Special mobs and NPCs controlled by 'GM'

[Cairdeas]

Also the GM's that would be doing this would be the Community Rep/Senior GM's not the low level peons

[Shikaree]

Just pray there's no "GM Dave"s out there looking for Jormy snacks.

But really, it would be an interesting idea for a planned event and the SE staff want to get in on the action.

[Evangelus]

GM Dave".

who is he?

[Ketch]

Two Stories:

Back when Treasures of Aht Urhgan opened up for FFXI players I ran all about on the first day to explore explore explore.

Me and my buddy entered Aydeewa Subterrane and I bet ya we were the fist ones there after doing a see all. I saw for the first time a Qiqirn and wanted to know if it was aggressive, passive, whatnot. To my surprise the rat guy could be icon'ed like a player character. I tried everything to interact with it but nothing happened. Even tried talking to it. Was the strangest thing to happen to me in that expansion. My buddy was even confused by it.

Np idea if it was a glitch and GM in disguise but it got my imagination running on GM controlled characters.

Second: First months in FFXI my party was MPK'd by someone scorned by an online lover we had in the PT.

Goblins were herded to our party, the mage warped out, we all ran and tried to survive…. then we got the threatening /tells to disband or else.

Granted the guy who was doing that really had issues, but it got me thinking that if this was a scripted event, it would have been really fun.

So to the OP… GREAT IDEA

[Ostia]

You mean like the good old GM events that where in EQ-EQ2-EOA etc etc ?

[Munba]

I think the "play in game as mob or npc" would be included in the duty of a GM, only more interactive with players. And btw i intended they'd controll some NMs or npcs only sometimes and randomly, not every day (the normal NMs will remain of course). I don't think it'd be so heavy in human resources.

In any case, i know that balancing this type of encounters would be not so easy (like vioon said) but they could have a try If not possibile, they always could be special npcs around (sometimes, not every day).

[Magiksmurf]

*Group prepares to attack NM's for the 15th time in a row to get that cool rare drop*
*GM icon appear next to the NM's name just before group pull it*
*One of the party member yell in vent : ***!!!!!*
*Group run away like little girls*
*GM NM trash the slower ppl to run away and do a /laugh emote at them*

[Jynx]

Other MMO's have tried something to this extent and all ended up failing due to being unable to meet player demands on how much content is provided by a small team of individuals. UO had "Event moderators" who every once a week or so would hold special events that varied even by server.

The group seemed to be in control of when it showed up and sometimes would just leave people hanging for months before deciding to show up out of nowhere. Case to say: It wasn't the best system.

[Yumi_Hibiki]

i like the idea, but make sure you dont let me control it ^~^

"MUHAHAHAHA RUN LITTLE ADVENTURERS RUN!!"

*spike flail* *spike flail*

[Heaven]

Since were talking about GM's figured I would share this funny pic
of GM Nadeu, he was having a hard time with a NM it seems.

http://i53.tinypic.com/2nvttlk.jpg