GM
From OberinWiki
A GM or "Game Master" is an admin of Oberin. They can manipulate the world to their liking and even start RTQs. They are represented by yellow text. You can type /help to summon a game master if one is available.
GMs can help you if you have a question but they can not give you gold or items. Even though they run RTQs, they don't like to be asked when the next one will be. It is advised that you respect GMs at the highest level, they can banish you from the game if they feel the need.
[edit] Current Game Masters
The Oberin Counselors Handbook (not current but very similar to current edition):
WHAT A COUNSELOR IS
A Counselor is an experienced Oberin player and volunteer who acts as a guide and problem solver to players who need and request help. They will welcome new players to the world of Oberin, answer game questions, give advice, directions and general game play information.
Counselors will be looked-up to by other players. Since what you do can directly affect the credibility of the game, we expect you to act with the highest of ethics. Remember that your actions and words reflect directly upon all your fellow Counselors, the Administrators, and Oberin.
Counseling is a role which requires maturity and responsibility and at the same time, it's also a role that can be loads of fun through interacting with people, being helpful, and just generally allowing people to better enjoy the game. We hold you to a higher standard than the average player.
HOW TO BECOME A COUNSELOR
To be considered for a position as Counselor, one must: have planty of experience playing and be very familiar with the game; be free of Terms of Service violations; have good communincation skills; be friendly, well spoken and have a strong desire to help people; and agree to the rules in the Counselor Handbook and Terms of Service.
To apply to become a Counselor, send an email to counselors@oberin.com with the following information:
- your full name and address - the name of your player character(s) - how long and how much you have played - your native language and any other language(s)
COUNSELOR HANDBOOK
VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE RULES LAID OUT IN THIS HANDBOOK AS WELL AS IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE IS GROUNDS FOR IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF YOUR COUNSELOR ACCOUNT AND ANY PLAYER ACCOUNTS.
As a Counselor you will follow and promote the terms, rules, views, and guide lines of the Oberin Adminstration. You will not use your Counselor idenity to express views opposing or contradicting any such policies. You will not speculate on what future actions or changes will by made. You are a representative of the Oberin Administartion, and all actions and statements are to reflect that.
You will maintain anonymity as a Counselor. The name you choose should be a name that is unique and different from any other characters that you currently play or have played in the past. You will not use your Counselor identity in any forums including bulletin boards, web pages, emails, chat rooms, etc.
What makes a good Counselor?
A good Counselor is one who not only has a good understanding of the game and how to play it, but also has a desire to help other players. The role requires good communication skills, good grammar usage, good social interaction, strong problem solving skills and, generally, a positive attitude towards other players, Counselors, and Administartors. A good Counselor starts with a player who is knowledgeable of the game and the updates, knows about various items, skills, actions and game locations. Most importantly, a good counselor has a love of the game and an interest to help players.
If at any time you don't know the answer to a question, are unsure of how to act, or if certain behavior is allowed, contact an Administartor and ask.
Communicating with Players
All Counselors are to behave in professional, friendly, courteous manner at all times. Do not become emotionally involved. Remain objective. Speak well. Do not curse, be crude, vulgar, or use slang regardless of how the player you are speaking with is speaking. Do not say things like "sup dude". Do not "hang out" with players. Answer their questions and move on to the next help request or return to town.
Maintain Anonymity
Couselors must maintain anonymity at all times. Do not tell anyone who your player characters are, and do not as a player tell anyone that you are a Counselor. The Counselor name you choose must be unique and different from any other characters that you currently play or have played in the past. You may not use your Counselor identity in any forums including bulletin boards, web pages, emails, chat rooms, etc.
Welcoming New Players
Making a great first impression is extremely important. Give new players a very warm, friendly, enthusiastic welcome to the world of Oberin.
Macro Some Phrases
Create some text macros with the function keys for welcoming new players and helping players. For example:
"Welcome to Oberin!", "Greetings!", "How may I help thee?", "Does thou seek assistance?", "Doest thou have any other questions?", "Is there anything else I can help thee with?", "Thou art welcome.", "Fare thee well!", "Safe Journey.", etc.
If it becomes evident that a particular player doesn't speak english, you will want to try simpler speech :-)
Counselor Commands
A Counselor will have access to several commands, all designed to aid you in performing your role better. It is vitally important that you not abuse these commands, or use them to benefit or hinder any players in the game. Abuse of these powers will result in the termination of your Counselor account.
It is important to not only know how to use the commands, but also know when it is appropriate to use them.
/meet
The /meet command followed by the name of a character will jump you to that character's location.
Use meet when: - A character has requested help; - A new character has logged on who needs activation.
