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Clopin Silk
2017-01-18, 05:58 AM
Seriously, I have no idea how to find a gaming group. I'm not in one of the really huge population centers, but I'm not exactly out in a wasteland either, and I've gotten used to some fairly weighty travel. Any advice you guys can offer would be appreciated, and what the heck. Just in case anyone reading this has a group in the area and would be willing to give me a go: I live in Wentworth Falls, up in the Blue Mountains (Australian here) My preference would be 3.5 or Pathfinder, but I'll gladly play 5th edition, or whatever else is on offer, as long as you're patient enough to teach me how to play. I'm down with a LOT of travel, so Sydney works provided it's not too hard to get to you from Central Station, as does a huge chunk of the Blue Mountains and surrounding area.

Firest Kathon
2017-01-18, 07:47 AM
My recommendation would be to look for an organized play group in your area. Even if organized play is not your thing, it is a good way to come into contact with other players.

For Pathfinder, you would be looking for Pathfinder Society (http://paizo.com/pathfinderSociety/events) , for 5e it would be D&D Adventurers League (http://dnd.wizards.com/playevents/organized-play). There may be some groups around still playing D&D Encounters or Living Grayhawk for 3.5, but I believe it is not longer organized centrally.

Another option would be to look on online organization sites (such as Warhorn (https://warhorn.net/games?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Australia+NSW&button=)) for any upcoming games in your area. There may also be a Facebook group for players in your area. Finally there is the option to post notices in any local gaming stores.

Edited to add: There seems to be a Con on the next weekend (https://www.warhorn.net/events/fourplay) in Sydney.
Edited again to add: ... and regular games in your area (https://warhorn.net/events/sydney-pfs).

Grod_The_Giant
2017-01-18, 08:04 AM
Looking for nearby organized past is good; you can also check for local Facebook groups, Meetup.com, nearby gaming stores (if any), and so on. Then there's the "indoctrinate your friends" strategy...

Stealth Marmot
2017-01-18, 10:14 AM
You need a couple of sets of fresh new dice, some Cheetohs or Doritos, A 2 liter of Mountain Dew, a very large box, a 5 or 6 foot stick, and a long string to tie to said stick.

Geddy2112
2017-01-18, 10:21 AM
Can't find one? Make your own!

Cast out lines to all of your friends. Bother your coworkers, roommates, significant others, acquaintances, even family. Get 3-4 people including yourself and then there you go.

If none of you have any experience, then step up and DM baby's first one shot canned adventure with premade characters. Even though you want somebody to teach you how to play, if you prefer pathfinder of 5th you are clearly not totally green. Get and read the core rulebook a few times and that is more than enough proficiency to play or even DM if the adventure is straightforward enough.

Once they all get the bug then you are set. Eventually, they might want to DM.

Clopin Silk
2017-01-18, 03:16 PM
My recommendation would be to look for an organized play group in your area. Even if organized play is not your thing, it is a good way to come into contact with other players.

For Pathfinder, you would be looking for Pathfinder Society (http://paizo.com/pathfinderSociety/events) , for 5e it would be D&D Adventurers League (http://dnd.wizards.com/playevents/organized-play). There may be some groups around still playing D&D Encounters or Living Grayhawk for 3.5, but I believe it is not longer organized centrally.

Another option would be to look on online organization sites (such as Warhorn (https://warhorn.net/games?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Australia+NSW&button=)) for any upcoming games in your area. There may also be a Facebook group for players in your area. Finally there is the option to post notices in any local gaming stores.

Edited to add: There seems to be a Con on the next weekend (https://www.warhorn.net/events/fourplay) in Sydney.
Edited again to add: ... and regular games in your area (https://warhorn.net/events/sydney-pfs).

