Dollars & Dragons

LET’S GO REVIEW TRAIN

Reviews seem like a herculean task to accomplish when you’re new. You probably don’t have friends who follow through, too.

Even though it’s super easy to sign up for an account on SPG and then review your friend. Like c’mon, they ran a game for you for free for months and you can’t even be bothered to spend 5 minutes doing them a favor like this? This is exactly why you got into pro GMing – you’re under-appreciated.

Phew.

How to get more reviews:

• Ask politely after every game. e.g. “It really helps my business out if you review me.”

• Thank people who review you publicly on Discord. (So others see it and are reminded that they too, need to leave you a review.)

• Provide a mini incentive. e.g. Inspiration

Devon has confirmed that verified reviews matter a lot more than unverified reviews. Players like to see that checkmark to know that other people have spent money for your services, just like on Amazon or any other marketplace. Verified reviews are key!

However, reviews do not scale exponentially. The longer you’re GMing, the more likely you are to be playing with the same loyal players, who can only review you once. So ultimately while reviews are cool as a metric, after a certain point it becomes meaningless to your bottom line.

The ultimate goal isn’t more reviews, it’s more (or better paying) customers. Once you have enough people who rave about you and leave you a review, you stop getting reviews – because your tables are mostly full.

Some notable examples outside the norm is Dev who used to run One Shots every week. I’m sure we’d all love to be slaying it like Dev but I don’t recommend their proposed workload (20+ games a week right now.) Pray for Dev. Pray hard.

Thanks y’all, seeya soon!

Save 10% on your dScryb subscription by using my coupon code: FRIDAY

a fantasy novelist, award-winning Editor and Art Director

This week we’re talking to Lou Anders: a fantasy novelist, award-winning Editor and Art Director. We kick it off with getting into writing in the 1990s, Babylon 5 & Star Trek Monthly, as well as being on the set at Paramount.

Other topics:

Frostborn, (of the Thrones & Bones series) based on turning a Conan story on its head

Star Wars: Pirate’s Price

Beginning to write for tabletop games as a freelancer, writing for Tails of Equestria: The Curious Case of the Malfunctioning P.R.A.N.C.E.R with his 9 year old daughter

Freelancing for Kobold Press

Thrones & Bones the 5e setting and latest Kickstarter

Thrones & Bones: Norrøngard Roleplaying Game

Thrones & Bones the board game, based on hnefatafl, a Viking board game

Future sourcebooks and adventures in the Thrones & Bones setting

If you’d like to support the podcast, please consider joining the Patreon.

Rein in the table talk at your table and keep them engaged!

I received some feedback from some of my players (in more than one game) that they’d like for the sessions to kick off a bit sooner than they had been. No problem! But how did this happen?

I think it’s a fine line between getting everyone comfortable, friendly, and enjoying each others’ company. That thin line is one you’re going to have to walk as a pro GM, because people are paying you for the game – but they also want to enjoy the camaraderie of the table.

Anyway, I came up with what I believe is an elegant solution: I’m offloading this onto my players. (lol)

I’m appointing a Master of Gossip who has these responsibilities:

• Determine the length of the pre-game gossip period (through polling the table.)

• Make calls on whether or not we’ll continue with gossip if we run over time.

• Hold me accountable as the GM to run the game.

Let me know what you think, as always.

Save 10% on your dScryb subscription by using my coupon code: FRIDAY

Talking with Head of Operations and Customer at StartPlaying Games

This was released early to my patrons. If you enjoy the podcast please consider supporting me!

Siyarin is the Head of Customer and Operations at StartPlaying.Games. We talk about the platform in this ep; Safety Tools, GM trends, customer satisfaction, and tips for success.

DM’s Guild, StartPlaying Games, streaming, and more!

For this ep we got to chat with V.J. Harris of DM’s Guild bestselling fame! He also performs on Total Party Kiss, Starlight Tales, and you can check out their work on DMs Guild here.

