If you don’t actually want to be a GM adjust these steps instead the following way :
2 - write a fun premise for a short 1-4 session adventure. Or maybe just find a prewritten, equally short, adventure.
4 - explain that you are not interested in running a full fledged campaign, but a series of short adventures. Add that you are more than happy to let others step-up and give a shot at GM-ing at some point. Do say it that you want all of this to remain fun and light-hearted ; set expectations accordingly to what you feel able to offer. Obviously, point out that you are a complete beginner at ttrpgs if that is the case.
5 - Give it your best shot but if GM-ing turns out really unbearable before you reach step 6, just say it. “Thanks guys for putting up with me and giving me a chance at GM-ing. I’ve come to realize that I’m just not cut out for this and I’d really appreciate if someone gives it a go for the next adventure. If not, I’m open to other games and activities, or just continue hanging out with you guys because your company has been a lot of fun so far. Unfortunately, I just don’t enjoy being a GM and this has been too painful for me”
You don’t have to be any good at GM-ing if your end goal is just to make friends. And GM-ing a decent enough game doesn’t have to be all that hard or require all that prep.
Of course, this will all require a certain amount of effort, likely more than just joining a game as a player. First try might not to be the right one too. You might not match with all, or any, of the players. But you don’t actually have to, starting a ttrpg with a group of strangers comes with the implication that this might not all work out.
Regrettably, usually if you don’t want to GM, you have to already have friends who do. Especially with the big influx of D&D interest from Stranger Things, every GM I know is completely swamped with players and don’t have any room left at their tables.
If you’re trying to make new friends, especially in-person friends, GM-ing is your best bet. It’s easier than it sounds, I promise. Some ttrpgs are really hard to run, but if it’s too hard for you, you just haven’t found a good system yet. A great starting point is Lady Blackbird because it comes with the adventure, system and characters all-in-one so prep is super simple. If that still seems daunting, there are also a lot of fun one page adventures that are even easier to run, like Trash Pandas. If you feel weird about the “being in charge” part of GM-ing, there are some really good cooperative storytelling games you can play, like The Quiet Year — oftentimes, if you get a good group together to play games like this a few times, a D&D campaign will break out all on its own.
I have experience GMing. It’s not particularly difficult but I found it was exhausting, it was almost impossible to get my group to do ANYTHING. Granted they did thoroughly investigate some random coins they found, which I invented a backstory for between sessions. But they immediately forgot about that when it was a new session.
I don’t know if I have the patience to go through that again.
I hear you! I’ve had some frustrating groups over the years as well. I mostly came to peace with it when I realized that sitting around a table and chit-chatting idly was a victory, and not a defeat, and that my game is mostly to have something to fill the gap when there’s an awkward silence. If you have some burning story to tell, it’s often not the best format.
There are many guides but this is my guide
Step 1: buy the GMs guide for a ttrpg
Step 2: write a fun premise for a campaign
Step 3: do a little light planning
Step 4: post that you’re lfg
Step 5: play the campaign
Step 6: forget you’re supposed to be playing a ttrpg because you just hang out with your new friends all the time
But what if you don’t want to GM?
I keep checking meetup for open games but they’re always full. And I live in a decent sized city.
If you don’t actually want to be a GM adjust these steps instead the following way :
2 - write a fun premise for a short 1-4 session adventure. Or maybe just find a prewritten, equally short, adventure.
4 - explain that you are not interested in running a full fledged campaign, but a series of short adventures. Add that you are more than happy to let others step-up and give a shot at GM-ing at some point. Do say it that you want all of this to remain fun and light-hearted ; set expectations accordingly to what you feel able to offer. Obviously, point out that you are a complete beginner at ttrpgs if that is the case.
5 - Give it your best shot but if GM-ing turns out really unbearable before you reach step 6, just say it. “Thanks guys for putting up with me and giving me a chance at GM-ing. I’ve come to realize that I’m just not cut out for this and I’d really appreciate if someone gives it a go for the next adventure. If not, I’m open to other games and activities, or just continue hanging out with you guys because your company has been a lot of fun so far. Unfortunately, I just don’t enjoy being a GM and this has been too painful for me”
You don’t have to be any good at GM-ing if your end goal is just to make friends. And GM-ing a decent enough game doesn’t have to be all that hard or require all that prep.
Of course, this will all require a certain amount of effort, likely more than just joining a game as a player. First try might not to be the right one too. You might not match with all, or any, of the players. But you don’t actually have to, starting a ttrpg with a group of strangers comes with the implication that this might not all work out.
Regrettably, usually if you don’t want to GM, you have to already have friends who do. Especially with the big influx of D&D interest from Stranger Things, every GM I know is completely swamped with players and don’t have any room left at their tables.
If you’re trying to make new friends, especially in-person friends, GM-ing is your best bet. It’s easier than it sounds, I promise. Some ttrpgs are really hard to run, but if it’s too hard for you, you just haven’t found a good system yet. A great starting point is Lady Blackbird because it comes with the adventure, system and characters all-in-one so prep is super simple. If that still seems daunting, there are also a lot of fun one page adventures that are even easier to run, like Trash Pandas. If you feel weird about the “being in charge” part of GM-ing, there are some really good cooperative storytelling games you can play, like The Quiet Year — oftentimes, if you get a good group together to play games like this a few times, a D&D campaign will break out all on its own.
I have experience GMing. It’s not particularly difficult but I found it was exhausting, it was almost impossible to get my group to do ANYTHING. Granted they did thoroughly investigate some random coins they found, which I invented a backstory for between sessions. But they immediately forgot about that when it was a new session.
I don’t know if I have the patience to go through that again.
I hear you! I’ve had some frustrating groups over the years as well. I mostly came to peace with it when I realized that sitting around a table and chit-chatting idly was a victory, and not a defeat, and that my game is mostly to have something to fill the gap when there’s an awkward silence. If you have some burning story to tell, it’s often not the best format.
Seriously after college work and DnD has been how I’ve made friends