Alternative Names for "Game Master"

[Stefan / 1of3]

With such a title, we can assume certain things about the game:

- It's not written for beginners, as you have to know, what GM means in general in ordert to understand the joke.

- It's probably not a very serious game.

- Vegetables may be important.

[Larry L.]

Clinton,

Mostly I started thinking this way after Dying Earth RPG, which uses "Game Moderator," which is a less egotistical term which conveniently abbreviates to GM. This, in my opinion, is the best of both worlds: Throw out the old "petty tyrant" baggage by not changing anything. So, yeah, I am totally cool with Giant Melon, or Goofy Moron, or Geek Magnate or whatever. But I guess I'd read it as an in-joke from the designer.

[gsoylent]

One instance, somewhat off topic, in which a good alternative name for GM would useful is in mmoprgs. If you roleplay in this games, it is likely that as some point someone, a regualr player,  will have to take on some of the functions of a table top GM, however the term GM in this context refers to the customer support people appear in game to deal with bugs and other petitions. Having really crack this one yet. As others have explained before, not using the term GM seems over fussy (unless its cute like "Ghost Master" in the Ghostbuster rpg) but at the same time within the mmoprg it can be confusing.

 

[indie guy]

Hey,

Maybe you could go for a name like Wind Speaker, or Ancestor, or Ancient One. Maybe something ghostlike, because the GM has seen and knows what has happened on the earth's surface.

With the GM getting all the fancy names what about the players? I can't recall a game anywhere, where the players get fancy names ... maybe actor?

Happy Designing,

-Paul

[anthony kilburn]

As of now, I'm using "Teller" for GM, and "Hero" for characters.  Storyteller infers that the players have absolute power in the story, maybe even including the characters' actions.  "Teller" loses the idea of concrete story, while still referencing how this person "tells" the tale.... (s)he controls the rest of the world, and tells the players what happens.... "Narrator" may also fit well.  "Hero" just sounds good to me, as my game is about heroic myth and legendary tales of destiny.