Game Master Responsibilities & Requirements

Thank you for considering being part of the XIAIX staff. Our most valuable assets are our people and we attempt to select our staff members with the utmost care. This application contains a description of what being a GM (Game Master) is and is not, followed by a detailed questionnaire to help us in our selection process.

XIAIX is a massive project several years in the making. The game incorporates the concept of human GM's that fully utilize resources by allowing access to incredible tools for creation/modification and creative interaction with the world. As important as the human element of GM's is, it is still the software which the GM's must interface with and it has been our goal to provide the GM staff with the best there is.

Being a GM is not for everyone. The description of GM'ing given here should be read carefully and taken to heart. There are no exaggerations in this text. The warnings are real. Make certain you are sure in your mind that being a Game Master for XIAIX is what you really want to do. This application is designed not only to help us evaluate you, but for you to evaluate yourself regarding if GM'ing may be in your future. Be honest, because the realities of this job have shown themselves to be rather inflexible.

Customer Service & PC Management

XIAIX is both a game AND a service. This situation frequently puts XIAIX and Game Masters in tough spots. In a normal customer service operation the service representative is responsible for doing what he/she can to appease a customer(s) complaints. In XIAIX, the Game Master also has a responsibility to the game itself (in essence, all the players as a whole) and more times than not, you cannot always appease a player.

The customer service aspects of GM'ing are very difficult to handle. A GM must have super-human patience to deal with players who don't care about our restrictions. A GM must be able to absorb a great deal of player resistance and still smile understandingly.

A GM must be able to adhere to policy closely. This is more difficult than it may sound, and more important than one paragraph can emphasize. Policy is what keeps our positions consistent and the game from degrading into total chaos. We supply a great deal of policy to keep things on-track, but it is up to the GM's to uphold this policy.

The PC Management, Support & Feedback, and Game Presence departments handle most customer interaction. This interaction ranges from answering REPORTs and ASSISTs to running merchant events and major invasions/storylines and handles all types of player concerns and feedback.       Most of the departments do not work directly with customers unless they, over and above meeting their development deadlines, choose to be trained by the PC Management staff in policies and procedures. Choosing to learn PC Management skills and have face-to-face player experiences is not a requirement for any of the remaining 13 departments. However, all GM's must meet their responsibilities and have their supervisor's approval before taking on extra work in other departments.

Systems Department

Online games are never "finished" but rather exist in a state of constant expansion (or at least the successful ones do). System Department GM's are the designers of XIAIX and participate not only in the implementation of ideas but in the creation of them. This can range from simple additions to sweeping mechanics changes. Development GM's should be able to grasp the complexities of game design as it applies to XIAIX.

All GM's need to understand XIAIX as it is today. Players will ask very technical questions and you will need to have enough grasp of the mechanics to answer. It's tough because XIAIX is a monstrous contraption of a program.

All Game Masters need to adhere to the rules and world design as set out by XIAIX documentation, History & Lore and the Game Creator, GC-Xiaix. Exceptions have to be cleared thru GC-Xiaix himself. Most importantly, a GM has to fit his/her designs to the correct genre of the world we are creating. This is strictly enforced.

Self-Starters       The importance of having initiative cannot be understated. It's easy to become complacent when working in XIAIX and let a week or two slip by without much getting done. But remember, to a player a couple weeks of doing nothing is a major sin and a sign of utter incompetence on the part of the Xiaix Staff. You must be able to accept assignments (through proper channels) and then carry them out in a timely fashion. And you must be prepared to move on to your next project right away. While being dedicated and a self-starter is crucial, it is just as vital to approach being a GM with an attitude of team-playing.

Integrity & Honesty       A Game Master has power and with it a lot of responsibility. There are many rules and regulations you must follow to the letter to maintain the integrity of the system. We don't stand over our Staff watching their every move and in the past some GM's have decided to bend a few rules for the sake of their own entertainment (or that of friends). This type of behavior will never be tolerated under any circumstances or reasons.

