Introducing....GM-Daegarmo!

Some of you have known "Lady Daegarmo" in times past. A popular figure in Norrath (especially the PvP circles), Daegarmo has made the transition to Telon and is an ever-watchful eye in the Pit, finding NDA breakers, beta sellers and keeping a lid on things in general.

Known for the gruffness of his ways, Gary Grobson has a marshmellow center that cares deeply for the community and his Pit-mates and a funny streak that has always kept players laughing as they peek around corners to see if he's still there!

So, that said, let's settle back for a bit with our very own Lady D and see what really drives the personality behind the avatar!

Q: You've been a GM for a number of years now. Do you really like it that much?

I’ve been in the industry now for 8 years, in that time I have held the positions of Apprentice Guide, Guide, Senior Guide, Game Master, Gaming Integrity Specialist, (Internal Affairs), Events Coordinator, Senior Events Coordinator, EQ-Live Production Coordinator, Senior Game Designer, Customer Service Representative (DAOC’s name for Game Master), and back to Game Master. With my background, I can pursue careers in Customer Service, Game Design, Game Production, Operations, or Community Relations.

That being said, you can believe me when I say that I find Customer Service to be the most emotionally rewarding position the industry has to offer. Every single day I have an immediate and direct effect on not only individual players, but the overall player base as well. It is this interaction, along with the pace and problem-solving aspects, that keep my interest above and beyond what the others have.

Q: People say it's a poor paying job, but everyone wants to do it. Is there room for advancement in the Pit?

The advancement possibilities are endless.

Ed Hocking started as a GM, he is now one of the most important people at Sigil when it comes to building this game. Also, don’t forget that Jeff Butler started in Customer Service as well, and is now the President and Executive Producer of Vanguard.

Those who choose to stay with CS can also advance. Game Masters become Supervisors, Supervisors become Managers, Managers become Directors, and Directors become Vice Presidents.

Finally, remember that those who show good management skills often will be requested to help in other departments. Other departments have the same structure but different titles. We have had many of our supervisors become associate producers, and one of our managers become a full fledged producer.

As with everything in life, you get out of it, what you put into it. If you come into a CS department and give nothing, expect to fail.

Q: Why do you always play a female avatar for your GM persona?

Actually, my avatar in Dark Age of Camelot was as a “Gem” and was neither male nor female. Outside of that, my GM personas are female.

If I have to look at something in the middle of my screen, I prefer it is a female character. I just find them easier on the eyes I guess. =)

*hmm....a softer side of "D" appears, eh?*

Q: How do you think the players view Lady D?

I am far more concerned about how players DON’T see Lady Dae, than how they actually do view me.

With Verant, and now at Sigil, I handle most of the policy enforcement. The design of enforcement is not to remove players from our community. The design of enforcement is to correct unacceptable behavior patterns. The secondary purpose of enforcement is maintaining the integrity of the game.

With that in mind, I have had to remove many players from the games I have worked on. I do not take pride or pleasure in removing someone from our world. There are some actions that are just unforgivable, such as duping, NDA violations, and gross exploitation. Outside of those, all efforts should be made to correct the behavior.

So to answer the question, I hope that players do NOT see Lady Dae as harsh, or “heavy handed”, as that is never my intent. I am human, and I try to error on the side of the player, not on the side of the policy. (Always give the benefit of the doubt if possible)

*Yup...softer side, and fair, too!*

Q: We know there are different areas of GM responsibility, according to Michelle. Is there a "main function" you do that you can talk about?

I will be heading up the enforcement wing of the Customer Service Department. The “Game Marshals” (Current title, subject to change)

Game Marshalls will handle most policy enforcement, and investigations, freeing up time for Game Masters so they can help and assist people more efficiently.

With the Game Marshalls focusing on exploitation, harassment, and disruption as well as the enforcement of the NDA, EULA, and COC, we feel that a dedicated team will be able to insure the integrity of the game, so that it can be enjoyed by those playing it as intended by team that designed it.

Q: What do you really enjoy most about your job?

The two most enjoyable aspects of my job are the investigations, and the tournaments. While I am not a member of the events staff, that team is extremely excited that I will be assisting, and hopefully finding time to judge, another massive tournament.

To my knowledge, there has not been an “all servers” PvP tournament that has been run in a massive online game that was at the size, or following of EverQuest’s Test of Tactics 3. We have every intention of creating and running an event that will break that former record in Vanguard set some 5 years ago.

I would also enjoy redoing all of the “all servers”, class specific, single player tournaments as well. Those were my favorite times, where I met so many players and created hundreds of friendships.

Q: Any words of wisdom for would-be GMs out there?

Get involved with the Crimson Fellowship, become a squire, live the position from the safety and stability of your current life. Once promoted to a Crimson Fellowship Knight, you will work hand in hand with many of the GM staff, including myself.

Not only does this give you a taste of what it is about, it also adds an amazing asset to your resume if you do decide to apply for the position of Game Master.

Q: One last question: It's common knowledge you like PvP! Give us a little taste of how you would handle a situation with someone ninja-looting a rare!!

In a perfectly designed PvP environment, there would be no such thing as ninja-looting. The situation would be determined by code of arms and the laws of combat.

With a meaningful PvP death penalty, and a significant PvP kill reward, this situation would have many different endings, chosen by you, the player, not the GM watching the situation.

You will find that, despite popular belief, the more that is on the line in a PvP scenario, the more mature players act, because their actions have measurable consequences. When there are no consequences for the way you act, that is when you find people acting poorly, because no player can reprimand them. I believe that a server with such a rule-set would be the easiest, not the hardest server to run Customer Service on, and also be the one you would most likely find me playing on.

If Sigil ever decides to do a PvP title, that would be the only scenario in which you may actually see me step aside from my CS duties and return to design.

Until then, I will see everyone in game.

Q: Thanks so much. Any closing remarks?

What I personally look forward to the most in Vanguard, will be the day, not too distant in the future, where I will be able to look at a player, to see everything that character has accomplished and become, and acknowledge his achievements and accolades by pointing him out to his peers, as a hero.

*See? Marshmellow center! *

Thank you, m'lord! I look forward, with great anticipation, to those tournaments and the day Telon opens its gates to the masses. And I hope to meet you...or Lady D...there soon(tm)!