Tabletop gaming is a social thing. You can’t play on your own, and so finding people to play with to get your tabletop fix can be annoyingly difficult if you don’t know where to look, but entering a player community doesn’t need to be all that complex. This article will give you the simple advice that helped me get into wargaming, and all you need to find a place to play near you!
Why not ask around?
Word of mouth is a valuable tool. If you’re looking for people to play a particular game system with, talk about it to any people you know and see what they know. They don’t even need to be people with similar interests. Your friends and family may know someone with the same hobby, or somewhere where the game is played. Talk to people about whether they know anyone.
If you simply ask around someone may know something. It’s extremely basic advice I know, and it sounds so simple it’s silly that I’ve even included it here, but oftentimes the simplest solution is overlooked.
Asking at the source.
Ask at the source. Whoever you get your hobby supplies from, there’s likely to be some contacts as to where to play. It’s in a shop’s best interest to know where the game is played, as getting people playing gets them buying. Whether it’s card games, war gaming or RPGs, the shops that stock the product will likely be more than willing to help you find a place to play.
Ask wherever you bought the game and they’re likely to help if only to increase sales. They are the suppliers to the gaming community so there’s sure to be plenty of buzz around them.
Social media!
If you live further away from a town or city, and don’t have a local shop, or you just socialise better online, social media is a great place to look for hobby and gaming groups. Search for your local area and see what comes up and what pages they’re linked to. Any clubs or tournaments will be advertising themselves and trying to reach out to new players and the internet is an invaluable resource for doing so.
You can also scope it out by looking for any local events and see what people are posting about them, so you don’t need to go in blind.
What if it’s not for me?
Finally, if you join a group and don’t feel comfortable around them, it’s always best to step away and look again, even if they seem to be your only option. It’s important you’re having fun and playing with people you like, even if it seems like the unpleasant group is the only option. Keep looking and you’ll find like-minded players.
Alternatively, why not try to introduce like-minded friends to the game? If you’re not comfortable with the idea of joining a new group, then introducing a new hobby to your friends can remove that anxiety and allow you to spend more time with the people you love!
Finding a gaming group can be as easy as that! So, whether you find a group or make one, have fun gaming! And while we’re on the topic, why not join our group over on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? And follow us on Tik Tok!
Thanks for Reading!
Oliver is a writer and journalist who loves fantasy fiction and table top gaming, with a bit of acting on the side!