Time

A Game Master has to be online A LOT. What "a lot" means depends on the circumstances. Generally we need GM's to cover high-usage periods each night when players may need assistance. In addition, GM's must be online to implement new areas and designs, run events and quests and maintain existing areas. An individual GM is usually online every night for several hours (similar to a player). A GM will be expected to spend even more time online when special events are going on with which they are involved.

Building new areas and such can be a very time-intensive process and GM's must be prepared to devote the effort and hours necessary. It is difficult to say how much time a given activity may take because a very proficient GM can do in hours what another GM might take weeks to do. This may sound unlikely but we really have that kind of range in skill levels. We are attempting to acquire the more highly adept GM's, and thus make the time constraints less of a factor whenever possible.

If you need time off for any reason we are very flexible. We do require that we be informed in advance, and if your vacation will impact your ability to meet your development deadlines, we should be notified well in advance. Be prepared to help out on a holiday or two because XIAIX does not shut down for them. In fact our usage on holidays is always higher. This can be a pain, but we are willing to work with you in this area.

So Why Should Anyone Do This?

Some people like to do this sort of thing. XIAIX is a great tool for expressing creativity. For the true designer, real-time game design is the ultimate experience. You will be involved in a major online multiplayer product. If you ever wanted to get your foot into the door as far as game design is concerned, this might be the place to start.

Technical Requirements       You need a good computer setup; the preferred equipment is a Windows XP compatible system. Macintosh setups are also acceptable. We do insist you have reasonably up-to-date equipment (no C64's or Tandy 1000's).  You'll also need to have a reliable, reasonably fast internet connection. DSL/Cable or faster. NO DIAL-UP.       You are responsible for your own connection fees. If you have to dial a long-distance number or pay any sort of by-the-minute or by-the-hour charges, stop now and do not continue with this application.       You will need an up-to-date version of Internet Explorer (7 or higher) or Mozilla Firefox (2.0.0.15 or higher).  In addition to a current web browser, you will need text editing software (not a word processor) that you are comfortable with -- we recommend UltraEdit or TextPad.

What's after this application?

Once you send in your application it will be put into a database. We will always look over the applications and place it "on file". Until and unless you are selected for an online interview, we will not contact you further about your application. We pick Staff applications depending on our needs. For example, if we need a GM who is a great programmer more than a designer we assign more weight to the programming score than the design score. Therefore there are no "correct" answers to the questions in the application. Be very honest when rating yourself. Even if in some areas you cannot rate yourself highly, that will not always matter. If we contact you and ask you questions, it will soon become obvious whether or not you've been honest in your application.

We then interview those who still want to be a GM from the selected applications. We also get opinions from other players and existing GM's as to what they think of your online presence thus far. During this process we attempt to find out more details and verify some of the evaluations in the application.

If there is a change in any of the information on your application, you should submit an updated application.

Becoming a GM

If you are selected as a GM, you will be sent an email indicating our interest in your application. When we receive your reply, you will begin orientation. This involves sending you a set of documentation and a briefing. You will begin work under the status of 'Orientation' on probationary status. Probation lasts at least 90 days, during which time you will be expected to learn the basics of GM'ing and master the commands. At the end of this time you will be given a real-time test which is designed to let you demonstrate your proficiency.

Being a GM      As stated before, being a GM means being online a lot. Plan on it! We have monthly GM meetings where we discuss the current agenda and work on new design issues. You need to attend.       Being a GM almost has more things you CAN'T do than those you can. This is because XIAIX is a game. As you become a GM you find yourself in control of a lot of tools and powers. You will be in a position to be as destructive as you can be constructive. Be prepared to have your hands tied by policy (and common sense). The bureaucracy doesn't exist to limit you but rather to preserve the integrity of the game and the consistency of the concept.       Be prepared to work. GM'ing is a lot of work. A lot of the work is fun, but it is almost always exhausting. Pace yourself, but be prepared to get projects done quickly. This means pushing yourself at times. Learning all the commands and nuances can be difficult, so be prepared to study and practice.       Finally, be prepared to enjoy yourself. This is a game after all, and despite the grind, being a Xiaix Staff member can be an experience unlike any other. The gratification which comes from watching the players enjoy the new area you just opened is very unique. If you are a creative person who seeks to build and create, this is the place for you.

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