Getting Started as a GM
What is TTRPGoblin and why should I run games here?
TTRPGoblin is a session management platform for tabletop RPGs in Singapore. It handles player discovery, signups, approvals, reminders, payments, and feedback — so you can focus on running great games instead of admin. Think of it as your game ops team, built into Telegram.
How is TTRPGoblin different from just organising sessions myself?
Running games involves a lot of thankless admin — chasing payments, managing signups, sending reminders, handling cancellations. TTRPGoblin takes all of that off your plate. You still create your group chat and run the session, but the platform handles the rest: notifying interested players when you schedule, managing approvals, tracking who's paid, and sending automated reminders. The more you run, the more your profile and waitlists grow — so future sessions fill faster with less effort.
How do I create a GM account?
Send /gmsignup to the TTRPGoblin bot on Telegram, or click here. You'll be guided through a short setup process to create your GM profile. Once done, you get a GM landing page and can start creating modules and sessions. All new GMs start with a 30-day free trial with full Session Master access — no commitment needed to get started.
Do I need experience to run games on TTRPGoblin?
No — the platform is designed to support GMs at all experience levels. New GMs can start by creating a module with a waitlist to gauge interest before committing to specific dates.
Is there a cost to run games on TTRPGoblin?
There is a free Explorer tier with basic access. Paid plans (One Shot Runner, Session Master, World Builder) unlock additional sessions per month, full publishing to platform channels, and premium features. New GMs also get a 30-day free trial with full Session Master access — most GMs earn back the cost of a subscription in their very first session. See the Subscription Tiers section for full details.
Does TTRPGoblin take a cut of my session fees?
No. TTRPGoblin does not charge any commission or platform fee on player payments. Revenue for the platform comes from GM subscriptions only. Everything players pay you is yours.
Modules and Sessions — Understanding the Difference
What is a module?
Preparing a one-shot takes real effort — a module makes sure that effort pays off as many times as possible. It's a reusable game template: the system, the story, the description, and the image. You create it once and run it as many times as you like by scheduling sessions from it. It also holds a waitlist, so players can express interest before you've committed to a date — useful for gauging demand on ideas you haven't fully fleshed out yet. When you schedule a session from a module, all waitlisted players are notified automatically.
What is a session?
A session is a specific scheduled game with a confirmed date, time, player slots, location or online details, and a price. Players sign up for sessions.
Do I need to create a module before creating a session?
No — you can create a standalone one-off session directly from the "Create Session" button in your GM dashboard. This is great for playtesting, trying something new, or when you're not sure if you'll run it again. After the session, the platform will check in with you and offer to turn it into a module if you'd like to run it again and build a waitlist around it.
When should I create a module instead?
If you know you'll want to run the adventure more than once, or want to build a waitlist before committing to a date — create a module first. It's also the right move if you have an idea you're not sure players will bite on, or if you have several games you want to run and want to prioritise based on where interest actually lands. Modules let demand tell you what to schedule next.
Can I run the same module multiple times?
Yes — that's one of the key benefits. Each time you run a module, you create a new session from it. Players who waitlisted previously will be notified automatically when you publish the new session.
How many modules can I create?
It depends on your subscription tier. Explorer: 3 modules total. One Shot Runner and above: unlimited modules.
Can I edit a module after creating it?
Yes. You can update the description, image, system, or other details at any time. Changes apply to future sessions but don't affect already-published sessions.
Creating and Publishing Sessions
How do I create a session?
From your GM dashboard, tap "Create Session." You can create a standalone one-off session or link it to an existing module. You'll set the date, time, player count, location or online details, and price. Once saved, you can publish it.
What happens when I publish a session?
When you save a session, it's published to your dedicated game group chat and GM channel. By default it also broadcasts to the @ttrpgoblin platform channel and sends a Telegram notification to your module's waitlisted players — this is controlled by the Public game toggle in the session creation form, which is on by default. Switching it to private disables the platform channel post and waitlist notifications.
What is the "private" option when publishing?
