The questions we get asked most, by players who haven't paid for a game before and by Dungeon Masters thinking about doing this for a living.
Questions we get asked
What's a professional Dungeon Master?
Someone who runs tabletop roleplaying games as a job rather than a hobby, and is paid for it. In practice you're paying for the preparation (the world, the encounters, the maps, the rules knowledge, the scheduling and the reliability) rather than for the four hours you are at the table.
How much does it cost to play with Crit Fails?
Seats are $20 to $30 per player per session, set by the individual Dungeon Master. You're told the exact figure before you sit a session zero, and session zero itself is free.
How is this different from StartPlaying or another marketplace?
A marketplace lists anyone who signs up and takes a cut. We're one company with a team of Dungeon Masters we interviewed, trained and hold to a single standard, and if a table isn't working there's somebody to tell.
Do I need to buy anything to play?
No. Your Dungeon Master owns the Foundry VTT license, the rulebooks, the maps and the music. You need Discord, a browser and a microphone.
I've never played D&D before. Can I still join?
Yes. Several of our Dungeon Masters particularly enjoy running for new players. Say so when you ask about a seat and we'll match you with one of them.
What's a session zero?
The meeting before the campaign starts, where you build characters, agree what the game is about, and set the table's boundaries and expectations. Every Crit Fails campaign has one, and it's also how you find out whether the DM and the table suit you.
Can I join a campaign that's already running?
Yes. Tables marked “Open” on the openings board are running and have room, and tables marked “Fresh start” haven't begun. Joining in progress is normal. Your character gets written into the story properly, and you get a world that already has history in it.
How long do your campaigns run?
Most run one to five years of weekly sessions, because they're built to reach level 20. A few Dungeon Masters run shorter arcs of four to six months. Each profile says which.
What systems do you run?
Mostly Dungeons & Dragons 5e, mixing the 2014 and 2024 rules. Individual DMs also run Pathfinder 2e, Call of Cthulhu, Shadowdark, Mothership, Blades in the Dark, Star Trek Adventures, LANCER, Savage Worlds, Daggerheart and Pokemon Tabletop United.
What time zone are sessions in?
Sessions are scheduled in US Eastern time. Players join from all over. Everything is online over Foundry VTT and Discord.
Can I sit in on a game before joining one?
Usually yes. We keep Discord events up to date and players are welcome to listen in on other tables, which is the cheapest way to find out whether a DM's style suits you.
How do I become a Dungeon Master for Crit Fails?
Join the Discord and message a moderator, or read the DM with us page first. You don't need to have been paid before, but you do need to be willing to be trained.
What's Crit Fails Academy?
A $25 a month video library and Discord community that teaches you to run tabletop games (worldbuilding, encounter design, pacing, improvisation and table management) with weekly live Q&A. It's free while you're running an active table through our community.
Find your table
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll point you at the DM who runs it. Join our Discord to get your journey started now!
Join the Discord