What happens if you encounter something dangerous in Digimon Liberator?

All games have their bugs, and as with all PvP games, there's always the risk of running into malicious players lacking manners or morals. And yet there are lots of people who decide that since it's just a game, there's no need to worry.
But Digimon Liberator is set in a highly immersive metaverse. When a game is so indistinguishable from reality and has such fantastic and spectacular production values, of course there are some players who worry "What would happen if I got into trouble here...?"

Or, even worse, what about the risk of in-game issues spilling over to the real world? While there is naturally a feature in place to report malicious players, human relations within a virtual space can be complex and there are times when one cannot simply run away.
To assuage those worries and provide players with a more pleasant gaming experience, there are people meticulously roaming the in-game environment solving issues as they find them.
Today, we're going to get to know the guys on the front lines, the GMs (Game Masters).

The GMs are made up of people who work at the company that developed Digimon Liberator, I.D.E.A. (Inscription Desire Electronic Arts).
Their numbers are relatively high, but you probably aren't even aware of them during normal gameplay.
That's because they are usually intermixed with normal players, playing the game themselves.
But while they may look like they're just playing at first glance, they're actually patrolling all over Lacuna, checking whether there are any issues that need addressing.
Sometimes they are looking for bugs to report from a player's perspective and other times they are investigating accounts for which they've received complaints from multiple other players. GMs have the power to temporarily access the game system, enabling them to quickly respond to critical issues.

Some players use rare cards as bait to persistently try and get other players to meet in real life.
Some players exploit loopholes in the rules to offer beginner players unfair trades.
The GMs verify the details of the reports about nuisance players and warn, suspend, or ban them if necessary.
By having these 'boots on the ground' alongside automatic processing by bots, the administration succeeds in quickly spotting bugs and detecting malicious players who may have gone unnoticed with a less personal approach.

As mentioned, the GMs mingle among players in Lacuna but, there's no need to be afraid that they're "watching you."
As long as you don't cause any problems, you won't be warned or banned, and, in fact, each GM cherishes Lacuna as a place where players can be carefree and play how they want.
They won't even raise an eyebrow if they hear any frank opinions or criticism. They just jot it down for reference in future development.

It's not only on-the-ground surveillance that makes up a GM's workload. They also respond to reports from players and meet with them.
If there's an issue that's too complex to communicate fully in a message to the game administrators, players can come and speak to GMs at a facility in Lacuna's central district of Jewel.
While GMs usually blend in with other players, in the meeting facility they appear in white-coated avatars.

There, players can talk to them about issues that cannot be resolved with a simple email exchange, things they suspect may be bugs, and even their thoughts on the game itself.
GMs act as the bridge between players and administration, and as such, will sit and listen to even the most detailed of opinions.
They also accept reports on bugs both big and small and implement quick fixes.

Past issues they have dealt with include:

• - An NPC that would sit on a non-existent chair and keep on talking during the game scenario.
• - In a multiple-choice Digimon quiz set by an NPC, the answer was given as "Gomamon" no matter how many times the player tried to select "Agumon."
• - Sometimes "Cyclonemon" would be found mixed into decks including "Leomon."
• - During event matches in which limits were placed on the Digimon Cards that could be used, it was possible for players to use "Diaboromon" in decks regardless of the color and type restrictions. (Many players thought this was on purpose, so it was discovered late.)

And this is but a few.
There are some interesting bugs that have been treated as legend for a long time between players, but these do affect future operation of the game, so people are encouraged to report them.
Among the playerbase, there are some eccentric types who are obsessed with finding and reporting bugs, as well as an official debugging team.
If you come across something that you think might not be part of the game or something that seems strange, feel free to try talking with a GM about it.

The other significant role of a GM is to judge at tournaments.
Unlike their usual friendly selves, here they switch personas, watching the games like hawks and strictly enforcing the rules.
The GMs who do this kind of work day-in-day-out are all veteran Digimon Card Game players who are well-versed in the rules.
So if you're getting stuck when you play or you don't understand something, try asking a nearby GM.

We're also currently preparing an event on Digimon Liberator where you can battle GMs.
It will include a card battle class for beginners, with GMs demonstrating through gameplay how to deal with formidable enemies in the Main Scenario.
Some deck types involve a lot of complicated rules, and there are plans to host walkthroughs explaining them. Intermediate players may also glean fresh insights from this class, too.
And for advanced players, there will be the opportunity to play a series of matches against GMs who know the game inside out.
Unlike the NPCs whose decks match the various story beats and themes, GMs use "real" decks made up of cards they would usually use themselves on the job or in private.

Even at the very moment this article is being written, everyone is working very hard on this project, building decks and practicing battling with a passion that goes above and beyond.
You will see everything from decks with extreme consistency to unpredictable decks stuffed with surprising combos. See if you and your Digimon have what it takes to beat the decks the GMs have painstakingly refined for this project together.
Players who emerge victorious in each event not only gain awards like "Graduation Certificates" and "Proof of Mastery" but also event-specific items.

Everything above is all in a day's work for the Digimon Liberator GMs.
They may mainly lurk behind the scenes, but their tireless efforts to create a pleasant play environment makes them the unsung heroes of the game.
Being employees of the development company, they may all be lumped together under the GM moniker, but they're made up of lots of different kinds of people.
While some GMs may always have a carefree attitude, there are others who are usually friendly but can switch to a more formal attitude during meetings in Jewel and when judging events.
Plus, as they all work in different areas, they all have different expertise. Some may be experts in how different card effects work while others may know the ins and outs of the Main Scenario.

But every GM is the same in one aspect and that is that they all harbor a burning passion for Digimon Liberator and the Digimon Card Game in their hearts.
GMs work from the shadows. But if you see someone who you think might be one, why don't you try talking to them?
They're sure to take you even deeper into the world of Digimon Liberator.
And by letting them know your thoughts and opinions, you might just help to shape an even more fun game in the future.