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When moving into a new city or area and trying to find a new game store, what's the best ways to meet and greet the local 40k players?
Ask the employees to introduce you?
Watch games between two other players?
Bring beer and donuts?

From my experience breaking into a social group is all about just talking to be people. They are people just like you and are probably happy to see a new player. =)

When I joined mine I just watched the guys play, introduced myself and made references to the 40k fluff. Try to be funny where you can and laugh. I like to give people a handshake when I meet them, but thats optional.

Also: Orks. Everybody loves orks. If you play Orks thats extra credit for you.

Oh and beer and donuts would probably help.

If you are socially confident, just get in there and and chat to people, and if anyone seems like the kind of person you want to play, ask them for a game. If you are shy, get to know the staff abit and ask them to introduce you to someone who will be happy to play you.

Tournaments are also good. They need to play you then!

Show up with you're army and see if anyone is up for a pick-up game. It really is that easy. Or come in to the store to paint instead of staying home.

You already have a shared interest with everyone else in the store and almost everyone who games is always looking for new people to play against. After a few days and games you get to know people. Just always be a good sport.

A firm handshake, look them intensely in the eye and whisper "FRIEND".

If all the tables are in use, walk over and look at the models that are being used. Make a comment about the paint or models or army. I, like most people, love talking to complete strangers about my conversions. Just always remember that 40k (and other table top games) are by their nature social games and people tend to love to talk about their armies and minis

You might want to check if the store has a group page, say on Facebook for example. As my local FLGS has a group which people post for games and you introduce yourself there, etc.

That being a much preferable method if you're not very comfortable of approaching people you've never met.

Find someone who's playing, wait for what looks like their pack-away or lunch break. Wander over and say something positive about their army. If they're receptive to talking, say, "I'm new to the area, would you be up for a game some time?" get out your phone and take their email address.
If they decline, remember some people are just shy. Just because they're in a game store doesn't mean that they're familiar with many people, or terribly confident.

Just go up and talk to people. Be friendly, introduce yourself, talk about the hobby, try to be funny and keep a clean appearance. I find people in the hobby to be a welcoming bunch.

Just turn up to events and you will naturally start to blend into the group. Lets say you're a Magic player, go to FNM every week and you will play people and have common ground to talk about the game. This is a natural way to find who you fit with in a group and you will drift together with them.

Not really rocket science.

Show up to gaming nights and ask people if they're looking for a game, if/when they agree, introduce yourself, just a simple "Hey, my name is minigun" kind of thing with a handshake. If you're too shy to do that, then do it at an event like a tournament or an organized megabattle type affair. You dont have to ask anyone to play then, because they have to play with you. In any case, use the occasion to strike up a conversation about the game, and from there segway into other matters like movies, film, etc.

Don't expect to become BFFs with every person you play against, a common interest in toy soldiers isnt enough to create a friend, but if you share outside interests in common you will probably be able to form a solid friendship. A good suggestion too, if theres a pub/bar or restaurant near your store, is to ask if anyone is up for getting a beer after you're done gaming (thats how I became friends with most of my gaming circle, they asked me to come out for beers with them and it just kinda became a thing).


The biggest trick to it all though, is dont be TFG. Be a good sport and an entertaining opponent. Don't bring cheesy lists, don't gloat when you're winning or bitch & moan and throw a tantrum when you're losing. If you bring up a rules issue with your opponent, unless its seriously gamebreaking or you're absolutely certain its wrong, just say 'let it ride for now and we can check afterwards if we did it right'. If your opponent forgets a unit or makes a mistake, do give them a re-do or a chance to fix it (within reason, if it requires you to roll back an entire turn then thats a no-go). In general just be easy-going.

In reality, making friends at a game store is probably the easiest way to make friends. Its an environment where you most likely share a plethora of common interests with the others, in which participation in an event with a stranger is expected, and you have a common ground on which to build a conversation and a relationship. Games aren't just games, they are a lingua franca through which strangers become friends.

Had this exact predicament 2 months ago... Took forever for me to break the mold with Flames of War when I first went in, talked and named some of the models, shocked one of the guys when I said good choice on taking one of his guns, couldn't believe I knew what it was and I was basically in there group within 2-3 weeks. I quit going for awhile to my LGS for 2 years, TDY and deployments, and its like all new faces when I went back even management was different. Anytime I made/make a mistake now with rules I apologized still new to 7th edition with 40k. It was actually the opposite of the cheese comment. I got made fun of for bringing an all Skitarii list to there tournament, said you should be playing War Convocation. So everyone I guess is different, rather competitive here. Seems like I can compare everyone to other people at other LGS's. Its rather funny to be honest.

Best I can say is just smile and laugh, you'll get the one guy who is looking for a pick up game that's in the normal group but his buddies already started and 9/10 you'll play him and be in the group. Or at least feel as your a part of them. Its a hard dynamic. I compare the Army because I was in for 9 years, they put there pants on just like you everyday. Kind of like a work place, 2-3 weeks you'll feel like the outcast. It'll fall into place.

Thanks all for the advice.

I'm in the process of building my army now so I can't offer a pick up game just yet but I'll try that or the tournament approach once I have something.

 minigun762 wrote:
Thanks all for the advice.

I'm in the process of building my army now so I can't offer a pick up game just yet but I'll try that or the tournament approach once I have something.

Some stores have places to put together miniatures and paint. If you've got the time to spare, that's not a half bad way to meet a few like minded folks.

