February 6, 2010 - I just returned from a journey into the Twilight Zone that was today’s Orange County Dungeons and Dragons MeetUp!

I have been a member of this group for five years, and have been playing D&D since it came out in the 1970’s.  I have to say that this meeting was very disappointing, and frankly a waste of time.

Pam and I arrived on time, sat down and introduced ourselves.  All five (one showed up later) of the other attendees said hi, and that was all of the interaction that we had until we got up and left in frustration (and boredom) an hour later.  Pretty much the entire meeting consisted of two men talking among themselves about what seemed to be a game that they were in, mowing down orcs and as a lot of non-D&D stuff.  Hardly anyone else said anything!  I mean; I kind of expected something like, ‘Hi, I’m, so-and-so.  Welcome. What brings you to the MeetUp?” or, “Are you looking for a game?”, or, “So, what is your favorite D&D edition.”, or,  “How long have you been playing?”, or, “What is you favorite character?”  Hell, I would have been happy if they had told us their names!!

I thought that it was kind of funny when the wife (?) of one of the talking fellows, took out her Kindle and started reading!

If this MeetUp group expects to grow and/or attract new members, they have to become more welcoming to new people and learn how to be more social and interactive.

While I may go back from time to time, in the hope that this group may change back to what it was when I first joined, at present, I honestly CANNOT recommend it to anyone.

It bordered on sad…or pathetic.  It’s meeting like this that encourage people to think D&D players are a bunch of social misfits.

I will give it one Wyvery, and that is being generous!

Lianna :O)