/activate
The /activate command approves a newly created character. Newly created character's names appear in parentheses until activated. Counselor's receive a text message when a newly created character signs on.
When someone creates a new character, the name must meet certain standards to be activated:
- proper names only. no sentences or statements. - no titles such dr, sir, lord, lady, king, queen, prince, etc. - no ranks such as lieutenant, commander, captain - nothing that might make someone think they are an Oberin official like putting GM in the name - no curse words or anything crude, vulgar, offensive, etc. - no names that don't fit the setting such as "masta blasta", "eLiTe", "zero cool", "the dude", etc. - no names of animals or monsters
/bank, /carth, /castle, /cemetery, /dungeon, /desert, /lizard, /mince, /sewer, /trince
Jumps you to those locations.
DO NOT use these commands to go exploring with your Counselor character.
/return
The /return command returns you to where you were before using the /meet command or one of the above location commands.
>
Putting a ">" at the beginning of a line of text causes that line to be sent to all Counselor's and Administrator's who are online. Players do not see this.
/home
The /home command will let you move players from their location to the bank. This is effective when players might be stuck someplace that they cannot physically get out of.
When to use /home: - The stuck player requests you to move him as to continue her gameplay.
When not to use /home: - Transferring any player without their permission; - Transferring any player without the occurrence of a legitimate problem, i.e. helping out a buddy with a free ride; - Using this command to rescue a player during normal game play. i.e. "help, I shouldn't have attacked the Lizard Fort, get me out of here!" - Even if you are on a call, and something attacks the player, you cannot interfere by moving him to safety.
/banish
The /banish command removes creatures from the game.
Use this to get rid of creatures a Counselor has spawned or summoned.
DO NOT use this to save a player from a creature during normal gameplay.
/res
The /res command ressurects a dead character.
Only use this command in very extraordinary circumstances such as if a player was killed by a Counselor summoned creature or due to a bug.
Do not ressurect players killed in normal game play. If a player killed this way calls for help and doesn't know where the nearest temple is, lead them to it.
/jail
The /jail command will move players into the prison. This is a power to be used sparingly as a last resort.
When to use /jail: A player does not respond or comply with other requests to cease disruption of the game. Use this RARELY if all options are exhausted.
When not to use jail: Jailing players you do not like.
Counselor DO's and DON'TS
DO's
Administrators are the highest powered characters in the game. If any administrator asks anything of you or directs you to do something, their authority is to be respected.
Offer to teach new players how to play the game. They will need to know the locations of the bank, temples, shops, etc. They will need to know how to buy, sell, drop items, pickup items, cast spells, fish, mine, lumberjack, etc. If a new player is lost or dead then walk with them to town or the nearest temple.
When there are no calls to take, the Counselor maintains a presence at high visibility places such as the center of town and answers player questions. This allows you to be a true public figure, and people will respect you for being in the game and answering their questions.
Wear your Counselor robe at all times so everyone can immediately distinguish you from players.
Treat everyone in a patient, kind and respectful manner. A Counselor must be friendly, understanding, patient, use good grammar, avoid offensive or abusive language of any kind, have good people skills and be able to talk easily to people who might be upset or confused. Remember, your actions, whether they be positive or negative, will affect the image of the other Counselors , Administrators and the Oberin community itself, so you must be on your best behavior to everyone.
Help all players to the best of your ability. If you don't know the answer, try to find out from other Counselors or Administrators. Don't be afraid to tell the player that you don't know an exact answer to their question. No one person knows everything about the game. Honesty is appreciated more than making incorrect statements. Incorrect answers will cause players to distrust your guidance, and perhaps the guidance of all Counselors.
Continue to play the game with your player characters. Playing the game is why you came here in the first place, correct? Keeping up with your game play will also allow you to be more informed about important issues or events in the game. It is important to not lose touch with the concerns of the players.
Be familiar with the game. Knowing how to play the game, where items are, and how to perform certain tasks covers most of what you will be asked. Knowing first hand how to do these things will be very beneficial to you.
Keep the other Counselors and Administrators informed about game issues. Don't assume that someone else must have discovered a problem and reported it already.
Stay within the Oberin world This means only talking about game-related topics. Avoid talking about your personal life, where you live, or other non-game topics. Refer to things in Oberin terms. Try not refer to game mechanics or things in technical terms. For example, it's not edge of the map, it's the edge of the world. Try to find ways to explain things within the context of the world of Oberin.
Speak well Use good grammar and complete sentences. Speaking Old English would be preferable, but if you don't know Old English at least be sure to use proper Modern English.
