How to Participate in Free RPG Day

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This Saturday is Free RPG Day , an annual celebration of RPG most often held at local game stores. Participating stores give away free items, including game pods, dice and T-shirts, as well as games and other activities. Here’s what to expect.

Get something for free

The idea behind Free RPG Day is that everyone gets something for free at a local play store (donated by game publishers) and hopefully buys something while they’re there, or the free game piques their interest in other offerings from the publisher.

To find out what your local store is selling, visit their website and social media pages. And to find local participating stores, search the Free RPG Day website .

Free stuff usually runs out by the end of the day, so arrive early and don’t expect a guaranteed freebie. Either way, this is only part of the day’s fun.

Play a game

Most gaming stores also have multiple tables where customers can play games not only today, but all the time. These games may sound a little intimidating, but the day of the event is a good time to muster the courage and ask how to join. It’s like coming to church for services on Christmas Eve – a good store will do its best to get the attention of the draws today.

Again, check social media with your local store to see what they’ll be playing and ask them directly how you can get involved. You may even have to register in advance to get a seat.

Down-load a game

There are thousands of RPG games out there that are always free. DriveThruRPG, «the largest store downloads role-playing games ,” touts its extensive catalog of free games and modules . It’s a jumble of suggestions with little explanation or guidance, but a seasoned gamer can look around and try something cool, and since it’s free, you can download a ton of stuff and take it apart later. It’s a good weekend to discover a new game or cool scenario for one of your favorite games:

If you’re new to gaming, this set of options can seem a little overwhelming. Let me guide you towards one-page RPGs that are much easier and usually free. I wrote an entire guide to this addictive genre that does not mention the voluminous rule books, additions, and even weird dice. You can play the game using just a few cubes and a piece of paper.

If you’re still intimidated, find a friend with RPG experience and have him run the game as your dungeon master.

Play the game

If you already have a well-established gaming group outside of the store and have everything you need to play, this is a great day to play your game, especially in public.

To play in a bar or a park – or any other place where a group of people can talk and laugh, not rudely – play one of the minimalist role-playing games listed in my other post , or one of these other options:

  • This is a sad place where ghosts live : you are clumsy ghosts trying to make people happy without frightening them.
  • Be gay, commit crimes : you and your playmates are about to commit the funnest heist ever. I mentioned this last time, but it was developed during Pride 2018 and is now a holiday tradition.
  • MASH Moms in PTA : You are the moms arguing at a PTA meeting. Character creation takes place in the MASH game.
  • Let’s be a grandmother: Oh me, oh my, grandma it’s time! : You are grandmothers, grandmothers and memes, bribing your hordes of grandchildren with lollipops.
  • Lost in a fantasy world : you modern kids trapped in a D&D universe and fighting to get home. You must choose between helping people in this world and reuniting with your own families. This is Jumanji meets Stranger Things and The Neverending Story .

Or find the game on the OnePageRPGs subreddit , where I have it all. Many of these games are hosted by their creators, so you can directly ask them to clarify any rules or find their other work. Now go inside and play!

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