In this article we talk with GM Matthew Pauze and his work as a Pro-GM who has been GMing for over 28 years!

In this article for Hispanic Heritage Month, DeAngelo talks about adding authenticity to your games and the difference it makes at your table!

Are you a pro Game Master or looking to become one? See why StartPlaying is the platform for you!

If you’ve ever seen AGemOrSomething’s work on Etsy, then you’ve seen the colorful creations of Felix Van Der Sluys. This pro GM of Dungeons of Dragons 5e, Honey Heist, and Monster of the Week brings the energy of her detailed physical creations to their games. Imagine the kind of NPC you’d get from a “bubblegum wizard” miniature decked out in color-shifting paint! Felix’s players praise the “tremendous voices” and “high energy” she embodies their characters with. For this week’s highlight, we talked with Felix about where they get inspiration from and how she handles the physical challenges of the job as a chronically ill pro GM.

In this week's GM of the Week, we're highlighting GM Eric VanSingel!

Eli Elliot (he/they); Pro-GM, Podcaster, Streamer. Eli is the GM for No Peace and Death, an actual play on twitch.tv/FriendsWhoRollDice. In the TTRPG industry, they love to run make sure that their stories are collaborative. Making sure that worldbuilding is driven by their players. In this GM Spotlight we talk a little about their work, Black History Month, and diverse worlds!

Everyone only really needs three things to start as a Dungeon Master or Game Master: a decent grasp of the game’s rules, dice, and imagination. To take it to the pro level, however, you’re going to need more–particularly in the tech department. That’s not to say that a professional GM needs an epic home studio like Critical Role. Like any career, you can start small and build up as you go. 

Rob Perez, creator of RPG Mastery, is all about the NPCs. He considers interaction with NPCs to be about 2/3rds of a Dungeons & Dragons game, core to both the exploration and role play pillars of the game. His players love his NPCs to the point where they bring them along for adventurers and even get invested in entire story arcs about their favorite side characters. Rob plays along by making character sheets for recurring NPCs so they can showcase unique talents without overpowering the players. Balance and flexibility are key for a great GM, and they’re qualities Rob has in spades.