You’ve been watching Critical Role and listening to The Adventure Zone. You are all about the RPG games now. D&D is calling your name. The only problem is, you’ve never actually played. Even if you get all the books, what next? How do you find a group? This can be super intimidating.

This was a question I answered a lot when I worked at a game shop. Don’t worry, it’s not as hard as you might fear. Chances are you have pretty easy access to others who are just starting out or veterans who are happy to teach and you don’t even know it. Let me lift that misty veil for you and give you a glimpse into the astral plane of party finding.

Your first step is to check your friends and contacts you already know. Ever hear anyone else talking about the game? See if they’re looking for players! Even if you haven’t, grab a starter kit and pitch the idea to your friends. Invite them over for a game. Tell them there will be snacks. It might not be for everyone, but chances are you’ll have a few of them that are into coming back for the next session. The group will only grow from there.

If you don’t have any friends who want to get into it, never fear. Tons of other options are out there. The most popular games will be the easiest to get into, as they have the most players. That said, if you are looking to get into Dungeons and Dragons or Pathfinder, google “D&D Adventurer’s League” or “Pathfinder Society” respectively.

These are community outreach groups focusing on open play for the purpose of growing the hobby. New players are what they are into. Normally, you don’t need anything other than a pencil and they’ll take care of the rest. It’s a great way to get your feet wet and see if you are into the game.

Trying to find something a little more obscure? Want to get into Call of Cthulhu or A Cozy Den? One of my favorite online resources for finding games, especially if you are in a big city, is Meetup.Com . Search for your city and rpgs and you’ll be surprised what shows up. Don’t see what you want? Start your own meetup and see who bites. A lot of times, people are just waiting for someone else to lead the charge.

Okay, so you live in the middle of nowhere and the closest thing to an RPG game you can find is some dude with two risk boards duct tapped together in his garage. First of all, I’d try out that risk board. It might get wild. Secondly, if you are reading this, that means you have access to the internet. Let’s go digital with that game.

Roll20 is a virtual table top compatible with any RPG. It gives you maps, dice rollers, and tons of other tools to make it happen. Best of all, they have a very popular looking for game forum. Just like meetup, search for what you want. If you can’t find it, make it. I’d be surprised if you didn’t get some interest.

These are my favorite suggestions for finding a game. Have others? Put them in the comments. The more info, the better. It is also worth noting that you can hire a GM if you can’t find one. You provide the players, they’ll provide the game. Good luck finding your group! Check out more Crumbling UpKeep for tips on how to impress them.