I am new to Matrix games, but feel that they are extremely interesting. I work as a game designer, and am right now working on a story based computer role playing game with a game master. I don't know whether this has been discussed earlier on this list, but I would like to use the Matrix rules in some of my role playing. The thing is that in Matrix games the game master is more like an umpire, and that doesn't seem to be as interesting as being a game master in an ordinary RPG. Wouldn't it be possible to play, especially role playing type Matrix games, without a game master, and let the players themselves do the adjudication? The other option would be to let the umpire make arguments herself about the game setting or characters, to make the story more interesting or dramatic. Let me hear what you think. Reply by Dylan Alliata Welcome Per! You can discuss financial arrangements with Chris. I am working a Le Miserables game... He wants a cut if its commercial otherwise it's free. Chris, though can speak for himself. [Anyone wanting to use the Matrix Game rules I've come up with can do so for free in non-commercial games (just cite me and tell people how to get hooked up with our on line community) If for some reason you want to do a commercial product, contact me so we can work out a royalty agreement. I want you to be able to do your game!] I've umpired a PBEM game and found it to be a fun experience. The game especially for PBEM does not go on for ever. Usually the players supply the background, propaganda, lame accusations and just plain fun. It works, it's a lot more fun than sitting around looking up hit points on a screen and rolling 18 dice to see if the 2 Kobolds survived the attack. Bring your own mace and slug it out. Sounds good to me. We've kicked around a few ideas about solitaire games where you make an argument for one side and the other and then rate them as average. This could work for a group that hates Referees. I, for example hate referees, they always roll against me and urge other players to persecute me, wait... my meds kicked it. It could work just set up some rules ahead of time about how strong an argument is. I'd label this an automatic kind of game. It would make for many weird arguments, which is good we are all too darn conditioned anyway. I came up with an auction system but it fell on deaf ears. Believe or not the system works the way it is and works very well. Heck, why not. If it don't scare the horses and people enjoy it, do it. I urged Chris to form a cult and establish hard and fast rules, but he's just too laid back to do it. The referee often tosses in conflicts or arguments to speed up the game or just to juice it up. Chris and Paul do this pretty frequently. Dylan Back to Table of Contents -- Matrix Gamer #14 To Matrix Gamer List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by Chris Engle. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com