Toggling the Public game option off sets a session to private — it's only announced to your dedicated game group and GM channel. It won't appear on the @ttrpgoblin platform channel and waitlisted players won't receive notifications. Use this for invite-only sessions or when you're not ready for full public promotion.
Can Explorer tier GMs publish sessions?
Yes — Explorer GMs can publish sessions to their dedicated game group chat. Sessions won't appear on the @ttrpgoblin platform channel or generate waitlist notifications. Upgrading to a paid plan unlocks full publishing reach.
How does the session image work?
If your module has an image, it's used automatically when publishing a session. Sessions with images generally get better engagement. The ability to set a custom image on a specific session (overriding the module image) is available on the World Builder tier.
Can I set a price for my sessions?
Yes — paid tier GMs (One Shot Runner and above) can charge players for sessions. Explorer tier GMs run free sessions only.
What is a host and how does host approval work?
A host is the person providing the venue — often a player opening up their home for the session. Because it's their space, they get a say in who comes: the platform sends them the same player approval notifications as you, and a player needs both GM and host approval to join. The host typically plays for free as part of the arrangement, and the platform handles this automatically when you designate them on your session.
What if I'm running at a boardgame café or rented studio?
If you're renting a space yourself (a boardgame café, studio, or similar), there's no third-party host to approve players — you're in full control. Just set yourself as the host when creating the session. The venue name is what players will see as the location.
What happens if I don't hit my minimum player count?
The platform alerts you 8 days before the session if you haven't reached your minimum, giving you enough time to decide whether to push ahead, open more slots, or cancel. When you set up a session, the platform also suggests a minimum and maximum player count based on your past preferences, the host's space, and the game system — so you're not starting from scratch each time.
Managing Players and Approvals
How does player signup work?
Players tap the signup button on the session announcement. Their request comes to you for review. You can approve or decline each player through your GM tools.
Do I have to approve every player?
Yes — you have full control over who joins your sessions. You can approve or decline any signup.
What happens to players I don't approve?
Declined players are not notified. Once the session closes, they're added to the module waitlist (if they haven't been already) so they can be notified when you run the session again.
What happens if a player signs up when the session is already full?
They're added to the session queue. You'll get a lightweight Telegram notification letting you know, but there's nothing for you to do — no approval needed while the session is full. The player is told they're in the queue and will be notified if a spot opens. If a spot does open (e.g. an approved player cancels), you'll get a fresh approval request for each queued player with their full stats, in the order they joined. If a queued player never makes it in, they're automatically added to the module waitlist so they'll be notified when you run the session again.
Can I leave players in a pending state rather than approving or rejecting them?
Yes — if your session is full but you want to keep certain players as backup in case someone drops out, you can leave their signups unapproved rather than rejecting them. They stay in line behind any queued players. The platform also nudges players who have been waiting in this state for 7 or more days, prompting them to cancel if their availability has changed — so the queue stays fresh without any action needed from you.
Can I set a maximum player count?
Yes. You set the total player slots when creating the session. Once all slots are filled, new signups go on a session waitlist.
What are anonymous players?
Anonymous players are a feature for trusted GMs who want to add an off-platform participant (e.g. a friend who doesn't use Telegram) to a session. The system uses a pool of 20 TTRPG-themed pseudonyms (like "Shadowblade" or "Dice Oracle") so the session announcement looks natural. Anonymous players don't receive automated notifications and can't earn badges. Use this sparingly — the platform works best when everyone is on it.
How do I add an anonymous player to my session?
Contact TTRPGoblin support via the bot. We'll add the anonymous player with a pseudonym for you.
Can I see a player's history before approving them?
Yes. When a player applies for your session you'll receive a Telegram notification with their key details inline — their session count, rating, and systems played — so you can make a call without leaving the chat.
Can I see information about my approved players as a group?
Yes — your session detail page shows a Table Overview for all approved players: how many are new to you, their average sessions on the platform, how well they know each other, and their player archetypes (Achiever, Socialiser, Philanthropist, and more). You can also see a player connections map showing who has played with whom before and how many times. It's genuinely useful for calibrating tone and pacing before the session starts.
