@LeviKornelsen I feel like TTRPGing is more of a folk art than something that should be commercialized.
For me at least paid DMing is a lot like sex work - it obviously fills a need but seems to be missing the point of the activity.
@LeviKornelsenshrug I was a paid GM in the 90s at a local gameclub at the request of friends running the club, and national D&D tournaments (rpg tournaments, another interesting topic).
I can definitely say it felt 'wrong' to me, and I've never done it again, but I'm not going to frown on how people chose to handle their gaming and gaming relationships.
@LeviKornelsen When I first heard about it 15 years ago, I found the idea abhorrent: DMing should be a social activity for friends, not a source of income.
As I grow older, I appreciate that people don't have time to prepare and run a game, and if someone is willing to do it for them for money, why not?
So far however, I wasn't all that impressed by people offering to run things. I may have too high expectations, but the professional DM should be able to do more than a half-assed improv job.
@LeviKornelsen if there's a market for it where you live, and someone has the chops to run a game good enough, I don't have any issue with the concept. I think being paid puts the bar at a very high level, but admittedly I'm not sure on expectations a group might have if they're paying the DM. Personally, if I have players that bring snacks and come ready to play, that's payment enough.
@LeviKornelsen Shrug from me; like sex work, there's nothing wrong with paid DMing, but I'd rather be in a relationship with the DM/GM and other players where we were friends and where things ran on a gift economy, DMing and playing alike.
Written having just finished a use-once writing project for a larp con, the kind of work (litform, connection/plot building won't be reused, most players aren't close) where IF it were a stand alone game, the writers/GMs profiting would be very appropriate.
@LeviKornelsen I really don't understand why there's so much kerfuffle about paid GMing when we don't throw fits about people charging for other forms of entertainment performance.
@LeviKornelsen I don't charge when I run a game. Although currently we rent a private game room at a FLGS I work at and we split the bill between us all. The most I've asked is if anyone can make some extra copies of character sheets or handouts from time to time.