Become a Dungeon Master for Young Heroes

Young Heroes is StartPlaying.Games' platform designed for kids, tweens and teens ages 9-17.

A D&D Beyond Maps game board above a row of five players on a video call

Credibility From the Start

Every Dungeon Master must complete our rigorous application, complete a Teacher/Facilitator training course, receive 3 reviews from parents, and pass an 8-point criminal background check.

Get Paid Every Session

Every booked session, is charged in full, including sessions skipped or missed. This means a more consistent earnings regardless of no-show/skips, which adds up to a more predictable income stream.

Flexible Schedules

As a Dungeon Master on Young Heroes, you will be able to create a schedule that works for you! Youth games on average run from 60 minutes to 2.5 hours, allowing Dungeon Masters more flexibility and higher earnings per session.

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.

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, Young Heroes helps you build long-term credibility as a professional Dungeon Master.

Dedicated Trust & Safety

Our team works to ensure that every Dungeon 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. Every kids game is fully recorded and securely stored, providing DMs a real liability shield while also keeping kids safe.

Support & Resources

Young Heroes 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 DMs. 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 Dungeon Master, their payment fails, or they try to dispute a legitimate charge, Young Heroes and StartPlaying have your back. Reach out to support and we'll cover the cost, so you still get paid for the session you ran.

$25 Minimum Per Seat

Young Heroes games start at $25 and run shorter than a typical session, so your effective hourly rate goes up. And because you get paid even when a player has to skip, a no-show doesn't mean a lost payday. Together, that's what makes running kids games worth it: less time per session, more consistent earnings.

How do we vet our Dungeon Masters?

We require that all of our Dungeon Masters on Young Heroes pass a 2-phase application process.

PHASE 1

Pass a DM for Kids Training

All DMs pass our Facilitator Training Course that goes over our policies and best practices for running kids games.

Receive 3 References from guardians

You must provide 3 references demonstrating your experience working with kids. The majority should be from guardians, but we will accept some from leaders of kids' programs you've been a part of.

Complete an Application

You will need to fill our application, which will include questions about your motivations for being a kids DM as well as some scenarios.

PHASE 2

Pass Criminal Background Check

We require DMs to complete a 8-point background check before gaining access to Young Heroes.