I live in Austria and like most (I guess) started playing games with friends. But as time went on and the interest in playing increased, but the possibilities to play stayed limited I joined a registered association for pen & paper roleplaying games. (I hope this is the correct term in English)
I pay a membership fee and in turn get to use the location for games and borrow books for free from an extensive library. The whole thing is non-profit, with the fees going into new books and to pay for the location.
My question is: "Are there any of you who (outside Austria) play in such an association as well?"
I was just curious if this kind of thing is common or more of an oddity.
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Never heard of something like that in the US. Not sure if I'd like it or not. Guess I would probably be willing to try it and see what the folks I met were like.
Closest we have is the Game Shops that sell the rpg's tend to have same tables that are usually free to use. You reserve a spot on the calendar and invite folks to join you.
The shop does it on the assumption that if you are having fun, you will probably buy some game stuff. Since that is where you are gaming it is also most likely where you will buy your stuff.
Yep, we have an official gaming club in England. It's a combined Wargaming and Roleplaying club that has been around for over 20 years, even in the earlier years we ran a trade show.
However now we rent 2 storeys of an old pub & have a weekly game, complete with subscription and AGM.
Well, I'm not sure as far as "registered associations" go, but I am part of a university club (part of the executive committee as well) with subscriptions, regulargly organized games, a charter, etc. We have a large room given to us by the university, have a dozen P&P games running every week (including PFS), as well as boardgames, cardgames & other smaller scale stuff on a few days a week. There used to be wargaming, but there isnt anyone left playing them. The club has been running since 1986 (so close to 30 years!) so it's been here for a while. There are even still a few "oldies" from the early days of the club that run games or play.
However, as far as I know, this is an oddity.
I've heard that private gaming clubs are the norm in Europe and other parts of the world, but they're very much not the norm in North America.
There are organized play groups for various games. (e.g. Pathfinder Society, D&D Adventurers Guild, various Warhammer and Warhammer 40K guilds, etc). I don't think that's what you're talking about.
Games in the US tend to be held in private homes among groups of friends, or at local gaming stores. It's very common for gaming stores to have game playing space and have groups meet there regularly. Most stores provide the space for free, while others charge a nominal fee.
Some colleges and universities have gaming clubs as well. They usually play in academic buildings on campus. Some of these are restricted to stuents at the college, while others are open to the general community.
As for me-- I play in private games with friends at somebody's home. It's most traditional for the GM to host at his/her own home.
Nope, I've always played at someone's house or a game store with free tables.
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We are, however, getting a Gaming Tavern soon (as in the serve some alchohol and food and have specialized tables for gaming: including board games and war games, etc, not just RPGs) and I plan on having a membership for that place.
Thanks for your answers. It was illuminating ^^