There are a lot of players and GMs in search of each other out there.  I’ve known a lot of people that simply can’t find other players, or can’t find people willing to try a particular role playing game.  I’ve had this issue myself, but find the gaming famine doesn’t normally last long for me.

There are a lot of tools out there now for gamers looking for each other.  There’s Nearby Gamers, through which I’ve found a few gamers (and funnily had near misses with people who would later join up by meeting in different places), there’s things like Berin Kinsman’s new Role Play Media Network and fandoNM (for New Mexico, mostly…)  There’s the RPG store bulletin board, comic stores, university clubs.

Mostly, however, I find it’s best to simply not be shy about the fact you play games.  It’s how I’ve linked up with several players and recruited people from outside of the hobby.

Once you’ve found someone who is interested, and you’ve passed a few emails or phone calls back and forth, I suggest meeting the person in a neutral place — a coffeeshop, lunch place, wherever, so that you can talk about not just gaming, but things in general.  See if they’re the kind of person that will fit with your group, that will want to deal with you.  Gaming buddies who are just gaming buddies, don’t tend to hang on for long, in my experience.  Friends stay.  Also, it helps you weed out the weird and dangerous without letting them know where you live.  (As a friend just said, “it’s kinda like dating…”)

To find good gaming groups that will be cohesive and lasting, looks for friends first, and gamers second.