Have fun Being a Counselor can and should be quite a bit of fun. You were selected because you expressed a desire to help people, and helping people is fun. There is nothing quite like meeting an angry or frustrated player, helping him and watching him transform into a satisfied player. It can be a heck of a good feeling. Think of yourself as a teacher. You will supply guidance to a large number of people and can easily make the game a much more enjoyable experience for them.
Macro some phrases You should create a macro a "Hello" macro that will say phrase such as "Greetings, how may I help thee?" when you meet a player who has requestde help. When it seems you are finished you should ask if they need anything else before leaving, and then give them a farewell phrase. Also create macros for welcoming new players to Oberin when you go to activate new characters.
DON'T
You may not use bad or offensive language. Use absolutely no profanity or swearing. Do not ever mention any racial, ethnic or sexual slurs or connotations.
You may not exploit your status as a Counselor to upset game balance. If you are found to be using your Counselor knowledge or powers outside of the written policy and procedures, you run the risk of not only being dropped as a Counselor, but being banned from the game as well.
You may not tell other players that you are a Counselor when playing normally. You should maintain a complete separation from your character persona and your Counselor. Even just mentioning that you are a Counselor to other players during game play might be taken as a sign that you are asking for special treatment, or are threatening them with reprisals by other Counselors. If you never mention you are a Counselor while playing your character, no one can ever accuse you of trying to intimidate them.
You may not the game while in your Counselor character. The Counselor should not venture into the wilderness to explore, should not lead a party to scout, or engage is any normal player activities. Do not use your Counselor to explore.
Don't get emotional when taking calls. Some people like to push people's buttons, and if they can get you mad, uptight, or upset about something, chances are they will try to do so. In cases like this, do your best to remain calm and resolve the situation. The worst thing you can do is to get angry or into an argument with a player. As an official in the game, you can't possibly win an argument with a player, even if you're in the right; if you're right, the player just goes away even angrier and, if you're wrong, you make us all look like chumps for arguing in the wrong. So don't be drawn into an argument. If you can fix the player's problem, do so, thank him and leave. If you can't, let him know that, apologize and leave, letting him know you have other calls to take. Also, do not give in to feeling sorry for a player begging for you to give them things or for you to intervene in any way with normal game play. Give advice on how to get things on their own.
You may not spawn creatures unless it is for a very specific quest as described in the section below on quests and has been authorized by the administartion. Never let a player see you spawn a creature. Only place creatures in a game location when there are no players in view. The game constantly monitors and balances the monster populations. Spawning 5 red dragons at the Lizard Stronghold might mean that none get spawned in the dungeon. The could disrupt game play since certain quests depend on certain monsters being in a specific location.
You may not kill or attack creatures. If a creature is somewhere it does not belong and it's disrupting game play, then use the /banish command to get rid of it. For example: A red dragon is at the bank and killing every new player that logs on.
You may not tame creatures.
You may not keep pets.
You may not give anything to players. The only exceptions are the basic tools. Hand axe, mining axe, woodworking tools, etc. If a new player needs one of these items then it is okay to give it to her.
You may not drop anything. If you want to delete an item from your inventory then drop it on a campfire. The item will be destroyed.
You may not pick up anything. Items, chests, and reagents are there for the players to find.
You may not heal anyone.
You may not cast spells on anyone.
You may not explore or play the game with your Counselor character.
You should get the idea.
Everything a Counselor does gets logged. It doesn't matter if you drop an apple, resurrect a character, or give someone a loaf of bread. It all gets written to a log file on the server.
Penalties for Abuse
You should be aware that:
- every action performed by a Counselor is logged. - all conversations Counselors have are logged. - every player complaint of Counselor abuse is investigated.
It is only natural that a Counselor would be tempted to use his/her enhanced abilities and powers outside of the boundaries laid out for their use. Remember the old saying about how power corrupts?
We expect that Counselors have the moral and ethical fiber to resist this temptation. If you don't, we don't want you as a Counselor.
So you should know in advance what the penalties are for abusing your powers. We are going to be VERY draconian about this, as we don't want to upset the game balance or lose the trust of the players. Anyone who abuses their position runs the risk of causing us major grief; the penalties should be major, as well:
Anyone who willfully abuses the Counselor powers will immediately be dropped.
An occasional bad judgment call by a Counselor is okay and even expected to an extent; however actions obviously intended to skirt the legitimate use of the powers and/or to abuse the powers to give an advantage or create a disadvantage for a player is unacceptable.
At our sole discretion, we may also delete your player accounts and/or ban you permanently from the game.
We don't want anyone to feel that it's OK to "lose it" one night and tee off on a player, because the only penalty would be losing the Counselor powers. We also don't want Counselors who may be on the verge of 'retiring' in any case to feel that there is no penalty for abusing the powers, and then resigning. That's why we will audit the actions of Counselors on an ongoing basis to insure that this isn't happening.
