Sign petition here for a new DM to assist DM Asgorath

[Lambert]

Dear Esteemed Staff,

Thank you for you hard work. We hope you are having a great day today, or as we like to say, a great cycle.

We, the denizens of the infernal, or some may say abyssal, underdark, hereby request, by the following signatures, that the exceptional administration of Baldur's Gate, make it a priority to find, train, and promote an additional dungeon master dedicated to the underdark.

Greatly appreciative and entertained by the efforts of DM Asgorath, our imaginations have begun to twinkle at the thought of even more dedicated dungeon masters to our region.

With great vigor we hope the administration will pursue and execute this request with great action.

The following signers of this petition are in agreement with this request for additional dungeon master support in the underdark and trust in the staff to find the best people for the job:

*Players please sign below*

fine print: those players who sign likewise make a promise to assist, inspire, and cooperate with all underdark dungeon masters present and future. Through your player efforts you promise to promote a more positive, verdant, and active underdark.

[Lambert]

I hereby place my electronic signature: Lambert

[Planehopper]

How many UD players would you consider active?

How many surface players would you consider active?

How many DM events do you think are run on the surface, say per week?

How many DM events do you think are run in the UD (or on the surface for UD players), say per week?
========

Serious questions here. Second, though probably primary, I dont think anyone is prohibited from seeking DM attention via a PM with a specific idea to the DM distro. Instead of hoping for a dedicated DM to aid you in growing the playerbase in the UD, why not create the RP, invite a DM along, and go from there?

What is it that a DM will provide you that you arent getting right now?

[Storm Munin]

@Planehopper
Gazillions of xp and coin for umm showing up?
Pretty wicked items for the same reason.

At least thats my experience of Surface vs UD event rewards.
I am confident the lethality factor during events that arent social in nature is quite the same.


Beyond the moments in server history when a DM takes extended interest in the UD causing much joy and wickedness before burning out/leaving for other reasons, weekly events is not quite how I would set a time frame in the UD for events going off. Regardless if the UD population is far above the present surface population, the surface usually has something coming. I do not doubt this is often a case of some guild or faction event going off. Sadly the UD scene is fairly weak in cooperative play.


As to the topic at hand:
Planehopper has some valid points in his post.
If roleplay (and I mean roleplay) picks up in the UD I am hopeful that the DMs will respond to it.
Same goes to those brave enough to start/awaken an UD guild.

DM events usually means a fun happening in and of itself but it also leads to continued roleplay around the situation or topic addressed, spawning even more roleplay and perhaps further events.

However, like was proven this fall by some prankster DM just the micro event of a city guardsman suddenly coming to life and roleplaying with the UD players is a nice way of saying hello and that what happens below actually matters to the powers that be.

Considering how many DMs there are and how many players there are I do believe assigning someone for the sake of assigning someone is a mistake however (regardless if we consider surface or UD) and thus I am not inclined to sign this petition.

If a DM or another decides to descend into darkness once in a while after reading up a bit on the lore, we would all likely be overjoyed though.


Dont get me wrong, another DM soul working in the UD on a regular basis would be awesome.


/M

[Moridin]

Moridin

There was multiple things I have done with Lomith and a few other in the past, that deserved events to themselves, where we were even calling the DMs in game to come and pay attention, all ignored. You think an invasion of the Illithid Hive would be more interesting than a jaunt through the Baldur's Gate sewers. Four of us between levels 12 and 14, about 6 months ago managed to bash our way to the Elder Brain.

[DM Novus]

DMs—or ADMs for that matter—are not assigned to any one area, Guild, Player(s), etc..

DMs/ADMs are tasked to both support and create storylines for the entire Server, for everyone's enjoyment. And when I say everyone, that means Players and the DM.

Assigning DMs to any one section of the Server has, historically, led to burn out and, some might say, disaster. One unfortunate aspect is when that assigned DM quit, thus leaving a section of the Server without any attention whatsoever, and worse, all the history related to that section of the Server practically disappeared with the DM.

A rather awful fate, if you ask me.

The DM Staff is regularly reviewing applications for DMs. We have standards, some might even call them high standards. But when you give the keys to the kingdom to an individual, the Team must make sure that the Individual is willing and able to work with the Team. So sayeth me.

More DMs wanted in the Underdark IS NOT a new issue. Nor is keeping DMs working in the Underdark. Why do you think that is, by the way?

Nonetheless, Players can and are encouraged to directly seek out DM/ADM assistance for ongoing and developing Role-play. But remember the DM Team has the prerogative to pick and choose which storylines and Role-play to support.

[Lambert]

I think the problem with the UD is that it has a different flare, language, and attitude, that many people can't get into or have a bias with. Generally it is that people don't like playing evil characters.

A good friend of mine who's been DMing since his teenage years and later did a stint with NWN2 DMing dislikes drow and only plays in the UD if I'm there to play with him, and even then he's not a happy camper, but does a fairly good job with the rp. That seems to be a sentiment of various other player friends of mine who I've played with in the past.

I myself played on the surface for over a decade and only in the last year and a half to two years got into the UD scene. Must say it is a lot of fun, but it seams that the bias against the UD is real, and goes through players and staffers alike. Somethings take a while to get into. I like French cheese and suishi, but it took me over a decade or longer before I ate rokfaur and uni.

Sometimes it takes leadership to take on a difficult task that no one wants to do and get your hands dirty. Not an easy task when there aren't a lot of people who want to do it.

