Thanks to all the input so far - here's an update.
I'd like to see something along these lines added:
"A GM will never play more than one position in a game, nor will he take
over another position in a game.
A GM who intends to play in a game will let all the players know beforehand
so that any player who objects to being in a game with a GM on the opposing
team may withdraw without penalty to himself or his teammates."
My reasoning? GMs have a slightly privileged position: they don't play in
the same world as paying players. A paying player may decide to quit a
mediocre position rather than continuing to fork over four quid each turn. A
GM plays for free and can keep going until he gets bored without any
financial penalty to himself. If you don't know that a GM is on the ooposing
team, you are in potential trouble if you discuss the game at a pubmeet or
con. (You know who your teammates are. You don't know the enemy.)
Gavin
Thoughts? I was trying not to bring up the potentially thorny situation of
GMs playing though... 
Clint
···
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Middle Earth - Legends - Serim Ral
CTF 2187 - Starquest - Crack of Doom
Battle of the Planets - Exile
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gavinwj" <gavinwj@compuserve.com>
To: <mepbmlist@egroups.com>
Sent: Friday, January 05, 2001 4:50 PM
Subject: Re: [mepbmlist] Latest House Rules version II
I'd like to see something along these lines added:
"A GM will never play more than one position in a game, nor will he take
over another position in a game.A GM who intends to play in a game will let all the players know
beforehand
so that any player who objects to being in a game with a GM on the
opposing
team may withdraw without penalty to himself or his teammates."
My reasoning? GMs have a slightly privileged position: they don't play in
the same world as paying players. A paying player may decide to quit a
mediocre position rather than continuing to fork over four quid each turn.
A
GM plays for free and can keep going until he gets bored without any
financial penalty to himself. If you don't know that a GM is on the
ooposing
team, you are in potential trouble if you discuss the game at a pubmeet or
con. (You know who your teammates are. You don't know the enemy.)Gavin
Middle Earth PBM List - Harlequin Games
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Hmmmm. Could there be concerns about a conflict of interest if one of the
players, in theory, has access to your turns, knows the secret mechanics of
the game, can view the game logs to see exactly what thier rolls were,
doesn't pay for thier turns... etc, etc, etc.
I'm sure the GMs that play are honorable sorts that wouldn't do such things,
but the concept does give me an itch. If such a practice is allowed, I
agree with Gavin's post <below> as a courtesy to the other players who might
feel uncomfortable with this situation.
Wes
···
----- Original Message -----
From: "Harlequin Games" <pbm@harlequingames.com>
To: <mepbmlist@egroups.com>
Sent: Friday, January 05, 2001 12:16 PM
Subject: Re: [mepbmlist] Latest House Rules version II
Thoughts? I was trying not to bring up the potentially thorny situation
of
GMs playing though...
Clint
****************************************************************
Harlequin Games Middle Earth Games
pbm@harlequingames.com me@middleearthgames.com
www.harlequingames.com www.middleearthgames.com340 North Road, Cardiff CF14 3BP
Tel 029 2062 5665 12-6.30 Weekdays
Fax 029 2062 5532 24 hours
****************************************************************
Middle Earth - Legends - Serim Ral
CTF 2187 - Starquest - Crack of Doom
Battle of the Planets - Exile----- Original Message -----
From: "Gavinwj" <gavinwj@compuserve.com>
To: <mepbmlist@egroups.com>
Sent: Friday, January 05, 2001 4:50 PM
Subject: Re: [mepbmlist] Latest House Rules version II> I'd like to see something along these lines added:
>
> "A GM will never play more than one position in a game, nor will he take
> over another position in a game.
>
> A GM who intends to play in a game will let all the players know
beforehand
> so that any player who objects to being in a game with a GM on the
opposing
> team may withdraw without penalty to himself or his teammates."
>
> My reasoning? GMs have a slightly privileged position: they don't play
in
> the same world as paying players. A paying player may decide to quit a
> mediocre position rather than continuing to fork over four quid each
turn.
A
> GM plays for free and can keep going until he gets bored without any
> financial penalty to himself. If you don't know that a GM is on the
ooposing
> team, you are in potential trouble if you discuss the game at a pubmeet
or
> con. (You know who your teammates are. You don't know the enemy.)
>
> Gavin
>
>
> Middle Earth PBM List - Harlequin Games
> To Unsubscribe:www.onelist.com
> http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/harlequin.games/list.htm
>
>Middle Earth PBM List - Harlequin Games
To Unsubscribe:www.onelist.com
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/harlequin.games/list.htm
Harlequin Games wrote:
Thoughts? I was trying not to bring up the potentially thorny situation of
GMs playing though...
It's *because* it's thorny that it needs to be in the house rules and stated
up front. Whatever version you decide on.
Gavin
PS I'm really glad I don't run PBM for a living. If I see you at another PBM
Con, Clint, ask me for a beer...
Not a beer man... couldn't you wait a week?!...
Clint
Harlequin Games wrote:
> Thoughts? I was trying not to bring up the potentially thorny situation
of
> GMs playing though...
It's *because* it's thorny that it needs to be in the house rules and
stated
up front. Whatever version you decide on.
Gavin
PS I'm really glad I don't run PBM for a living. If I see you at another
PBM
···
Con, Clint, ask me for a beer...
Middle Earth PBM List - Harlequin Games
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Not a beer man... couldn't you wait a week?!...
Clint
RD: so we can't bribe you that way then. C'mon Clint, what is your
weakness? Just don't tell the others!
Richard.
> Harlequin Games wrote:
>
> > Thoughts? I was trying not to bring up the potentially thorny
situation
···
----- Original Message -----
From: "Harlequin Games" <pbm@harlequingames.com>
To: <mepbmlist@egroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 06, 2001 1:28 AM
Subject: Re: [mepbmlist] Latest House Rules version II
of
> > GMs playing though...
>
> It's *because* it's thorny that it needs to be in the house rules and
stated
> up front. Whatever version you decide on.
>
> Gavin
> PS I'm really glad I don't run PBM for a living. If I see you at another
PBM
> Con, Clint, ask me for a beer...
>
>
> Middle Earth PBM List - Harlequin Games
> To Unsubscribe:www.onelist.com
> http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/harlequin.games/list.htm
>
>Middle Earth PBM List - Harlequin Games
To Unsubscribe:www.onelist.com
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/harlequin.games/list.htm
Well so much money that I could retire would help..
Clint
···
RD: so we can't bribe you that way then. C'mon Clint, what is your
weakness? Just don't tell the others!
Harlequin Games wrote:
Not a beer man... couldn't you wait a week?!...
Eh?
Gavin