Can we hire Game Masters? Is there any type of Patronage system set up here?

Hi there, I'm old enough now that I have ample money but crushing responsibilities, little time, and I live in an area with wealthy old retired people and no active groups within about 1.5 hours. I would like to be in a game online with only a small group (3 or 4 players max) and an experienced GM, preferably playing a Pathfinder AP or something DnD 3.5. I was thinking of paying an experienced GM something like $50 a session, once per week, to entice him/her to set up the type of game I am looking for and to not be a flake. Is it acceptable to post such a listing here? Are there any other places/websites I should post a listing (we will be using Roll20 as the engine)? Does the whole "DM for hire" concept already exist or is it a rare thing? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks! -Chris

There is no system on roll20 for hiring GM/DMs but you could always set something up with someone in private if you really wanted to, I'm sure it's happened before, and likely will again.

I know from experience that you can find DMs for Hire. Though the prices vary allot of the ones I have encountered invite donations of goods rather than currency. 

It has indeed been done a number of times before.  The Roll20 staff and terms of service has nothing against it. However...  The player community does have a tendency to frown on the concept a bit, so you may want to consider carefully how you go about 'advertising'.  Whatever private arrangements you want to make is entirely your own business.  Roll20 is just an interface :)

This brings up an interesting difference to what the community usually rails against. Since this is a player offering money, it will probably not be shunned nearly as much. you should be able to find a good DM for $50.  I was heavily considering trying to be paid to GM but mostly to afford the excellent maps on the marketplace (a good price for that is like $0.25 an hour per person) but regardless, roll20 doesn't have the infrastructure for what you want, so arrangements would have to be made privately 

Mark G. said: It has indeed been done a number of times before.  The Roll20 staff and terms of service has nothing against it. However...  The player community does have a tendency to frown on the concept a bit, so you may want to consider carefully how you go about 'advertising'.  Whatever private arrangements you want to make is entirely your own business.  Roll20 is just an interface :) Important note: per the  Code of Conduct , critique of an LFG post (unless specifically requested) is not allowed. So if persons choose to try derailing an LFG post over paid services, they'll be banned from the public areas of the site.  We may have an actual policy on paid Game Mastering down the line, but for now our only rule is that folks should not be interfered with when trying to find other to game with (and similarly, if nobody is interested in your game, that's something you simply have to accept). As others have stated, any transactions you're choosing to make are outside of the site's payment systems, meaning we would not involve ourselves in a disagreement between parties engaging in paid Game Mastering.

Wow, Thank you for the clarification Nolan. It makes my DMing for Beer and Pizza sessions feel less dirty. :)

Sybercid said: Wow, Thank you for the clarification Nolan. It makes my DMing for Beer and Pizza sessions feel less dirty. :) Y-your players give you things? (._. ) lucky

Jake M. said: Sybercid said: Wow, Thank you for the clarification Nolan. It makes my DMing for Beer and Pizza sessions feel less dirty. :) Y-your players give you things? (._. ) lucky Sure! Of course I joked to one group once about doing it like a phone app. Player about to die? Pay X amount for some healing pots. Need a bit more killing power? Pay X amount for a Magical weapon. The idea got a great laugh but after the session one player did ask if I would take a donation to grant some extra character development.....ahem. Didn't do it but got a great laugh from it. 

Too bad it's Pathfinder/3.5... otherwise I would consider this.

I've highly considered selling DM services, my 16-bit games are in pretty high demand XD But always wondered the legality of it. I'm curious if it's against the terms of use, I can't really find anything like that on here.

16-bit Professor said: I've highly considered selling DM services, my 16-bit games are in pretty high demand XD But always wondered the lega lity of it. I'm curious if it's against the terms of use, I can't really find anything like that on here. It's not. Dev/Mods have said so in this very thread.

That's very interesting. I was talking to a buddy of mine who we both DM SW Saga Edition and custom tailored adventures to player specifications and brought this up at some point haha. When I DM at conventions, my players would bring me a snack or item from the shops there in return for hosting a game that's hard to come by. I had at one time some one pay me $10 a session for an interesting game of Saga Edition set in the SWTOR timeline (for people who aren't star wars fanatics, there aren't any books or system to cover this in saga edition) which I had to create books and resources for. He simply asked for a price and I said if he really wanted to pay me, I told him just cover the expenses for being a supporter on Roll20. First time doing so and my subscription was paid and then some :) Worked out great simply because I got the money to keep the sessions top notch and motivation to make custom content while also providing a neat experience for him and friends that you couldn't find readily available.

HoneyBadger said: Too bad it's Pathfinder/3.5... otherwise I would consider this. same 100%

As the original question has been answered, I'll go ahead and close the thread. Don't hesitate to start a new thread if you have any other questions or issues.