D&D

Sarah D

I don't play roleplay games, or even video games, and so I was wondering are there any poeple in the East Side Portland, oregon Metro area that could suggest places to go to learn or try Dungeons and Dragons? Perhaps a beginners group to join? :?:

LadyM

Have you tried MeetUp.org? One of the meetups in your area might be for RPGs. Comic book shops are also good places to hook up with roleplaying groups.

Shogun

Hell you might check out the Tabletop forum. There are a ton of people on the PA forums in the seattle/portland area and I would hazard to guess that some of them play D&D as well.

SlickShughes

I've had better luck finding RPGA events rather than Meetup. The wizards site has a search for them, as does warhorn.net.

The Crowing One

Most local stores worth their salt have message boards, these days, make a list and a spend a day popping into a few gaming stores in the area. Generally you can tell the caliber of people associated with said stores by spending ten or fifteen minutes asking questions/wandering around/looking at the shelves. If one seems to "click" and you seem to get along with the people, go ahead and post up on their boards that you're looking to join a group as a new player.

Meetup and Tabletop are also excellent options, but the biggest thing is clicking with the people you'll be playing with, and nothing works better than, you know, meeting them.

SlickShughes wrote: »

I've had better luck finding RPGA events rather than Meetup. The wizards site has a search for them, as does warhorn.net.

If you're a beginner, try to steer clear of the RPGA. Not because they suck or anything, but it can be labeled as close to "competitive roleplaying" as possible and is a format for experienced players. Of course a patient DM will be a patient DM regardless, you may have better luck in a more casual atmosphere.

SlickShughes

The Crowing One wrote: »

SlickShughes wrote: »

I've had better luck finding RPGA events rather than Meetup. The wizards site has a search for them, as does warhorn.net.

If you're a beginner, try to steer clear of the RPGA. Not because they suck or anything, but it can be labeled as close to "competitive roleplaying" as possible and is a format for experienced players. Of course a patient DM will be a patient DM regardless, you may have better luck in a more casual atmosphere.

Fair point. I'm an experience role player but new to RPGA. The few games I was in seemed, perhaps not beginer friendly, but at least not hostile to beginners. I did get that feeling of competition from some of the more involved players though.

The Crowing One

SlickShughes wrote: »

Fair point. I'm an experience role player but new to RPGA. The few games I was in seemed, perhaps not beginer friendly, but at least not hostile to beginners. I did get that feeling of competition from some of the more involved players though.

RPGA events can be a boatload of fun, they're just not geared toward beginners. They're designed to run smoothly and with minimal rules clarification. reaching out to a RPGA DM and asking for advice on a beginner's group, though, could lead to results.

No one wants to be made to feel like a drag on a game, and I fear that would be the unintended outcome.

Sarah D

Wow, thank you! That whole going to stores and meeting people thing sounds a lot like shopping. I know I can do that!

The Crowing One

It is shopping. You're just shopping for people as opposed to products. If you're friendly, just chat people up. Stores usually have a general "feel" to them, and you'll know when you've hit a good one. Gaming retail can vary greatly from the old fashioned hobby shops to some of the newer community based spaces. You're looking for a store that has people playing games when you walk in, try to avoid those without gaming space or where you receive bad service.

Be prepared for the "OMG! A girl! I've never seen one this close before!" response from more immature customers, but if you're wierded out it's probably not the one for you, either.

If you were on the other coast I could give you the names of many, many good places. Tossing a post up in the Tabletop forum asking about good stores in your area may be a good way to put together a list.

Eat it You Nasty Pig.

The east side of portland actually doesn't have very many good game shops. Bridgetown Hobbies & Games and Things From Another World both sell all the books and such, but TFAW has really become more of a comic/toy store since it stopped being Pegasus, and Bridgetown caters more to the modeling crowd (tabletop games and otherwise.)

Still, you could probably ask the dudes at both places if they have or know of any regular groups. Back when I was into that whole scene the people at Bridgetown were always friendly and informative.