Re: re:Freeflow Games & paying 2 play

From: Steve Pritchard <Steve@spelbind.demon.co.uk>

Date: Tue, 09 Jul 1996 00:00:00 +0000

> Finally I'd like to address this rather strange 'moralistic' objection
> to paying the person who is spending so much time writing turns for you.
> No roleplaying PBM charges enough to give its moderator more than he/she
> could earn cleaning tables at McDonalds, its a very labour intensive
> business.

Not just RPG PBM either, most commercial PBM is not the greatest way of
earning a fortune. The job satisfaction is way higher than cleaning tables
in McDonalds, but the payback ain't. Most full-time PBM GM's tend to be
dediated, passionate folk who can take the low wage along with the fun
they get and give.

> There seems to be an attitude amongst some people that the
> word 'commercial' is some how dirty and the concept of a 'cerebral'
> activity such as roleplaying should not be sullied by association with
> it. I would say that these attitudes are silly and naieve.

I role-play once a week for a few hours and have done for more years
than I care to commnet on. I have run (and do run) games both for free
(for friends) and for money. I am a PBM GM as a profession and always
puzzle over people who seem to think that this is some sort of immoral
way of earning a living. These are the same people that will happily
stump up Fifty Quid for the latest, dubious "RPG"-style PC game, but
shudder at the thought of coughing up around three pounds for a couple of
pages of someones creative effort, and then having the fun of giving
the same back to them in return. Certainly odd, but an attitude that I
can't see going away.

> 	I expect this notelet will spark a 'holier than thou' war.
> 	Go for it :)

It always does....

Steve Pritchard

References

re:freeflow games & paying 2 play
Williams <mlwilliams@taz.dra.hmg.gb>
Tue, 09 Jul 1996 00:00:00 +0000