GameMaster Supported By Players

[wcw43921]

I remember hearing several years ago, either in an anti-RPG rant or a report on an anti-RPG rant, about a gaming group who paid for all their GameMaster's needs--rent, food, utilities, etc.--so that she could have all her time free to design and prepare adventures for the group. She was supposed to have some sort of cult-leader-type influence over her players--like I said, this was part of an anti-RPG rant.

The thing is that I'm not too clear on the specifics, and it's entirely possible I'm remembering it wrong, or the anti-RPG crowd misrepresented the facts to make it seem all dark and terrible. Does anyone know if there's anything factual to this story, or is it just a big brown steaming load of anti-gaming propaganda? Does anyone know of a situation like this, where a GM's players provided regular financial and/or other support above and beyond just showing up and chipping in for munchies and beverages, and maybe gaming materials?

I'm sure most of us have wondered what it would be like to have all the free time you could ask for to do nothing but game and game again--maybe some of us out there have found a way to make it happen.

[Captain Obvious]

I've never heard of this myself, but if any group of players out there would like to give it a shot, I'll give it a try as GM.

[MarkusDark]

I know that many more far fetched ideas have happened. I currently know someone who is having her phone paid, her moving expenses taken care of and her first month's rent paid by someone who 'worships her' and all she does is give tarot card readings to this person - which she also pays for. Although I doubt it happened, people have done far more for far less gratification.

[Super Squirrel]

I had someone claim, once, they caused my car accident to teach me a lesson. I burst my gut laughing after she left the room.

[BlackSword]

Granted, completely random people helped to pay for Karyn's credit card debt (savekaryn.com). In England a woman raised money for, um, enhancements.

People will do strange things.

The only problem with GMing a cult, is if you annoy them suddenly you deal with angry cultists, and that never turns out good.

I am to the point now of nearly wanting to join a cult just to game some.

--
Dan

[buzz]

Originally posted by wcw43921
Does anyone know if there's anything factual to this story, or is it just a big brown steaming load of anti-gaming propaganda? Does anyone know of a situation like this, where a GM's players provided regular financial and/or other support above and beyond just showing up and chipping in for munchies and beverages, and maybe gaming materials?

This urban legend, and its variations, makes the rounds of the 'Net's rpg messageboards every couple of months. A variant that comes up on ENWorld (to everyone's chagrin) is the "pay to play" myth, i.e., DMs who charge for their services.

It's all BS.

Not that chipping in for munchies and helping clean up after the game shouldn't be considered a standard courtesy for any gaming group.

[DoctorItron]

Add up all the RPGers, and then apply the chance that people will form a cult, and I'd say yes, it's likely that some RPG group has become a cult and paid their GM's living expenses. I haven't seen proof, though.

Even if the above did happen, it doesn't indicate any link between RPGs and cults. Hell, a few years there was that Heaven's Gate cult that wore black Nike (?) sneakers and committed suicide. That doesn't mean Nike was responsible.

[Wormhole]

Gaming cults paying all their GM's expenses? That settles it; I'm going to start the first church of Branch Wormholians today.

[Mark Taylor]

I don't buy any munchies, my group gets them all. Fair enough really, considering I basically buy all the gaming books. Worshipped as a 'cult leader' however, I am not. Though they do occasionaly praise my abilities as a GM.

[Al_Beddow]

IN my group, most of the people have their own funds. We do have two young girls (recently turned 18) who are often low on funds and the rest of us just chip in to help buy them a pop or lunch.


I do know of one group where the GM gives the players experiance points based on the dollar value of what they get her, as far as snacks and new gaming materials goes. This comes from the fact that they play "amber diceless" and it has all kinds of experiance awards for drawing pictures, keeping the GM's log, etc.

[Pattern Ghost]

Originally posted by Al_Beddow

I do know of one group where the GM gives the players experiance points based on the dollar value of what they get her, as far as snacks and new gaming materials goes. This comes from the fact that they play "amber diceless" and it has all kinds of experiance awards for drawing pictures, keeping the GM's log, etc.

Just wanted to point out that that's totally against the spirit of the rules for ADRPG. It should be self-evident, but I thought I'd point it out anyway.

Well, off to start a cult...cool idea!

[MarkusDark]

Originally posted by BlackSword


The only problem with GMing a cult, is if you annoy them suddenly you deal with angry cultists, and that never turns out good.

Dan

The secret to running a cult is finding people who are of like mindedness as yourself, so that the chance of annoyance is very small. Why do you think that most cults have membership of 100 or less in a country of 540 million? Hard to keep them loyal.

The other thing is that you have to be sensitive to your cultists - realize when they may be getting annoyed and then placate them with a special task with special rewards - even if those rewards are something simple - as getting three six sided dice that the All Powerful GM used as a boy.

[The Mad GM]

I helped a friend out with rent and gas money, and he was GMing at the time. If he hadn't been GMing, I would still have helped.

Otherwise, the most I've heard of is free munchies.

But I can still dream, can't I?