As a Game Master on StartPlaying, the best way to stand out and start getting bookings is to fully complete your profile, create detailed game listings, and stay responsive to players. This article covers the key best practices for each area.
Key Terms to Know
Game Template — The blueprint for your game. Contains all the important details about your game except dates and times.
Adventure — Your live campaign or one-shot listing, created from a Game Template. This is what shows up on the Find Games page.
Session — The actual game you run with your players. An Adventure can have one or many sessions.
Instant Book — A setting that allows players to book your game without needing your approval first.
How do I get started as a new GM on StartPlaying?
If you're brand new, we strongly recommend attending a GM Success Webinar before diving in.
These free, 90 minute sessions cover the main tools and features of StartPlaying, give you advice on writing great listings, and give you a space to ask questions.
How should I fill out my GM profile?
Your profile is often the first thing a player sees before booking with you. Fill it out as completely as possible so players feel like they know you before they even reach out.
Consider addressing the following in your profile:
What do you love about playing these games?
How long have you been playing?
What kinds of games do you like to run?
What makes you special as a Game Master?
What should my GM profile picture look like?
Your profile picture should be clear, engaging, well-lit, and show a bit of your personality. Avoid dark, grainy, or overly casual shots. A bright, expressive photo draws players in and looks more professional.
How do I set up my first game listing?
You'll need to create a Game Template first, then use it to create an Adventure, and finally once you have enough players schedule Sessions for that Adventure.
The process in order:
Create a Game Template
Get your Game Template approved (takes 24–48 hours on average)
Create an Adventure from your Template
Have Players Join
Schedule Sessions
When filling out your game description, aim for 2–3 paragraphs and give players as much information as possible about what they'll be doing. Make sure to let players know if they'll need a webcam, mic, or any specific software.
Can I use licensed or copyrighted art for my game image?
No. Using licensed or copyrighted art will result in your Game Template not being approved. We have a Google Drive folder with art available for GMs to use for free.
How do I attract new players to my game?
How important is my game listing description?
It's one of the most important factors in getting bookings. A fully filled-out listing lets players understand exactly what the Adventure will be like, what they'll need to bring, what safety tools you use, and more.
We find it best to approach your game description like the back of a book:
2-4 paragraphs at most.
Telling the reader what their character can expect from the adventure.
We usually recommend not to do a huge lore dump. (That can be in your prep materials)
Should I use Instant Book?
Our data shows that games with Instant Book turned on have a 30% higher conversion rate than games without it. We strongly recommend enabling it.
How many sessions should I have scheduled at once?
We recommend having 3–5 sessions scheduled for any active campaign for the best booking rate. Remember, 99% of bookings come from Game Search and not from your GM profile page.
Should I offer pre-generated character sheets?
Yes, especially if you want to attract new TTRPG players. Many players on StartPlaying are booking their very first tabletop game.
Having a pre-generated character sheet option makes it easy for them to jump in. It's also great for last-second bookings.
What are Recruiting Notes and should I use them?
Recruiting Notes are a short 1–2 line addition to your game listing. Use them to share quick, current details like:
What are the current party members playing as?
What level is the party at?
Do you have a start date in mind for a new campaign?
Keep them brief! Recruiting Notes are meant to supplement the listing, not replace the description.
How do I use previous players to fill my game?
Invite players you've played with before to join your StartPlaying games. When new players are browsing, seeing filled seats builds confidence and encourages them to book.
This is one of the fastest ways for new GMs to get their first games off the ground.
How do I fill out Prep Materials?
Prep Materials are part of making an Adventure and are only visible to players who have joined your game. Use it for your Discord link, Zoom link, a welcome message, and anything else players need before Session 1.
GMs who fill out Prep Materials see higher player retention.
How do I keep my players safe and comfortable?
Use clear content warnings and safety tools in your game listing so players know what to expect before they book. When players feel safe and like their input matters, they're more likely to keep booking with you.
Common safety tools include:
Session 0: A pre-game session to discuss themes and boundaries
Lines and Veils: Set non-negotiable limits and sensitive topics handled off-screen
X-Card: Allows any player to discreetly flag discomfort mid-game
All games on StartPlaying are required to have content warnings.
What are the image requirements for StartPlaying ads?
We advertise your games for you!
StartPlaying advertises your games via a product catalog on Facebook and Instagram. To make sure your game is included, your listing must meet these specifications:
Product Catalog Specifications
Game image must be in
.jpegform and under 1MBGame must be listed as public
Instant Book must be on
At least 3 sessions must be scheduled for active campaigns
How do reviews work for Game Masters?
Reviews are critical to building your reputation on StartPlaying. All players who attend one of your sessions can leave a review afterward. You can also send your review link to up to 20 players you've played with in the past.
Verified Review: From a player who has played with you on StartPlaying. Includes a blue checkmark and shows how many games you've played together.
Unverified Review : From a player who has played with you outside of StartPlaying (e.g. at a convention or through a friend group). No blue checkmark.
For more detail, see: How Do I Get Reviews on StartPlaying?
How important is communication as a GM?
Very important. If a player messages you, respond promptly. If someone applies for your game, approve or deny them quickly. Make sure players have all the information they need well before the session starts.
Common questions from new GMs
If you’re having trouble filling up your game, test and experiment! Change the title to something new or more descriptive, swap out your artwork, etc.
The average time for a new GM joining the site to running a paid game is about 3 weeks. (give or take 2 weeks)
How much should I charge per session?
The average price on StartPlaying is $15–$20 per session per player, but charge what feels right for you. You can always raise your prices as you grow.
What Virtual Tabletop (VTT) should I use?
Use whatever VTT you run your best game with. Players are generally more focused on having a great GM than on the specific VTT. Some GMs don't use a VTT at all and run entirely Theater of the Mind.
When is the best time to schedule games?
Run games on a schedule that works for you. That said, our data shows that evening and weekend games in US time zones see the most bookings. Midday and European prime-time slots also perform well.
How long should my sessions be?
Most games on StartPlaying are 2–3 or 3–4 hours long. We recommend listing a 1-hour spread (e.g. 2–3 hours). Players have expressed hesitancy around spreads wider than 1 hour (e.g. 1–3 hours).
When do players typically book?
Around 50% of players book 10–13 days before a session. The other 50% book within 48 hours of the game. Keeping sessions scheduled well in advance captures both groups.
How long does it take to run my first paid game as a new GM?
The average time from signing up to running a first paid game is about 3 weeks (give or take 2 weeks).
What if I'm struggling to fill my game?
Experiment! Try updating your title, swapping your artwork, or adjusting your schedule. Also check that Instant Book is enabled and that you have at least 3 sessions scheduled.
While D&D 5e is the most popular system on StartPlaying, other systems can be very successful too. StartPlaying regularly hosts events and gaming weekends to help expose players to new games. Keep an eye on the GM Discord for announcements.