Where Have the Game Masters Gone?

WuffyCerulei · November 2016

I've heard of Game masters being a bit prevalent when the game came out, but there seems to be none around now. With all the recent patches, GMs needed more than ever, especially in PVP. Where have they gone? If ZOS lost them, then hire some more. Hire players that haven't had a record of cheating, and have to do a thorough investigation before taking any action. Heck, I would even volunteer to be a GM just to help the community.

SirAndy · November 2016

I haven't seen a GM in-game since right after PC launch when they were trying to keep the bot army at bay.

I highly doubt ZOS has any GMs in-game these days ...

Acrolas · November 2016

They're on GM Island. Which is an awesome place to hang out because it has a 24-hour Taco Bell that serves the exclusive secret-menu Ultimate Riverhold Beef Taco.

Ackwalan · November 2016

They had to be let go, ZOS needed more room for crown store fluff designers.

shadoza · November 2016

WuffyCerulei wrote: »

I've heard of Game masters being a bit prevalent when the game came out, but there seems to be none around now. With all the recent patches, GMs needed more than ever, especially in PVP. Where have they gone? If ZOS lost them, then hire some more. Hire players that haven't had a record of cheating, and have to do a thorough investigation before taking any action. Heck, I would even volunteer to be a GM just to help the community.

I was thinking that if paid GMs are not in the budget, community GMs could at least help with some of the knowledge based issues. The could also remind some misbehaving players of the ToS. Community GMs should never be able to anything serious like kick or suspend players, however, if they could at least record suspected wrong-doing and forward it to the game police then that would help.

TheSeer · November 2016

shadoza wrote: »

WuffyCerulei wrote: »

I've heard of Game masters being a bit prevalent when the game came out, but there seems to be none around now. With all the recent patches, GMs needed more than ever, especially in PVP. Where have they gone? If ZOS lost them, then hire some more. Hire players that haven't had a record of cheating, and have to do a thorough investigation before taking any action. Heck, I would even volunteer to be a GM just to help the community.

I was thinking that if paid GMs are not in the budget, community GMs could at least help with some of the knowledge based issues. The could also remind some misbehaving players of the ToS. Community GMs should never be able to anything serious like kick or suspend players, however, if they could at least record suspected wrong-doing and forward it to the game police then that would help.

I would totally sign up to be a GM, hell I wouldn't even ask to be paid, just knowing I can make ESO a less toxic place is good enough for me.

WhiteCoatSyndrome · November 2016

shadoza wrote: »

if they could at least record suspected wrong-doing and forward it to the game police then that would help.

There IS a 'Report' function if you right click a player's name. We used to be able to send a screenshot with same; I have no idea why they dropped it..

Shader_Shibes · November 2016

I found them........

TheSeer · November 2016

WhiteCoatSyndrome wrote: »

shadoza wrote: »

if they could at least record suspected wrong-doing and forward it to the game police then that would help.

There IS a 'Report' function if you right click a player's name. We used to be able to send a screenshot with same; I have no idea why they dropped it..

Not everyone is from PC, reporting on consoles is so annoying most people don't bother anymore.

Caligamy_ESO · November 2016

I don't see any reason why an MMO with a supposed " Best MMO of the Year" title would NOT have active Gamemasters. Especially considering the last MMO I played (for 14+ years) still to this day has them and they are easy to contact and talk to when problems arise.

KingYogi415 · November 2016

Have you read the forums? You think giving in-game players a gm title would be a good idea?

So much lol

runagate · November 2016

A technical problem with that is that it isn't a character but an entire account that's got GM powers. Even the devs play on their own, non-GM accounts.

builder680 · November 2016

Anyone who wants to be a GM should never be a GM. Same with politicians. If you actively pursue elected office you should be banned from public office.

bellanca6561n · November 2016

Acrolas wrote: »

They're on GM Island. Which is an awesome place to hang out because it has a 24-hour Taco Bell that serves the exclusive secret-menu Ultimate Riverhold Beef Taco.

Okay, this one made me glad I wasn't drinking coffee or some OTHER beverage at the time

Silly me, I just thought you could page a GM...uh....nooooo.

Heck, even a game that's been on life support for the past decade, Ultima Online, has in-game GMs.

Then again, the last GM that turned up for me in that game asked me to strip and then killed me. Said it would fix my problem.

Elsonso · November 2016

They had big support plans for this game. In game GMs. Live customer support. Real people instead of automated responses. They dreamed Rolls Royce. We ended up with an old used 1985 Yugo with a missing passenger door. It runs, and it will get you where you are going, eventually, if you are patient, but you may have to fix it yourself to get there.

Faunter · November 2016

Acrolas wrote: »

They're on GM Island. Which is an awesome place to hang out because it has a 24-hour Taco Bell that serves the exclusive secret-menu Ultimate Riverhold Beef Taco.

