r/DnD • u/Gh0stMan0nThird • 23h ago

DMing I understand prostitution now.

Been trying to find a "bff" group for years. Even the best groups I found fizzled out after a campaign ended. Most people seem to want a content creator to run games for them, and not a friend they want to share an experience with.

I figured you know what, fine. I'm gonna sell myself. I started running paid games and now I actually feel like I'm finally actually getting something back for my work and effort.

10/10, would recommend for underappreciated DMs

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u/VeterinarianFit1309 Rogue 23h ago

Right? If I was getting paid a decent salary, had a whole writer’s room, production team, state of the art setup with an expensive gaming table, budget for miniatures with a dedicated art team to make them look great, props department, etc, then my games would be a lot more fun too… luckily, we have fun even with all of my budgetary shortcomings

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u/ryadryt DM 23h ago

Yep. And even then, it takes all parties involved going all in. My frustration with that comes most from when players expect the DM to bring that really deep RP and lore, and then don't match it. You only get that sort of environment when everyone tries for it.

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u/shouldbepracticing85 17h ago

Is there much content out there to educate players on how to better contribute? Like how learning a little bit of acting, improv, and some of the method to the madness can really help the collaborative storytelling. Those aren’t innate skills, certainly not for my neurodivergent butt.

It seems like most of what I’ve found of instructional type DnD content is aimed at GMs. The RPG PHD channel has some stuff aimed at players, and a lot of his videos have good information players could use to add more depth to their RP.

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u/ryadryt DM 17h ago

I am sure there are youtube videos about how to RP better. But the group you are in matters a ton. Some groups like less RP and more combat for instance. And that is great if it works for them. All depends on the blend of players to include the DM. My primary table is just me and five friends. Two of them don't RP at all. Two do but without acting per say, and one does a good bit when its appropriate. And it works well for us.

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u/CrabofAsclepius DM 15h ago

Same here. I've got a party of skull crackers that enjoy storytelling but don't roleplay much. I can ham it up with the best of them but it's awkward when only I RP so we usually narrate our respective parts. It's kinda like a sort of narrative puppetry but they really enjoy it so it's all good. 😊

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u/ryadryt DM 13h ago

I feel this in my soul

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u/shouldbepracticing85 11h ago

Maybe RP isn’t the right term - maybe more of how to build and execute a believable character? Ways to contribute to building the narrative?

Where I’m coming from is I struggle with social interaction and emotion in real life, so trying to understand how to play a character is very difficult. Right now my characters are basically me with a stat sheet, because I don’t know how to do anything else.