A common complaint we hear when we write about board games or tabletop role-playing is that many readers don't know people in real life who enjoy that sort of gaming. The trick was to find a group of like-minded gamers in high school, and then keep in touch as you all grow up. If you didn't manage to do that, you're having a bad time. Asking people if they'd like to be your dwarf at the water cooler can lead to awkward conversations. I have friends I can barely tolerate, but I treat them well because they can put together a good game.

I'm totally joking—Rodney, how's the campaign coming?

At any rate, it's time to find some new excuses, because the next series of Dungeons and Dragons Encounters is beginning on May 11. This is a program we've written about in the past. The concept is simple: by offering a standalone campaign that's playable by beginners in short sessions, it's easier than ever for people to begin playing.

This is a good program. Give people an easy way to get into the game, get them into the comic book and hobby stores, and soon you'll have brand new communities and ongoing games—and of course then you can sell more rulebooks, dice, and miniatures. For people without a gaming community this is a godsend, as you get to learn the game with other people who may have never played before, in a setting that's not intimidating, and you get to meet people with the same interests.

This next adventure sounds fun as well; let's take a look at the flavor text:

Duponde may look like nothing more than a sleepy little stopover along the broad banks of the Nentir River. But the village harbors a dark secret: The tomb of the notorious Evard the Black, master of shadow magic, lies in the town’s cemetery. Many years ago, Evard came to Duponde to destroy his rival Vontarin, a powerful wizard who lived in a manor at the edge of town. The two mages met near the walls of the abbey of St. Avarthil and dueled all night long with black spells, laying the old monastery in ruins with their magic. In the morning the surviving friars found Evard dead in the wreckage, and buried him in the town's graveyard. Vontarin was never seen again. Now, almost fifty years after his death, Evard's final curse is about to descend on the town and everyone within it.

You can hop over to the official site and put in your ZIP Code if you'd like to find participating stores near you, so you have no more excuses. You have a DM ready to go. You have a campaign you can play in bite-sized chunks, designed to be played by those unfamiliar with the game. There will be people there to meet and adventure alongside. Seriously, go—it's time you finally gave in and played an analog game.

The first session is on May 11, but you can drop in and out on any of the dates, and new encounters happen weekly. Have fun!