Group

Introduction to Mission Support

The Mission Support Team (MST) plays a critical role in the operation and those taking part in them are held to a very high standard, as set by the leadership. The role of a Lead Game Master (LGM), Game Master (GM) or Assistant Game Master (AGM) is to work with and alongside the Field Leadership to ultimately provide an enjoyable yet challenging and immersive experience.

As a Lead Game Master (LGM), Game Master (GM) or Assistant Game Master (AGM), your role is to collaborate closely with Field Leadership to deliver a challenging, immersive, and enjoyable experience for all participants. However, mission support is not limited to creating missions. There is no obligation to focus on mission creation if your interest lies in live mission support.

Whether you are managing active operations or enhancing immersion through roleplay, the MST provides an inclusive environment for all levels of involvement. Every role—be it Lead Game Master, Game Master, Assistant Game Master, or roleplayer—is equally valued and integral to the success of UNITAF operations.

Collaborative MST Operations

The practical staffing challenges are recognized, such that the ideal staffing structure may not be possible to achieve at all times, for example, one LGM and multiple GMs, AGMs per platoon operation. In this case, the LGM, GMs and AGMs will work together, with AGMs supporting operational needs dynamically.

Do not publicly disclose any behind-the-scenes or otherwise unseen events from a mission. This includes details not directly observable by units or players, as well as any information that could disrupt immersion.

Avoid publicly critiquing the actions or decisions of any units or players. Internal discussion within the Mission Support Team is permitted, and relevant feedback should be directed to the Field Leader through proper channels. See FM/BP-225 - Article 1: Code of Conduct

Recording and live streaming are generally allowed; however, some restrictions apply to protect operation integrity and participant comfort:

Mission Support Team deployments

Streaming or publishing recordings of any sort while serving as part of the Mission Support Team is strictly forbidden. This is in accordance with FM/BP-742 - What happens in zeus, stays in zeus), as the revelation of behind-the-scenes information could undermine the player's sense of immersion. Edited recordings that maintain this confidentiality may be acceptable.

Field Training Exercises (FTX)

No recording or streaming during FTX to foster a supportive atmosphere where participants can learn and make mistakes without the scrutiny of the public eye.

Mission support operations have special terms that help in clarity and effective communication. Below are commonly used terms and their definitions:

• IO (Intelligence Officer): The person responsible for overseeing the Mission Support Team (MST) during a mission. Normally, this is the Game Master or Mission Support Observer.
• FL (Field Leader): The leader in charge of the overall deployment, managing player forces and coordinating with the MST for mission objectives.
• SA (Server Administrator): Person responsible for server performance, troubleshooting, and guaranteeing smooth operation during deployments.
• RP (Role-players or Role-play): People who increase immersion by role-playing characters, civilians, or other non-combatant roles within the mission environment.
• RC (Remote Control): The practice of direct control over AI units, vehicles, and other elements in order to simulate realistic behaviour or to adjust mission dynamics.
• MST (Mission Support Team): The general term for all members that take part in mission support, including Lead Game Master (LGM), Game Masters (GMs), Assistant Game Masters (AGMs), Mission Support Observers (MSO), role-players (RPs), and OPFOR role-players (OPFOR RP).

The Mission Support Observer is a passive, supportive role on the Mission Support Team and is filled by experienced instructors with extensive expertise in Mission Support. These observers evaluate the team’s performance to ensure missions are conducted in full compliance with the Field Manual.

The decision to include a Mission Support Observer on a particular mission should be made by the Field Leader and the Mission Support Instructor Team. The following factors are general considerations:

• Request for ratings
• Game Master seniority
• Previous instances of non-adherence to the Field Manual
• Poor performance ratings in past deployments

The Mission Support Observer does not perform any game master duties and is not part of the GM team.