5:28 PM TimMartin: Why are you a GM?
5:29 PM Anonymous: I'm a GM 'cause hosting things is incredibly fun.
5:29 PM Anonymous: Sometimes I may fuck up and make people mad, but countering those moments are the moments where I get praised for my effort.
5:29 PM Anonymous: plus, it's fun to see people trying hard on something I thought up.
5:30 PM Anonymous: ###
5:32 PM TimMartin: What do you enjoy about being a GM?
5:32 PM Anonymous: well, that was explained in the previous question already, but what I enjoy most is seeing people do something that I thought up
5:33 PM Anonymous: they may stumble, in those moments I'm mentally all like "no no you have to do it this way"
5:33 PM Anonymous: but when they succeed, then I'm all like \:D/
5:33 PM Anonymous: great feelings.
5:33 PM Anonymous: ###
5:34 PM TimMartin: \:D/
5:34 PM TimMartin: What are some of the things you don't like as a GM?
5:34 PM Anonymous: Probably the moderation aspect. Keeping people in line 'n all that.
5:35 PM Anonymous: it's hard to do that stuff without ruining the atmosphere, but we can't have people breaking rules all around.
5:36 PM Anonymous: Luckily despite popular beliefs, lots of people can behave well.
5:36 PM Anonymous: or at least decently.
5:36 PM Anonymous: ###
5:37 PM TimMartin: How has your experience been with the team so far?
5:44 PM Anonymous: All the GMs are nice people in some ways, but I'd be lying if I said I haven't ever had any trouble with some people. Of course this doesn't mean that we're flinging shit at each other, it's more about adapting to each other's work styles, which I've always had trouble with.
5:45 PM Anonymous: ###
5:45 PM TimMartin: Is there anything you'd like to say to future applicants, perhaps some advice?
5:48 PM Anonymous: yer gonna need a lot more than desire for power to get GMs.
5:49 PM Anonymous: being a GM ain't a walk in the park, it's seriously one of the hardest jobs in Toribash, possibly even THE hardest job
5:49 PM Anonymous: but then again, it's also super fun.
5:49 PM Anonymous: ###

[22:28:53] <Tim> Why are you a GM?
[22:30:38] <Anonymous> I'm a GM because I like helping keep the community entertained and enjoyable. I like to be involved with keeping things running smoothly for everyone, getting events going and helping to manage them, and being part of what makes things work.
[22:31:30] <Anonymous> ###
[22:38:48] <Tim> What do you enjoy about being a GM?
[22:42:05] <Anonymous> Well, I explained that a bit in the last question. I enjoy being a part of what makes things work. I like to help keep the community running smoothly. I enjoy hosting tournaments for people. I enjoy that both the hosting and moderation sides of things let me see the community at its best (and, at times, at its worst). I take pride in being able to keep things interesting and fun for a community that
[22:42:05] <Anonymous> has for so long been such a big part of my life.
[22:43:28] <Anonymous> Oh, and ###
[22:49:37] <Tim> What are some of the things you don't like as a GM?
[22:50:14] <Anonymous> The pay. It's extremely difficult to live on this salary. I had to take up a second job just to pay the bills.
[22:50:16] <Anonymous> ###
[22:50:53] <Tim> Gonna have to ask you to be a bit more serious, sadly
[22:52:10] <Anonymous> Honestly, there really isn't anything I don't like about the job. I will say it can get a bit tiresome having to deal with the particularly persistent trolls sometimes, but I really enjoy every aspect of the job.
[22:52:11] <Anonymous> ###
[22:54:16] <Tim> How has your experience been with the team so far?
[22:57:02] <Anonymous> Overall, good. When I first got into the job, the team was pretty disorganized, I admit. There wasn't much in the way of structure or formality in how things were done, but even then things usually went pretty smoothly overall. In the last few weeks there have also been a number of changes to the team which have helped to organize it better and make the job a bit easier to manage. As for the personal
[22:57:02] <Anonymous> aspect of things, the team gets along great. I don't think I've ever seen any particular animosity between team members. Not everyone is great friends with everyone else, but we all get along and have fun together.
[22:57:04] <Anonymous> ###
[23:00:10] <Tim> Is there anything you'd like to say to future applicants, perhaps some advice?
[23:05:30] <Anonymous> Ask questions. Ask questions, and for the love of god, listen to the answers. Nothing frustrates me more with new trials than seeing them make the same mistake over and over and over again. Don't be afraid to ask when you're unsure of something, and if someone says you're not doing something quite right, don't take it as a personal offense. We're not out to get you, really (except Thorn, but he
[23:05:30] <Anonymous> still hates everyone else just as much as he hates you).
