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Become a Professional Dungeon Master

Join the largest professional GM service in the world.

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Built-In Advertising & Discovery

StartPlaying is a discovery-first marketplace where players actively search for games like yours. You don't need to spend time or money on marketing. The platform helps new players find you based on system, theme, or play style, making it easier to grow your audience without building a following from scratch.

Secure Payments with Stripe

StartPlaying handles all payments, so you don't have to chase invoices or navigate awkward money conversations. Your earnings are stored in your Stripe-connected account, and you can choose when to cash out—secure, reliable, and built to support pros.

Dedicated Trust & Safety

Our team works to ensure that every Game Master and player has a welcoming, safe, and fun experience. If something goes wrong, support is there to help resolve issues quickly and keep your games on track. Built-in safety and moderation features empower you to create a space that fits your style and standards.

Support & Resources

StartPlaying gives you access to a growing library of resources designed to help you improve. Join onboarding calls, attend live webinars, explore articles and guides, and watch talks from top GMs. Whether you're refining your craft or learning how to grow your audience, you'll never level alone.

Fraud Protection

If a player ghosts on a Game Master, their payment fails, or they try to dispute a legitimate charge, StartPlaying has your back. Reach out to support and we'll cover the cost, so you still get paid for the session you ran.

Opportunities Beyond the Table

StartPlaying opens doors to more than just game nights. Get featured in promotions, actual play projects, and brand partnerships. Top GMs are often tapped for paid corporate gigs, sponsored games, and other unique opportunities.

Join a Pro GM Community

You're not alone. Get support, advice, and inspiration from an active Discord community of professional GMs. Share strategies, troubleshoot issues, and stay updated on the latest trends in TTRPGs and player behavior.

Save Time on Admin

StartPlaying handles the busywork so you can focus on running great games. Built-in tools take care of scheduling, payment processing, and player reviews. The system makes it easy to manage reminders, cancellations, and reschedules—so you can spend less time coordinating and more time telling great stories.

Grow your Reputation

Every game you run builds your public profile. Collect reviews and testimonials from players. Whether you're full-time or just starting out, StartPlaying helps you build long-term credibility as a professional GM.

What Game Masters have to say

Game Master and player feedback for StartPlaying.games

Nate Strickland avatar

Nate Strickland

Game Master

SPG Literally Changed My Life

I know it sounds a bit melodramatic to say that a website that helps you set up online roleplaying games changed my life, but it's absolutely true. Not only did it give me a source of income when I needed it the most, but it allowed me to connect with some awesome folks online - some of whom have become friends I've hung out with in person! Two years ago when my job moved but my family couldn't, my finances were stretched to the breaking point and I was doing serious research into how to live out of a car. I saw an ad for SPG on YouTube and figured it might be able to at least put a few bucks in my wallet. Maybe get me a tank of gas if I was really lucky. Four months later it was paying my rent. Two years later I've paid off my credit card, am touring around the national gaming convention circuit running games for companies I used to fanboy over, and doing research into setting up my own LLC to build upon the momentum SPG has given me. The staff is incredibly kind and responsive, and the company culture promotes values that I can proudly get behind. In the two years I've been using the website it has been regularly updated with new features and UI, and the folks behind the scenes are always open to feedback. Can't recommend them enough if you're a freelancer or a customer - they will treat you well and give you all the tools you need to succeed in a very competitive market.

Maddy avatar

Maddy

Game Master

Great Support Network

I've been working as a professional DM through StartPlaying three days a week for the past six months, and honestly? I can't imagine doing anything else. Being a paid DM comes with plenty of stress, especially when it comes to finances, but it's such a relief to have a team behind me who takes care of all the nitty gritty. What I love most is how much they invest in their DMs. The training and vetting process might seem small, but it sets a standard. It weeds out folks who aren't willing to put in the effort, and that's great for everyone involved. While StartPlaying handles payments and admin, they give you total creative freedom with your games. Sure, they take a cut, but in return, I never have to chase down payments or worry about being scammed. Scheduling is a breeze too. People only sign up if they can actually make the time, and I don't need to share any private info. I even had a situation where it looked like I'd accidentally broken a rule about outside payments. Any other company might have just banned me, but StartPlaying's support team took the time to read through the messages, understand the context, and realize it was an honest mistake. That kind of care is rare. If you're looking for a solid platform to start DMing with players from all over the world, I can't recommend StartPlaying enough.

Rodrigo Olivi avatar

Rodrigo Olivi

Game Master

Literally Changed My Life!

Ok, it is corny but true. My main passion has been TTRPG and StartPlaying gave me the opportunity to run games as my full-time job by connecting me with wonderful players. Teenage me would never have thought I would be working with games as I dreamed once. Other than that the site is quite solid. I've used it plenty as a player too. It helped me find less popular game systems to play and at the weird times when Im free. As a GM it takes care of charging my players, getting people to see the games Im offering and put all of them in a calendar with reminders. All the things I don't want to do, so I can focus on running my games. What's not to love?

Why people love StartPlaying

StartPlaying testimonials and shout-outs from our favorite creators

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Join the Party

Every day, new players and Game Masters connect through StartPlaying to explore fantastic worlds, and build lasting friendships.

80k+

Players use and trust StartPlaying

The most trusted service for finding pro GMs

1.7 million

Tavern worthy tales

Players continue to come back time and time again to play with some of the best GMs in the world

How does StartPlaying work?

StartPlaying is an online service that connects players with professional Game Masters for tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and many more. As a GM, you create a profile, list your games, set your schedule and rates, and players can book seats directly through the site.

The platform handles payments, scheduling, and player communication so you can focus on running great sessions. Built-in tools like reviews, recurring campaigns, safety features, and promotion help you grow your audience and run games reliably, whether you're just getting started or already a full-time pro.

Frequently asked questions about Pro GMing on StartPlaying

These are the most common questions about professional GMing on StartPlaying. If you have other questions, feel free to reach out to us at support@startplayinggames.com.

StartPlaying is an official partner of

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Ready to Start your Pro GM Journey?

Apply today and join thousands of Game Masters earning money, growing communities, and doing what they love.

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