Quote from: The Traveller;631326It's very simple.

Master implies complete control, in the common understanding. Hence the dictionary links.

In what way was Seth McFarlane in complete control of the Oscars last night?

Oh wait, I forgot, you're deliberately dismissing that input because it's logically incongruent with your own point of view.

Let's see, then.  Another example...

In what way was Orko in total control of Eternia in the Masters of the Universe series?

In what way is masterbation in total control of anyone else, period?

What about a Kung Fu master?  Who does he control?

What about a mistress?  Does this also mean slaves?  Maybe figuratively, I guess.  Or if you're in to S&M.

In short, I being closed minded and linking dictionary.com is probably not a great way to gain understanding of language.  It has nuances.  Context.

Quote from: RPGPundit;631520The GM is God.

It's extremely unlikely that he exists? :eek:

It does seem to me Traveller that your definition is a bit circular. 'Bringing the awesome' is a loose enough term, and seems to vary so much depending on group and system etc, that we might as well just say that there isn't one sole definition of GMing at all. What's good practice for one group or system is going to be anathema to another group or system - and that's not even including storygames and stuff like that.

Quote from: RPGPundit;631520The GM is God.

RPGPundit

Absolute power and all that. I've no doubt that the members of this forum can deal with it, and I'm not saying that in a facetious manner, there are a lot of experienced GMs here, but that doesn't make it a good general idea. Nonetheless it has been included.

Quote from: mcbobbo;631619In short, I being closed minded and linking dictionary.com is probably not a great way to gain understanding of language.  It has nuances.  Context.

A context which isn't clear or immediately obvious in RPGs, which is why I'm using the most common and widely understood definition since that's what people will think of first. I'm not denying other definitions exist, far from it. But even those other definitions don't form a complete picture of what a GM is, and so are equally useless if a bit less damaging.

Quote from: soviet;631706It does seem to me Traveller that your definition is a bit circular.

Well I tried to cover all the bases, so I'd prefer "complete".

Quote from: soviet;631706'Bringing the awesome' is a loose enough term, and seems to vary so much depending on group and system etc, that we might as well just say that there isn't one sole definition of GMing at all. What's good practice for one group or system is going to be anathema to another group or system - and that's not even including storygames and stuff like that.

That it's an open ended term doesn't obviate its usefulness as far as the rest of the definition goes. I actually find it puzzling that people might think so, there must be an open ended element since the role of the GM is open ended. But crucially, only in that way.

Quote from: soviet;631706It's extremely unlikely that he exists? :eek:

As a matter of fact, if the GM is really good, then the players should be able to forget that the world they're playing in is just coming from his head, that the characters they're interacting with are just coming from his voice.

The more the players forget that the GM exists while in play, the better.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPundit;632127As a matter of fact, if the GM is really good, then the players should be able to forget that the world they're playing in is just coming from his head, that the characters they're interacting with are just coming from his voice.

The more the players forget that the GM exists while in play, the better.

RPGPundit

I think I agree with that, yeah. It should feel natural.

Quote from: soviet;632133I think I agree with that, yeah. It should feel natural.

Well, glad we agree!

RPGPundit