Looking For Group, get snubbed, does Roll20 actually work? [LFG] [D&D 3.5]

Ive had poor interactions with Roll20. Groups are easy to find so long as you have extremely flexible schedules. I rarely can do late night games where most people setup their games. Well a few weeks ago I thought I found  a group for Dungeons and Dragons 3.5. I applied, the person running it seemed nice. However when I actually showed up I got "Access Denied". Then I started to panic and checked "My Games" and found out the person has removed me before I even got into the game. I sent a message thinking this might be a mistake. The guy never responded and I found out he has even deleted the invitation. The last group I got into months ago was for Champions. In that case I was removed after the Session 0 checking up the pdf rulebook. Is it normal to just get booted without warning? Its hard to believe that with almost not interaction that I could make people hate me so much to boot me from their games. =================== Im still looking for games in the -5:00 time zone. Monday-Tuesday, 10am-8PM. I have alternating Sundays and Wednesdays off. Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 is the game I am most familiar with and I know there is plenty of things for me to play with.

Sorry to hear about your experience Nathaniel Roll20 like online dating you get all kinds, just have to be patient and pick and choose groups you join and hope  the game you join is the game for you.  the above example you mentioned, such behavior shows immaturity for letting you go without an explanation just hang in there and you will find your game.

Sorry that you had that experience. Some people do have rotten luck with finding games, while others have an easier time. Here's a bit of advice on how to get into a game. Browse often. There are a decent number of games that fill up because the GMs accept the first few people that apply. As a GM, I quickly grew away from this, but you can get into some games just by being one of the first in line. Put effort into your application. An application is low-effort if it looks like, "Hi, I saw the game and was interested. I'd really love to play!" That is nice and friendly, but it doesn't stand out in any way. If you're looking for a campaign to commit several hours to every week, then you can put a few more minutes into making a thorough application. Answer any questions that are asked, and read all of the information posted by the GM. All too often, I see players completely ignore any application threads or instructions. I almost never see those players chosen.  Give details about yourself. Make yourself seem as real of a person as possible. Not saying that you should give out confidential information, but let them know that you're new to roll20. What kind of characters you like to play. Experience. What style of play do you prefer.

Stephen's advice above is solid.  About browsing often, I would get into the habit when you are looking for a game of looking at least once a day using the LFG forum and the game search tool in Roll20.  For campaigns that may run a while, you can expect to be asked to voice chat with the GM in Discord or Skype and possibly also chat with a few of the current players.  You may also be invited into a trial game one shot.  This screening is a bit of a pain, but it is designed to match players with the right kind of game and fellow players.  It is a real hassle to recruit to replace someone who leaves a game, so many GMs like to screen carefully on the front end.

Hot take, but in my opinion? Roll20 isn't very good for finding groups. The GM tools, mapping, and whatever else is top notch. Real good stuff, best I've found. But the LFG and game browser are VERY hit or miss. If I were to drop my bit of advice, I'd say just go and look around Discord groups dedicated to the systems you're looking for. That's where I find most of my players, and all in all I'm pleased with the results. There's plenty of groups for 5e, and some big ones for most other systems, like WoD and WH40kRPGs.

Nathaniel B. said: Is it normal to just get booted without warning? Its hard to believe that with almost not interaction that I could make people hate me so much to boot me from their games. Unfortunately, yes. Yes this is quite normal on Roll20. Don't take it personally. Keep trying. And remember, there's more than one way to play D&D. Don't stick with the first group who accepts you! Find one where you can thrive. If you're not having fun, then why bother, right? Just keep trying. You're worth it.

Stephen C That is helpful advice, but it also reveals the flaw with Roll20. People start run the games dont have to put any details in the game description. It turns me away when they dont have a list of requirements, because that means I can apply with no chance of success. I have to "sell myself" to strangers, when all I want to do is meet people and play a game I can enjoy a few hours a week. Its almost impossible to find a game because 90% of games, online or offline, are of a game I cannot enjoy no matter how hard I try, 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons. Find a group with correct date, time, and game I like or dont know enough to hate, and no requirements.

Nathaniel. I would recommend looking at the game listing to see if you can find a community the plays your chosen game system or play style or even timezone. Take for an example of my community that I spent over two years building (700+ members). While no games are ran in the community, we do discuss character generation, various game systems, how to run or play games (rule questions), and just hang out randomly to chat.  Sorry that I can't offer you a game but just hang in and good luck.

Make sure you have a good microphone too. If its terrible no one wants to spend every week listening to your voice if it scatches and cuts in and out and are windy and noisy. I know people who have been kicked from groups based on that.  Engage with the ST/GM/DM. I personally like to ask the ST to get on a voice program with me, so i can ask some questions about the campaign and the group, and then i like to give him some impressions about characters i could play based on that, not long 'this is 100% done' characters, more like 'yea i think a monk would be really cool for that then! i could see him doing X Y and even Z!  Basically make the ST interested in you as a player and your character. Not everyone are great at making long elaborate background stories and text dumbs about your character, but if you can do this instead it also works. 

