I'm building a Virtual Therapeutic Dungeons and Dragons. But I need a Good DM who is super positive, and easy going. I can pay you!

Hi guys, here is where I'm at- I'm in the middle of starting a little business called hero's leap. I'm a student studying to be a counselor. Hero's leap combines Dungeons and Dragons (or other tabletop games) with daily goals, and some coaching/therapy work. I'm pretty good at the counseling and coaching side of things, But I'm a terrible DM. I'm wanting to find someone who is awesome, who is easy going, positive, fun to be around, and loves to delve into some of the emotional stuff of people once in a while. I don't know how much things cost on Roll 20, but I'd like to pay you 20 bucks per 2 hour session for four sessions. I want to get up to paying DM's 20 bucks per hour. But I'm just testing this out, and I'm not charging customers, so I don't have any cash coming in. I'd been reading the books to understand how to DM, but it'd be so much faster just to hire someone with the experience. If this sounds good to you, email me. Also if this concept sounds interesting to you, email me. If you think you know others who would be interested in this or this topic, email them about it and me. And if you want to be a part of this moving forward, in any regard, email me. I have about 9 years as a social worker, but only just now getting my Master's degree. I'm pretty good at counseling and have done it more or less for four years now. I'm hoping this business will help Guys mostly, who don't typically use counseling services. It's all online, and helps us 1. build motivation, 2. build relationships, 3. get stuff done. I'm also hoping to price it much more affordably than traditional counseling, at 25 dollars per week. Here's a little excerpt I had to write for one of my papers. it gives the gist of what it will be. --------------------- 1. Clients meet with me for a short session. In this session, I work with them in creating goals and daily tasks to reach each goal. I created an online support group to help clients find greater motivation and life satisfaction. It relies predominantly on Narrative Theory to help clients build new stories that empower and give added purpose to their goals. I did this by incorporating five main criteria. They are as follows: 1. Clients meet with me for a short session. In this session, I work with them in creating goals and daily tasks to reach each goal. 2. Clients record their daily progress toward goals on a google form. This progress improves or worsens a client-chosen attribute of their avatar. This might be bravery, wisdom, charisma, or some other attribute that is related to the goal. 3. As client's behaviors improve or worsen, correlated attributes within their avatar are also affected. Clients are motivated to do well in their personal lives partially because it has a positive effect on the game and the gaming experience of their teammates. 4. I designed the group so that clients meet together to discuss their goals and progress each week at our gaming session. During this session, we also play Dungeons and Dragons with our Avatars being the characters. I design the quests each week to act as a metaphor for the life situation of each of the clients. This is intended to increase the meaning-making inherent in the activity (McLean and Pasupathi). Clients share with the group the lessons they are learning through this experience. 5. Part of what makes this group unique is the manner in which the group participates with one another. Because it is engaged in a team-building, collaborative game, it encourages the team to work together, and trust one another very quickly. I built it this way so it can form a tight cohesive group. I wanted to create a group that self-reinforces. It helps participants to build trusting relationships by virtue of the shared game playing. Another poignant area is the use of the game as a positive and enjoyable part of the group check-in. Generally, there is a certain reluctance to attend check-in groups such as AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) or OA (Over-eaters Anonymous). Part of this may be because of the shame members feel around the issue, Another part might be the difficulty in confronting having less control, success, or power than a member would like. I designed Hero's Leap to support clients with an entertaining and useful check-in group. Because clients are invested in the story- it is their story after all-they are more eager to attend each week. In addition to designing the group I also: • gathered market research from 608 participants to better understand our clients • I found four volunteers to participate • met with volunteers to create and follow up on goals • faciliting the game playing sessions, I'm stuck here. • created forms to capture and represent progress to the clients • gathered suggestions and comments about the effectiveness of this intervention • I sought counsel and advice around this group and its members from the counselors at my internship. Thanks all, Riley

D&D would, IMO, be an absolutely godawful system for this. Looking into something that is more narratively structured, relies on shared storytelling and is rules light, like PBTA would probably be for more effective for what you're trying to do.

Hello there, I've DM a few games (mostly DnD 5E). And i wouldn't mind trying to help you out. I own some mapping software and i'm pretty easy going compared to most of the DM's I met personally. It would be helpful to know what system your using, for example 5e, 3e, pathfinder, as well as your timezone, est, pst, gmt. also Jack Rooks in the comment above is sort've right, DnD tends to have an emphasis on open narrative that players can derail whether or not they mean too, but thats not a bad thing because forcing players down a path tends to become boring and aggravating fast. Also 5e tends to be the most rules light edition of DnD so i would suggest that compared to something more complicated like 3.5 edition. Pm me by clicking my name and sending me a message if you need help with how rules work or anything in general.

PM sent.

