History Main / GameMaster

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': "Referee" was the original term used in the very first version (published in 1974 by Creator/GaryGygax and Dave Arneson, may they Role-play In Peace), and in ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}'' (published in 1977). "Dungeon Master", or "DM", arrived with ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'', which the game has stuck with every since. It is from "Dungeon Master" that gave rise to Game Master as the generic term for such a player in a tabletop RPG.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': "Referee" was the original term used in the very first version (published in 1974 by Creator/GaryGygax and Dave Arneson, may they Role-play In Peace), and in ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}'' (published in 1977). "Dungeon Master", or "DM", arrived with ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'', from which Game Master became the generic term.

* ''Author'': The [=GM=] plans out ([[SchrodingersGun in]] the [[WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants loosest sense]]) the plot of the story of which the PlayerCharacters will become heroes (or villains, or rich, or whatever); creating (or adapting, or just choosing) the setting, populating that region with villains and other [[{{NPC}} Non-Player Characters]], and assigning them any necessary backgrounds, motivations, plans and resources. Beware, as overdoing this aspect can lead to {{Railroading}}.
* ''Director'': During the game, while each of the other players typically controls the actions of ''one'' of the Player Characters, the GM decides the actions of all the [=NPCs=] as they are needed. The GM may also direct a particular [=NPC=] that travels with the party (commonly known as a {{GMPC}}), but this may occasionally be open to abuse since the GameMaster having a [[CreatorsPet "pet" NPC]] may compromise their neutrality.
* ''Referee'': In most {{Tabletop RPG}}s, the rules are supplied to resolve conflicting situations (avoiding the "Bang! you're dead!"/"No, you missed!" quandary). The GM is expected to provide any necessary interpretation of those rules in fuzzier situations. The GM may also approve or provide HouseRules in order to cover these cases or provide a different gaming experience. And when that doesn't work, [[RuleZero the GM can just supersede the rules and decide what works best for them]].
* ''Manager'': The least-officially prescribed portion of [=GMing=], and thus the part that takes people the most by surprise. The GM is typically the one to organize the game in the first place, find players, schedule sessions, and figure out a place to play, as well as acting as a mediator and having to balance the needs and desires of all participants -- sometimes having to divine the real desires of indecisive or self-deluded players.

Not to be confused with General Motors. Unless you're running some sort of automobile centered RPG. Note that the [=GM=]s in MMO Games (RPG or otherwise) are more like ''moderators'' with punitive powers but no ability to change the fundamentals of the game itself. They're the cops, in other words, whereas a Tabletop [=GM=] is the ruling deity of his or her world.

The GM may be separated from the other players at the table by a cardboard screen that hides his or her notes on [=NPCs=] and upcoming events in the story; many games print custom GM screens, decorated with various tables and charts from the rulebooks, to reduce the amount of book referencing needed during play. Such screens have become less common -- many [=GM=]s and players prefer to use their computer to create their ''own'' screen, if they ever use one at all.

* ''Director'': During the game, while each of the other players typically controls the actions of ''one'' of the Player Characters, the GM decides the actions of all the [=NPCs=] as they are needed. The GM may also direct a particular [=NPC=] that travels with the party (commonly known as a {{GMPC}}), but this may occasionally be open to abuse since the GameMaster having a [[CreatorsPet "pet" NPC]] may compromise his neutrality.

* ''TabletopGame/ThirstySwordLesbians'', not wanting to pass up a pun, dubs its GM the ''Gay''master.

* ''Author'': The [=GM=] plans out ([[SchrodingersGun in the]] [[WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants loosest sense]]) the plot of the story of which the PlayerCharacters will become heroes (or villains, or rich, or whatever); creating (or adapting, or just choosing) the setting, populating that region with villains and other [[{{NPC}} Non-Player Characters]], and assigning them any necessary backgrounds, motivations, plans and resources. Beware, as overdoing this aspect can lead to {{Railroading}}.

** ''TabletopGame/DeltaGreen'' changed on its standalone version to "The Handler" to fit with the games shift to SpyFiction and conspiracy thriller.

* ''Referee'': In most {{Tabletop RPG}}s, the rules are supplied to resolve conflicting situations (avoiding the "Bang! you're dead!"/"No, you missed!" quandary). The GM is expected to provide any necessary interpretation of those rules in fuzzier situations. The GM may also approve or provide HouseRules in order to cover these cases or provide a different gaming experience. See also RuleZero.
* ''Manager'': The least officially prescribed portion of [=GMing=], and thus the part that takes people the most by surprise. The GM is typically the one to organize the game in the first place, find players, schedule sessions, and figure out a place to play, as well as acting as a mediator and having to balance the needs and desires of all participants -- sometimes having to divine the real desires of indecisive or self-deluded players.

The [=GM=] may be separated from the other players at the table by a cardboard screen that hides his or her notes on [=NPCs=] and upcoming events in the story; many games print custom [=GM=] screens, decorated with various tables and charts from the rulebooks, to reduce the amount of book referencing needed during play. Such screens have become less common -- many [=GM=]s and players prefer to use their computer to create their ''own'' screen, if they ever use one at all.

Game Masters may be practised actors, and some [=GM=]s are also talented vocal artists and authors -- for some, they're skills that see a ''lot'' of use, and many games have come into legend because of a memorable [=GM=]-controlled NPC.

* ''TabletopGame/Pathfinder'' officially uses the generic "Game Master". Given the game's status as a spinoff of D&D 3.5, however, many groups continue to use the more flavorful "Dungeon Master" from the parent game.

