My upper limit is $20 per hour per player, but what you pay is flexible based on factors like session length and total player count. We’ll determine that together during scheduling.

Events: if the host is paying for all players, I offer discounts for buying in bulk.

Cash: Bring it to the session! You can also send it with your child if you are the parent/guardian of a player (and you are comfortable doing so). The exact amount is ideal, as I may not have change.

Check: Make checks out to James Byers. As with cash, you can bring it to the session or send it with your child.

Card: I can accept physical debit and credit cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets, including Android. I can also take card remotely by sending a payment link or gathering your card information. Please note there is a small processing fee.

Mobile: I use Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle. You can find me on each using my email (gaming@dwbyers.com).

I do all of my scheduling over text and email, but I'm also happy to talk in person or on the phone. My phone number is (484) 326-5250, my email is gaming@dwbyers.com, and no time of day is off-limits. Once we connect, we'll decide together the number of sessions (which can be indefinite for an ongoing campaign), the length of each session, and how often you'd like to play. I'll also clarify pricing at this time.

I'm considering Calendly or an alternative for future use, but I haven't implemented it yet, so stay tuned.

In-Person: My house in Ridley Park is currently being restored after a large leak required a total gut of the interior. I hope to move back in by the end of the year. In the meantime, I live with my in-laws in Swarthmore, and while I cannot host there, I can host small games at my mother-in-law's private practice, Swarthmore Pediatrics. The address is 630 Fairview Rd, Ste 101, Swarthmore, PA, 19081.

That being said, I mostly do house calls. Any player or their parent/guardian can host the game, and some groups choose to rotate who is hosting each session. I own a car, and I'm willing to drive - my limit is somewhere around half an hour one way.

Remote: I mostly use Google Meet because I have an account without a time limit, but I'm also well-versed in Discord and Roll20. Zoom is also okay if one of the players has access to a licensed account, because I do not (though that may change in the future). If there's a method you'd like me to start using, feel free to ask!

We decide together! I'll offer suggestions based mostly on age; the older the player, the longer they can go before running out of steam. For adults I can do 4+ hours, for teens my standard is 3 hours, and for younger kids I usually do 90 minutes or 1 hour. I don't recommend playing for less than an hour though, because the more story I have to cram in, the less freedom the players have to choose what they do within the game.

Events/One-Shots: To get a full beginning-middle-end in requires more time, especially if there are a lot of players (particularly younger ones). Plan for an extra hour at least.

Soft Out vs. Hard Out: Sometimes your session needs real-time flexibility, especially for one-shots; if we have 10 minutes left and we've only just reached the final battle, leeway is a must. This is where I make use of the Soft Out and the Hard Out, or in other words, the time you want to start wrapping up versus the time we absolutely must stop playing (even if it would leave the game unfinished).

As often as you like! We'll decide together, but the most common frequency of an ongoing game is weekly. It also doesn't have to be set in stone; I have more than one game that schedules each session individually on a rolling basis.

Any age! Mostly kids, though. My youngest player was 5 at the time, and my oldest player turns 70 this year.

Not at all! Bringing brand new players into the fold is a specialty I pride myself on. If you'd rather not go in completely blind, I recommend watching Roll in the Family: The Slumbering Forest on YouTube—it's DMed by one of the all-time greats and is 100% kid-friendly.

Nope! D&D is a game that can be played at no cost whatsoever. You can read the basic rules on D&D Beyond, and additional rulebooks are free to view on 5e.tools. You can click here to download and/or print character sheets, and click here for my favorite digital dice roller.

I earned a BFA in Acting from NYU Tisch with a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Studies (CAMS). All my clearances are up-to-date, including a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Certification, a Fingerprinting Background Check, and a Criminal Record Check. I am also a certified Mandated Reporter.

I’ve been playing D&D for 10 years this October! After a year as a player, I tried running the game for the first time, and in 2019 I ran my first paid game.

The first time I worked with kids was over 15 years ago at a summer camp, and I started teaching theatre and D&D classes in 2023. I also co-direct the shows at Next Generation Theatre for ages 7-18.

Lastly, I’ve been performing professionally on stage since I was 8. I studied acting in college, and I use those skills every time I play D&D.

By email at gaming@dwbyers.com or by phone (including text!) at (484) 326-5250. No time of day is off-limits.