6 Reasons Why You Should Be a Game Master on Startplaying

Welcome to Start Playing Games! If you’ve never heard about us before, our platform allows GMs to run professional games of their favorite TTRPGs for players all over the world. Now you might ask, “Well, why should I care”, and so without further ado; here’s why you should sign up as GM with Start Playing Games.

1. Money

Here at SPG, we know that GMing is work. It takes time, patience, skill, and energy. As such, SPG GMs are able to charge for their games, making sure that they are compensated for their work in this incredible hobby. Since our public launch in September 2020, SPG GMs have earned more than $500,000 in revenue.

No one knows your value more than you, so our system allows you to decide what you charge! Players join your game, then are charged your booking fee once the game starts. Whether you charge $10 or $50 per seat, the choice is up to you. 

Of course, when you have a new source of income, that becomes a new headache; asking “how will I document this for my taxes?!” We’ve already thought about that! SPG keeps track of all your transactions for the past year, making tax season an absolute breeze!

In addition, we never charge GMs for signing up on the site. When a GM runs a game, they get 90% of the booking fees, and SPG gets 10%, which is way lower than most other sites on the market. Companies like AirBnB Experiences, Fivver, and Outshool take upwards of 20% of your profits! 

2. Support

We know that when money gets involved, people get worried about safety, and we’ve got you covered. Have a player skipping out on paying? Don’t worry! All payments are made through our site, which means we’ll handle any disputes, protecting you and your hard-earned money.

But it’s not just financial safety we’re keeping in mind. In addition to SPGs Code of Conduct, we  have a safe and easy-to-use reporting system. This allows our users to quickly report any inappropriate conduct or bad behavior directly to the SPG Team. We handle all reports, keeping the reporter in the loop, so you can be sure that we’re following up and taking action.

Keeping safety in mind, you won’t be required to have strangers at your table. When players apply to your games, you decide if they are approved to play. During the process, you can even message those players to see if their playstyle aligns with yours, so you never have to roll the dice when it comes to table cohesion.

We believe in supporting our GMs. As a result, our Discord connects you directly to the SPG Team, allowing us to answer questions and resolve issues, from payment problems to website bugs and more. 

3. Community

Besides support, our Discord is great for connecting with other GMs and players. You can learn about systems you’ve never played, find games that are free, and gain insight from other passionate TTRPG fans. With our site, you’ll find players who are not only excited for the games you run but also the ways we tell stories. With the experience filter, you’ll be able to run games for anyone, from Newbies to TTRPG Veterans.

In order to build a more inclusive and welcoming community, we’ve also been running charity events. For Pride Month, we’ve been raising money for True Colors United, allowing GMs the opportunity to donate their booking fees to this incredible organization. During AAPI Heritage Month, we ran a charity stream with an all-AAPI cast that played a TTRPG made by an AAPI Creator!

4. Professional Development

And that’s not all, SPG GMs get exclusive opportunities that other groups don’t offer. Our GMs have the chance to run corporate games and team events. Recently we’ve run corporate games for Stripe, Discover, Google, and more!

If corporate games aren’t your thing, then how about running games as part of events and partnerships with TTRPG Publishers and Conventions? In the past few months, GMs have run games for Onyx Path, Roll20, Gen Con, with more on the horizon. Those GMs received access to exclusive content,  premium features, and free rulebooks from those companies. 

We want GMs to improve and develop their skills. With our review system, players can give private and public feedback, allowing you to know how to  improve and letting the world know you do great work. When you join our site, you become a member of the SPG community and start building a professional network and rapport within the larger TTRPG community.

With SPG, you also get access to exclusive industry data compiled and analyzed by members of the SPG team. This data will help you get the best turnaround with your professional GMing! This data includes info on what game systems are run the most, what time of day is most popular for running games, why players cancel sessions, etc. 

Now if everything above doesn’t convince you, then I think it’s time we talk about how SPG handles one of the infamous TTRPG Killers…

5. Scheduling

A scary topic isn’t it? Scheduling problems are notorious for canceling sessions, ruining games, and ending campaigns. But with SPG, you get all the tools you need to manage your sessions in one place. Our built-in calendar for scheduling games, email reminders for your players, and  a chat system so all your players get the message. In addition, you can schedule an entire campaign out ahead of time, letting interested players know exactly what to expect. Of course, sometimes life hits hard and a session needs to be adjusted, and SPG allows GMs to easily reschedule or cancel their session without any questions or issues.

By cutting out a lot of the hassle that comes with scheduling, SPG lets you focus on the most important parts of your games; the storytelling and the players.

6. Versatility

SPG is one of the most flexible and adaptable systems when it comes to running your games online. With over 200 TTRPGs listed, GMs are able to list games in whatever system their heart desires. 

With the previously mentioned scheduling system, you’re the master of your own schedule. SPG never tells you when or how often you need to run a session. Most GMs on the site have day jobs and run games on the side. Our site is also virtual tabletop agnostic, meaning you can run your games on any tabletop that works for you!

TL;DR

With SPG, GMs are able to fully run games and get paid for their work. We provide support, safety, a fantastic community, exclusive opportunities, and flexibility you won’t find on any other site. Our GMs have earned half a million dollars in revenue in less than a year, just by running games! So, whether you wanna make a few extra bucks or you’re looking for something new, join Start Playing Games. We look forward to rolling with you!

How do you join StartPlaying as a Game Master? Create an account on StartPlaying and then you can enroll as a Game Master. 

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About the author
RK Wilde (they/them) is a nonbinary South Asian person. They are the GM of Prism Pals Volume 1 , the creator of Fear In Living Color, a professional GM & safety consultant with Start Playing Games, a writer on Unbreakable Volume 1. They have guested on several podcasts and organized several events including FCRD and Huetopia's Pride Brunchathon. In their spare time, RK is busy watching horror movies or taking a long nap. You can find them on twitter at @RussWildest.