I try to make it a point to thank my GMs for running great games, but that doesn't seem like it's enough.  Do you celebrate GM day on March 4th?  If so, what do you do on that day?  What ideas do you have about how to show appreciation to your GM/DM/Storyteller/etc.?
This message was last edited by the user at 13:13, Mon 25 Aug 2014.

Post regularly and dont question every little thing in character, and I would be getting you a present.

I second what Andrew said. Just post frequently, and tell me what you want and don't want, and i'm a happy GM.

In reply to eternaldarkness (msg # 3):

Put up with my frequent insane demands. Answer my questions, no matter how inane. Otherwise, I just love seeing people have fun, and those little moments where everything starts flowing.

Don't make pointed remarks about how fast a game might be going. GMs get busy/sick; and pointed remarks just make them feel like not coming back.

In reply to willvr (msg # 5):

Doubly so in a free form/sandbox game.

Keep open, honest communication, definitely. I can't fix what I don't know is broken. lol

Every GM likes to provide fun for the players. An occasional 'this is a great game' can preen a GM's feathers, but mainly, as the others have said, the best thing you can do for your GM is to keep his/her game running.

Post frequently, letting people know about absences, post inclusively, offering hooks for your fellow players rather than closed one-liners, develop your character and create opportunities for others to develop theirs, interact with each other IC, answer each other's IC questions, pick up on hooks and comments left by other PCs, have your PC's actions offer opportunities to lead or follow others rather than forming a collection of solo players,be a team player.

A game like that is more fun for you and your GM.

In reply to icosahedron152 (msg # 8):

I agree.

Above all, be involved in the game rather than away.

Also, don't vanish without informing the GM. Won't hurt to keep in touch with them, really.

GMs do tend to appreciate players being reasonable about these things, and too little of that might lead to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPEnRb6aaS4. (Okay, to be honest, I just wanted to link to that video.)

But as far as things that you can do on special occasions, verbal affirmation can mean a lot to a GM, and I know that I've always been a fan of getting free food (although that doesn't work quite as well over RPoL).

I'm a new GM, and I enjoyed it when my players were excited to snag the 100th post of the game and such.  It shows enthusiasm for the game.

I also appreciate getting real opinions from my players when I ask, "What do you guys think?" or "Here are some options, pick one or give another suggestion."  It shows that they are really thinking and investing themselves in the game.  I know a lot of players just say, "What ever is easy works for me," but that gives me nothing to go on when I'm trying to build a game specifically for them to enjoy and seems like they don't really care one way or the other and can't be bothered to think about what's happening in the game, which is kind of a let down for me (especially when I cared enough to ask for their thoughts on the matter).  Players who can give a real opinion are highly valued by me as a GM. If you're really worried about making waves and being difficult, just say, "I think <this opinion>, but I wouldn't mind going another direction, either."

Giving positive feedback in an OOC thread, without the GM asking for it, is the best.

What drives me to GM is creating a plot line that sparks the interest and generates true enjoyment in my players. I like to know that my players are having fun... but sometimes I need to take breaks of 2 - 6 weeks to get through RL... so when I return and put out my feelers and my players say things likes "I kept this game on my sticky hoping for your return" and "He's back! Huzzah!" - I feel appreciated.

Also - I encourage my players to take some liberties in describing their surroundings, or taking control of NPCs to play-out interactions (only when non-critical to the plotlines)... this is often a hard step for players to make. If I tell them their char is in a dark server room, and they're hunting for a clue - and they start talking about messy cables, the sounds of hundreds of fans humming, and lights flickering asynchronously ... then I feel appreciated. They're taking my scenes, and breathing life into them. For me, THAT is the ultimate display of appreciation.

I agree with this. To put it another way, Players who are happy to provide constructive criticism will be well rewarded.

Abandon your real life and only live for the game.

Or failing that, let people know when you can't post or even when you think there's a chance you won't be able to post. Whether it's RL stuff, or you have no idea what you can add to scene.

Unannounced silence is all too easy to construe as lack of interest.

I definitely support the verbal affirmation idea. If you're liking your GMs game, say so, that will do it. (Even put it on the calendar and do it every couple months if you're still enjoying it then!) They'll especially like it if you use examples of what you like. Hearing, "Your game is fun!" is nice, hearing "I loved how your villain always spoke in rhyme and your description of the political fallout from our misadventure with the king daughter really made our actions feel meaningful!" will let them know that you really are liking their work and not just being polite.

I'll second or third the verbal affirmation.  I just let a DM in a game know how much fun this particular battle has been (there was a point where I was truly concerned that a TPK might have happened).  He seemed to appreciate it.

If you want to show your GM appreciation, don't try to make him/her feel like a good GM, make them feel like they run a good game. Be open to changes, and take feedback positively. Remember that the job of a GM is like that of a manager, complicated and filled with micromanaging character sheets, dealing with disputes, coming up with and implementing ideas, and managing everyone's preferences to make sure they have fun.

If you want to make a GM feel especially appreciated, let them know you're open to ideas. If a situation arises that you could get involved in, let them know that you're willing to have your character be used for plot. A good GM will never make you regret being available for appropriate plot.