A Land Far Away

Posted: **Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:28 pm**

DM's Sands DM "Style"

I tend to DM events or plots that add "life" to a server. Not every plot is epic and not every event leads into a scheme or plot by NPCs. Roughly half of my DMing is for mundane "plots", one off's or short stories. I do this because I feel it adds a level of realism to a server in a world where not everything can be epic.

I am "NPC" centric when I run larger plots. That is, I will come up with a plot, scheme or aim for an NPC or group of NPCs and enact it, plot hooks can be few and far between and I often leave it to players to investigate or intervene without being brought in by NPCs. The information PCs need may be scattered around various other PCs, I feel this encourages PCs to interact and gives continuation to aplot line even when the DM is not present. If no PC's become involved, or do not act timely enough, a plot may advance on its own. In other words, I don't treat the PC's as the centre of the universe.

I am keen to see players create a lasting impact on a server, but expect it to be worked for. I'm more than happy to create locations and areas for such, but even though created for that reason they do not "belong" to any one player or group of players.

I'm a fiend for item standards and pricing, correctly priced and created items are the major factor in keeping balance, dont be surprised if I ask OOC questions about an item if I think it may be over-powered, wrongly built (as per DMG rules) or incorectly priced.

Please understand most of time, at least for the first few months, will be spent tooling. I'm not going to be available for anything more than short sessions and plots on an irregular basis until then

I'm crap at Dwarves and Gnomes. So bear with me if you're playing one of them or I'm possesing one

Posted: **Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:47 pm**

Suppose I should post here as well:

1) Like Sands I like to focus on ad hoc, short or one shot adventures that add spice of life to the server. I simply don't have the time right now to commit to regular play days or long plots.

2) My DMing is PC oriented. I like to make the PCs, and especially their reactions to the NPC's I use to further the action, the center of the story. My style is very reactive to player choices. Think ahead, the world is make believe but the consequences for your PC's choices will be real, both good and bad.

3) I am interested in character development RP. If you have a plot you want to further based on your PC's bio, goals etc. shoot me a PM and I will try my best to work with you on it. Group RP has to take precedence to individual attention, however, so please be understanding.

4) I try to make issues of morality, with hard moral choices, central to my plots if possible to deepen the RP. Conversely, I also enjoy moments of levity and comic relief. My events tend not to be combat oriented, but I try to make combat a distinct possibility most times. The combat may be a part of the story but not the entire story.

5) In terms of adherence to canon, I try my best and don't profess to be a supreme expert. If you notice something off kilter please feel free to PM me (politely).

6) I am open to play-by-post RP to continue a plot if we cannot hook up IG due to RL time constraints

~OGR

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2009 11:49 pm**

1. I am no BRm.
2. I am no BRM.

3. I pay attention to weaknesses. If you do not have Darkvision/Low light vision, be prepared to see next to nothing at night unless there is a light soarce or your spot roll is high enough to compensate.

4. I don't always ask for rolls. I will. But feel free to roll as well when not asked...else a lot of interesting items will remain unfound.

5. I will throw confrontations your way that may not be able to be overcome. If battle ensues, know when to run. If not, think outside the box...

6. Religion - know your dogma, know your ranking within the structure of the church, especially preists. Know acceptable times to pray.

7. PC BIO!

8. If you're in a group, and I am going to be DMing that group, please designate a predetermined place where everyone in the group starts, so you aren't all spread out over the server.

9. Please let me know at the beginning of session what rp spells you have memorized. Please let me know if you pray or study spells during dm time what rp spells you pray/study.
All for now.

Posted: **Thu Dec 17, 2009 3:57 pm**

I will be joining the BG DM team for the forseeable future. I plan to do the following in the near term:

1) Learn the DM client. Please forgive me if I jump you accidentally, or worse. I'll make it better, don't worry

2) Learn the server. This includes local factions, local PCs, and local NPCs.
3) Squash bugs. I'm a decent scripter and builder, though I'm a better scripter than builder. This will be a high priority for me, squashing bugs, so PLEASE POST BUGS IN THE APPROPRIATE THREAD.
4) Local flavor: I'll do my best to add color to your PC interactions and spice to the game world
5) PC development: I know some of you have PC goals, and I will be happy to help them develop. I am alignment neutral, so it doesn't matter if you're good, evil, or anything else. I can't do this, however, if I don't KNOW your goals. SEND ME YOUR GOALS.

Eventually I will progress to short 1 night sessions, and if time permits and things develop, I might start a campaign. Nothing is immediately planned for this, however.

