Hi, I'm Mono, and I'm the Head Game Master on Sindome.
What does being Head Game Master entail on a day-to-day basis?
A lot of what I do is look over plot hooks and ideas, both for GMs and players. I also adjudicate on in-game IC consequences, whether positive or negative, to guide Sindome's overall story in a themely manner.
How do you balance overseeing other GMs while still running your own plots and RP?
We have a practice of mapping out plots that we run in a document before we initiate them, especially large-scale and long-term ones. Aside from that, I make sure that I am almost always available to help with decision making or ideas. I will also harness the creativity of the team to help with peripheral tasks on my own plots, asking them to do side writing or small RP interactions for me.
What's the most challenging aspect of managing the GM team?
Getting GMs to submit plot documents. :( No one likes doing them, but they are so critical in the event that someone needs to take a sabbatical or leaves the team entirely so we can maintain the plots that they were running.
How do you approach creating plots that involve multiple player factions?
I always begin with an objective to the plot and try to think of what factions would be interested in that objective, or a way to hook in PCs that will then reel the faction in, as well.
What makes a memorable Sindome plot in your opinion?
All that we have on Sindome in the end is experiences. Very early on in my SD playing, my character spent 90% of their time in sheer terror when they were involved in a GM plot. This became formative for that character, who was terrified of many, many things going forward, to the point of being insanely craven at times. I want to give people those kinds of experiences, where it feels like the things that PCs do or have done to them mean something beyond just cloning out. The union of purpose and consequence.
How do you ensure plots feel organic and player-driven rather than railroaded?
Even though I'm adamant about plot documents (including for myself), the most important thing I learned as a tabletop GM was to let PCs be right. One of the most powerful tools I use to this day is avoiding a simple "yes" or a simple "no." Those end a scene, put people back on the rails. Saying "yes, and…," "yes, but...," "no, and...," or "no, but..." allows players' decisions and actions to lead in directions I may not have thought of. But giving that level of wiggle room (I hope at least) shares with the players a sense that their agency matters in a very real way.
Do you have a favorite type of plot to run (corporate intrigue, gang warfare, etc.)?
I don't think I have a favorite type of plot. I love playing a variety of roles with different circumstances, characters, and situations, so I can't hammer down one in particular that I like more than others.
What aspect of Withmore City's atmosphere do you think is most important to maintain?
Loss. I say it frequently at town halls, but you're really not supposed to win at SD. And if you somehow do, you'll find that you're bored very quickly. That and the mercurial value of human life is a staple of the cyberpunk theme; Withmore is no different. You can be a corporate manager one day and a fugitive Mixer the next. Loss is just another form of change, another metamorphosis for your character. Don't run from it. Embrace it.
How do you help new GMs understand the cyberpunk feel and tone of Sindome?
I always try to encourage our new GMs to create chaos. Withmore is an almost inhumanely crowded place where people would just as soon knife you for a parking space as talk to you. Doing lots of little one-day plots without bringing out big factions helps show that the game isn't just about the big names but the individuals, too. Ultimately this translates to PCs, too, because part of our charge is to make sure everyone has a chance to feel like a badass in their own right (and then possibly yank that away).
Which sector of the city do you find most interesting to run plots in?
While I don't have a preferred plot type, I definitely base most of my plots in the Mix. I feel like there's enough excuses for just about anything to happen down there, and I literally never know what PCs will do in response to my GMing. It's a blast.
What's your philosophy on NPC interactions with players?
An NPC will almost never be the silver bullet to solve a player's problem. In fact, an NPC is very likely to generate an additional complication for the player to overcome. That said, they can definitely provide shortcuts if used creatively. But it will up to the player to determine if it's worth the cost.
How do you handle situations where player actions significantly impact ongoing storylines?
I lean back in my chair and slow clap. If a player can derail a plot that we've stitched up and covered from multiple angles, huzzah to them. That's gold star territory there.
What advice would you give to players who want to get more involved in plots?
Do not count on others to bring you into plots. Figure out what your character wants, little goals, big goals, world-changing goals, whatever. Then draw a path from where you are to there. Be reckless. Try to get other players on your side. Be open to betrayal. Avenge yourself. Get back to your goals. Rinse, repeat. Do not, under any circumstances, fear failure as a player (as a PC, it's fine, but you're the boss of them). And if you're at the end of the rope, melting with 0 chy in the bank, and all your friends turned cain? Stare off the skywalk and ask yourself, really ask yourself, is this how it all ends? Or is there still room for One Last Gig?
What's something about running Sindome that players might not realize?
There is so. Much. Reading. Player notes, admin notes, gridmails, grid posts, mail about fights, mail about crime, mail about really basic transactions, everything anywhere on SIC, OOC channels, IC telecommunications, active fights, and way, way more. It takes a ton of practice to be able to parse it quickly while getting a general sense of what's happening, and even then almost all of us have to stop to read more in depth about pertinent topics that come up, to make NPC interactions consistent, for example.
How has the game evolved since you started as Head GM?
We had a fairly massive tidal shift in the GM department shortly before I became the head GM. The game has largely evolved by adding more player agency to GM plots and treating it more like a collaborative storytelling experience than a speaker/listener relationship.
What tools or systems help you coordinate plots across multiple GMs?
Plot docs. (Please, fellow GMs, if you're reading this, please, please, please do your plot docs! :( :( :( ) Aside from that, staying in touch with our communication tools allows me to speak to any of the GMs anywhere for guidance or to answer questions.
Any memorable moments or plot twists that you're particularly proud of?
I really try to make highly cinematic scenes for syndicate players. I know they have tons of benefits already, but the syndicate NPCs are so very, very cool, and I like to reward the players who are helping us GM with unique experiences.
Where do you see Sindome's storytelling heading in the future?
I feel like the current team has a lot of vision. Expect plots that have big repercussions for the world of Withmore, whether the city itself and the people inside it, or the solar system at large.
What would you like to see more of from the player community?
More backstabbing. There have been a handful of masterful betrayals recently, and I always want to see more, if only because it's always such a huge gamble to execute one. Putting your character in that space puts you on the edge of the knife, sometimes literally.
