DM Selection Process

[DSM-IV]

The reason for my suggestion is that I really enjoy this server and the talented players on it, and I feel if there is one place the server is lacking is the DM pool. A little tweek to the DM interview process could really blossom into great RP plots. That the current way of doing things does not lead to a good pool of talented DM's. I also realize that my bad experience with the process might be just my own. But, If you look at the DM team between now and the last interviews, the current DM team didn't really change. You had one maybe two DM's running plots, burning out quickly, and the others limitedly involved or busy playing PC's. Now, perhaps I am misunderstanding what the DM's do here. If they are more meant to watch for grinders, and report on rule breaking then perhaps that is why I haven't had much experience with them. And, that is fine if the DM's main responsibilities are meant to be doing that. If it is, then a post of those responsibilities would be very helpful for perspective DM's who aren't interested in that.

As someone who was victim of a 2nd DM interview, may I suggest a different way of selecting future DM's or at least a fair warning that the 2nd interview isn't really an interview more of a game? The 2nd interview isn't really based on DM experience, RP ability, or one's ability to get along with others. The DM selection process I felt was insulting, and frankly pretty rude, and has completely turned me away from ever wishing to become a DM here. Now, I understand that might just be me and my past experiences of DM interviews on different servers. I also understand being older I expect a level of professionalism that isn't necessarily going to happen on a gaming server, and I am the foolish one thinking it would.

I suggest for future candidates a simple post of what is expected of a DM prospect or an outline of what to be prepared for would help weed people out? For instance, I would have not applied if I knew what the 2nd interview would be like, and I still don't know what is expected of a DM. Then again, perhaps during the 2nd interview instead of a gameshow atmosphere taking a little extra time for the DM team to actually interview each person to really get an idea if they will fit. Or, if time constraints, coming together as a DM team with a consistent group of questions everyone would like answered and sent via PM's? I just feel the DM interview process needs to be taken with a little more candor and seriousness that would lead to a more talented DM pool and improving plot lines server wide, lesson the need for interviews every 6 months, curtail DM burnout, and improving player and DM Team's interactions in general.

[Mithreas]

I had a long response typed up, but I'm not sure how much it would have added. So here's a much more concise one.

In short, DMs are primarily there to represent the server administration and ensure smooth running of the server. They are encouraged (but not required) to run events, and in each shift we try to ensure that we have some creative minds on there who love weaving stories. But everyone needs to be a team player, and the admin staff need to be able to trust in the team's integrity.

I'm sure the second interview process isn't perfect, but it does what we need it to do. Player count, and player investment/dedication, are both waning as the game gets old, and that's going to make it ever harder to find enough good DMs - but a bad DM can ruin a server far more quickly than a team of good DMs can build it up, so we're going to continue to be cautious.