Assistant DM Guidelines

[Rewritten 2015MAY28 by PTB]

Qualifications we look for

• Completed at least one module in an online game
• Plays PC in the game where she will be an ADM and is not a DM in another game.
• Posts daily, responds to emails promptly, fulfills requests, keeps commitments
• Good knowledge of the Pathfinder game rules
• Willing to sub for the DM when asked for short periods of time

ADM Responsibilities

* Email all non-posting DMs and players

We define non-posting differently for players and DMs:

• DMs must post 9 of 10 posting days every 2 weeks.
• Players must post 4 of 5 posting days each week.

The ADM will send an email whenever a player misses a second post in a week. Also watch for patterns such as "missing 3 Mondays in a row." Emails must be positive and encouraging. Always CC the CDM, Sheriff, and DM[s] with each email.

The ADM will send an email whenever a DM misses their second post in a 2 week period. The trick here is to encourage your DM without frustrating him or her. They are, after all, your DM.

* CC the CDM and Sheriff with ALL emails you send out as part of your job

ALL of them. This is a necessary piece of what you do. That’s why it is listed separately. Wanna incur the wrath of the CDM? Let him find out the hard way that your DM hasn’t posted in a week!

* Sub for the DM in an emergency

The ADM is the #1 person we go to when the DM needs a sub. This can be because the DM is going on vacation, gets sick, has computer problems, or goes AWOL. CDM Jerry will have the module and can send you the scene that you need. Just ask. That said, we know you’re the ADM, not the DM. But when you post for the DM, you ARE indeed the DM for a few days. That means that what you say goes. You have the same full authority as the DM. We also understand that you can’t read the mind of the DM. So if you do something differently than the DM would have done it, so be it. The DM will have to adjust and you will NOT be fussed at for what you post.  ;) We also know that you have a life so we don’t’ want you spending your whole evening on the post. Do it and get it done. This doesn’t happen as often now that we have Partner DMs in most games. The Partner DM should be the first one to jump in and sub, not the ADM.

General Suggestions

• The ADM is the #1 person to notice when problems begin to emerge within a game. You are the first line of defense when players start getting frustrated. Keep a good relationship with the DM and the players as you can sometimes be the bridge between the two. We play to have fun. Yes, I”ll say it again: we play to have fun. So anything that is not fun is something you should be trying to stop with friendly communication. The better the friendships and positive chatter is in email, the easier it will be to deal with any problems that occur. There should not be a bridge between the DM, ADM and the players personally—they just have different roles in the game that everyone shares.
• The ADM is encouraged to assist the DM with other matters such as helping the DM to keep your game’s Woldipedia entries current and updated. This is not a requirement. It just fits into the spirit of your responsibilities. This job appears on the DM job’s list. He’s responsible, but everyone, including players, can help. When the players get involved in the metagame, they begin to feel more ownership for the game they love.
• Some ADMs like to send an email post weekly to brag on the players and to keep communication strong concerning the posting for the previous week. ADMs that do this have been very successful with this part of their job. It is not a requirement at all, but a suggestion that this works for some.