We may also delete and ban the players you created an advantage for.
Don't think that you can help a buddy unfairly with your powers, then just retire or get removed. If you do this, you will be placing that other player at risk of character deletion and/or being banned from the game.
Yes, these penalties are harsh, but you shouldn't let them deter you from adding to the game as a Counselor. We know you can make a huge positive contribution to the game; that's why we are entrusting you with these powers. We want the players to value you and your actions as much as we do. Every time a Counselor uses his powers wisely, the players will trust us all the more. And that trust is important; if even one Counselor abuses these powers, we all lose that trust.
Counselor FAQ
How should I talk to a player or treat a player?
You should always treat players in a kind, friendly, polite and respectful manner, regardless of the situation. Part of being a Counselor is public relations. You have a very high profile position in the game to the players. If you are rude or offensive to a player, then that action will reflect negatively upon other Counselors, Administrators, and Oberin. The best advice is to be kind to all players in all situations.
How do I handle an upset player?
One effective way to help a player, who is upset, is to empathize with them. We are all familiar with the frustration associated to the game. Saying things like "I've been there, it happened to me" may not be the best approach, but try saying things such as "I understand how frustrated you are". It is important to deal with their feelings first. You need to either notify the player that this is a known problem and being worked on, or that you will contact an Administrator about the problem and that it will be looked at as soon as possible. It is important to remember not to take what players say to you or about Counselors, in general, personally. If you feel that the situation is out of your control, then politely tell them you cannot help them, and contact the developer when available.
What do I do when there aren't any calls to take?
If there are no calls, then you could make a positive impact by wandering the streets in town, and talking to people, asking if anyone needs help, and other such things, you will not only be making a positive impact to the game, but also you will be making a positive impact on the image of Counselors as a whole. We need you to either monitor take calls or lurk around town.
What should I do if I don"t know the answer to a question or issue?
One of the first steps is to notify the player that you do not know the answer, and that you are going to try and find an answer for them. It is much better to honestly inform the player that you do not know the answer, than to act like you know and supply an inaccurate answer. The next step would be to try and find the answer. Asking other Counselors or Administrators would be the best way to find an answer.
When I am playing as a normal player, is there anything that I shouldn't do?
The one situation to avoid is making it public that you are a Counselor. You should maintain a complete separation between your characters and your Counselor. If you call a Counselor or Administrator, do not tell them that you are a Counselor. Your Counselor status will not get you special treatment in game. Other than that, you can behave just like any other player, meaning that you should follow the Rules of Conduct, and not use any bugs or exploits to abuse the game or other players.
What if I have a problem with another Counselor?
Depending on the nature of the problem, you should try to resolve the problem in a mature and responsible manner in private with the other person. If this attempt at resolving the issue was not successful, then contact an Administrator.
Quests
All quests must be approved my the adminsitration.
If you want to participate in quests then it should be done so with a non-Counselor character. If possible, use the character creator to set up your quest characters. If you quest character has special needs that can't set up with the character creator then contact the developer for assistance.
For example: You want to create a quest where the Lizard Men are holding a human prisoner. This quest involves players rescuing the prisoner from the stronghold. The problem is that the lizards will attack and kill your "prisoner" character when you try to walk into the stronghold. In this case, you need a character that looks like a regular player, but won't be attacked by the Lizard Men. The developer can assist you in creating a character like this.
Counselors are permitted to contribute to quests in a behind the scenes fashion. For example, if a quest character needs a poison katana to give as a reward for completing a quest, then it's okay for the counselor to give it to her. Counselors can also relay messages to different quest characters. For example, once the prisoner is in the lizard stronghold then a counselor can notify a different quest character who is acting as a town crier. The town crier can then notify players at the bank and offer a reward for the prisoner's safe return. Regular players, however, should not know that a counselor is participating in the quest.
At the same time, the player should also not know that the quest character is being played by a counselor. The quest character should remain in character at all times.
Also, be sure that the reward reflects the difficulty of the quest. Don't make it too easy for players to accumulate expensive or rare items. For example, don't give plate armor as a reward for catching 10 trout. Always try to be conservative with your rewards. Setting up easy quests with valuable rewards as a way of giving rare or valuable items to friends will not be tolerated.
If you have any questions or comments about any of the Counselor commands or rules then please contact the developer.
The Counselor's Handbook will be updated as needed. Counselor's are required to stay up to date with the latest versions.
In an item, for example a "GM Broad Sword", GM refers to "Grand Master". Players who have twice the necessary experience can produce these higher-quality versions of items.
