TL;DR: Need an awesome, RELIABLE DM for me, my 3 sons (young teens/almost teen), and possibly my GF (new player). Must run weekly sessions consistently (see schedule below), use Discord for voice/chat, and be engaged with players. Pay is competitive and flexible ($1-$40/hr or $125-$500/month) – sell me on why you're worth it! Read the backstory below if you want the full picture (hint: it matters!). The Backstory (Why We're Looking - Skip if Just Want Facts): Love our current DM as a person, but after a year, the unreliability is unsustainable. We're talking cancellations for roughly HALF our scheduled sessions , even after significantly increasing his pay (nearly triple the original rate). Communication is non-existent outside sessions (no Discord replies, ever). Investment feels wasted, especially after giving him a large tip specifically to buy resources for our campaign on D&D Beyond... only for him to buy ALL the campaign books instead of monsters/dice/tools we needed ("How does that help OUR game, dude?"). Last session featured a black-and-white map that looked like my kid's art project, ended 2 hours early, and I just discovered animated maps exist?! Felt like we had a caveman DM. My kids will be sad to move on, but paying for nothing isn't an option. Rant over! If you read this, you probably get why backstory matters. ;) The Players: Me (Dad, experienced player) My 3 sons: Two young teens, one almost teen. They're enthusiastic but can bicker sometimes (different personalities!). My girlfriend (possible player, very new, still learning – showed her animated maps and she loved the clarity!). The Absolute Must-Haves: Rock-Solid Reliability: This is a paid commitment . Real life happens, but consistent cancellations (like half the sessions) are a deal-breaker. We need someone who shows up weekly . Communication: Must be responsive on Discord outside of sessions for quick questions or scheduling conflicts (e.g., "Got it, will confirm later" takes 2 seconds!). Ghosting between games isn't acceptable. Platform & Voice: Voice chat must be via Discord (non-negotiable). We're flexible on the VTT (Roll20, Foundry, Owlbear, etc. – show us the cool animated maps!). Kid-Friendly & Patient: Must be comfortable DMing for teens/pre-teens who might squabble occasionally. What We'd Love: Long-Term Campaign: We want this to be our thing for the foreseeable future! Engaged DM Style: Get into the world! Voices are cool but not mandatory – bringing the story to life is key. Homebrew Welcome: Allowance for homebrew characters (within reason) is a big plus for the kids' creativity. Visuals: We saw animated maps exist... that looks awesome! Willingness to use engaging maps/tokens is highly desirable. Flexibility: We're open to your DM style (XP or milestone, rules interpretation, campaign type – homebrew or module). You're the captain! The Schedule (EST): School Year (Sept - June): Weekly, 2-hour sessions. Any Weekday (Mon-Fri) 5:00 PM - 8:45 PM EST start window . *Strongly prefer Tuesdays 5:45 PM - 7:45 PM.* Summer Break (July - Aug): Weekly, 3-hour sessions. Any Weekday (Mon-Fri) 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM EST start window . *Strongly prefer Tuesdays 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM.* The Investment (Budget): I pay fairly and view this as an investment in quality family time. Flexible Pay: Open to $1 - $40 per hour or $125 - $500 per month , based on experience, preparation, and the value you bring. Sell Me: Tell me why you're an amazing DM! What makes your games special? What do you bring that others do not? Reliability and a great fit for our family group are paramount. Convince me you're the DM we've been looking for! Interested? Please reply here or message me! Tell me about yourself, your DM style, why you're reliable, and why you'd be a great fit for our family game. Links to profiles/reviews are welcome. Let's chat!
