Becoming a GM & Benefits

Cormyr thrives off of the dedication and imagination of a volunteer GM team. Every encounter and every monster, NPC Villain, and NPC friend contained therein is created and brought to life by the talents of our team. Some members of our GM team also take up the incredible task of keeping our community running smoothly and making sure everyone has a fun and healthy place to play. Each member of the GM team is also a player within the community. Thus, as we bring more GMs to the group, it enables us to run more encounters and rotate each member in and out -- eventually providing a constant stream of content to this Living Campaign. However, this dream only becomes reality as more people step up to help share the role and guide the campaign forward.

On this page we'll discuss the types of GMs, the simple process to becoming one of our types of GMs within Cormyr, as well as the many exclusive benefits available to our GMs.

The Types of GMs
Encounter GMs - Run encounters for players. Are responsible for approval of character sheets and routine audits of sheets. Will answer rules questions. Encounter GMs earn rewards primarily based on the encounters they run for players (details below).

Assistant GMs - Assistant GMs run encounters for players as well, but only under the supervision of full Encounter GMs. Assistant GMs may not approve characters or answer rules questions in an official capacity. Those who wish to become Encounter GMs must first run at least one encounter as an Assistant GM. Assistant GMs have access to a limited portion of the GM reward list (details below).

Administrator GMs - Moderate community activity both in-game and on the community Discord server. Help keep the game server running smoothly with regard to sheet and handout maintenance. May perform audits and approvals of sheets. Administrator GMs may be awarded four points on a weekly cadence to be awarded similar to an Encounter GM. Administrator GMs gain access to the GM rewards list differently than other GMs (details below).

To become an Assistant GM

 * 1) Get in Contact with Cinnabon or Nahl. This is pretty vague so here's a few ways to do it, in order of effectiveness. First, as a member of the Cormyr community, you should already have access to our Discord server. Send Cinnabon or Nahl a private message stating interest in becoming a GM. If this does not work, or for some reason is not an option, try messaging Cinnabon or Nahl in-game on Roll20. If for whatever reason this does not work or is not an option, send them a private message through Roll20. Lastly, if none of the above options work, ask a different GM to get in contact with Cinnabon or Nahl for you so you may start the next part of the process. Please be patient.
 * 2) Have a quick text conversation through PM. Have a quick back-and forth with Cinnabon or Nahl. There's no pressure -- this is just so that you can understand the general structure of how we do things and to make it easier for you. We want to make sure we can answer a lot of your questions before you get going so you're not left hanging and so that you're able to deliver the best encounters you are able to deliver to the players. This is also our first opportunity to get to know what sort of GM you'll be.
 * 3) Think up a short, basic encounter/adventure scenario. If you're approved to continue on as an Assistant GM, then go ahead with creating a simple, basic encounter to run. Please reach out to our Encounter GMs for support if needed. Shorter is typically better.
 * 4) Find an Encounter GM who will commit to being present during your encounter and then run it. Feel free to reach out to any of our full GMs in Discord (They have purple names!) They are here to help, and are able to sit in on your encounters you run as an Assistant GM. Any encounters you run as an Assistant GM will need an Encounter GM to supervise, and that includes your first. Find a partner to help you out. They can be a player in your encounter, or they can observe -- whichever you two agree upon. They will also be a resource for you to help figure out how to determine point rewards using our system and anything else which may be Cormyr-specific.

To become an Encounter GM

 * 1) You must already be an Assistant GM with at least one successful encounter. Since Encounter GMs are entrusted to run encounters on their own and also to adjudicate many rules decisions and approvals, it's important that there be a track record of rules knowledge and good decision-making, as well as evidence of a good ability to run encounters for our players. So, an Encounter GM must have already completed the process of becoming an assistant and running a supervised encounter.
 * 2) Have a quick voice chat. All players wishing to become GMs should be prepared to have a quick five to ten minute Discord voice chat. There will be no serious questions asked or anything -- It's not an interview. The only reason this is being done is because there have been problems in the past with people joining our campaign who were far under the age limit we set in the rules (which is 18+, by the way), and also it's just really nice to be able to have some quick fire banter to get to know people and actually meet them! The GMs tend to meet over voice at least once a week to discuss a variety of topics, so having the ability to participate in a voice chat is something we want to get out of the way early.

