Hello to the world/forums. I'm new to DH/RT (and to be quite honest, P&P RPGs), and would like to play. I love the 40k universe, and the ideas behind both appeal to me. However, before I rush out to buy up $35-70 dollars worth of books, I'd like to know that I'm not going to read through it once, drool over the fluff, and occassionally tap it for canon the next time the Black Library opens up for submissions. I am posing the title question to the GM forum because I assume their the ones with the most experience of assemblingplayers. Without further adieu:

How Do I Find A Game

(Without stalking the book/gamestore aisles and tackling people who point at the rulebooks)

I figure it breaks down into finding either an online or local game, and doing the finding either via the internet or face-to-face.

Being new to this, I do not have the ready list of contacts/old gaming group that some might, so face to face game hunting can be problematic. That being said, I'm not above picking games of bulletin boards locally if thats the way it can be done.

I also am very mobile due to my career. I tend to be in place for no longer than a year and a half, or have long periods (read 6-15 mos) of absence in any longer settle downs. I am thinking this could be a major detractor from local face to face games.

Given these intial qualifications, I am leaning towards the internet/online being my solution, but am highly flexible towards whatever works best. Especially as I assume online games are less beginner friendly simply because you are NOT sitting there right next to five people who know exactly how to conduct an oppossed charm test and are willign to chuck copious advice at a newplayer.

I don't know how things work where you're at, but if you're living in a larger city, you might simply google for a forum - RP, forum, <yourcityhere>. Chances are someone has at least made some attempt to facilitate group communication.

Well, you have friends right? JUst give them a ring-a-ding and see if you can get them all to go over to your place at an appointed time. If your place is too small, check out your local library. Usually they sound-proofed meeting rooms you can use for free (so long as you can sign up for it)

I find that having friends does not necessarily equate to having fellow 40k enthusiasts who would also be interested in a P n P rpg. I appreciate the reccommendation, but I am looking for ways to essentially integrate into a group of elsewise strangers. Lets assume at this point that I am not acquainted with anyone who would be immediately interested in playing.

Eesh, that's a tough one. I'd say google your state and zip code and throw "dark heresy" at the end of it and see what pops up.

Like Cifer suggested, searching for an online forum for local groups works. Hell, I just found I have a big gaming club near where I'll be going to law college as of September, so I'll have a group I can play with over there as well as my playtest group at home

"How to find a game?"

Try this, as I've used it for years, and it always tends to work, although it can be a bit time consuming.

When visiting any city in the country, find a local game store that sells DH/RT products. Talk to the proprietor, ask if they have a bulletin board for potential gaming groups, or ask if there's a group out there locally looking for players. Often these boards have people, with a list of games they play, and just as often they will have contact info.

This will work for just about any game, but the game they may be playing now, may not be your first choice. You might find a group willing to try it, after you've been there a while.

Good Luck!

Denmar1701 said:

Pretty much this and the internet. Given your mobile profession you might have more long term success with a game played over the internet using Ventrilo/TeamSpeak and some sort of shared game client software that allows you basic mapping, chat and dice rollers.

The first few years I lived in my current city I tried out several game groups before I found some people I enjoyed playing with and fit my schedule. Then you introduce the games that you are willing to run for the group. Chances are that some random D&D group has never even HEARD of Dark Heresy... And chances are also good that some of them will become aroused at the very thought when they learn that it exists... Disturbing, yes, but true.

Once it became known that I was running DH I have not lacked for players. Quite the contrary, I usually have to turn someone away about once per month due to size and space considerations. And I know of at least four active DH groups just here in my city. Probably several more I don't know of, since the books are HUGE sellers here. I have friends that live out of state that are excited about this game... Seriously!

Heck, provide prospective players with a link to the planetary write up you posted on this forum. That should get you a few player bites...

As you said you're tavelling around a lot, you could even post a message here on these to look for some people. I'm sure a lot of players and GM's visit these forae so you could just give a quick heads-up about your geographic location and if you get some reactions, pick it up by email to arrange something.

Thank you for all of your feedback. It has been most helpful, and I have found a game to play in as a sort of mechanics apprenticeship before launching into GMing...which allows me to properly develop the game for telling anyhow. So thanks again.