The Waitlist System
What is the module waitlist?
The module waitlist is a list of players who've expressed interest in playing your module. It's separate from the session signup — it's a "notify me when this runs" list. It's one of the most powerful tools on the platform because it means you always have an audience ready when you schedule.
How do players get onto my module waitlist?
Players can join your module waitlist from the @ttrpgoblin Telegram channel, the games browse page at games.ttrpgoblin.com, or your GM profile page — which automatically lists all your modules and upcoming sessions. Many GMs share their profile link on social media for exactly this reason: it's always up to date without any manual work.
Do waitlisted players get notified automatically?
Yes. When you publish a new session from a module, the system automatically sends a Telegram notification to all waitlisted players within 24 hours. The notification includes the session details and a signup link.
What happens to waitlisted players after a session closes?
Players who played the session are marked as "played" on the module waitlist. Players who signed up but weren't approved, or who cancelled, are kept as "interested" so they'll still be notified when you run it again.
What if a player signs up for a session directly without being on the module waitlist?
If they don't make it in — whether they weren't approved, cancelled, or were queued but didn't get a spot — the system automatically adds them to the module waitlist so they'll be notified when you run it again. Players who do successfully join the session are not added to the waitlist, since they've already played it.
Can I send a scheduling link to my waitlist?
Yes. From your module management page, you can trigger a scheduling link message to all interested waitlisted players. This sends them a link to a scheduling poll where they can indicate their availability. A 5-day cooldown prevents spamming the same players repeatedly.
Does the platform tell me when my waitlisted players are available?
Yes — if players have set their availability in the platform, the system analyses overlaps and notifies you (via Telegram DM) when multiple waitlisted players share a free window. This is available for paid tier GMs.
Scheduling Tools
How does availability matching work?
Players can set their general availability (days and times they're free) through the bot. For each of your modules, the platform calculates overlapping windows where multiple waitlisted players are all available and sends you a notification highlighting the best times to schedule.
Can I see availability info when I'm creating a session?
Yes. Your module scheduling page shows availability windows as clickable buttons. Tapping one opens the session creation form with the date and time pre-filled — very useful for picking times that work for the most players.
What is a scheduling poll?
A scheduling poll lets you propose up to 5 potential dates to your module waitlist. Players receive a Telegram message with a link to a simple page where they can indicate which dates they're free. You can see the results and pick the best time from there. Trigger it from your module's Scheduling Tools page.
Can I get a calendar feed of all my upcoming sessions?
Yes — paid tier GMs get a personal calendar subscription link (ICS format) that shows all your scheduled sessions. Subscribe to it in Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or any calendar app and your sessions appear automatically as you create them. No manual updates needed.
Mini-Series and Campaigns
What is a mini-series?
A mini-series is a short multi-session story arc (typically 3–4 sessions) linked together as a group. It sits between a one-shot and a full campaign — more depth than a single session, less commitment than an ongoing campaign.
How does a mini-series work on TTRPGoblin?
A mini-series is set up via the session creation form — toggle the mini-series option on when creating your sessions to link them as a series. All session dates are announced together in a single post so players know exactly what they're committing to upfront. If you need help structuring a mini-series, reach out and we'll walk you through it.
How do campaigns differ from mini-series?
Campaigns are longer ongoing stories with a committed player group, typically running for many sessions over weeks or months.
Do campaigns have their own management tools?
Yes. Your GM dashboard has a dedicated Campaigns section showing all your active campaigns, enrolled players, sessions scheduled, and links to each group chat. From there you can create new sessions, edit dates, and manage everything directly. Campaign tooling is actively growing — we'd love to hear what you need. We're also testing and developing campaign recruitment features to help GMs find players for ongoing games.
Payments
How does session pricing work?
You set the price when creating a session. Paid tier GMs (One Shot Runner and above) can charge players for sessions. Explorer tier GMs run free sessions only.
