So 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.
I'm very interested in how this turns out. Please let us know. I'm wondering if the social/power dynamic will be the same if the players are paying customers.
Interesting, I'd love to know what happens!
Did you run Avernus before?
Quote from: Mishihari on August 03, 2024, 11:21:14 AMwill find out in j
I'm very interested in how this turns out. Please let us know. I'm wondering if the social/power dynamic will be the same if the players are paying customers.
That is an interesting question. Will it be the same as a free game or will it just be transactional?
I will find out In just over a week. And with it being a module there is less prep for me.
Quote from: Eric Diaz on August 03, 2024, 01:01:36 PMInteresting, I'd love to know what happens!
Did you run Avernus before?
I will post afterwards and let everyone know.
I haven't run Avernus before. I have the module for fantasy grounds and I am reading through the pdf of the adventure to prepare.
Prepping for a game that I was paid to run would feel like work, not fun. I'm not sure if would want to turn one of my favorite fun activities into just more work.
Quote from: Exploderwizard on August 04, 2024, 10:37:02 AMPrepping for a game that I was paid to run would feel like work, not fun. I'm not sure if would want to turn one of my favorite fun activities into just more work.
It's just one game. I have two other games (My Old School Essentials and other 5e Game) which I do not charge for.
Quote from: GhostNinja on August 03, 2024, 06:02:13 PMQuote from: Mishihari on August 03, 2024, 11:21:14 AMwill find out in j
I'm very interested in how this turns out. Please let us know. I'm wondering if the social/power dynamic will be the same if the players are paying customers.
That is an interesting question. Will it be the same as a free game or will it just be transactional?
I will find out In just over a week. And with it being a module there is less prep for me.
From experience. Paying players can be either absolutely normal, or come across as entitled. Sometimes out of the blue.
It can also put an unseen shackle round your neck as you get the urge to cheat to keep the PCs alive for fear you lose a customer.
Quote from: Exploderwizard on August 04, 2024, 10:37:02 AMPrepping for a game that I was paid to run would feel like work, not fun. I'm not sure if would want to turn one of my favorite fun activities into just more work.
I think it might be best to just use modules. Assuming you already own them. If you've run the module before you've already done the prep.
Quote from: Ruprecht on August 05, 2024, 09:20:53 AMI think it might be best to just use modules. Assuming you already own them. If you've run the module before you've already done the prep.
That's probably what I am going to do. I am already running two other games with settings that I created. Don't want to do a third one.
Quote from: Omega on August 04, 2024, 03:55:59 PMFrom experience. Paying players can be either absolutely normal, or come across as entitled. Sometimes out of the blue.
It can also put an unseen shackle round your neck as you get the urge to cheat to keep the PCs alive for fear you lose a customer.
Yeah, we will see. I have the session 0 next week and I will let them know that if characters die, they can go through the usual process to revive them but if they die as per the rules, they are dead.
I have considered running paid games. I am a bit concerned that players will view me as their employee. In a sense, I would be. I am worried that this will make players feel more entitled and some players are already very entitled. You have to allow my homebrew race. You have to add in the romance plot I want. You have to accommodate my kink. You have to queer all the things. You have to use safety tools. I am worried that my hobby will turn into a customer service job. I get enough of that at work.
Well the paid gig just landed in my lap and I still run two free games.
As for as safety tools, they really never caught on and never come up so I am not worried.
If the players at this paid game want safety tools then I am out.
I don't Condon those silly things.
Congratulations Ghost Ninja! Getting paid to run RPG's sounds like my dream job.
Regarding 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!
I hope you have a great campaign and I am looking forward to reading the recaps.
I think paid games introduce an interesting dynamic.
I 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.
It's been a while since I DMed for strangers. I should do this more often.
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.
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.
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
Quote from: Theory of Games on August 10, 2024, 01:15:05 PMQuote 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...
Quote from: HappyDaze on August 10, 2024, 01:20:46 PMQuote from: Theory of Games on August 10, 2024, 01:15:05 PMQuote 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?
Quote from: Theory of Games on August 10, 2024, 01:21:58 PMQuote from: HappyDaze on August 10, 2024, 01:20:46 PMQuote from: Theory of Games on August 10, 2024, 01:15:05 PMQuote 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 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeon_monitor).
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.
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.
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.