SO I am making my first step into being a Professional DM

GhostNinja · August 09, 2024, 06:12:38 PM

Quote from: Svenhelgrim on August 09, 2024, 03:19:29 AMCongratulations Ghost Ninja! Getting paid to run RPG's sounds like my dream job.

Well I am only doing it for one game. I have a full time job that pays the bills. This will just give me a little extra spending money (Or putting into savings).

Quote from: Svenhelgrim on August 09, 2024, 03:19:29 AMRegarding session Zero: perhaps you could tell them the parameters of your campaign in advance? So when the time comes to play you can give them a taste of adventure! Maybe run an encounter that sets the stage? Something story-neutral like ORCS ATTACK, ROLL INITIATIVE!

That is a possibility. I am going to do two things in session 0: 1st) Make sure they understand I do not do safety tools. If they want them (we talked briefly about it and I don't think they do) then I am out.

2nd) Letting the players know that their characters can die. I will run the game like it is supposed to be run. I am not their employee who will break and bend rules at their whim.

Quote from: Svenhelgrim on August 09, 2024, 03:19:29 AMI hope you have a great campaign and I am looking forward to reading the recaps.

I will be posting a separate thread (or maybe attach it to this) letting everyone know what happened. Thanks for the kind words.

GhostNinja · August 09, 2024, 06:17:43 PM

Quote from: Eric Diaz on August 09, 2024, 09:36:01 AMI think paid games introduce an interesting dynamic.

Well it's my first time doing a paid game. Never thought about doing it before but the opportunity presented itself so I thought I would give it a try.

Quote from: Eric Diaz on August 09, 2024, 09:36:01 AMI wonder if I'd feel MORE freedom as a paid DM than DMing from my friends, because it is easier to get new "customers" than new friends, and unless I had to make a living out of it I could always wrap things up whenever desired.

This is true.

Quote from: Eric Diaz on August 09, 2024, 09:36:01 AMIt's been a while since I DMed for strangers. I should do this more often.

It's interesting. I have DMed for strangers and a few of them became friends.

Theory of Games · August 10, 2024, 01:15:05 PM

Quote from: GhostNinja on August 03, 2024, 10:23:58 AMSo a group of players asked my to run a 5e game for them and they would pay $10 each per person per session. Admittedly I have always run free games and I have never really thought of being a paid DM.

The players are on the west coast, we will be playing via VTT and we will be playing the module Baldur's Gate - Descent into Avernus and the sessions will only be 3 hours. They were playing this module with another DM who was a student but could no longer run the game.

Not sure what to expect. A week from this Monday is our Session 0. it's 4 men and a women and it should be interesting.

I will let you know what happens.

AYE! Congrats on taking that step GN! There's so many GMs out there making real money doing this. Why not? Live the dream my guy. Especially if like I was still in SF .... I would definitely be getting paid. Too many gamers desperate to find a game. I wish you well and don't forget to never undersell your talent:

As of July 2024, ZipRecruiter estimates that a professional dungeon master in the United States makes an average of $83,891 per year, or about $40.33 per hour. This is equivalent to $1,613 per week or $6,990 per month.

ZipRecruiter

HappyDaze · August 10, 2024, 01:20:46 PM

Quote from: Theory of Games on August 10, 2024, 01:15:05 PM
Quote from: GhostNinja on August 03, 2024, 10:23:58 AMSo a group of players asked my to run a 5e game for them and they would pay $10 each per person per session. Admittedly I have always run free games and I have never really thought of being a paid DM.

The players are on the west coast, we will be playing via VTT and we will be playing the module Baldur's Gate - Descent into Avernus and the sessions will only be 3 hours. They were playing this module with another DM who was a student but could no longer run the game.

Not sure what to expect. A week from this Monday is our Session 0. it's 4 men and a women and it should be interesting.

I will let you know what happens.

AYE! Congrats on taking that step GN! There's so many GMs out there making real money doing this. Why not? Live the dream my guy. Especially if like I was still in SF .... I would definitely be getting paid. Too many gamers desperate to find a game. I wish you well and don't forget to never undersell your talent:

As of July 2024, ZipRecruiter estimates that a professional dungeon master in the United States makes an average of $83,891 per year, or about $40.33 per hour. This is equivalent to $1,613 per week or $6,990 per month.

ZipRecruiter

That's a different type of dungeon master...