How do players pay me?
Players pay you directly — currently via cash, PayNow, PayLah, or whatever method you prefer. TTRPGoblin does not currently process payments between players and GMs, but digital payment processing is coming soon. There is no platform fee taken from player payments.
What is payment tracking?
The Payments section in your GM dashboard gives you a real-time view of your earnings — broken down by billing period and lifetime, with a per-session breakdown showing how much has been collected and how many players have settled. You can mark individual players as paid, pending, or waived directly from there. No separate spreadsheet needed.
What does "waived" mean in payment tracking?
Waived means the player doesn't need to pay — typically used for the session host (if hosting at their home, they sometimes play for free as part of the hosting arrangement). The platform handles this automatically for designated hosts.
What are GM credits and how do they work?
You can issue credits to players — for example, as a goodwill gesture if a session had to be cancelled or a player had a bad experience. Credits are stored in the player's wallet and automatically applied to reduce their payment on a future session you run. GM-issued credits net out of what the player owes you, so your total received is unchanged.
How do I reward loyal players or encourage them to come back?
GM credits are a great tool for this. Rather than discounting a player's first session on a new game, issue a credit after they've played that applies to their next booking — the player has already had the experience, and the credit gives them a concrete reason to return. It's more effective than an upfront discount and works equally well for rewarding regulars or nudging curious players to try a new system. Credits are stored in the player's wallet and applied automatically to reduce what they owe on their next session with you.
What are platform credits?
Platform credits are issued by TTRPGoblin (e.g. as part of promotions or referral rewards). When a player uses platform credit to pay for your session, TTRPGoblin covers that amount — you still receive the full session fee.
Do credits expire?
Credits can be issued with or without an expiry date, depending on how they were created. Players are notified before any credits expire.
Ratings and Feedback
How does the rating system work?
After each session closes, players are invited to leave a rating and written feedback for you as their GM. Ratings contribute to your GM profile score, which is publicly visible.
Can I see the feedback players leave?
You can see your overall rating score on your GM profile. Written feedback from players is not currently surfaced directly to GMs.
Do ratings affect my ability to run sessions?
Not directly — the platform doesn't automatically restrict GMs based on ratings. However, your public profile rating influences whether new players choose to sign up for your sessions.
Can players see my rating before signing up?
Yes. Your GM profile is public and shows your average rating, the number of sessions you've run, the systems you offer, and other details. This is one of the main reasons to build your rating up — it helps attract new players.
What if I get an unfair rating?
Contact TTRPGoblin support. We review disputes on a case-by-case basis.
Subscription Tiers
What subscription tiers are available?
There are four tiers: Explorer (free), One Shot Runner ($30/month), Session Master ($50/month), and World Builder ($100/month). New GMs also get a 30-day free trial with full Session Master access — so you can experience the platform properly before deciding on a plan.
What does the Explorer (free) tier include?
- Up to 4 free sessions per month
- Up to 3 modules
- Sessions published to your game group chat only (not @ttrpgoblin channel)
- No paid session capability
- No GM private channel publishing
- No availability matching notifications
What does the One Shot Runner tier ($30/month) include?
- Unlimited free sessions per month
- 2 paid sessions included per month
- Unlimited modules
- Full publishing (game group + @ttrpgoblin + GM private channel)
- Waitlist notifications to players
- Social recommendations (appear in player recommendations based on connections)
What does the Session Master tier ($50/month) include?
Everything in One Shot Runner, plus: 4 paid sessions included per month, profile-based recommendations (appear in recommendations based on player preferences and archetype matching), and advanced features access.
What does the World Builder tier ($100/month) include?
Unlimited everything, all publishing and recommendation features, AI matching and lead generation features, and all premium features.
What is the trial period?
New GMs get a 30-day free trial with full Session Master access. most GMs earn back the cost of a subscription in their very first session — the trial gives you time to find out for yourself before committing.
What happens when I hit my session limit on the free tier?
