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I was inspired by the comments on my latest post about the Top 5 Myths about GMs. Some really agree that there are a lot of players who feel that all employees are GMs. Also, I got support and feedback that indeed, GMs are understaffed and over-worked.
I agree. With a lot of tasks that a GM has to do, there has to be some sort of “assitance” needed.
That’s precisely the point why I (together with GM Garamond and the RF team) started the RF Vanguard program. And this is what empowerment is all about
The Vangaurd program was actually an offshoot of a prototype player-assistant GM program which we did in 2004-2005 for Ragnarok. Sadly, that didn’t take flight. But the RF program did. Now, I’m asking the other games to follow suit and adapt the success of the RF Vanguard program.
Now, what exactly is a “Player-Assistant GM” such as a Vanguard?
Well, here are the responsibilities:
- Player Assistance – the “Guides” are generally tasked to assist noobs. Sometimes, they give out “tours” of the game world and often give noob-friendly items such as pots and stuff. Their main responsibility is the sharing of information so that a beginner will feel welcome and can get off the jitters of the first few days.
- Event Assistance – Vanguards also help the GMs run in-game events, such as controlling pre-made characters (yep, you can call them ‘human-controlled NPCs). More often than not, they do crowd control in ingame events. Especially now that there are tournaments for LIVE 2007, their efforts are greatly needed (and appreciated).
- Enforcement - Assistant GMs are also tasked to do enforcement duties. Simply, put they have a “direct-line” to the GMs and will send recommendations to ban offenders such as scammers, PHP traders and other violators of the gaming code of conduct.
- Community Monitoring – Vanguards also help monitor the sentiment of the community on current events and game issues such as bugs, imbalance, etc. This way, they get to cascade this information to both the Brand Manager and the Community Manager. They are included in the monthly meetings so that the game team makes informed choices.
Assistant GM powers are also regulated. There are strict rules to follow for security reasons (such as not logging in your vanguard account in a public PC, etc). Also, these types of players DO NOT have the full GM powers of their counterparts.
This job is not for everyone and is strictly voluntary. No, we do not pay these people huge sums of money for their services. Most do it as a “labor of love”. It just shows how passionate these types of players are about their game.
It’s hard to find players who can qualify for the job. But I’m sure you’d love to know how to be one, right?
But that’s for another post…
To all Vangaurd volunteers – keep up the good work! and thank you so much for your dedication and loyalty!
Strength and Honor!
GM T
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That part.. Is okay, but sometimes over abused by, common sense questions.. or just simple questions to problems that players should – “read and understand..
i’ll be waiting
Is Baldur server down again???
I think Yralyn had a thread about a Mentoring System for pRO. I don’t really know if anybody from LU! even read it though.
Here’s the link:
OMG! Very nice article sir! Di ko alam na meron pala ganyan sa RF at RO. Sana meron rin nyan sa ROSE at sa iba pang games ngaun ng LUG na kelangang bigyan ng pansin. Sir Tristan, sana po ma-implement ung katulad ng ganitong program sa ROSE Online. Eto ata kelangan ng ROSE para mabuhay ulit ung laro eh. Hays… :/
I’m be waiting for this…
magaling lang naman LUG mag-isip ng mga projects pero sa implementation hirap sila. in oder words, drawing lng LUG. sna pag sinimulan nyo, i-maintain nyo. tulad n lang ng Anti-Bot GM na si Winter Tsuki… naging Winter Tsugi na. sna kung mag-iisip kau ng programs, implement nyo.. then maintain.
yup that opened my eye the GM’s Can’s 5 myths
ngayun medyo li low na ako wala na delete na post ko sa ragnaboards nag sorry ako sa mga mods and GM’s there dahil sa profanity ng post ko dahil sa galit.. well am human.. waiting nalang ako sa got nila sa prob ko. salamat GM T
Well, afaik the RF Vanguard program is doing well. I believe it’s in the community rin kasi e. RF’s community was exposed to this type of thinking eversince its humble beginnings, with the community volunteers striving and being more proactive both in the game and in the forums. This situation allowed for the volunteer program to exist, and to grow.
As for the older games, I think in the end it’s for the players to decide each volunteer program’s fate. Take pRO ‘s MP for example. If the players are so skeptical about it, and continue their pessimistic opinion on the program… then I’m not surprised if the program fails again. As for LU’s newer games… I hope their respective program continues to develop and offer more opportunities for players to be more involved.
GM T, will we be seeing something like this in RO2 as well?
GM T
pwede ba ko amg apply ng Event coordiantor?Im happy to help na maging masamasaya ang mga event na gagawin!Palagi kasi ako pumupunta sa event nyo kaya medyo alam ko kung san kayo nag kukulang.Nag sasawa na nga yata sakin si wintertsuki pag na kikita ako hahahaha!palagign bungad sakin ikaw na naman hahahaha!
OT:
tama nga, labanan nga ng mga online games ngayong taon na to. andami nagsilabasan.
Agree that programs will only work if the community is in favor of it and supports it. The RF Vanguard program is working correctly at the moment and the RO Midgard Police is currently in it its testing phase. That’s why we take it one step at a time so that we learn from other games and their communitys. Hindi “implement lang ng implement”