Nathaniel unfortunately i filled my last spot in my chronicle else i would have hit you up. not a D&D game though but still

If you have a hard time finding a game due to your schedule.. try DMing a game.

Yep. Pretty normal and easy with it being online with strangers. Hobby has slowly started to become dull for me.

Im looking for a Casual game, with a Casual group, running simple adventures, with quick-built characters. So this probably isnt going to work.

I havent logged into Roll20 for almost a year (until now).  Saw on the front page it has 3 million users.  I have used Roll20 maybe 10 times in 4 or 5 years? Once Google got rid of Dicestream that group chose to play here and those sessions were my successful 5 of 10 sessions. The other 5 people dont show up or had all kinds of issues since everyone was total strangers or a pick up group. Biggest Problem for me all these years is that I wasnt a D&D player.  Even though several times on the forums people post there are all kinds of non D&D games being played.  Umm yeah, but thats all I have ever seen and all Roll20 appears to cater to.

I am one of those who have had it easy, I guess, since my first two groups lasted for over a year ... one of those we finished the campaign and then they moved to another system which I didn't enjoy as much, so I left without any hard feeling. The other is still running and we're almost lvl 19, we've already agreed to do another campaign with the same GM once we complete it. Then, I have started looking for another game, found another group that suits me on the third try. The first group I joined were not running the kind of game I am looking for, so after 2-3 sessions with them, I discussed with the GM and we came to the agreement that I am looking for something different. Yesterday I left another group after 3 months of playing with them ... I'm thinking the GM and I got too close too quick and we argued a lot, which often lead to frustrations on both sides ... so yesterday I figured I would just leave it instead of staying in this kind of energy draining dynamic. I'll double down on those tips that were given to you: don't lose patience, it is very possible to find a group that you will enjoy and that fits your schedule (I'll say your schedule might be whats makes things complicated for you, I believe most people on Roll20 are on the american continent). Take the time needed for your application to distinguish itself, like others said. I personally have saved it in a document so that I dont have to do it more than once. If you get picked for a game, don't read a PDF while the others are discussing the game, that is the online equivalent of being focused on your phone instead of being focused on the game (I would say that one is on you, mate). Participate in session 0 or pregame discussions, be honest about your expectations or your style since you cannot lie about that ... if you do, it will only come to light later, which is worst. If our schedules were compatible, I'd invite you to one of my group actually looking for players, but since they are not I'll just say "Good luck finding a suitable group !"

I look up articles on Wikipedia, Tvtropes, and 1d4chan to help me explain my game problem. Looking up the 1d4chan article on Wizards, the "Magic Batman" approach. Use your abilities in the most efficient manner possible, countering challenges like a Chess game, and often foiling the Game Master's plans. I Started playing Roleplaying Games with Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd edition. Like a videogame I though spellcasters were like Final Fantasy, with White and Black Mages handling support and offensive magics. Nearly every game whether tabletop or videogame follows the White/Black Mage dynamic and still do. I was surprised so long ago how the Cleric is unlike a White Mage, that the Wizard relies on a complex system of slots, and that magic is most effective as everything EXCEPT for damage. This is both unique, but puts a great deal of power in the Players' hands. I still love all the spells, races and alternative classes introduced in expanded books. Its a major flaw with any knew edition that they cut out rather than add to the game. Burning the old and starting over just resets the Players' progress. ================ Other games if not outright stated, then in the effective rules the Game Master isnt an adminstrator to run a campaign by provided events, but rather act as God ordering the Players around. That is just alienating to me as I quickly start asking if any of my decisions matter if its all up the GM to decide the results. This is known as "Railroading". An an easy indicator to see if a group is worth trying is to how much work a Game Master has gone into writing the setting. The more the GM builds, the less the Players get to. Ive often just summed this up as "The Game Master is the Players' Enemy". I need a neutral GM to run things, not control them. This means I am very cautious around game where the GM is given even more power, like in Mage of the Ascension, its a roleplay heavy game where something called "Paradox" essentially allows the GM to punish Players for being a Mage. Ive read a lot about White Wolf Games and the Old World of Darkness but Ive also read about how the Player_vs_GM balance is heavily in the GMs favor.

I used to be a very motivated GM, writing a lot of stuff up in advance and when I spent hours preparing something, I would want my players to go through those events. But I also had the chance of being the main GM for a group of 6 friends for about 10 years, so I quickly learned that it could often turn up into a waste of time. So instead of writing stuff, I started reading about stuff. That enabled me to start trusting myself about improvising after my players derail everything without any frustration for me (well, mostly ... players still do dumb stuff all the time :D ). But I'm not posting to tease you about my DMing style ... I'm here to give you the following advice: take a more proactive approach and either: 1) Make a new "LFG" group, less about your frustrations which spark a whole other discussion and more about "I'm looking for  a GM who runs things, not controls them.  or 2) Start posting in GM "LFP" posts. Most GMs want to describe their games once only and have interested players come to them ... most do not browse the forums looking at LFG posts (at least, I never found any game that way, personally).

