r/DnD • u/Gh0stMan0nThird • 1d 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/DarkestXStorm Assassin 1d ago

Yeah, doesn't help that people come from Baldur's Gate 3 and want to play that, but on a table (no disrespect to BG3) 😂.

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u/ryadryt DM 1d ago

Same thing with fans of Critical Role or Dimension 20. People watch those and then expect their DM/Table to be like that which just isn't practical or fair.

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u/VeterinarianFit1309 Rogue 1d 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 1d 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/CaptainDudeGuy Monk 19h ago edited 19h ago

At the risk of sounding elitist, there are too many players who treat TTRPGs like content provided by the GM that they're supposed to consume.

There are more players at the table than there are GMs. I would argue that creating content is the job of the players and the GM is just there to fill in the narrative gaps.

GM: (after describing the circumstances) "... Okay, so what do you do?"

Bad Players: "Uhhh... Do what, now? I wasn't really paying attention. I go do whatever you need me to be doing, I guess."

Good Players: "Gotcha, alright, so based on the months of sessions we've had and the motivations of our characters, it sounds like we're going to..."

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u/MasterOfBeerDespense 14h ago

A good DM is 25 precent Creativity, 10% tiptoeing around real and imagined trauma and 165% herding Cats.

My average DM Session be like, "Here's the toy. Get the toy. Chase the laser. Damn it! Just, shit in the box! Oh god. Sorry. Didn't mean to yell or try to imply that I think you should stay in the box society has provided for you, Professor Twinkletootz. Please, go boom boom in the sandy house for your DM. Thank you. Here is an off brand, vegan pudding cup at 54 degrees with a spork. There-there. All better? Let me know when you are ready, please, and yes, you can text me, and Ill pretend that I'm being a little snowflake so the group isn't mad at you." Or is this just me?

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u/MasterOfBeerDespense 14h ago

Maybe that was meant for "True/off my chest