Gaming Gamers Post in BookThree: Flight Log 2016

Just saw a commercial for League of Legends.
Music videos using World of Warcraft are playing on my TV.
Facebook keeps reminding me about new SWTOR elements.

The MMO is a persistent game style. And if my boss’ words on Friday were a true indication? ONCE I get a grip on my living situation and figure out how to competently do my job........

Well… it is no surprise that I’m not stellar at making friends. IRL or On Line. I’ve been lucky with this site because so many of you all sought me out and are incredibly forgiving of someone who lacks the social graces to return kind words.

But… gosh, I don’t know why this is hard for me to put into words. Though, in my experience… if it is hard for me to put into words, that means it is something deeply true about myself that I am afraid of admitting for some reason.

So… man up; be honest.
I love video games. I love comic books. I love tabletop games. I love anime. I love the idea of CosPlay. I see via on-line and television so many people who have found groups that have become friends and helpers. I’ve never had that. I’ve always wanted it.

I would love to sign in to WoW and have a raid group. A group that increased the fun factor, a group that helped each other to get good at the game.
I would love to sign in to SWTOR and have a tight group of people, nerding out with me on Star Wars lore, enjoying the game and developing friendships.
I would love to have a reliable regularly meeting group to play tabletop games… Star Wars RPG, Pathfinder, DnD… and to have a group that was patient enough to teach me how to play each game and we become friends.
I would love to HAVE a comic book shop… (at all Up North)… or some kind of Comic Book hang out where I could make friends and exchange “what’s worth getting into” conversations.
I would love to be around my bestie RJ and watch Anime.... or have a group of friends to watch Anime with, to discuss the themes and voice actors… to turn each other onto newer titles (or older ones) that we would other wise have missed.
I would love to get connected into a CosPlay scene where I could meet folks, learn how to actually create the costumes I want to do, get ideas for other costumes.

Thing is… as much as I want those things? (1) I don’t know how to get them. (2) I’m not socially comfortable enough (even) to send out an e-mail.... like, when we first moved to Omaha, I saw some groups on line that were all about Table Top Games and Comic Books and… I never mustered the “testicular fortitude” to contact them in any way. (3) Trying to join a group/alliance in a game like SWTOR or WoW.... I certainly don’t have a good track record.

Bah. It’s all pipe dream stuff at the moment right now, I suppose. But… if my title WAS successful in bringing more Gamer-types.....

(1) How do you make friends/raid groups/etcetera in games like WoW and SWTOR?
(2) In more rural areas… how do you find/make friends that share such typically… less popular interests?
(3) (I’ve asked this before, but I’ll keep asking until I do something about it, lol) How do you get involved with CosPlay groups? That seems like something that could be REALLY risky… but… my penchant for overthinking risks and possible outcomes likely plays a big part of my troubles in making friends in general, lol.