* "Master of Ceremonies", short "MC", in ''TabletopGame/ApocalypseWorld''. The term was specifically chosen by the author to deemphasize the traditional Author hat of the GM in favor of Director and Referee roles ("ceremonies"), in accordance to [[http://socratesrpg.blogspot.com/2006/08/what-is-gm.html The Forge philosophy]] that maintains that authorial control must be spread evenly across all game participants, rather than concentrated under the GM. Many games TabletopGame/PoweredByTheApocalypse continue to use the term for this reason, with some notable exceptions:

* "Master of Ceremonies", short "MC", in ''TabletopGame/ApocalypseWorld''. The term was specifically chosen by the author to deemphasize the traditional Author hat of the GM in favor of Director and Referee roles ("ceremonies"), in accordance to The Forge philosophy that maintains that authorial control must be spread evenly across all game participants, rather than concentrated under the GM. Many games TabletopGame/PoweredByTheApocalypse continue to use the term for this reason, with some notable exceptions:

* "Master of Ceremonies", short "MC", in ''TabletopGame/ApocalypseWorld''. The term was specifically chosen by the author to deemphasize the traditional Author hat of the GM in favor of Director and Referee roles ("ceremonies"), in accordance to Website/TheForge philosophy that maintains that authorial control must be spread evenly across all game participants, rather than concentrated under the GM. Many games TabletopGame/PoweredByTheApocalypse continue to use the term for this reason, with some notable exceptions:

Most {{Tabletop RPG}}s isolate one player from the rest to fill the role of the Game Master (or [=GM=]), comprising four major "hats" to wear:
* ''Author'': The [=GM=] plans out ([[SchrodingersGun in the]] [[WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants loosest sense]]) the plot of the story of which the PlayerCharacters will become heroes (or villains, or rich, or whatever); creating (or adapting, or just choosing) the setting, populating that region with villains and other {{NPC}}s, and assigning them any necessary backgrounds, motivations, plans and resources. Beware, as overdoing this aspect can lead to {{Railroading}}.
* ''Director'': During the game, while each of the other players typically controls the actions of ''one'' of the Player Characters, the GM decides the actions of all the [=NPCs=] as they are needed. The GM may also direct a particular "NPC" that travels with the party (commonly known as a {{GMPC}}), but this may occasionally be open to abuse since the GameMaster having a [[CreatorsPet "pet" NPC]] may compromise his neutrality.
* ''Referee'': In most {{Tabletop RPG}}s, the rules are supplied to resolve conflicting situations (avoiding the "Bang! you're dead!"/"No, you missed!" quandary). The GM is expected to provide any necessary interpretation of those rules in fuzzier situations. The GM may also approve or provide HouseRules in order to cover these corner cases or provide a different gaming experience. See also RuleZero.

Often, the [=GM=] is separated from the other players at the table by a cardboard screen that hides his notes on [=NPCs=] and upcoming events in the story; many games print custom [=GM=] screens, decorated with various tables and charts from the rulebooks, to reduce the amount of book referencing needed during play. Such screens have become less common -- most [=GM=]s and players prefer to use their computer to create their ''own'' screen, if they ever use one at all.

Game Masters will often be practiced actors, and many of the better [=GM=]s are also talented vocal artists and authors -- for some, they're skills that see a ''lot'' of use, and many games have come into legend because of a memorable [=GM=]-controlled NPC.

* "Overseeer" in Fallout Pen and Paper.

* ''Author'': The [=GM=] plans out ([[SchrodingersGun in the loosest sense]]) the plot of the story of which the PlayerCharacters will become heroes (or villains, or rich, or whatever); creating (or adapting, or just choosing) the setting, populating that region with villains and other {{NPC}}s, and assigning them any necessary backgrounds, motivations, plans and resources. Beware, as overdoing this aspect can lead to {{Railroading}}.

* ''TabletopGame/SpiritOfSeventySeven'': The DJ, evoking the old school [[TheSeventies 1970's]] radio DJ's who spun that groovy vinyl.
** Speaking of TheSeventies, Spectrum Games's -- the same company behind "CartoonActionHour", latest game, "RetroStar", which focus on the decade's televisioned science fiction series, calls the Game Master the Showrunner.

* "Master of Ceremonies", short "MC", in ''TabletopGame/ApocalypseWorld''. The term was specifically chosen by the author to deemphasize the traditional Author hat of the GM in favor of Director and Referee roles (a.k.a. "ceremonies"), as per Website/TheForge philosophy (which maintains that the authorial control must be spread equally across all participants, not concentrated under the GM). Many games TabletopGame/PoweredByTheApocalypse continue to use the term for this reason. ''TabletopGame/MonsterOfTheWeek'', however, homages ''Cthulhu'' and uses "Keeper" (short for "Keeper of Monsters and Mysteries") instead.

** In ''TabletopGame/{{Necromunda}}, the ''Outlanders'' supplement for 1st Edition of the game and the ''Necromunda: Gang War'' books for 3rd edition introduced rules for campaigns run by a Game Master known as an Arbitrator[[note]]a rank of the Adeptus Arbites, the police force of the ''Warhammer 40,000'' setting[[/note]]. During such campaigns it is the job of the Arbitrator to organise games, keep track of campaign turns, introduce random events and generally make sure that all those involved in the campaign have the most fun possible.

** {{Games Workshop}} also got in on the judicial action, with "Judge Master"s laying down the law in the ''Judge Dredd'' role-playing game.

* "Gamesmaster" in TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} Fantasy Roleplay. Also in Warhammer Quest (the optional roleplaying rules).

* The 1980's company "Pacesetter" (currently out of business) always came up with a term that would fit the initials CM. For their horror game ''Chill'', it was "Chill Master", ''Star Ace'' games were run by a "Campaign Master", and ''Timemaster'' had the "Continuum Master".

* ''Spycraft'' (originally Alderac Entertainment Group, then Crafty Games): "Game Control" or "GC".