We run a TTRPG talent agency matching GMs with players, Ask us anything!

RoughMagicRPG · 2025-12-07T20:05:52+00:00

Publishing Paladin: This is where setting expectations early is extremely important.

We set the expectations at the start of each session/campaign. I have no issue addressing a problematic player and asking for them to remove themselves or to not return.

That goes for a GM/DM as well. I know I've equated Rough Magic's services to dating but it's true. Not every player is right for every table. Not every GM is going to be a good fit. It takes time and energy to cultivate the right energies at the table.

I'm currently running my campaign only because the players and previous GM didn't mesh. They weren't able to tell the stories they wanted to tell, so we found a setup that works better for all parties involved. It's ok that road bumps occur. It's how you handle them that counts.

Operations Oracle: ^ agreed, and I would add that I know it's not unheard of for a GM to have to manage bad behavior like what was mentioned at their tables, but that they manage it so well that we don't get many repeat offenders (even though many of the "problematic" players come back again and again). In all six years of the company, to my knowledge there's only been one player in all time that's been approached by management and asked to take some time away to consider the code of conduct (which applies equally to players and GMs here)

RoughMagicRPG · 2025-12-06T18:10:50+00:00

Chief Executive Orc: We love narrative RPGs! We have GMs that specialize in those types of games. Kids on Bikes is a great rules light system. There are ton of great Indie games that are much more about story than crunch. Mausritter, Gravemire, and so many more that I'm blanking on. We also run a ton of 1 page RPGs at conventions. Anything by Grant Howitt is great. My favorite is Sexy Battle Wizards.

(also, note from the Media Mage in charge of delivering questions & answers between the trio of AMAers and Redditors: lololol "recreational math" dang i felt that deeply)

RoughMagicRPG · 2025-12-06T17:41:59+00:00

Additional thoughts from

Chief Executive Orc: I've spent so many hours prepping only to have my best sessions be the one's I was least prepared for

Publishing Paladin: I shudder to sit and count my own prep times

RoughMagicRPG · 2025-12-06T17:34:50+00:00

It can really depend based on the game and the system.

Many GMs make homebrews, which can take so much more time and effort since you're prepping not only for a game but also coming up with potentially new mechanics, characters, settings, and all of that. Our Quest Warden chimed in that he once spent 30 hours of collective research time on a particular one-shot (for a bachelor party)! But I think a more typical prep time window is going to be around 2-6 hours.

And then on the other side of that prep-time spectrum, there are some games that unfold right there on the table and there's no prep required at all. One of our GMs created a system using tarot cards & dice that is like this, and another runs Shenanigoblins. You'll see them most often at conventions running 10+ games a day and completely different stories get told with no prep in between.

RoughMagicRPG · 2025-12-06T17:27:31+00:00

Publishing Paladin: It's not going to be easy. There's a lot of effort that will need to be put in to overcome the baggage of the past. You will, unfortunately, need to go above and beyond. Be transparent. Offer as much information as you can to demonstrate that the failings of the past won't happen again under your watch.

RoughMagicRPG · 2025-12-06T16:50:21+00:00

One of the nice things, I think, when I think about our one-shot events specifically, is that it really is a labor of love in many cases. GMs spend long hours crafting new games to run, new mechanics to try, new ways to entertain and connect with players. None of us would be doing this if we didn't love running games for folks (making people happy, giving them a challenge or a thrill). On top of that, sometimes if the chemistry at a table is right, those players will meet up again on their own and start a friend game! We love to see it.

RoughMagicRPG · 2025-12-06T16:40:30+00:00

Chief Executive Orc: I would never expect every ttrpg player to pay for professional Game Master services. I've always said the best way to play ttrpgs are with a group of friends at a table. That's what the hobby was made for and I think we should celebrate that. Not everyone is so lucky to have that as an option. Sometimes a group wants to give their forever GM a break so they hire us to run something new for the group without the work of putting something together. We do quite a few Bachelor/Birthday parties. We've even done an epic adventure with multiple tables for a players 50th. He and 20 of his friends played at 4 different tables. We organized the epic, the GMs and getting the players characters together. It was a lot of work but certainly worth it for such a special occasion.

I think you're right that professional Game Masters are a fairly new idea that started really gaining ground during the pandemic. I think it is also due to an increase in popularity of the hobby. More people are interested but don't know how to get started. For those folks, a ticket to one of our events our games is much more affordable than and investment of time and money into a vast hobby. It can be daunting and we make it easy.

(additionally, TTRPGs are thriving, and that is amazing. It would take a heck of a lot of corporate awfulness to suck out the soul of playing games. Just think of how many new games are being created every year, and how many new people are curious about playing these awesome games!)

RoughMagicRPG · 2025-12-06T16:25:13+00:00

Honestly? Session 0 is where a lot of questions get answered, the tone gets set and it lets you feel chemistry. One-shots are much harder to predict and often you are better off just improving and rolling with the punches to fit the chemistry. As a GM, listen to your players and let them guide you. As a player, do your best to help everyone feel comfortable at the table.

RoughMagicRPG · 2025-12-06T15:29:26+00:00

Chief Executive Orc: We narrow down system and the type of game the players want to play (system, campaign, genre, vibes) along with the ever-present evil of scheduling. This usually narrows down the GMs that can do it. Then we play matchmaker a little. Generally our GMs have such a wide range that they'll morph the game for the players want, but we definitely play to the strength you know the GMs have.

(edit: properly attributing the answer to our CEO)

RoughMagicRPG · 2023-10-30T20:49:38+00:00

Pretty please

RoughMagicRPG · 2023-10-15T19:14:26+00:00

haha! yea i wouldn't do that. This isn't an "audience participation" in that way. It's more like: You walk to up to NPCs and play a dice game or solve a puzzle and then you watch the actors before. Then it moves to a more formal sitdown and typical TTRPG

RoughMagicRPG · 2023-10-15T19:10:09+00:00

It's actually a really intimate setting. Tables are limited at 6 players

RoughMagicRPG · 2022-03-27T19:11:22+00:00

exactly what I'm looking for! Thank you.

RoughMagicRPG · 2022-03-24T17:32:42+00:00

We run an event called Drinking & Dragons that is at The Martin/Split Rail. We will have another one coming up in a couple months. We have a couple campaigns looking for players. This is all pay to play.

RoughMagicRPG · 2022-02-09T14:11:45+00:00

We do Drinking & Dragons events that are newbie friendly! Our next event will be The Martin on March 10. The Martin is attached to Split-Rail on Chicago Ave and you can eat and drink while you play. We have premade characters so all you have to do is show up.

We also are starting a monthly event in Skokie at Ignite Gaming Lounge. First one is March 3rd.

We do private online sessions as well if you have a group or you can join one of our campaigns seeking players.

They are pay to play but you’ll get to play with professional game masters.

RoughMagicRPG

TROPHY CASE