The world of escape rooms can be pretty unexpected. Try as we might, sometimes there is just no predicting the strange things people do. Since these games are interactive experiences where the players control how and when the narrative moves, it takes a special kind of guidance to ensure the train stays on its tracks even through bizarre and sudden turns. That’s where a game master comes in: A Game Master’s job is to gently guide players along the path while still allowing the players to dictate the pace.

Here at Cross Roads Escape Games, our Game Masters go through some pretty intensive training to ensure they are ready for anything that is thrown their way over the course of a game. In just a short amount of time, they are required to memorize not only codes, but the placement of props, hints, decorations, and locks, as well as detailed rules and safety. And once they have that memorized, they learn a completely new set-up, a new set of rules, and a new series of codes for our second game.

That sure is a lot to remember. One thing we can’t always predict, however, is the human element. We can have our Game-Masters-In-Training run a game over and over until even Zoltar is tired of talking (which is a feat all on its own; He loves to talk) but that human element can often throw a curveball nobody saw coming. That is why our Game Masters are skilled in improv; Being able to think on your feet is essential to making sure an escape room runs smoothly. We make sure our game masters know how to deal with and work around the unexpected, even if we can’t predict exactly what that will be.

Of course, there are other traits besides improv that make a game master great. In this episode of Confessions of a Game Master, our game masters explain some of their unexpected encounters as well as some traits that make for an effective game master.

Are you caught up with all of our Confessions videos? Catch any you may have missed (or rewatch your favorites) on our YouTube Channel. Do you have a question for our Game Masters? Leave us a comment on our blog and we may answer it in a future episode.

Happy escaping!
Geoff Durham
Game Master, Manager
Cross Roads Escape Games