Notes on DM style:
- I'm a big believer in a persistent game world, and this means that things will happen whether or not the PCs choose to get involved.
- I'm a big believer in player consequences. Choices that players make will alter not only their own futures but also the game world. Not everything you do will permanently alter everything, but I hope that you will see things that can live on after your PC leaves, or dies.
- I'm a big believer in smart play, that is, using your abilities and skills creatively and realistically. I will give you every opportunity to learn things, but I will from time to time present challenges that cannot be overcome strictly by direct combat. Not everything you meet will be an appropriate challenge for you, whether its too great or too small. I urge you to use common sense (as it befits your PC) to look before you leap
- I don't like it when PCs die. I am not vengeful and don't DM for the power it gives me, I do it to create a shared narrative and a story that can live on in the memories of everyone. I will not intentionally try to kill you, and I will always try to create an 'out', though you may not see it unless you look carefully. I will try to avoid situations in which PCs go up against other PCs, because its almost always hard on the loser, but neither will I absolutely prevent it from happening. Be yourself, and play as makes sense to you, and I will try to accomodate you.
- I appreciate feedback, and sometimes I do make mistakes. I ask that if I make a decision you are not comfortable with or do not agree with, let me know... but I won't necessarily change my mind on the spot. I especially like constructive feedback, when you tell me what you like, what you dont like, what I could have done better, what I did well. Just don't be a jerk, and I won't be a jerk

Thanks, and I look forward to playing with you all.

Posted: **Tue Jan 26, 2010 4:22 am**

Mick wrote:Now that I have successfully pulled the wool over the eyes of the powers that be and have been accepted into their ranks as a DM, I would like to take the opportunity to tell everyone how much I am looking forward to helping write some story for your PCs.

Before I start taking requests for making all your RPing dreams come true, I would like to let you know a little about who I am, what you can expect from me as a DM and what I expect from you as players.

Mick. Mike. I would rather not bore the crap out of everyone by getting too much into what I do in RL. Suffice it to say that I have a RL and a job that sometimes requires me to have to work on short notice and evenings/weekends. That obviously takes precedence over what happens here. Anyone that cannot or will not acknowledge that will have to look elsewhere for a DM, I’m afraid. As it turns out, however, I am currently a geographic bachelor, so I should be having enough time for both DMing and playing my own PC.

What sort of DM is this Mick person going to try to be? Well, for me the story is the thing. Combat and quests and dungeon crawling all have their place, but only as vehicles to deliver parts of the story. It is going to be my goal to make what happens on the server as personal to as many PCs as I find time for. I hope to tease out tiny bits of history from a PC’s past (distant or recent) and spin it into something meaningful and enjoyable, not just for the player who owns the PC, but for any others who happen to be about. Be forewarned, a good story doesn’t always end the way you think it should. A good story stirs the intellect and emotions, but not always the emotions you expect. Please try to remember that when we are spinning a tale together.

It follows, then, that I will primarily be an individual or small group RP DM. I will not run large group events or a lot of combat-oriented events, at least at the outset. Those things will follow should the story call for it, but not before. If I am working with one or a few players on something that is specific to them, I will incorporate other PCs only if it makes IC sense. If I am not working with you, do not lurk.

What do I expect of my players? First and foremost, I expect you to care about your PC and their story. This means you should RP in a way consistent with what they would do…no matter what. I know you have heard that a million times from a million different DMs, but I’m saying it again, just in case you have had a stroke or something and forgot. Sometimes, staying IC means that your PC will suffer or even die. If you stay IC and are willing to work with me while doing it, I will try to make the story worth telling and even a death memorable.

A word on character bios is in order. Because I want my stock in trade to be personal RP, it is necessary that players provide me some material with which to work. If you have not provided a relatively detailed bio to the DMs, do not expect ongoing attention from me. I know there are differing opinions regarding when a player should write a bio and how detailed it should be. My take on it is that writing a good bio gives me a place to start with a character. It tells me why they act and react the way they do. We are all a product of our history, and PCs should not be seen any differently. In addition, a detailed bio, with a few mysteries or unknowns (both to the PC and those who know them) provides possible plot hooks to me as a DM. The more of those I see, the more likely I am to latch onto a particularly tasty one and draw it into the game.

That should be enough for now. Guess I’ll wander off to start plotting various tantalizing annihilations for all of you. DM sessions will begin at some point this week and will be irregular for a bit until I figure out a more consistent schedule for players.

A Land Far Away

Please read! Notes on DM style

Re: Please read! Notes on DM style

Re: Please read! Notes on DM style

Re: Please read! Notes on DM style

Re: Please read! Notes on DM style

Re: Please read! Notes on DM style