Paying for game sessions?!?

[Sanackranib]

pay to play

Last time this topic came arround (I cant remember if it was here or not) I said everyone pays to play. you buy dice/mini's/PHB etc.
If you are the DM or host the game you just pay MORE. So is paying wrong? no not IMO as a player you just have to show up. a good DM has to prepair for that same game. that's work. granted its work we love but its work all the same.

Here is somthing else to consider: You game with someone who is a good mini painter. sure he might paint one or two for you for free but if you want him to paint a lot of figures then he is probably gonna charge you, does you good DM do LESS work or MORE?

 

[John Crichton]

non-topic

I would never pay for someone to DM for me unless it was at a Con where other things are taken into consideration for the fees. As a DM, I would never charge for a game. Someone said RPG's are social and are their own reward and I agree with that. The only money folks should pay are for people to own their books (players only need the PHB, but I don't mind them using mine if they are short on cash) and chip in if they eat any food/drink. Other than that, just show up, play nice and have fun.

 

[pogre]

Creating and running the game is just part of what I enjoy about the hobby. I had never considered charging to play. What a strange, but intriguing idea. (Strange only because I had not thought of it.)

 

[CrimsonScribe]

I currently pay to play. I have no option as my regular social group disbanded some 18 months ago because of personal reasons (they liked drugs, I didn't), and now the only opportunity I get to play is at mt FLGS RPG night. It costs me $AU5 and that includes some pizza to munch on.

I think that's a fair deal.

 

[John Crichton]

Ah, playing at the FLGS and paying for it. $5 doesn't sound bad at all if they feed ya. I'd do that, too.

 

[Creamsteak]

I'd pay willingly to play in a game that had alternate reasons to pay:

1) Food: Someone has to buy the munching food, and it may as well be the whole group.
2) Atmosphere: This isn't too important, but if someone really was devoted to props, setting, dimmed lights, had pre-recorded CDs set to switch songs when certain encounters came up via remote, candles, and tons of other things to help emersion... I'd pay a good 5 bucks for all the time and electricity this guy puts into his show.
3) Take Homes: I'd pay to play in a game where you go home with a mini for your character, a copy of the adventure that you just played, or something else tangible I might pay to play.

But the thing about all of the above is that I'm getting more than just the opportunity to sit down with other people and a DM. I'd never pay directly for that, but if there was some kind of expense that the DM can't absorb alone, the players should chip in... as they almost always would.

 

[Painfully]

Most people have agreed that they wouldn't pay "just to play" in a game, but things that I WOULD pay for are the consumable goods that get utilized for the whole group's benefit. Things like washable markers, paper towels, paper plates, napkins (cause you snack at somebody's house probably), drinks, and food.

If the sessions were elaborate with music, props, and a premium gaming atmosphere, like surrounding the room with torch lights, or dressing the room like a king's banquet table with goblets, THAT deserves something extra (although a bad DM can ruin all of that extra work!).

In the end, I know most people play for friendship, and that most DMs would never ask for money for something they love to do UNLESS it was something everyone in the group agreed upon beforehand was important and worth paying for.

 

[Thorntangle]

If no one else dares come forward and says it

I no longer charge for my games, mainly because I don't have to. I've reached Platinum status in the network and I've got 32 associates DMing under me. So I just sit back and enjoy the game while the checks roll in. Per game profits have never been better.

Plus on top of that, I get a pretty good cut of the door when I conduct monthly seminars touching on various topics such as how to sell product placement to snack company sponsors, how to derive the perfect hourly rate for games in different areas of the country, how to tap into local homegame dominated markets, etc.

There's good money to be found my friends.

 

[pogre]

If no one else dares come forward and says it

I no longer charge for my games, mainly because I don't have to. I've reached Platinum status in the network and I've got 32 associates DMing under me. So I just sit back and enjoy the game while the checks roll in. Per game profits have never been better.

Plus on top of that, I get a pretty good cut of the door when I conduct monthly seminars touching on various topics such as how to sell product placement to snack company sponsors, how to derive the perfect hourly rate for games in different areas of the country, how to tap into local homegame dominated markets, etc.

There's good money to be found my friends.

Maybe AMWAY can pick up WFRP.

 

[mythago]

That said, I see nothing peculiar about the idea of paying for a game.

Then you realize the GM goes from being one of a group of friends in a group activity, to a service provider.

There's nothing wrong with that, but it really does change the dynamic, and you need to anticipate that.