You won't be able to create new sessions until the next billing period, or until you upgrade your plan. The platform will show you how many sessions you have remaining and prompt you to upgrade when you're close to the limit.
Can I run paid sessions on the Explorer tier?
No. Paid sessions require One Shot Runner or above.
Does my subscription cover platform fees on player payments?
There are no platform fees on player payments. The subscription is purely for platform access and features.
Your GM Profile and Visibility
What does my GM profile show?
Your public GM profile shows your name, the systems you run, your average rating and number of sessions, and your published modules. It's how players discover and evaluate you.
Will my sessions appear on the TTRPGoblin website?
Paid tier GMs (One Shot Runner and above) have their sessions displayed on the TTRPGoblin website. Explorer tier sessions are not featured on the website.
What are social recommendations?
Players consistently want to play with people they've played with before — it's one of the biggest drivers of session signups. Social recommendations tap into this automatically: when players have shared session history with people in your past games, your sessions get surfaced to them as recommended. No one has to manually invite anyone — the platform connects the dots and drives warm signups without you lifting a finger. Available on One Shot Runner and above.
What are profile recommendations?
Profile recommendations match your sessions to players based on their stated preferences, archetype, and systems they've expressed interest in. Available on Session Master and above.
Can I control whether my profile appears on the website?
Platform visibility is controlled by your subscription tier. If you have concerns about privacy or specific visibility settings, contact TTRPGoblin.
Privacy and Safety
Who can see my GM profile?
Your GM profile is publicly visible on the TTRPGoblin website and platform. It shows your GM name, systems you run, session history, and ratings. By default, your profile URL is based on your Telegram name — but you can set a custom display name and display username through your account settings if you'd prefer something different.
Can players contact me directly through the platform?
Not through an automated channel. Communication between you and your players happens via your dedicated game group chat on Telegram. Players don't have access to a private message button to you through the platform directly.
How does TTRPGoblin handle player conduct issues?
If a player causes problems at your session, you can decline future signups from them. You can also report players through the session feedback and rating system — any rating below 5 stars gives you the option to flag the issue. Please report everything, even minor incidents. You can indicate whether something is minor or major, and keeping a record helps the platform team identify patterns and take action where needed. Platform administrators can restrict or suspend player accounts.
Can I block a player from joining my sessions?
You control your approval process — you can simply decline any player's signup. There is no formal block list, but you're never obligated to approve anyone.
How is GM account data handled?
Your account data (including subscription and email) is stored securely and used only for platform operations. TTRPGoblin does not sell data to third parties.
Support and Troubleshooting
How do I get help with the platform?
Contact TTRPGoblin through the bot or by messaging @ttrpgoblin on Telegram. We're a small, responsive team.
A session I published didn't send notifications to my waitlist — what happened?
Check that the session wasn't set to private — private sessions don't trigger waitlist notifications. Also confirm your subscription tier — Explorer tier sessions don't trigger the platform waitlist notification system. If neither applies, contact support.
My session didn't get posted to the @ttrpgoblin channel — why?
This requires a paid subscription (One Shot Runner or above). Explorer tier sessions are published to your game group only. Also check that the session isn't set to private — private sessions are never posted to the platform channel.
Players aren't appearing on my module waitlist — what should I check?
The waitlist is populated when players tap the waitlist button on your published module. If your module is set to private or isn't visible on the platform channel, fewer players will find it. Make sure the module is published and your tier allows platform channel visibility.
I cancelled a session — will players be notified?
Yes. When you cancel a session, all approved and pending players are automatically notified via Telegram.
Can I run games that aren't one-shots?
Yes. TTRPGoblin supports campaigns and mini-series in addition to one-shots. Talk to the team if you want to set up a campaign or multi-session arc — there are specific tools and workflows for these.
How do I get more players to find my sessions?
A few things help: keeping your module waitlists active (they grow over time), writing compelling module descriptions, adding a good session image, running sessions consistently to build your rating, and upgrading to a paid tier for full platform channel publishing and recommendation visibility.