PM Sent 

Hi Everyone,  Thanks for the PM's sent so far. I really appreciate it.  I appreciated the suggestions that D&D might not be the best game to do this with.  I get that.  So here's one of the things I'm working on.  At any one time, I have 4-5 players with 3 goals each. They might share some goals- getting quality sleep is a common one, reducing stress, having more purpose in life are others.  But I digress, there are 12 or so goals that group members are working on.   When we create scenarios that pattern the real-life events, it's pretty hard to get a scenario that patterns 12 events, It's easier to determine the desired character arch for each character (and how that will include their goals) and create a quest gives an opportunity for the characters to grow in epic ways.  How much of this needs to be structured in our groups, and how much do you think can I just let happen naturally? I think since we're creating a time to share about 'awakenings' the life lessons we're learning right now through the game' that group members will learn what they need naturally.  What do you think?  Oh and secondly, My co-founder wonders if we shouldn't target ages 18-40 primarily. How many people on here would be interested in something like this, and are over the age of forty? Thanks, Sorry my words come out jumbled sometimes. I hope this made sense for everyone! Riley

Hey, Riley, I did send you a PM about your first post, but I'll comment here on some of what you are looking into with your second post. I would agree on keeping the scenarios to a limited number.  Honestly, maybe only focusing on one per session might be a good idea.  Granted, you'll know the clients best, but with them possibly having to learn the game as well you may not want to overwhelm them.  For the target age, I think you are spot on.  Keeping it to adults only is a safer way to go. 

Great advice  B.D.I. as far as age, I'm more curious about targeting 40 and up? what do you think about that?

Hero's L. said: Great advice  B.D.I. as far as age, I'm more curious about targeting 40 and up? what do you think about that? That can definitely work.  As a professional game master, most my my players are over the age of 40.  Not too long ago I ran a campaign for a group who were all in their 60s.  You are never too old for D&D!  I have found that many of the older folks tend to take the game (both mechanics and role-playing) a bit more seriously.  Maybe it is an age/maturity aspect but I personally have always enjoyed running games for the 30+ crowd.

Jack Rooks said: D&D would, IMO, be an absolutely godawful system for this. Looking into something that is more narratively structured, relies on shared storytelling and is rules light, like PBTA would probably be for more effective for what you're trying to do. I agree with Mr. Rooks here.  Dungeon World will capture the feel of Dungeons and Dragons...without the massive rules crunch.  It is far easier to focus on the characters and story and not get bogged down in mechanics.  If you'd like to experience what Dungeon World (or another genre like Monster of the Week-think a cross of Buffy/Angel and Supernatural) is like I can easily do a one-shot for you and some of your friends.  Oh and I have been running for a long time (decades).  This may be good or bad actually. I'd like to think I'm flexible and I'm my own worst critic...but hey I absolutely freely admit I could be wrong. 

Hello, Thank you for the insight Mr. Rerednaw.  I think you're right on the money!

Okay so I think we have enough people wanting to DM for now, so thank you so much! I've had tons of great people share how D&D has really helped them! that's so amazing!  What will probably happen is I'll just work to get a few more groups up and running so I can afford to hire several of the amazingly talented and thoughtful kind people who applied.   and on that note, if you're interested in starting this with me as a player, lets get some more groups going.   This is the basics.  1. Beta group is 4 weeks, Then we stop, discuss what worked, what didn't etc.  2. a 2-hour session per week, (might be longer if you want it to be) 3. I'll meet with you telephonically for a 1/2 hour assessment at the beginning to discuss your goals.  4. We'll make doable daily goals in support of your larger goals.  5. You'll work on those every day and fill out an online form on your phone saying on each goal "I did it," "I didn't do it," or, "I did amazing today!"  As a result, your character gains 1-2 points, or in 3 character attributes. ( I've no idea how this will actually work, we don't want to become overpowered, but we want to see the significant progress from even monotonous daily goals.) For example, I hate doing pull-ups, But if my character levels up because I did 1 a day? I'm now much more motivated than previously.  6. I'll update graphs daily so you can check and see your progress. (A lot of work on my end, unfortunately) Because seeing your progress visually really helps.  7. The weekly group at this point has 3 parts, 1. short check in, so everyone knows what everyone else is working on, 2. play the game 3. short 'fire circle' where we talk about parallels from the game in our real life.  8. I'm not sure if I need to have a quick phone call with players to check on goals every week or so or not. Lets say for now, I'll be at all the game groups, and do a 1/2 hr session at the beginning, 2-week point, and end of the Beta group to help. And more frequently if needed by anyone.  and that's it.  Wow this is a long reply. Congratulations to everyone who has read this so far!  Oh and one last thing, I don't think It's fair to charge for a beta groups so I won't. But If after 4 weeks this has been helpful, and you want to donate, then that money will help pay the DM's I'll be hiring to run the groups with me.  Thanks, Riley.  P.S. I should probably start another forum post to discuss all this.  yeah, that's a good idea.