Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 bomarrpunk Jun 19, 2008 1:12:51	Hey all, I'm just curious as to whether one of my crazy ideas would ever work in such an industry. So for those of you reading, thanks for humoring me. I'm not a cocky man, but I've been told my the majority of my players that I'm the best DM they've played under. Some have vowed not to play with others again. I am far from flawless, and after an honest assessment I think the reason they feel that way is only because I REALLY get into my game and make them feel a part of it. Anyway, on to my question: Would you and/or your group pay for DM services? Especially if you had the assurance that the DM would make the game be what YOU all wanted? What price would you put on having that 5th friend that's stuck DMing be able to sit on your side and game with you from now on? So yeah, would you pay for a premium DM and if so, what would you pay? Later
#2 koushiro Jun 19, 2008 1:27:28	There have been pay to play style RPGs but I don't know what kind of a pricing set up your looking for. I know going rate around here is a 2 liter of soda and as much pizza as you can eat.
#3 kjw Jun 19, 2008 7:28:51	This is one of those topics that comes up on every RPG forum I frequent and it is always amusing. It is amusing because it usually devolves into an argument about whether or not a GM should charge his players. Some people take this silly topic really seriously. I really don't, but will try to give a serious answer to your question. First, I am a better GM than you. Don't take this the wrong way, but I am (because I love GMing more than you). I don't charge my players for my services as a GM. Thus I am your competition, because there are thousands of GMs like me. I understand that your players say they will only play with you, but here is a lesson - a lot of players say that and don't mean it. Players are notorious liars when praising them GMs, especially, the smart players who know how hard it is to get a decent GM to consistently run games. So take this as a caveat, I know your players say that they won't play with another GM and you are thinking - 'hey, I can charge them for my GMing!' but it's not that simple. Money changes everything, this is one of those maxims for life. Second, how much are you getting now from your players? I have never charged my players for being the GM, but the last few years I ran a live group down in Florida - I got a subscription to Dragon magazine and usually 2-3 RPGs/Supplements a year from my players as gifts. I never expected this, but it was appreciated. So what are you pulling in now without being paid? I mean over the years I have consistently had my share of paying for pizza covered and the right to borrow books from my players nearly indefinitely if I needed them for a campaign. So what are you getting now as this will demonstrate what your players think you are worth as a GM? If you are getting nothing...well, take that as another caveat. Like I said players are often all talk and little action in these matters. Would you and/or your group pay for DM services? Especially if you had the assurance that the DM would make the game be what YOU all wanted? You do realize the dilemma you are setting yourself up for? You see how do you define "what you ALL wanted" because it's the ALL that will cost you. Managing groups and expectations is hard and I get you put a lot of time in your GMing, but the moment you require money then you enter into a business relationship with your players. So can you kill PCs now? If you do then does the player whose PC died get a refund? What about a rules argument, do you refund the players for the time wasted on that? What if different players want different things, how do you juggle that? You see it does change things, now this is not impossible to deal with. You just need to make it clear where the line in on these issues. Also I will say some groups do require dues which goes to the GM to cover food and his expenses. I've never done this. Players have expenses as well. Back when I was running my campaigns in Florida I had players who drove over an hour to and from my house for our weekly sessions. That is a huge expense in time and money. I see groups as team efforts, yeah, I do more work in prepping for the adventure, but everyone makes it fun. See this is the reverse...if you charge your players then your players (especially the good ones) should be allowed to charge you, because they are what make it so much fun. See how this gets complicated as you think it out? What price would you put on having that 5th friend that's stuck DMing be able to sit on your side and game with you from now on? This is what I expected. You don't like to GM and consider it a chore. So ask the reverse - what would you be willing to pay to not have to GM? This is probably the same amount you could ask your players to pay. If you don't enjoy GMing then being paid for it will not help. In fact, it will make it a job and you will probably like it less. Your better path for happiness is not getting money, but finding a way to truly love being a GM. So yeah, would you pay for a premium DM and if so, what would you pay? Personally, I am a professional GM. My wife calls me that because it is one my household duties - I cook, clean, take care of the kids, and GM. But I love to GM. I am also good at it, very good at it. I love doing it. I have no desire to be a player anymore as I accept I am a GM. This makes me phenomenally happy as a GM. But I realize that what makes RPGs fun is the group. Yeah, we GMs are the keystone, but you can't GM to an empty chair. Approach RPGs for what they are - a game. If you do this you will be happier and find tremendous joy in the process.