Pro-GM Finder Site StartPlaying Raises $6.5M Funding

StartPlaying, which bills itself as "the largest site for connecting players with professional and hobbyist Game Masters to play any game system on any virtual tabletop" has reportedly raised $6.5M in funding from venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. This new funding is intended to scale up the business, including marketing and doubling its team size.

"Beyond growing a user base, this is about community. Whether it's helping Game Masters and players find each other or collaborating with industry partners, we're proud to have the opportunity to bring people together through the power of games. The tabletop role-playing community is at its best when it's inclusive. We want StartPlaying to continue breaking down barriers for new players.

-Devon Chulick, StartPlaying"​

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StartPlaying launched in September 2020 and has over 1,000 professional GMs on its books, having hosted over 100,000 games.

 

[Professor Murder]

A side benefit to Pro-GMing could be GM training/on ramping.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I have done some pro-GM work. It is interesting, but it isn't the same as running for friends/acquaintances, or even running at a con. It is a professional service and for me that sucks a lot of the fun out of it.

Aside from that: what is going on with Millenials* and GenZ* [EDIT] players entering the hobby now that they don't want to GM?

*Broadly speaking, as I assume those are the majority of new people entering the hobby.

I think that there is a shift in the mindset in a few ways (many of them would normally require more explanation, but I'm just nutshelling here)-

1. There is more of the idea of the "service economy" and the "gig economy" now, where people have an idea that you get paid for side hustles and/or work. This commoditization of labor within the economy has caused two things to happen- first, there are more smaller "side hustle" openings available, second, there are fewer "well-paid, 9-5, career" opening. Combine the two, and you often find that "volunteer" positions are understaffed, and there is a requirement that they be paid or compensated that didn't exist.

2. People are paying for experiences- from concerts to travel. Playing D&D falls within it, and they'd rather play than DM. In addition, you can always just "show up and play," whereas DMing requires more work outside of the gaming time.

3. There is more of an expectation among some players that DMs "serve" the players (kind of like how the perception of college professors has changed). To an extent, if a DM is going to "serve" the players, that DM is not going to want to get paid.

As always, IMO.

 

[Reynard]

A side benefit to Pro-GMing could be GM training/on ramping.

I still think WotC should be investing in DM training, since the hobby revolves around having capable DMs accessible to prospective players.

 

[payn]

I still think WotC should be investing in DM training, since the hobby revolves around having capable DMs accessible to prospective players.

That just gives me chills. Eventually, you are going to have a "pro" GM rulebook and anybody who runs games outside its purview will catch all kinds of hell. Unless, of course, you are talking about tangible elements like running a VTT and how to set up a campaign.

 

[Reynard]

That just gives me chills. Eventually, you are going to have a "pro" GM rulebook and anybody who runs games outside its purview will catch all kinds of hell. Unless, of course, you are talking about tangible elements like running a VTT and how to set up a campaign.

I was talking about things like "here's how to run a combat" and "here's how to run a social encounter." I have run a couple Gaming 101 events at cons and I basically ran prospective GMs through a short adventure while round robining the screen. You could easily do it online.

I'm not sure what sort of indoctrination you are worried about.

 

[payn]

I was talking about things like "here's how to run a combat" and "here's how to run a social encounter." I have run a couple Gaming 101 events at cons and I basically ran prospective GMs through a short adventure while round robining the screen. You could easily do it online.

I'm not sure what sort of indoctrination you are worried about.

Maybe its nothing, but I can already imagine all the "my GM isnt running the game like WOTC official books say they should" threads.

 

[ninjayeti]

Aside from that: what is going on with Millenials* and GenZ* [EDIT] players entering the hobby now that they don't want to GM?

As someone who has been playing since the Holmes set and has played in a couple of long-term paid games I don't think it is generational or about the mentality of new players. If anything I think idea of DMing as a paid service appeals more to folks like myself who have disposable incomes (i.e. not high school or college kids) but have time limitations that make committing to running a game challenging.

Its a bit like saying "why are restaurants a thing? Don't people like to cook anymore?" I have DM'ed plenty in the past, and will almost certainly do so again in the future. But it is a lot of work, and sometimes you just want to sit down as a player and roll some dice with nothing else involved.

Out of curiosity what is the going rate for players in these types of games? Im sure it varies but is there an average that people are paying and GMs can expect?

I think $15-20 per person per game (3-4 hours) is pretty typical.

 

[FoolishFrost]

Maybe its nothing, but I can already imagine all the "my GM isnt running the game like WOTC official books say they should" threads.

We already have this. It’s called the Matt Mercer effect.

 

[Reynard]

As someone who has been playing since the Holmes set and has played in a couple of long-term paid games I don't think it is generational or about the mentality of new players. If anything I think idea of DMing as a paid service appeals more to folks like myself who have disposable incomes (i.e. not high school or college kids) but have time limitations that make committing to running a game challenging.

Its a bit like saying "why are restaurants a thing? Don't people like to cook anymore?" I have DM'ed plenty in the past, and will almost certainly do so again in the future. But it is a lot of work, and sometimes you just want to sit down as a player and roll some dice with nothing else involved.

I think $15-20 per person per game (3-4 hours) is pretty typical.

It's the difference between going to a restaurant and having a dinner party. The expectations are different and RPGs are, to me, an intimate enough experience that I don't think it translates quite as easily as dinner does.

 

[Bill Zebub]

I think that's the common usage of the term, yep, and the way in which it is being used here.

I thought it was the technical meaning, and that the usage that suggests a standard of excellence is the common one.