And it doesn't hurt to bring a very small army to a store and see if there's anyone who wants just a quick and dirty game, too. Don't feel like you have to wait until you have a huge force ready to go. Some folks will also bring an extra army and do demo events.

tournaments and facebook for sure. lots of local stores i frequent can be awkward to show up randomly and hope for a game but if you go on their facebook page it's easy to arrange games with strangers.

tournaments are great as mentioned because youre automatically going to play 3-4 people in a day and youll inevitably end up chatting with a bunch of other people.

ive made lots of friends by taking part in these events.
not to be judgemental but ive always found that the guys lurking the store just hanging out have always been a little offkilter and i didn't gel with lol. maybe that's more of a GW symptom vs FLGS.

Took me about six months to find a groove with my store even though I had been there since August 2013. I just stuck with it, and took my time really. I still seem toget along strongly with the other veterans, (not hobby vets, to clarify,) even though I'm not much of one. I think it boils down to same lifestyles or experiences plus the same age group. That isn't to say I don't get along with the others, some I even know from my high school. I still am quiet at the store though, I have a harder time opening up to strangers outside of work. Especially since I only see them once a monthish.

I love the hobby though, that sorta cemented things. Plus the campaigns and painting days really helped.

Just stick to what you like, the rest will fall into place.

I recently had a very similar experience.

I moved to London and did not know anyone. To get out the house I went hunting for a hobby and stumbled into the local store.

I spent the evening there learning about the game and chatting to the staff.

After commiting and purchasing I did all my work on the models in store. Whilst it takes longer to do it this way I was able to see people coming in and out and chat with them. There is one key thing to remember. Everyone in the store is interested in the same thing as you.... The hobby.

I simply explained in new and asked them what got them into the hobby and what they like about it.

A few days of being in store people know your name and you are greeted etc. The. Yesterday I was asked if I wanted to join some.of the staff and customers at the pub after closing and have a couple of games elsewhere.

Just ask people questions ask them for opinions on what you are doing compliment there stuff and you will soon make friends. I always ask for peoples opinions and ask then to be honest and not just say they like it.

When playing a game make sure you honest and fair. Your playing for fun most of the time. I had an incident were I had to many points and as soon as a realized I mentioned it and they much prefered I had told them. Rulewise if were not sure we have a quick look but if we don't figure it out we agree what is fair and look after the game as a group

Even the staff will now say there not sure or they think it might be better this way etc.

It is a very friendly and engaging hobby.

In short. Spend time in store and chat to people!

Get a job at the store, then everyone who goes there will get to know you!

Find TFG. Destroy him in a game, claim his woman, and make the rest of the crowd worship you.

Go to store, hang around, talk to people who are looking at models or books

I meet an amazing number and variety of people at my local independent hobby shop. There are also usually some organized game nights or play groups, etc.

Doesn't hurt to befriend the staff, they might be busy, and have to split the conversation to do their jobs, but it's always nice when folk stop to chat. They will know who is nice to play against, and help you. A big part of working in a store is learning to people-watch.

I can agree about the tournament thing. I met my local 40k group that way (and got my first actual games!). Over a year and many more tournaments later I definitely feel like I fit in.

raoiley wrote:
tournaments and facebook for sure. lots of local stores i frequent can be awkward to show up randomly and hope for a game but if you go on their facebook page it's easy to arrange games with strangers.

tournaments are great as mentioned because youre automatically going to play 3-4 people in a day and youll inevitably end up chatting with a bunch of other people.

ive made lots of friends by taking part in these events.
not to be judgemental but ive always found that the guys lurking the store just hanging out have always been a little offkilter and i didn't gel with lol. maybe that's more of a GW symptom vs FLGS.

Facebook is definitely a good tool. I always thought GW should have made some sort of player finder. There's a few online also, including the one here.

Walk over to a table where 2+ people are in the middle of a game, pick up a model from the table without asking and interrupt them and ask about the paint schemes etc.

You could also try sitting back in stealth mode then as soon as somebody gets a rule wrong or forgets to take a leadership test etc you can sprint over and start pointing out the correct rules.

...at least that's how people do it in my local GW anyway.

Don't shout WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH?

If they've got an online forum then introduce yourself there and arrange a game with someone. There is usually a few guys who are more than willing to take the lead and help introduce you to everyone with an intro game or two

 argonak wrote:

raoiley wrote:
tournaments and facebook for sure. lots of local stores i frequent can be awkward to show up randomly and hope for a game but if you go on their facebook page it's easy to arrange games with strangers.

tournaments are great as mentioned because youre automatically going to play 3-4 people in a day and youll inevitably end up chatting with a bunch of other people.

ive made lots of friends by taking part in these events.
not to be judgemental but ive always found that the guys lurking the store just hanging out have always been a little offkilter and i didn't gel with lol. maybe that's more of a GW symptom vs FLGS.

Facebook is definitely a good tool. I always thought GW should have made some sort of player finder. There's a few online also, including the one here.

I find that a lot of GWs (at least in the Ontario area) have facebook groups where people will organize games.
ive met lots of guys off the Dakka find a game thread and have ended up friends with many

I am from NW Pennsylvania. I just came to Austin TX for an interview/job testing. I threw my army in a duffle bag and brought it with me. I walked into the store around mid day, saw a game going on, walked up to the table and asked the guys if I could watch. Luckily for me they were sociable, new to the game, and I was able to help them out and get to know them. Effect achieved

What part of Oregon are you in?