Role playing games are led by a game master, who is the storyteller, director, writer, producer, diplomat and referee for the group. Game masters work with two to six players at a time, sometimes more, although increasing the number of players can bog the game down. A good game master keeps the action moving, mediates squabbles among the participants and throws in a lot of surprises for the players to handle. Peasley has been a game master for 15 years and spends up to three hours each week preparing scenarios for the gamers in the guild. A sudden assassination, a dragon lurking behind a door or a nasty storm can throw the players for a loop and challenge them to master the situation.
Gaming is very personality driven and an interactive game.
The game master can get pretty frustrated with his players sometimes. The controversy surrounding gaming still exists in the background, fueled by a few role players who took their Dungeon and Dragons fantasies into real life in the 1980s. With the advent of increasingly graphic and violent video games, however, gamers say their endeavors are tame by comparison. Some gaming groups do focus more on the 'hack and slash' aspects of gaming, looking for battles at every turn. Others, like the guild, create a more character driver approach to gaming.