To Become a Administrator GM
Administrator GMs are a special case. An example of something like an Administrator GM in the current community is Cinnabon, but others are likely not needed until the community grows larger -- and they may be approached rather than sought to apply. However, if especially interested, one can contact Cinnabon.

Benefits of Being a GM
A number of perks are given to the people who devote their time and effort freely into making Cormyr a better place for everyone. Some perks are available to GMs immediately upon attaining status, and other become available to GMs as they attain service time within the community.

More perks may be added as time goes on.

A GM earns access to rewards based on their contributions to the Cormyr Living Campaign community. Currently, the main way a GM's contributions are quantified for the purposes of earning rewards is by tracking the number of encounters run for players.

The rewards are currently being evaluated and may be changed as time goes on.

Note: Assistant GMs only have access to the first three items on the list (i.e. up to 8 encounters), regardless of number of encounters run.

Here are the perks:

Always- A GM may apply experience awarded by any encounter they run to any character that GM owns.

4 Encounters - A GM may exceed the character limit by one (A total of three characters allowed). The rule for this additional character is an extension of the existing character rules -- in order to utilize this third character, the player's first and second characters must both be level 4 or above.

8 Encounters - A GM may now create one character using the Aasimar or Tiefling races. The player should be very familiar with the Forgotten Realms details and fit for these races. The limitation regarding total number of characters still applies. Revisiting this perk as these are rare Races.

12 Encounters - A GM may now create one character using the Lizardfolk race. The player should be very familiar with the Forgotten Realms details and fit for this race. The limitation regarding total number of characters still applies. Revisiting this perk as these are rare Races.

16 Encounters - A GM may now create one character using the Drow race. The player should be very familiar with the Forgotten Realms details and fit for this race. The limitation regarding total number of characters still applies.

20 Encounters - A GM may establish a minor setting change or feature related to one of their characters, which will become campaign canon. Examples of minor setting changes or features include a character founding a shop or small shrine to their deity in Suzail, marrying into a noble house or discovering some noble lineage, founding a small player faction, etc. These are simply examples and other ideas can be presented. These sort of minor established setting changes may come with some roleplay benefits on occasion, but may not meaningfully impact the character's monetary income. This GM reward must be approved by Cinnabon.

30 Encounters - A GM may establish a moderate setting change or feature related to one of their characters, which will become campaign canon. This is a continuation of the 20-encounter reward. Examples of moderate setting changes or features include a character expanding a small shop or tavern into a thriving business with multiple locations or a large building with employees. It could also include a small shrine to a deity becoming a temple with a small clergy. An industrious new noble may move into a manor and begin moving their way through social circles. A small player faction, such as a trading company, may begin to take on new clients and expand their business to grow beyond Suzail, etc. The manner in which the setting feature grows is up to the GM earning the reward, but the change must be approved by Cinnabon. These sort of moderate established setting changes may come with some roleplay benefits on occasion, but may not meaningfully impact the character's monetary income. This GM reward must be approved by Cinnabon.

40 Encounters - A GM may establish a major setting change or feature related to one of their characters, which will become campaign canon. This is a continuation of the 30-encounter reward. Examples of major setting changes or features include a character expanding a business into a well-known establishment which attracts customers from all over Cormyr and beyond, and which may influence business-minded folk. It could also include a temple inspiring the wide-spread adoption of a religion. A noble that has become known amongst powerful people may have gained meaningful influence themselves. A small player faction, such as a trading company, may have become known well enough to have constructed a foothold outside of Suzail and built up a fortified trading post in the King's Wood. The manner in which the setting feature grows is up to the GM earning the reward, but the change must be approved by Cinnabon. These sort of Major established setting changes may come with some roleplay benefits on occasion, but may not meaningfully impact the character's monetary income. This GM reward must be approved by Cinnabon.