[@Jig] This guy, and [@corneredbliss] this beauty, and [@Kirah] and [@TheMaster99] these two taught me lots and lots about GMing that I never even knew went into it. :D !

If you have the time, I strongly recommend checking out some RPs run by these wonderful people, including the former Woll Manor (which I cannot find the link to just this second asdf), the spiritual sequel [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/79223-wolf-manor/ic]Wolf Manor[/url] and the resurrection because we loved it so much, the spunky and [i]très français[/i] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/92946-ch-teau-de-lalune/ooc]Chateau de LaLune[/url].

In my opinion, these were some of the best RPs I've ever, ever been in, courtesy of the GM/s and also their cast of lovely players!

So, as to the real gist of this post... but I worry whatever I wanted to say has already been said! Oh well! :)

What made these brilliant were how the GM responded to the challenge that is the theme of the RPs. I feel like the same person running two games, one fantasy and one sci fi, can't just expect both to be run the same way. We ran mysteries, and so the style of GMing was a lot different to say, something a lot more open world that I was in, like Shine City (run by [@Dynamo Frokane], but I'll talk about why I like his style in a minute too)

So, the GM should be passionate about their work, and that's a big one. I know it oftentimes needs the players, too, but the GM should be the one encouraging and including everyone, some way or another. Also, depending on the type of rp, the GM needs to figure out how to work with small vs large groups of people. There's an optimum number and it lies between 5-9 players in my opinion, any more and it's too much of a scramble, and any less and it's more of a private affair. 

Regardless. A GM should be willing and ready to heavily commit to plot. They are usually the ones driving the story forward, after all. And whereas an idea is in mind, one shouldn't aim to smother their players either. I know in the Manor series, all GMs had to make complete 180s because players didn't do thing A or thing B, and instead did thing Q, which was completely plausible but about the last thing the GM ever thought of happening.

There was lots more I wanted to say but I totally forgot because I got swamped with neighbours, but I'm sure just giving those RPs a look would do you lots of good, friend! :D I lovelovelove works of art in the ooc too, as character sheets and what have you.

[@lovely complex] is responsible for being the one to show me just how colourful and beautiful formatted posts ic and ooc can be, too! That definitely makes them so much better on the eyes to read...