What is Table Splitting?
Splitting Tables happens when a Game Master has a game listed on StartPlaying, but not all players for that game are registered through StartPlaying.
If a game is listing on StartPlaying, everyone playing needs to be registered with StartPlaying.
What is an Example of Table Splitting?
A split table is a table where not everyone is registered with StartPlaying.
If a GM has a game listed on StartPlaying with 5 total players playing, but only 3 are registered on StartPlaying, that is table splitting.
If a GM has a game listed on StartPlaying with 2 unregistered players from Roll20 forums and 2 players from StartPlaying, that is table splitting.
Is having my friends from outside StartPlaying play in my games Table Splitting?
As long as your friends make a StartPlaying account and sign up for the game through the website, that is not Table Splitting.
It would be Table Splitting to have friends from outside StartPlaying play in your game if they:
Did not have a StartPlaying account, and
Did not sign up for the game on StartPlaying
To add friends to your games for free (once they make an account) you can follow the steps in this FAQ page.
What does the Terms of Service say about Table Splitting?
The StartPlaying Terms of Service states:
Do not split tables. All players participating in a session listed on StartPlaying must be registered and paying through StartPlaying.
If a game is listed on StartPlaying, all players must be registered through StartPlaying.
Even if they are free players, or if you found them off of StartPlaying, they must be registered for your game on StartPlaying.
If you are found to have a split table, this will result in a strike on your account, or a ban and removal from the platform.