Theory of Games · August 10, 2024, 01:21:58 PM

Quote from: HappyDaze on August 10, 2024, 01:20:46 PM
Quote from: Theory of Games on August 10, 2024, 01:15:05 PM
Quote from: GhostNinja on August 03, 2024, 10:23:58 AMSo a group of players asked my to run a 5e game for them and they would pay $10 each per person per session. Admittedly I have always run free games and I have never really thought of being a paid DM.

The players are on the west coast, we will be playing via VTT and we will be playing the module Baldur's Gate - Descent into Avernus and the sessions will only be 3 hours. They were playing this module with another DM who was a student but could no longer run the game.

Not sure what to expect. A week from this Monday is our Session 0. it's 4 men and a women and it should be interesting.

I will let you know what happens.

AYE! Congrats on taking that step GN! There's so many GMs out there making real money doing this. Why not? Live the dream my guy. Especially if like I was still in SF .... I would definitely be getting paid. Too many gamers desperate to find a game. I wish you well and don't forget to never undersell your talent:

As of July 2024, ZipRecruiter estimates that a professional dungeon master in the United States makes an average of $83,891 per year, or about $40.33 per hour. This is equivalent to $1,613 per week or $6,990 per month.

ZipRecruiter

That's a different type of dungeon master...

Diff like who?

HappyDaze · August 10, 2024, 11:25:00 PM

Quote from: Theory of Games on August 10, 2024, 01:21:58 PM
Quote from: HappyDaze on August 10, 2024, 01:20:46 PM
Quote from: Theory of Games on August 10, 2024, 01:15:05 PM
Quote from: GhostNinja on August 03, 2024, 10:23:58 AMSo a group of players asked my to run a 5e game for them and they would pay $10 each per person per session. Admittedly I have always run free games and I have never really thought of being a paid DM.

The players are on the west coast, we will be playing via VTT and we will be playing the module Baldur's Gate - Descent into Avernus and the sessions will only be 3 hours. They were playing this module with another DM who was a student but could no longer run the game.

Not sure what to expect. A week from this Monday is our Session 0. it's 4 men and a women and it should be interesting.

I will let you know what happens.

AYE! Congrats on taking that step GN! There's so many GMs out there making real money doing this. Why not? Live the dream my guy. Especially if like I was still in SF .... I would definitely be getting paid. Too many gamers desperate to find a game. I wish you well and don't forget to never undersell your talent:

As of July 2024, ZipRecruiter estimates that a professional dungeon master in the United States makes an average of $83,891 per year, or about $40.33 per hour. This is equivalent to $1,613 per week or $6,990 per month.

ZipRecruiter

That's a different type of dungeon master...
Diff like who?

Like this.

GhostNinja · August 12, 2024, 08:21:58 PM

Quote from: Theory of Games on August 10, 2024, 01:15:05 PMAYE! Congrats on taking that step GN! There's so many GMs out there making real money doing this. Why not? Live the dream my guy. Especially if like I was still in SF .... I would definitely be getting paid. Too many gamers desperate to find a game. I wish you well and don't forget to never undersell your talent:

Well for this game it is going to be weekly and is going to be $10 a person per session (5 people) so 50 bucks. But it is a supplement so there is no real planning. Don't mind starting at the $10 a person mark as I am just getting into doing it (the opportunity fell into my lap). If it works out I will charge more.

Plus I have a day job that pays me well so this is just extra money.

OtterGames · September 04, 2024, 10:26:47 AM

Awesome that you got into that going!

I've been Pro GMing for over half a year now, and I've honestly not gotten too hard the vibes of being 'subservient' to my clients. It's got its restraints, but not nearly as one would imagine. I got two games going weekly and they are all pretty friendly and laid-back with everybody having a good time.

If it helps, it's a Cyberpunk RED game with 4 peeps and Warcraft 5e with 3.

GhostNinja · September 04, 2024, 02:59:58 PM

Quote from: OtterGames on September 04, 2024, 10:26:47 AMAwesome that you got into that going!

I've been Pro GMing for over half a year now, and I've honestly not gotten too hard the vibes of being 'subservient' to my clients. It's got its restraints, but not nearly as one would imagine. I got two games going weekly and they are all pretty friendly and laid-back with everybody having a good time.

If it helps, it's a Cyberpunk RED game with 4 peeps and Warcraft 5e with 3.

Yeah that's great. As for my group it feels just like a regular "Free" game so when I am running it I sometimes forget that I am getting paid for it.

It's been going well so far so I am happy. As I said, I never looked to be a paid DM, it just found me.