a rules disagreement occurs, it is best to follow the Campaign book's advice: You can certainly state your opinion, but if you're over-ruled by the GM, the issue should be put aside to be resolved after the game or at a later date when there is no game in session. (And, if the GM realizes he made a mistake, he may even decide to award you an extra Power Point!  On the other hand, failure to abide may result in the loss of Power Points or, if you're a "repeat offender"  , you may even be asked to prepare, organize, and run a future game session. That way you'll get to know firsthand how the other side feels. 
Remember, though the GM runs the game, it is up to the everyone to keep it running smoothly for the enjoyment of all!
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