I'm one of 5 physicians in my group and the department heads of the main hospital wanted to run a new program that was understaffed. No one wanted to do it because it was new idea, puts you at the beck an call of 10 medical providers, and was thought to be a very busy position. I had built up a great raport with the other 10 physicians and so I volunteered to stay on the post. Most people still think it was a bad move, work wise, but I'm making good progress providing a valuable service.

I think many DMs, if they got into the UD, and players too, would find it surprisingly fun role play wise. Any DM or player who wants to rp with me, I'm more then happy to do it. If any surface player wants help getting the handle of the UD, likewise I'm available for it.

Sadly, sometimes it takes an administrative head to push an unpopular idea through to make it work. I give DM Asgorath a lot of props because it seems to me he's taken the responsibility of many players under his time and attention. I think the UD could be a happening place in BG, and this could spawn great rp for the whole server. Actually, I have been very impressed with the rp already in the UD by players like Storm Munin, Irtanna Sshamath, Isendur, Bregan players, and Qu'ellar Sshamath.

Lam

[mireigi]

Rather than assign a single DM to do everything, why not have teams of DMs instead?

The UD is rather small compared to the surface, with Sshamath being the only hub for players to meet - all the rest is a hostile warzone. At least when compared to the surface where you have BG, FAI, Beregost, CK, Nashkel and, at least until recently, though not highly used, Triel as well.

A team consisting of 3 - 4 DMs could easily be assigned to a group or areas of that have something in common. Each team of DMs could be assigned to the following:

• Land of the Dukes (everything north of Beregost)
• Amnian territory (everything south of Beregost)
• Doron Amar and EDE
• Silver Shields, OSR, Radiant Heart
• CK, Elder Circle
• Everything Underdark
• etc.

That would ensure that no single area gets neglected because of a DM going on holidays, stepping down or other circumstances. It's how these things are dealt with in most work-related situations, you assign people to various task-groups to ensure that all areas are equally covered and with multiple redudancies in case someone is too busy or otherwise unable to continue.

[Thorsson]

Well Lambert, you've written some home truths, but also indulged in some wishful thinking. I tried the UD once, and once was enough. The characters, whether well roleplayed or not (and IMO most were not), generally are unpleasant (and very cliquey). My view is that I have to deal with enough unpleasant characters IRL. TBH I'd rather deal with a snowflake Orc Paladin than a well-roleplayed Drow.

OTOH DM-Az seems unbelievably good, always on and active, and I really find it hard to believe that you're asking for more (at least I would if you weren't a Drow!). I reckon most overground players would give their eye teeth to have him DMing up here.

[Servin]

Rather than assign a single DM to do everything, why not have teams of DMs instead?

The UD is rather small compared to the surface, with Sshamath being the only hub for players to meet - all the rest is a hostile warzone. At least when compared to the surface where you have BG, FAI, Beregost, CK, Nashkel and, at least until recently, though not highly used, Triel as well.

A team consisting of 3 - 4 DMs could easily be assigned to a group or areas of that have something in common. Each team of DMs could be assigned to the following:

• Land of the Dukes (everything north of Beregost)
• Amnian territory (everything south of Beregost)
• Doron Amar and EDE
• Silver Shields, OSR, Radiant Heart
• CK, Elder Circle
• Everything Underdark
• etc.

That would ensure that no single area gets neglected because of a DM going on holidays, stepping down or other circumstances. It's how these things are dealt with in most work-related situations, you assign people to various task-groups to ensure that all areas are equally covered and with multiple redudancies in case someone is too busy or otherwise unable to continue.

As much as the idea would allow the concentration of Lore to the areas of DM interests, it would also create fractionism within the DM groups. DM's within one area would try and get more than ones in another area etc.

I'm not saying that it's not possible with the current state of things, given DM's are players too (not accusing anyone here), but this would further add to it.

[ohboy007]

I thought DM Vilethings was pretty active down there right? The UD seems to be such a small population of players that even one DM going down there once a day would have a huge impact. Is the UD really that starved for DM events?

[Lambert]

I've seen DM Asgorath do at least 3-4 major events since I logged at the end of December that looked awesome, but I'm married with two little hin, so I'm not able to participate. I can only participate on impromptu DM events that are small and not major, of which I haven't seen any since I logged in.

Not so much as a rat biting my foot .

[Planehopper]

I've seen one on the surface. Since November. Sure there are others I havent seen as evidenced by DM threads and IC discussions.. but they aren't as common as youd have yourself believe.

[DM VileThings]

Why do people think I do events in the UD? Pretty certain I do surface stuff daily last I checked.

DMs are on in very different time zones, 90% of the server never sees me despite being about daily and for extended periods during major events.

Grouping DMs in 3-4s would be a fantastic idea if we were all on at all times. We're really only on in maybe 2s or sometimes 3s for those of you on prime american or euro time zones. Most of the time it's just me in my time zone, though dhampir is about more often with me now. If we were in groups for those locations, people would still miss out on the DMs for their areas and either one area in each time zone would be really active or we would struggle to keep coordinating our events across the time zones.

Another DM for the UD is a fine idea, but the DM has to want to be there, understand the setting and enjoy the roleplay opportunities available to them. Considering I have been reading every UD thread for several months now, I've stayed well away from it entirely after what I've read.

[illithid]

As Steve Irwin once said... or was it Steve Barracuda...

The players have all the power, not the DM's (possibly paraphrased)

You can do whatever you like in this world, DM present or not, exploring the world with a DM next to you is the same to exploring the world with any other decent RP'er.

All the best folks, you make this server special