DM Protector's Guidelines and Events
The Mission
My mission, as a DM, is very simple: I seek to bring the world of Baldur's Gate: The Sword Coast Chronicles to life for as many players as I am able. To this end, I will be running small "flavor" encounters -- interspersing Forgotten Realms lore and history into the encounter as I am able -- more so than I will be running large scale interactions.
Do not be surprised if you run into a small group of bandits seeking shelter from the rain in a cave on one of your adventures; or a traveling ranger out in the woods; or a drunken brawl in one of the inns or taverns. I feel that these small encounters will do as much to bring the world alive for the players as will the larger and more dynamic events ran.
And that, ultimately, is my goal as a DM: To create a more reactive and more real environment for you, the player.
Rules
I try not to be too strict when it comes to my own personal rules of play. I want you to be flexible, to come up with your own ways of solving the problems I place before you, and to interact with the environment as you feel your character would. But there are central points that I feel are very important, and which I must insist you take note of when you are interacting with me in one of my events:
The Golden Rule: I expect players to treat each other civilly, even when they don't particularly like one another. Ideally we'll all get along, but even if some of us do not, player-to-player cruelty or harassment will absolutely not be tolerated by either myself or by the others on staff. Remember that this is a game, and we are all playing it to relax and enjoy ourselves: The moment things become too heated between players (as opposed to their characters), I will intervene. If you are at fault, you will not be happy with my intervention.
Creative Solutions Create Great Roleplay: Roleplaying is collaborative storytelling, and I refuse to have my own storytelling hobbled by the limitations of a video game. I highly encourage you to interact to the situations I place before you with your own, creative, in-character solutions: If you wish to dive into the river to get away from someone -- do it. If you have DM specific traits your character can bring out during events - do so. If you wish to climb a tree to get a better view of your surroundings -- do it (but be prepared to roll). Don't let the limitations of the game engine itself stop you from visualizing a way forward.
Party Chat: While in my events I ask that you keep to using party chat at all times. There will be situations where I'm up the path ahead preparing something for you and won't be there to see what you say if party chat isn't being used.
OOC Chat/Comments: Please refrain from talking OOC or making comments about the event until it's over. Comments about how the event went are appreciated but again, I ask that you keep them with you until the event is over before sharing them with me or others. I want to keep the immersion alive rather than see it dwindle away with OOC chatter. If you want to talk to someone about something happening in the event, please keep it to tells.
Dice/Skill Rolls: I ask that, during my events, if you are going to be making a dice and/or skill roll that you tell me what it's for. A simple "*peers into the distance attempting to see anything*" is all I need to see so I understand what your character is trying to do and so that I can give you information based off your roll. When I do call out for rolls, I ask that you roll as you are then and there; don't buff yourself, use items, or get rid of negative effects. When I ask you to roll, you roll as is.
The "No Sleeping While Slaying" Law: I ask that players do not rest during my events, except when I explicitly give you permission to do so. I feel that resting regularly during an event not only ruins the immersion, but also limits (if not entirely eliminates) the possibility of roleplaying certain situations (exhaustion and injury; healing by bandage or spell; etc.) and sidelines the importance of certain classes (particularly noncaster classes). Resting without permission will be punished with an experience penalty.
Personal Character Requests: I'd like to further enhance a player's character by running events specifically for them based on their past. In order to do so though, I will require that you PM me with their past and history so I have something to work off.
Conclusion: My goal as a DM is to bring as much life to this server as I can through both the small and large events I make. I want you, the players, to ultimately decide how my events play out through your responses to the twists and turns in the plots as they unfold.