Mojmir · November 2016

Off to a better game

WuffyCerulei · November 2016

TheSeer wrote: »

shadoza wrote: »

WuffyCerulei wrote: »

I've heard of Game masters being a bit prevalent when the game came out, but there seems to be none around now. With all the recent patches, GMs needed more than ever, especially in PVP. Where have they gone? If ZOS lost them, then hire some more. Hire players that haven't had a record of cheating, and have to do a thorough investigation before taking any action. Heck, I would even volunteer to be a GM just to help the community.

I was thinking that if paid GMs are not in the budget, community GMs could at least help with some of the knowledge based issues. The could also remind some misbehaving players of the ToS. Community GMs should never be able to anything serious like kick or suspend players, however, if they could at least record suspected wrong-doing and forward it to the game police then that would help.

I would totally sign up to be a GM, hell I wouldn't even ask to be paid, just knowing I can make ESO a less toxic place is good enough for me.

This! I would volunteer my time to address serious issue in-game, even if I don't get paid. ESO needs in-game support. Bad.

Publius_Scipio · November 2016

I have been around since the beginning, I personally have never seen a game master with the Z in front of the character name. Not once. That being said, I am sure there have been devs in the zones with me. Maybe on personal accounts.

BlanketFort · November 2016

builder680 wrote: »

Anyone who wants to be a GM should never be a GM. Same with politicians. If you actively pursue elected office you should be banned from public office.

"To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job. To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem." - Douglas Adams

Love that guy!

SHADOW2KK · November 2016

builder680 wrote: »

Anyone who wants to be a GM should never be a GM. Same with politicians. If you actively pursue elected office you should be banned from public office.

Agreed, power corrupts and all that..

captainwolfos · November 2016

I've been playing since beta, and I've never even seen a GM.

It's like a unicorn.

Nova Sky · November 2016

When I played ESO on the PC/Mac (prior to switching over to the PS4), I would see zone chat light up when a GM was spotted. It was pretty cool to know that one of the folks responsible for ESO was in the game at that actual moment, interacting with players.

That wasn't long after PC/Mac launch in April 2014. Times have changed since then. I probably haven't seen a GM in well over a year, and never on the PS4. 'Tis sad, in a way.

You know what would be really cool? There should be a special event where a dozen or more GMs gather and have a party, perhaps in one of the major cities, or in a hamlet or even the countryside, and invite players to join them. It'd be a very spontaneous party, with little notice. They'd pop in for maybe an hour, and folks who came to party with them would receive a cosmetic gift of some sort from the Crown store. Heh. Maybe something along the lines of a T-shirt with the words "I PARTAYED WITH A GM!" on it.

*shrug* It's just a feel-good idea, Zeni ladies and gentlemen.

ArchMikem · November 2016

I was tricked into believing this one player in Rawlkha was actually Wrobel, but he didnt have the GM icon. Apparently someone has the Gamertag and character name Wrobel...just cause?

Publius_Scipio · November 2016

ArchMikem wrote: »

I was tricked into believing this one player in Rawlkha was actually Wrobel, but he didnt have the GM icon. Apparently someone has the Gamertag and character name Wrobel...just cause?

Yes some players troll the devs like that. But that was your first clue. I doubt any dev has a character using their real name.

DannyLV702 · November 2016

*insert witty joke here*

shadoza · November 2016

WhiteCoatSyndrome wrote: »

shadoza wrote: »

if they could at least record suspected wrong-doing and forward it to the game police then that would help.

There IS a 'Report' function if you right click a player's name. We used to be able to send a screenshot with same; I have no idea why they dropped it..

Yes, but there are so many that are not reported because reporting too much can get the player into trouble.

negbert · November 2016

What can an in-game GM do that support can't? I don't see any need for them. They can't make changes to the game outside of a patch anyway.

Grymmoire · November 2016

Hey I think I saw them awhile ago...yes took a screenshot of all of them. Here you go:

I think I heard them say something like: So, long and thanks all you fish!

nordsavage · November 2016

Support for this game took large cut backs especially after console releases. The game is functioning just enough to keep revenue in without too much oversight and that is the way they aim to keep it.

shadoza · November 2016

negbert wrote: »

What can an in-game GM do that support can't? I don't see any need for them. They can't make changes to the game outside of a patch anyway.

An in-game GM can offer guidance and suggestions without hate or hostility. Support does not answer questions.
An in-game GM can call out disruptive behavior on the spot as it is happening.
An in-game GM can watch a suspected bot or exploiter and see the same things we are seeing as it is happening.
An in-game GM can reset bosses that are stuck in terrain and move NPCs that are standing in doorways.

Obviously, a GM cannot fix a break in the game, but they can reset, remove, or respond when problems arise that slows or stops game progression.