Rogue Game Masters Makes Finding Your Next TTRPG Group Easier
by Anton Kromoff
Welcome to the table,
There is a challenge in Dungeons & Dragons (and most other TTRPG) that is more difficult to overcome than multi-headed dragons, purple-robed liches, and even Wardukes with winged helms and eyes of burning hate.
The challenge that I’m speaking of is finding players, a Storyteller, and a time to have the game that works out for everyone. Between classes, work, family schedules, and the fact it is so freaking hard to make friends as an adult it seems like more often than not unless you have lucked out finding the combination of people, a place, and free time that all syncs up can be more difficult than rolling three critical hits in a row.
A up-and-coming company called Rogue Game Masters is questing to make that challenge a little less challenging.
Rogue Game Masters has emerged as a bit of a beacon in the expansive culture of TTRPGs. The site is striving to bridge the gap between seasoned storytellers and eager players. Birthed from the creative mind of Christopher Todd along side his partnership with Tower of Games — one of the only gaming stores I’ve found in my Virginia travels that is almost completely accessible — this platform serves as a digital nexus where gaming, friendships, and fun take shape.
Getting started on your path with Rogue Game Masters is fairly straightforward, as I discovered firsthand from my conversation with Christopher. After the creation of a free account on their website, you unlock a treasure trove of gaming opportunities. There is a fairly intuitive dropdown menu and search functions that allow players to effortlessly navigate a landscape teeming with one-shot adventures, board game gatherings, and TTRPG campaigns, ripe for exploration.
What sets Rogue Game Masters apart for me from the various Facebook groups and meeting based social platforms, is the spirt behind the whole thing. Rogue Game Masters strives at empowering storytellers to stake their claim in the gaming space and, rather than acting like a parent planning a play date, it gives the agency to all involved to come together and decide “We are going to do this as a group.”
Through the platform, Game Masters and Board Game Coaches can showcase their talents, setting their prices while Rogue Game Masters facilitates connections and takes a modest cut. Yet, safety remains a paramount concern in this virtual playground. Christopher assured me that prospective Game Masters undergo scrutiny, requiring multiple reviews from past players before earning their place on the platform. While not a foolproof measure, it serves as a barrier against unsavory characters seeking to tarnish the sanctity of the gaming table, ensuring a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all who dare to embark on adventures untold.
In a time where it feels like making friends is incredibly hard to many out there, Rogue Game Masters feels like a really good step in the direction of community building and fostering a more open place for everyone to enjoy the hobby.
Until next time, this is currently a mainly Virginia thing but it looks to be expanding quickly, so go give it a look and see if this kind of thing could be what you are looking for if you are in need of a table to join from in front of or behind the screen.
