International GM's Day

International GM's Day, is also known as Game Master's Appreciation Day or Game Master's Day which is celebrated annually on March 4rd.

History of International GM's Day

On March 4rd every year, we honor the game masters who are referred to as GMs for short. Spunkrat, an EN World message board user changed their username to Heathen72, posted on December 4, 2002, suggesting the idea of ​​a day honoring GMs. They asked for a date hint, and a user named Mark suggested March 4, because it's not just a date but a command that can be used in a role-playing game— "start”. This is the day when the bulletin board community stabilized and the day it spread to the rest of the role-playing game community. On this holiday, the work that GM does is celebrated, and they are thanked and given gifts. Deals for role-playing games can often be found in stores and from game publishers. Since 2008, this day has taken on greater significance, because Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax passed away on that same holiday.

GMs date back to the early 1970s. They were used in mail-in games where the player chose actions to perform such as troop moves and submitted their moves to the GM. The GM will resend updated versions of the game to all players after recording all moves. Some examples games with GMs are Ironclad, Blackmoor, and Chivalry & Sorcery.

GMs can have any job, such as organizing and moderating role-playing games, developing non-player characters, and ensuring game rules are followed. In board role-playing games, they bring character stories together, resolve disputes, and control aspects in which the player is not involved. In online games, they often enforce the rules and provide customer service. They are commonly known as referees, game managers, and game operators, and different game systems may have different names for them that may reflect their main job in connection with the game. They may be a director, narrator, judge or referee. Some names reflect the game's name, such as Dungeon Master or DM, for Dungeons and Dragons. Today we honor GMs regardless of their role and what they are officially named.

How to celebrate International GM's Day

Celebrate the day by playing an online role-playing game or a board game. Find out who the GM is behind the game and thank them for their work. Perhaps you are already an intrepid gamer and know who the GM of your favorite game is. In that case, it might be easier to give thanks and give gifts. Many stores and publishing companies have deals today, so be sure to keep an eye on them. There are some available places to serve for checking out include DriveThruRPG, RPGNow, Dungeon Masters Guild, and Storytellers Vault. You can also check out the Facebook page dedicated to this day.