[23:05:36] <Anonymous> ###

[21:03:16] <Tim> Why are you a GM?
[21:07:53] <Anonymous> I love the job, the people and the game. I enjoy helping others and hosting tourneys. I'm easy to talk to, easy to understand, and most of all: good-looking ;).
[21:09:10] <Anonymous> I chose to apply (and somehow got accepted :v), because I wanted to help out the community and since I have a good standing with people (not too violent or too sensitive) and know the ropes of what a GM has to do, I was given the privilege of becoming a GM
[21:09:24] <Anonymous> So far it's working out well. :)
[21:09:36] <Anonymous> ###
[21:11:35] <Tim> What do you enjoy about being a GM?
[21:16:16] <Anonymous> I enjoy being the 'happy receptionist guy' where people can come and talk to me about their troubles whenever they want. I also enjoy hosting tourneys with mods people enjoy and playing with the community, too. Being a part of something as awesome as Toribash is great as well!
[21:20:21] <Anonymous> Sometimes I help out players personally in different mods, and the way they respond is fantastic, too.
[21:20:22] <Anonymous> ###
[21:21:32] <Tim> What are some of the things you don't like as a GM?
[22:06:20] <Anonymous> I don't like the negative feedback, and the insults players throw at me when they don't even talk to me or know me
[22:08:00] <Anonymous> Not sure what else is bad about being a GM
[22:08:24] <Anonymous> ###
[22:09:09] <Tim> How has your experience been with the team so far?
[22:17:14] <Anonymous> Great, good to see new people always joining the team. Seems as though a lot more things are happening since Tonakai took the lead.
[22:17:34] <Anonymous> I don't have any quarrels with anyone (well none that I know of), we all get along pretty well.
[22:18:38] <Anonymous> The whole team needs to be a little more active and throw out some forum events (myself included hehe)
[22:18:58] <Anonymous> ###
[22:19:40] <Tim> Is there anything you'd like to say to future applicants, perhaps some advice?
[22:20:24] <Anonymous> Hmm
[22:20:30] <Anonymous> Maybe a few things
[22:21:02] <Anonymous> 1. Get to know the staff. If you don't know the staff and they know nothing about you, the lower your chance of being accepted.
[22:22:24] <Anonymous> 2. Don't go too in-depth about yourself personally. Just list a few things that we might want to know, etc.
[22:22:36] <Anonymous> hm
[22:22:37] <Anonymous> oh
[22:22:38] <Anonymous> and
[22:23:24] <Anonymous> Good luck
[22:23:25] <Anonymous> ###

[18:43:08] <Tim> Why are you a GM?
[18:48:17] <Anonymous> The main reason I am a GM is to be a role model to as much people as I can, I want to do what's best for this community and all the people in it. I have a huge love for entertaining people and making sure they are in safe hands. Everytime I enter a server I always feel as if everything is safe and running smoothly, this is a feeling that I truly love. It's as if you're watching a small child grow up. My love for the GM job has grown by a huge amount since I got the role, the effects it has on your personallity outside of toribash is amazing.
[18:49:43] <Anonymous> ###
[18:50:56] <Tim> What do you enjoy about being a GM?
[18:55:47] <Anonymous> Any member of the Toribash Community would looks at the GM job and see the red name ingame, the teal on the forums and the power given to them as a massive perk to the job. But honestly to me that's not what I love the most, I have a great amount of friends since I joined the GM team. We all work together in order to embrace our passion for the community, it's great. The laughs we have outside of the job are incredible at times.
[18:58:59] <Anonymous> I love the comments I get from users after I host ingame, it always makes me feel as if I've done a good thing. Which will always be pleasing no matter what you did or how you did it. I love the trust I get from users when they have problems outside of the game. I have had multiple users whisper me ingame with problems that have genuine concerns and I try my best to help them out as much as I can. Even if it gives them someone to talk to about the
[18:59:14] <Anonymous> ###
[19:06:32] <Tim> What are some of the things that you don't like as a GM?
[19:09:43] <Anonymous> Most of the things I have grown to not like with being a GM has been resolved ever since we had a leader turnover. The worst part of being a GM is how time consuming the job is. When I signed up for this role I had very little social life, and now as I've got older it's grown more and more. It's especially difficult when you have such a huge passion for the game. Another thing that I can find annoying is the distance between moderating and enjoyin
[19:12:14] <Anonymous> Sometimes I open up the game simply to play the game, which is always difficult if you have a role to play within the community. One other thing that's annoying is our limitations with the problems that happen within the community. I personally hate passing on a problem to someone else in staff, it's like throwing your dirty clothes on someone else without washing them yourself. So to speak.