Or check out Arcadia or Flee! Mortals 

V.J. Harris is working with us on the Vineyard to produce some incredible statblocks for our villains.

There’s a much better way to conduct business

I wouldn’t say that I’m quiet about my stance on AI art.

It’s unethical in its current form (and likely will continue to be.) So instead of covering all the things that are better covered by other people… I’ll give you an example of how you can support artists and others in your community.

First, I reached out to an artist that I respected and admired, Nala.

I presented the terms to Nala:

• My players will request portraits from you.

• I provide them with a free session after you are paid.

They were skeptical about what my pitch was at first (perhaps because there isn’t a % cut going to me.) That being said: there isn’t a lot to be made if you’re trying to take a slice from an artist. Most freelancing artists barely make a living, as is. In essence, it’s a “value add”.

A value add for your community is when you are giving back. Some do it with gifts (minis, art) or you can do it in the way that I do: deals.

Most of the time you just need to reach out and ask people you work with to see if they’d like the boost or business. Help your friends. A rising tide lifts all boats.

Other value adds for my community:

50% off the courses from B. Dave Walters (huge wisdom dump for pro GMs/Players.)

10% off dScryb! In partnering with dScryb I’ve planted my flag firmly in their camp. They provide an incredible value and I’m proud to be associated with them. Boxed text, ambience, music, sound FX, and even some maps with all those elements prepared for you. You can link your players to the soundscapes without an install – seamless and easy. If you use FoundryVTT there’s a module, too!

If you’re interested to join my Discord community and chat, here’s the link. If you wanna chat about pro GM stuff, you’ll have to support me on Patreon for access to the exclusive pro GM category.

Thanks for reading!

YouTube, parenting, content creation, and commentors

I had the pleasure of chatting with LegalKimchi, D&D YouTuber and actual attorney. We chatted about: Being a parent while juggling content creation and his work on The Vineyard.

https://www.youtube.com/@LegalKimchi

TTRPG Safety Toolkit, cyberpunk, and The Vineyard

I chatted with the badass Kienna Shaw about the TTRPG Safety Toolkit, working on Candlekeep Mysteries, her cyberpunk setting Arcon, and her contributions to the Vineyard!

bit.ly/ttrpgsafetytoolkit

https://metalweavegames.com/products/arcon

twitter.com/KiennaS

kiennas.carrd.co

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider pre-ordering The Vineyard RPG!

https://the-vineyard-rpg.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders?ref=dollarsanddragons

What’s it like to LARP?

Today we talked with my old buddy Dave who I’ve played games with for 15+ years! We talked about LARPs (live-action roleplay,) old-school RPGs known as MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons), and his contributions to The Vineyard!

https://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/

Dollars & Dragons Newsletter

An NPC can be made memorable with the smallest of details or inflections of ‘character’. Here’s some story-starters for your NPCs so you can remain armed the next time you’re caught flat-footed in a new direction. Drop these, then improv from there!

1. The Highschool Quarterback

   1. “Back when I was a young fella I was the strongest lad in Phandalin. Once I hit an owlbear in the head and knocked’em clean out, I tell ya’s.”

   2. “When I was your age I was knocking back ten mugs a night and still up early to chop trees. One and done? Haw!”

2. The Rent-A-Boyfriend

   1. “I need you to do something for me. Pretend to be my boyfriend for five minutes. My ex will be coming back from the docks soon and I want him to see us having a good time.”

   2. “My ex keeps following me. Don’t hurt him, just scare him off, would you?”

3. The Perv

   1. “I was reading this new romance book ‘Bugbearly Fits’. You look like the type to enjoy it. Here. Let me know what you think.”

4. Your #1 Fan

   1. “Wowee do you actually make use of all fifteen of those weapons? What’s the biggest monster you’ve killed!?”

5. The Arbiter

   1. “Hey, you there. We’re having this argument and want you to help us settle this.”