Frequently asked questions

What is DMBox?

DMBox is a real-time audio director for tabletop role-playing games. It listens to your session (with your consent), plays the right background music, ambience, and sound effects as the story unfolds, and remembers your campaign so you can stay focused on the table instead of a playlist.

Which games and systems does it work with?

Any of them. DMBox reacts to the story and mood — a tense standoff, a tavern, a quiet ritual — not to a rulebook, so it works just as well with D&D 5e, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, or your homebrew system. It ships with mood profiles tuned for fantasy, horror, and sci-fi.

Does it work for in-person and online games?

Both. Around a table, DMBox fills the room from your device. Playing online? Your players open a private link and hear the same committed soundtrack in their own browser, in sync — no install, nothing to screen-share.

Do I need a microphone?

For the live, hands-free audio you do — that's how DMBox follows the scene. You can also run it in a fully manual mode, typing story beats and picking tracks yourself.

What music and sound effects are included?

A starter library of cinematic music and ambient effects, all cleared for streaming (CC0 / CC-BY, with attribution shipped per track). Paid tiers add much larger curated libraries, and you can always bring your own tracks.

Do my players need an app or an account?

No. After you start a session, head to /share for a QR code and a magic link. Players scan or click and land straight in the player view — any browser, any device, no app and no account.

How much does it cost? Is there a free version?

Yes — there's a free tier to start. Paid plans are Hobby ($9/mo) and Pro ($19/mo); see pricing for what each includes. Studio ($49/mo) is coming soon and not yet purchasable while we finish character-voice synthesis. Annual billing is 2 months free — pay for ten months and get twelve (16.7% off).

What is founding-member status?

The first 100 people to start a paid subscription on any paid tier (Hobby or Pro) are recorded as founding members on their first successful payment. Founding members get early access to new features, a vote on the roadmap, and a founding-member badge. It's recognition for backing us early — there's no discount, no locked-in price, and no one-time bonus attached. Free signups don't count; only paying customers qualify.

We used to offer a "founder discount" (30% off for early customers) and an education / nonprofit discount. Those are no longer offered — founding-member status replaces the founder perk, and there is no education discount.

Will DMBox take over the game from me?

Never. You're always the director. DMBox suggests and starts the audio, but a single tap overrides anything, and it never speaks for you or changes your story — it just runs the soundtrack so you can run the table.

Is my audio sent to the cloud?

Audio capture happens in your browser. Only the transcribed text (when you consent) leaves your device, and the audio itself is never stored unless you explicitly opt in to "Full" retention for that session.

How do I cancel?

Open /account in the cockpit, then "Billing." Your subscription keeps working until the end of the current billing period and you won't be charged again. You can also email [email protected].

How do I get my data out?

/account → "Download my data." You'll get a JSON file with your user record, sessions, campaigns, and audit log (GDPR Article 20).

How do I delete my account?

/account → "Danger zone" → "Delete account." Deletion is scheduled with a 30-day grace period: we email you a one-time undo link, and you can also undo from /account while the grace period is running. If you don't undo, your account and personal data are permanently purged once the 30 days elapse — this is irreversible. Audit-trail entries are retained per Article 30 requirements but stripped of personally-identifying detail.

What's your support response time?

Best effort within 24 hours on weekdays. Studio-tier customers get a guaranteed 4-business-hour first response.

How do I report a security issue?

Email [email protected] and we'll respond with our PGP key and disclosure timeline. Please report privately rather than posting publicly.