The concept of “professional Dungeon Master” has been around for years now, but I still get one question whenever my career comes up: who would pay to play Dungeons & Dragons?
I also see similar comments on Reddit threads and tabletop RPG discussion boards —”Why would I pay for something I can just do with friends for free?” “I’m not gonna ruin my hobby by bringing money into it!” “Just use Discord to find a group without paying.”
So, I asked. I took the question to my very own players. I didn’t ask why they play with me specifically (I have reviews to tell me that much), but what made them decide to pursue a paid DnD game in the first place. Here’s what they said about consistency, quality, and the importance of play at all ages.
Paid TTRPG Groups Form Fast And Actually Show Up
Scheduling is the true BBEG of any tabletop game, be it DnD, Pathfinder, Blades in the Dark, Lancer— you put so much effort into scouring LFG groups only for one of the randos you found to disappear two sessions later. Yet with platforms like StartPlaying, you pay for someone else to take care of forming a group. One of my players, Andrew, said:
“It’s the most convenient way to get a group together and it also raises the bar on the quality of the game. Not only is the DM getting paid for their time but the players are too so everyone is more invested in having a good time.”
You'll see that investment is a common theme in these responses. There’s an unspoken contract: we are all paying for this thing so of course we’re actually going to show up every week and get our money’s worth. As a player who goes by SV puts it:
“I pay for games because free games are a bit of a gamble. Sure you MIGHT find a unicorn where everyone is highly invested, but I have found that it is way more likely that the group will fall apart as everyone might not be on the same page as far as commitment goes. With paid games, everyone from the DM to the players are literally invested into the game which helps to make sure that everyone’s expectations align and they are committed to building a story together.”
Everyone Is Really Into The Game
Another thing you might notice in Andrew and SV’s responses is commitment. These two particularly like roleplay and always bring entertaining character voices. Of course they want a DM who is willing to match their creative efforts, but they would also love to see some of that devotion in their fellow players. TTRPGs are more fun when everyone is willing to get weird and silly.
Brandy puts it like this: “I pay for D&D because I think it's a shared promise of engagement right? My thought is the kind of person who pays for dnd is the kind of person who'll be the most engaged and invested in a game, and that's who I wanna play beside.”
Another of my players, Neil, said, “I pay to ensure I get a group of people that are going to take it seriously, show up most weeks, and play along with the story. And to get a DM who will show up prepared every session to continue our adventure and make the game fun for all.”
Playtime Is Important, Even For Adults
We know that play is important for children because it helps them learn and develop certain skills that will carry over into later life. But did you know that play is also important for adults? You probably did! It’s something several studies have delved into and we even addressed the beneficial impacts of DnD on your brain here.
But how do you find the time to play when the world seems to constantly demand more from us? Schedule yourself a weekly game with a professional Game Master! We have a whole search tool here with filters you can toggle to find your perfect playtime. Need more convincing? Brandy returns with this to say:
“This may sound odd but it makes me feel young? You don't get many adult opportunities to engage your imaginative side so I dig that.”
Another player, Joel, agrees. He adds that our sessions offer him more interactivity than other forms of entertainment.
“I play D&D because it lets you interact with a game and make choices in a meaningful way that no other modern video game can achieve.”
And there you have it. Five people, five reasons, but leading to several common desires. We all want more freedom and play in our adult lives. Those who already play DnD and other TTRPGs know the power of play but are too busy to set up a weekly game. So let a professional DM do it for you! I happen to know a few.
Sergio Sólorzano is the best Dungeon Master in the USA (according to a Wizards of the Coast competition, anyway). He loves minis and terrain but also goes all-in on improv!