[19:12:16] <Anonymous> ###
[19:14:03] <Tim> How has your experience been with the team so far?
[19:18:19] <Anonymous> It's progressed quite well, before I became a Trial GM I didn't know any staff member. The only member of the staff I knew was the leader at the time. After a while of getting to know the team I feel as if I can come to any of them with any problems if they ever persist. I must add emphasis on the team element of that question, as we are a team. I have learnt a lot from the team not only about Toribash but a lot of other useful things that they have helped me outside of this community.
[19:18:43] <Anonymous> ###
[19:24:04] <Tim> Is there anything you'd like to say to future applicants, perhaps some advice?
[19:29:10] <Anonymous> I'd love too. If you're reading this and you're wanting to become a GM I would strongly suggest you research into what the job entitles. There are numerous active members of this community who have either been a Trail GM or a Full GM. I'd strongly recommend talking to them and getting their advice as they can tell you how hard the job is. If the job was easy they would most likely still be a GM. The mental aspects of an applicant are vital, things such as enthusiasm, motivation, concentration and decision making are very important.
[19:30:43] <Tim> that's it
[19:30:47] <Tim> unless you'd like to add something else
[19:30:58] <Anonymous> one more point on that one, one min
[19:31:04] <Tim> alright
[19:33:33] <Anonymous> Another point, is don't work your ass off hosting day after day spending every little bit of TC you own. It has very little effect on your application and is very cost effective. We know the good from bad, there's no need to prove to us through the use of giving away your items and TC. See your application as an advert rather than a book about you. If that makes any sense.
[19:33:34] <Anonymous> ###

[19:44:14] <Tim> Let's start with the most important question, why are you a GM?
[19:48:56] <Anonymous> Well after being a part of the Toribash community for so long, I felt as though I should give back to the community which love. My hosting addiction started with being tired of some of the bet server hosts. I started hosting my own bet servers and eventually thought, why not tournaments as well? I researched a bit about the GM position and decided it was just what I wanted. I would be able to give back to the community in so many ways. Hosting tournaments, helping newcomers, cleaning up occasionally to make sure everyone is having fun, providing support. It just made sense to try for the job.
[19:49:43] <Anonymous> ###
[19:51:38] <Tim> What do you enjoy about being a GM?
[19:55:23] <Anonymous> I would say that the best thing about being a GM is when players voice their genuine appreciation after I've done something to help.
[19:56:15] <Anonymous> It's always nice to know that I'm helping make the community a better place. Although it's cheesy, bringing happiness to the players is its own reward.
[19:57:10] <Anonymous> Palling around with other staffers can be a lot of fun too though :P
[19:57:13] <Anonymous> ###
[19:57:56] <Tim> What are some of the things you don't like about being a GM?
[20::34:00] <Anonymous> The worst thing about being a GM, by far, is talking to players that loathe the staff as a whole. Hearing that someone is very dissatisfied with us, and not being able to change their opinion, is tough.
[20:06:10] <Anonymous> Outside the realm of the public community, I think the worst part of the position is being told you've done something wrong. Failing to do the job correctly doesn't feel all that good, though nobody makes a big deal out of it, and most people are very supportive, so it's more of a personal problem than a problem with the position itself.
[20:08:54] <Anonymous> ###
[20:13:19] <Tim> How has your experience been with the team so far?
[20:16:19] <Anonymous> I'd say it's similar to any "real world" job. Those in higher positions are, in most cases, friendly, but can seem a bit intimidating nonetheless. Getting along with every person on the team is practically impossible; there will always be those that you don't enjoy working with, but most of the current team is very supportive.
[20:17:47] <Anonymous> At the moment, it doesn't quite feel like a family at all. I don't talk to other staffers often, unless they're in my clan, but I do work with them on certain things.
[20:18:25] <Anonymous> I would say that there is minimal rivalry, but again, the team is not all that connected.
[20:19:50] <Anonymous> As for the work that the team does, things seem efficient. When the bosses want something done, it gets done. Miscommunication is fairly rare.
[20:20:34] <Anonymous> I know there were quite a few slip-ups before I became a GM, but since I joined, things have been pretty smooth.
