Here at StartPlaying, we’re all about helping our Game Masters succeed. The better equipped you are to accurately list your games and inform your players, the more secure they feel in choosing you. To that end, we have a series of guides on when to schedule games, writing great game descriptions, if you should run homebrew, and more. This time we’re going to cover your GM profile. 

How do you set your profile up? What do players look for when they’re searching for GMs? We’ll answer these questions here. So let’s start with editing your GM profile. 

‍

First thing to note when setting up your profile is your GM link. You can create your own custom profile link in the Share Your Profile section of the Edit GM Profile page, which is handy if you have a brand name or want to match your YouTube/social media handle. Just don’t change it too often, preferably keeping it the same once you choose it, as it will break all previous instances of the link you sent to people. 

You’ll also see your individual Review Link in a field just below your Profile link. You can, and should, send this link to people you’ve played with in person. Even friends, who have never seen you on StartPlaying, can use the link to leave you a review. It’s a great way to start your pro GM career with a boost. 

The first section you will need to fill out for your GM Profile is the Images section. Here you will choose your profile picture, which is very important as it does a lot of work setting the tone of a first impression. One consistent piece of feedback we get from users is that they prefer profiles with faces. It gives them a sense of who they will be playing with in a way a logo or cartoon avatar can’t. So choose a good picture of yourself with great lighting and a welcoming atmosphere. See here for tips on taking an awesome profile photo. You will also set up your Banner Images in this section, where you can focus more on cool logos or branding. 

Personal Details is the next section you’ll see. Here is where you’ll set up your name, pronouns, location, languages, and identity tags. The Identity Tags are what you can use to show if you’re BIPOC, neurodivergent, a published TTRPG writer, etc. These tags will show up under your name on your profile. Your Location allows us to get data like where the most GMs are for future initiatives, but will not be publicly visible on your profile. You don’t have to be specific if you prefer privacy, you can just put a state or country. 

There’s a small checkbox under Identity Tags for toggling allowance of direct messages. If this option is off, players will only be able to DM you if they’re signed up for your games. Your choice here essentially boils down to if you want to avoid unsolicited messages or let potential players message you to ask questions about your game. Both are valid, so the choice is yours. 

The About You section is where you get to brag about your accomplishments, wax nostalgic about your first Starter Set, and generally let people know who you are. But do try to keep it to two paragraphs max. You no doubt have a lot of history and passion, but most users aren’t going to want to read a sprawling biography. Instead, stick to what you like to play and what sets you apart from other GMs. You will also list your years of experience in this section, as well as have the oppertunity to answer up to three prompts to help potential players learn more about you.

GM Style, much like About, should only be one or two paragraphs. Share the big picture details – do you run tactical combat with big maps, are you more into dramatic roleplay with cameras on, are you willing and able to kill PCs – stuff like that. Think: If you were hiring a GM, what gameplay experience would you be looking for? You will also choose up to three prompts in this section, to give players a glimpse into how you run your games, and what they can expect!

In the next section, Your Ideal Table, you will expand on what you look for from your players, what make them a good fit for you, and what you love in a game. Just like the previous two sections, keep your answer between one and two paragraphs, so your players are not overwhelmed. The prompts in this section focus on what types of players you are seeking, and what players should expect at the table.

Your Preferences is the next section, where you will share more details on what systems, platforms, and game styles you prefer at your tables. When it comes to Game Systems and Game Platforms, put what you’re actually comfortable with using regularly. Don’t feel pressured to put a big list of things you somewhat know just to look impressive. Most users want to pay an expert to run their games. If you run a system that isn’t on the list, feel free to message support so we can add it! The same thing goes for Game Themes, Game Styles, and Game Mechanics. If you are a master of combat and heavy tactics, lean into that for your games. There is no reason for you to advertise yourself as a style of GM that you aren't, just in the hope that a player looking for that style will find you. If a player is looking for a lighthearted roleplay focused game, and you prefer tactical grimdark horror games, that player probably isn't a good fit for you, and that is ok!

Next we have the Social section, where you can post whatever social links you want to show up on your profile. YouTube or Twitch are useful even if you’re not a content creator, as you can post clips of sessions to give prospective players a taste of how you run a session (just make sure you have permission to post the clips from the players within then). Your Discord Username will not show up on your public profile, and are there for StartPlaying’s use, so that we can contact you directly if need be.

The Custom Booking section is the last one you will need to fill out. On your public profile there will be a button labeled "Book Private Game". This button takes users to a page where they can request your services directly, instead of booking a seat in your public tables. Typically, players find GMs through the public search tools, but this button allows users to request a specific game with a private table. Set your rate and time limit based on what you think that’s worth, and what you are willing to run for private games. 

And with that, you can click on "Save changes" in the upper right corner to save and update your profile! Hope this helps, and good luck!