Game on!
If you go back a couple of entries, you’ll see the one where I talk about my long experience with tabletop roleplaying games. And if you go back even further, you’ll see how much I resent adding the word tabletop since we were roleplaying long before computer RPGs came along. But I don’t want to get on a rant.
Roleplaying is more popular than ever. It had some cultural penetration in the ‘80s when I first started playing in earnest, but that was primarily negative, thanks to the Satanic Panic. These days, even movie stars claim to be big fans of D&D, so it’s safe to say the stigma has been, if not erased, then certainly diminished.
The problem has always been that there were more players than people willing to run games. Even with the explosion in popularity, that’s remained true. Because the world thrives on commerce, many DMs—GMs, depending on the games you prefer—have figured out a way to monetize the hobby through sites like StartPlaying.
Some players balk at the need to pay to play, but it’s a necessary evil, given the GM shortage. I’ve even toyed with the idea of doing it myself—not because I think it’s the road to riches, but because I like the idea of subsidizing my game-buying habit.
Yes, there are terrible GMs out there, and you’ll waste your money, but there are also good ones. Take time to find one and enjoy yourself.