Wow. You, good sir, are awesome. Thank you for your help.

oball
2017-01-18, 05:26 PM
Exiles (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExilesGamingClub/) is not far from Central - you'd have to change to a train to St. Peters but it's only a few stops away. The Facebook group has a new pinned post each week showing which games are running, which ones are open to new players, etc. There's also a Meetup group (https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/Sydney-DnD/) that you could look for games through.

Faily
2017-01-18, 07:21 PM
I found my first group at the only gaming-store in the vicinity, as there were 2 other girls looking for a third girl to fill out their group and I figured "well, I play RPGs already, and I've been wanting to try this pen & paper-thing too...". Who knew that would lead me into such a deep rabbit-hole.

But yeah, going to a nearby con is a great idea too. :smallsmile:

GreatDane
2017-01-24, 03:20 PM
Can't find one? Make your own!

Cast out lines to all of your friends. Bother your coworkers, roommates, significant others, acquaintances, even family. Get 3-4 people including yourself and then there you go.

If none of you have any experience, then step up and DM baby's first one shot canned adventure with premade characters. Even though you want somebody to teach you how to play, if you prefer pathfinder of 5th you are clearly not totally green. Get and read the core rulebook a few times and that is more than enough proficiency to play or even DM if the adventure is straightforward enough.

Once they all get the bug then you are set. Eventually, they might want to DM.
I've got to agree that the best way to assemble a group is to be a DM in search of players. Drop lines on Facebook, leave notices at game shops, make a Meetup group. You only need 3-4 people to respond, and you'll be ready to play!

Clopin Silk
2017-01-24, 03:37 PM
I've got to agree that the best way to assemble a group is to be a DM in search of players. Drop lines on Facebook, leave notices at game shops, make a Meetup group. You only need 3-4 people to respond, and you'll be ready to play!

The problem with that is that I'm nowhere NEAR experienced enugh to be a DM. I'm a total rookie, with only one session under my belt.

Deaxsa
2017-01-24, 03:48 PM
The problem with that is that I'm nowhere NEAR experienced enugh to be a DM. I'm a total rookie, with only one session under my belt.

You only need to be an experienced dm to make few mistakes. You don't need to be an experienced dm to have fun. Mistakes are not counter to fun (except, in the rare event that they are). Remember that your job is to maximize fun, not minimize mistakes. You will be fine. :smallsmile:

GreatDane
2017-01-24, 04:48 PM
The problem with that is that I'm nowhere NEAR experienced enugh to be a DM. I'm a total rookie, with only one session under my belt.
The best and only way to learn to DM is to DM! There's no prerequisite for DMing except willingness. In any set of friends that picks up the game for the first time, somebody has to DM.

There are dozens of threads and even entire websites dedicated to helping new DMs learn, if you're looking for tips. My personal recommendations are the following:

Know the rules.
Start with a premade adventure, be that free modules from WotC or a complete adventure path. This takes the onus of writing off your shoulders and lets you focus on familiarizing yourself with the intangibles of running a game.

This is more or less how my experience as a new DM went, a few years ago. I read the Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide, participated in a classic "fell apart after three sessions" group, then reached out and founded my own gaming group. I aimlessly chained together free D&D modules for the first ~6 sessions before I felt comfortable enough to start weaving a real story together. I remember that I started with A Dark and Stormy Knight (heh). Don't let your inexperience hold you back from playing the game!

Mr Beer
2017-01-24, 09:15 PM
There used to be a gaming group in Springwood, don't know if that's still going or if they advertise.

I have used this site to find players in the past, took ages though: http://nearbygamers.com/

You could also check with places like Tin Soldier in Penrith, they may have a group gaming there on weekends and if not they might let you leave a written ad in the window - that's another way I've found new groups/players. Any retail outlet that sells RPGs or minatures will generally employ people who are into gaming or know gamers, so you can just ask.

If you posted this a year ago, I would have invited you to my game (in Western Sydney) but I currently have probably one person too many at the moment.

MarkVIIIMarc
2017-01-25, 10:46 PM
Who said local gaming store above?

I'd vote for talking with them folks also.