For the first part... All i can say is, its possible to find groups playing old versions of D&D through 3.5 / pathfinder or 5th edition are by far the most common.  As for the 2nd part.. i'm not sure if i understood it but it sounds like you are saying 'i dont like the game if the st is bad' which... duh. There are 'some' games where a railroady ST are alright, such as a pure dungeoncrawl/combat arena style D&D game. Otherwise it tend to detract from the game. On the other hand, players need to follow the story and the world, you cant just say 'fuck the plot, let me become a pizza delivery mage instead and then close my eyes'  As for the last paragraph.. not more so than in any other games, i would even argue the favor are more in the players side in White Wolf games as they tend to be incredibly open games and its fairly easy for player agency.  What paradox does is indeed up to the storyteller, but you as a player are 99% in charge of WHEN you get paradox, its a option open to you, that you are capable of doing magic in front of sleepers (humans) which causes a backlash. The ST cant just 'give' you paradox. YOU as a player make the paradox happen, the ST merely decide the shape it arrives in.  you do NOT gain paradox if you dont do things just slightly subtle. 

I think you've been a victim of bad luck. I've got some 5k hours on Roll20 and I've never been booted from a game. I'm in 10+ games here now and 80% of those I found by searching Roll20. Of those games only one is D&D5E so other systems can be found given some effort. In choosing games you need to be discriminating. As a general rule, I usually don't apply to games in which the description is poorly written and/or the grammar and spelling are problematical. A quick check of the 3.5 games at the time of this posting shows none that fit your schedule as provided. Pathfinder 1E, which if memory serves, is pretty similar to D&D3.5 has 3-5 games that fit your schedule. As for finding the right game, other posters have provided good advice which you should follow. Good luck. :)

Well heres an example. Found a new game uploaded on Roll20 for this Saturday. It says "Dungeons and Dragons 3.5" but the guy making it have a big list of what is banned(most things), what is allowed(the basic handbook), and house-rules(From Pathfinder). Its basically a conversation to Pathfinder Core Rulebook. I dont even know why the person didnt just switch, or even why using that game system if youre going to ban nearly everything. Just confusing. Then another game at Sunday  so maybe actually can make it. Person allows most options, so cool. But everyone has to be a Pixie-race? And the Pixies have big drawbacks.

This is not very constructive, as you seem to be blaming Tabletop RPGs in general. Sounds to me like you are here solely to complain about how "people run their games". What you are talking about has nothing to do with Roll20 per say. It's part of the reality of D&D (and other TTRPGs) that  GMs change the rules and sometimes "go crazy" with their homebrewing. Are you complaining that there's too many options you don't like ??? I'm only trying to make you realize that this is a good thing which means that, with patience, you absolutely can find the kind of games that would be perfect for you, since there is a lot of choice ! Sometimes you will try and you will end up disappointed ... that can happen around any table, virtual or not. Good luck finding a suitable game for you !!

It's not a "player's market", there are many more players who 'just want to turn up and play a game' than there are GMs prepared to run a game. Casual also means unreliable. It's difficult to justify running a game for people who may or may not turn up. If you're not prepared to run something yourself you have to be patient and try a few different avenues. Reddit has a lfg subreddit which frequently has online games advertised, Discord servers can be another place where GMs recruit people. As a single player you aren't going to dictate any terms to a GM and a group of players, you have to find a group and a game which more or less suits you and it will likely take quite a bit of time. Or run your own game as a GM. Then you'll have to filter through the 4 million plus players through the no-shows, the prima donnas, the psychopaths, the pedants, the bores, the weeabos, the racists, the rape fantasists, the schoolkids and the trolls, to possibly find a decent group of 3-5 people who you might gel with to get a game going.

This topic should be moved. The simplest idea to follow is to start my own games on Roll20. If I think of it like solitaire but with an Open Door Policy it could work. The problems with that are that I would have to teach myself how to program everything.

Bilharzia said:  Or run your own game as a GM. Then you'll have to filter through the 4 million plus players through the no-shows, the prima donnas, the psychopaths, the pedants, the bores, the weeabos, the racists, the rape fantasists, the schoolkids and the trolls, to possibly find a decent group of 3-5 people who you might gel with to get a game going. This was one of the reasons I recommended finding a community for a specific system or style of play (5e, OSR, Savage Worlds, text, etc...) as this shrinks down the 4+ million members to only a few hundred or so. It improves the odds of finding a game and you get to know the people before you game with them through their posts in the community.

Nathaniel B. said: The problems with that are that I would have to teach myself how to program everything. Yup .... like every other person who runs or plays on Roll20. It's not programming, there's really not much to it once you get beyond a certain point with the interface and you aren't too concerned with automation. You need to know how the character sheet works for your game, how to make handouts, maps, tokens, how to roll dice beyond the character sheet and that's about it. There are plenty of support documents and video demonstrations which go through the process. If you're playing one of the D&D games it's incredibly easy since the application and all the support material is directed at you.

As someone who's in that group you got booted from, consider yourself lucky...

Big S. said: As someone who's in that group you got booted from, consider yourself lucky... What does that mean?