This is an excellent site that joins together people of like interests for face to face gatherings.

http://www.meetup.com/



enjoy,
td

Meetup is a great tool! I'm curious, as ever, if it's a good means for getting the good word out on good games and/or finding new and interesting people to game with. There's the Roleplayers Meetup, but I've also thought, infrequently, about trying for "indie-gamer" meetups around larger cities.

Granted, I haven't gone to an RP meetup yet, owing to lack of time and, moreover, having enough steady gaming time taken up lately.

They're great. Meetups have allowed me to do more freeform things with a secondary group that I would have to lobby for and schedule with my primary group. In DFW, the roleplayers and D&D groups are great for accessing a rotating sample of player volume. Don't be put off by selectivity (e.g. V:tM Roleplayers) or location; go for the highest membership of what's even remotely related.

I talked a bit with a couple of members about doing a series of one-shots. My big fear was that I'd sit for theirs but they wouldn't for mine. But it all worked out. Some of the players you sit with will attend your event, and you'll pick up strays, regardless of the RSVP count. And on their turn, you get to sample systems and play styles without having to invest in prep:)

I did a one-shot of BW last week, and it was just a blast. These guys all talk d20, Vampire and Shadowrun. And I talk TROS, Sorcerer and BW. It's a kick! And they clamor about my copies of Universalis and DitV. "Everyone's the GM? How's that?" "A western? Ooh, icky!" (Replies) "No, think the Spanish inquisition .. set in the Old West."

If you're in DFW and want to tour indie systems or playtest your own, check out my meetup group, NE Tarrant RPG Design & Playtest.

I'm glad to hear about the good experiences with meetup. My only experience with it was creepy. I live in Anchorage Alaska so by and large the RPG community is small, with most groups having been together for a long time. The strays that you get from bulletin boards at hobby shops and online meeting sites tend to be.... well wierd. That's saying a lot comming from a dork like me.

Update

Meetup sucks.

Okay, the site is well done, and the concept is cool. The problem is the people are flaky, don't show up, or participate. So it's the same old thing.

Hi,

I've found it's highly dependant on 1) location and 2) subject matter. The D&D meetup group around my way meets once a month, and about 10 folks show up each time.

What exactly are you looking for from this site? It's a venue to meet people, but not guarantee of doing so. You still gotta put in some hustle to make it happen.

Chris

As a quick personal reference, I found my current group through Meetup. Make sure and post that you're coming ahead of time, and take the initiative to lead the group yourself and you'll get people to come out.