DM Guidelines V

Rules for DM Migration

It is our policy to move DMs from game to game on a regular basis. Normally, we do this in the summer. We view the “normal” time for a DM to run a certain game to be 1 year. This can vary according to circumstances, etc. Not every DM will move every time. It just doesn’t work out that evenly because of mid-year changes that always occur for various reasons.

Domino Effect

If you move one DM, another has to move to fill that place. Sometimes, the best thing to do, for the games and players, is to move several DMs around creating a domino effect.

DM Choice

Since we are dealing with volunteers, we obviously can’t simply tell someone to go to a game. They have the option to quit DMing or to refuse to go. However, I (Jerry) and the ACDMs do have the right to pull a DM from a game. Hopefully, we can reach a consensus about each DM situation during migration time and do what is best for both the players and the DMs. However, the players and the games come first.

If we need a good “rules” DM in Game 23 and we ask you to go to this game, if you can, you should. Our emphasis is to create fun for the players and to have fun ourselves as well.

Migration

When the ACDMs and I decide it is tie for a migration, we’ll announce it, make a first draft proposal and prioritize that. We’ll begin at the top of our list and contact that person and see if they will move to the game we’ve picked out for them. If that person refuses to move, we have to rethink the entire “plan,” including whether that DM will be kept active or not, etc. Usually, when DMs refuse to move, which is very rare, they have a valid reason, which the ACMS and I agree with. Again, usually, there are no major conflicts with our migrations. Once we have the first slot done, we move on to the next in order of priority, etc. until finished.

Timeliness

Experience has taught me that when we delay a move, once decided on, problems result. So, expect about 3 weeks to prepare for the move to a new game. Sometimes I will ask for a move to happen sooner, but that’ is usually during smaller moves made between migrations.

I simply will not plan a move for 3 or 4 months down the road. Once it is decided we’re moving DMs, we’ll get after it and get that done. We will not wait until the end of a module or a scene. We will wait for a combat when we can.

We have great DMs here and everyone is capable of taking an existing module and picking it up at any point.

ACDM Experience

We have been managing our Woldian games for over 10 years now. We truly are thinking about the good of the players, the games, and the DM (in that order) and agonizing about our decisions when we make them. Please understand that we have indeed thought and pondered things before telling someone to move to a new game. Someone does have the make the decisions about who will DM which game.

Reasons for Migration:

1. Not every DM and every player match up well. No DM will please every player and every player will not please their DM either. So it is good to change the DM of games so that different DM styles and personalities can reach different players.

2. Every DM runs a game differently. They have different strengths and weaknesses. Some are great storytellers. Some are ultra consistent. Some know the rules backwards and forwards. Others are great communicators and encouragers. Some are very creative. Etc. Changing the DMs in a game on a yearly basis lets each game explore different sides of their campaign setting. They also get to enjoy different types of modules and gaming styles when they have different DMs.

3. Both DMs and players, in our slow moving online games, need rejuvenation to keep from burning out. DMs get tired of the same old players and situations. Players get tired of their same old frustrations with this DM or this type of storyline. A new DM is a breath of fresh air in a game. Conversely, new players and a new campaign setting can be a great renewal factor for a DM.

4. Every time a DM goes to a new game, they learn a new part of the Wold and their overall knowledge grows. As our games advance in level, more and more of our DMs need to know the Wold as a whole, because high level games do not like to remain “local” but to spread out and travel the Wold visiting new fantastic places. So if you DM with us for say 10 years like Donna and Kent have, you pretty much are versed in all Woldian settings. I can ask Donna or Kent to pretty much go to any game and they can be ready in a few days to begin because of their overall knowledge gained from DMing in many different games.

5. I almost hate to mention this one, but we have had DMs begin to feel that the games belong to them rather than the site and site owner when left in the same game for too long. We had one that actually tried to steal the game he was assigned to from the Wold and take his players with him. This person is no longer with us and that his players, every one, stayed with us. That was very encouraging at the time.

Negative Effects of Migration

I do understand that there are negative effects of doing a migration as well. I won’t list those, because I don’t want to be negative here. But do realize that we balance those negative effects with the benefits when we make our decisions as to who should move and who should stay in each migration. We also examine every time a DM move is needed the negative effects, so that we’re not creating more problems than we solve.

One Negative effect: DMs and their PCs

Ok, I’ll list one negative effect, because we have a policy for this and it needs to be stated here.

In the early days of the site, it was assumed that you would have to DM and play in the same game at times. We all did it. Now that we have more games, DMing in a game where you normally play a character has become a major issue with DMs. In fact, the number one reason that a DM refuses a game is that they play a character in that game.

So let me state this now. This will seem like a hard thing to some, but it has been our stance since the start of the site back in the 90s. It is not acceptable to refuse DMing a game because you have a PC in that game.

That said, as far as I'm concerned, moving DM characters so that you can continue to have fun playing them, because you are DMing that game, is not a problem, if that's what you want to do. That would come with a return ticket, to return your PC to the original game, once your DM assignment is done. Everyone has different sensibilities with this issue. So I offer this as an option for all DMs in this situation. The other obvious option is to enjoy playing and DMing in the same game.

I believe that getting our DMs where they are most needed takes first priority. So anything needed to make that move easy on the DM is a good thing. Anything as well, that helps with the stress a DM goes through when moving to a new game is also something I should support. So I'll do pretty much anything with your characters that helps the situation. Don't worry your talented little heads about that.  :) If it works, I'll say yes, absolutely.

Note that if I can, I will work it out so that you do not DM in the same games in which you have a PC. Also note that I’ll work harder to help you in this if we’re dealing with your primary character and not a secondary one.