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Recontriving The Ring
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<blockquote data-quote="Sunseeker" data-source="post: 7721869"><p>There are simple solutions to these problems. "Game Master" is a perfectly well accepted alternative to "Dungeon" Master in games where dungeons and classic fantasy aren't the thing. A cyberpunk game might call them the Game Overlord, or more simply the "Master" or the "Controller" as some reference to cyberpunk that still carries the same evocative tone of "This is the guy who's running the game." without bringing in any unnecessary confusion by say if we were to call the cyberpunk DM the "Umbrella". </p><p></p><p></p><p>Sure, and the move away from those terms has in the first, brought clarity and inclusivity, in the second brought specialization and in the latter removed an inherently negative connotation from the class. As long as that is the direction the language continues to move, I have no problem with it. Many of the OP Author's examples however, reduced clarity and increased confusion, for no other reason than "I feel like it." Which is always a terrible argument, especially coming from the DM. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Sure, I agree there are plenty of ways to be creative and clear. </p><p></p><p></p><p>When the "historic" jargon begins to create confusion, instead of clear it up. "Dungeon" Master creates confusion in games that are not dungeon, or even fantasy themed. Game Master is better, but more generic. So long as the term conveys the appropriate level of stewardship the person has over the game, terms like "Storyteller" are also perfectly suitable. If the "GM" of a game is not a leadership position but instead more of a "keeping the game going but not inherently directing it" terms like "Referee" are also perfectly fine, as it conveys a common understanding about what this guy's job is.</p><p></p><p>Terms that are obscure, arcane, require heavy explanation or are intrinsically personal are not terms that should be favored.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Sunseeker, post: 7721869"] There are simple solutions to these problems. "Game Master" is a perfectly well accepted alternative to "Dungeon" Master in games where dungeons and classic fantasy aren't the thing. A cyberpunk game might call them the Game Overlord, or more simply the "Master" or the "Controller" as some reference to cyberpunk that still carries the same evocative tone of "This is the guy who's running the game." without bringing in any unnecessary confusion by say if we were to call the cyberpunk DM the "Umbrella". Sure, and the move away from those terms has in the first, brought clarity and inclusivity, in the second brought specialization and in the latter removed an inherently negative connotation from the class. As long as that is the direction the language continues to move, I have no problem with it. Many of the OP Author's examples however, reduced clarity and increased confusion, for no other reason than "I feel like it." Which is always a terrible argument, especially coming from the DM. Sure, I agree there are plenty of ways to be creative and clear. When the "historic" jargon begins to create confusion, instead of clear it up. "Dungeon" Master creates confusion in games that are not dungeon, or even fantasy themed. Game Master is better, but more generic. So long as the term conveys the appropriate level of stewardship the person has over the game, terms like "Storyteller" are also perfectly suitable. If the "GM" of a game is not a leadership position but instead more of a "keeping the game going but not inherently directing it" terms like "Referee" are also perfectly fine, as it conveys a common understanding about what this guy's job is. Terms that are obscure, arcane, require heavy explanation or are intrinsically personal are not terms that should be favored. [/QUOTE]
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