[20:20:42] <Anonymous> ###
[20:20:57] <Anonymous> Not trying to say that I made them smooth there.... hopefully you knew what I meant
[20:22:36] <Tim> I'd just like to mention that tonakai and the assistant managers (myself included) will be working on bringing the team together more as a family
[20:24:54] <Tim> Is there anything you'd like to say to future applicants, perhaps some advice?
[20:27:30] <Anonymous> Hmmm. Well first, though it's been said before, I'd like to dispell the all too common misconception that we care about the belt of the applicant. A persons experience and knowledge is much more important.
[20:29:57] <Anonymous> As for application advice, just list your experience, give a quick blurb about yourself, explain why you're applying, all that stuff that Dargon highlights in his guide to applying for a staff position, but also try not to be too bland about it.
[20:30:42] <Anonymous> Don't go crazy with emoticons and all caps, but don't bore us to death either.
[20:31:07] <Anonymous> I believe the thing that helped me most when I applied was getting some experience in the #support channel of the IRC.
[20:31:32] <Tim> quick interjection here
[20:31:48] <Anonymous> Go right ahead
[20:32:37] <Tim> This user was brilliant in the support channel, which is why I supported him in becoming a GM, if you're in the support channel and all you're doing is causing issues I'll be removing you from the channel via ban and rejecting your application. The flood of users to support is inevitable around mass recruitment times, but don't be an idiot about it.
[20:33:20] <Anonymous> Yes, I was going to address that with my next statement.
[20:34:56] <Tim> I just thought I'd jump in as well, but please make your statement as well
[20:38:09] <Anonymous> Be careful when using the support channel though. Unless you absolutely know how to solve a users problem, it's best to just sit in #support and simply read the solutions to problems before trying to help others. Make sure you absolutely know how to solve a users problem before chiming in, as you could hurt your chances of becoming a GM (in addition to confusing the user you're trying to help and annoying the #support moderators).
[20:41:22] <Anonymous> I think that's about it for advice on applying. Just ask any of the GMs if you have any questions or concerns before applying.
[20:41:28] <Anonymous> ###

[02:35:34] <Tim> Why are you a GM?
[02:37:57] <Anonymous> Well I've been a member for multiple years and I've always been a fan of the community. Becominga gamemaster was an ideal job for me because it gave me a chance to meet tons of new people and make people happy
[02:38:00] <Anonymous> ###
[02:38:49] <Tim> So what are the things that you enjoy about being a GM, other than what you've already stated, and what are some of the things that you don't like about being a GM?
[02:40:33] <Anonymous> Some pros of being a gamemaster: Getting to know other staff members on a personal level, the feeling of being needed/wanted (Yeah I'm a lonely person), coming up with events for the community, and being able to help people when they need it
[02:42:18] <Anonymous> Some cons: You have to deal with a lot of people that make you want to rip your hair out, you really don't have any power on the forums to go about policing so that's pretty sad, there are times when you just get hated on for no reason because you got something that others want
[02:42:22] <Anonymous> ###
[02:45:21] <Tim> So how have your experiences been with the team so far?
[02:48:31] <Anonymous> Well I've been gamemaster a few times; the first time was fun at first but then the drive slowly died out and caused some problems. This current term has been fun, I was used to knowing everyone my previous term so I'm still getting to know most of the community.
[02:48:56] <Anonymous> The current leadership isn't that bad either, it's a bit more about fun instead of strictly hosting
[02:49:17] <Anonymous> Only complaint is some of the gms don't pull their weight like they should be
[02:49:19] <Anonymous> ###
[02:50:06] <Tim> Is there anything that you'd like to say for future applicants, perhaps some advice?
[02:50:35] <Anonymous> Oh of course
[02:51:04] <Anonymous> When you are applying please include what hosting experience you have (if any)
[02:51:30] <Anonymous> And try to give us some info on yourself besides your name, we'd like to get to know you before we throw a job at you
[02:51:42] <Anonymous> Oh wait, and one more for applications
[02:52:29] <Anonymous> Try to make us want you over the other applicants, you'd be shocked to see how many we get. If your applications stands out it can catch some eyes which is really good for you
[02:52:53] <Anonymous> by stand out I don't mean throw a tons of pictures and colored texts in it. (Yes it has happened before and it's not funny nor cute)
[02:53:12] <Anonymous> ###
[02:53:38] <Tim> That wraps it up unless you have anything else you'd like to add
[02:54:08] <Anonymous> Uhm, nothing really besides best of luck to all applicants
[02:54:24] <Anonymous> And if you ask me or any gamemaster about how your application is doing, I will kill you.
[02:54:25] <Anonymous> ###