Learn all about Tales from the Loop with our brief guide designed to help new players navigate the world of tabletop gaming.
Looking for a chill mystery game? How about something akin to the first season of Stranger Things or the â80s movies it references? Well check out Tales from the Loop! This tabletop RPG, or TTRPG, puts you in the role of a kid solving mysteries in a fictional small town. The Loop is an old machine left over from an experiment done years ago. But its effects still linger, calling strange creatures to your town. The adults arenât paying attention, so youâll have to ditch homework and figure out whatâs going on.
Any good â80s movie needs a cast of diverse characters split into easily-identifiable roles. Tales from the Loop gives you the means to create these roles, such as the Popular Kid or Bookworm. Once everyone has selected their role, the Game Master will begin the story. Tales from the Loop differs from many other TTRPGs in that it isnât about powerful characters fighting for loot. Since youâre average kids, you need to deal with average kid problems. Part of the game is playing out mundane activities like going to school and dealing with bullies. It may seem odd, but itâs essential to building the characters. Players and GMs also describe the world collaboratively, making it a good storytelling game. The dice come out when the action picks up, but Tales from the Loop is a mystery first and foremost.
As a storytelling mystery game, Tales from the Loop can easily be played in-person or digitally. Digital play has caught on in recent years thanks to the growth of video chat. With programs like Zoom or Discord, you can connect to a GM and other players from the comfort of home. In this âtheater of the mindâ style of play, the GM paints a picture with words and lets everyoneâs imagination fill in the blanks. Players just need to have their characters and dice at the ready. A stable internet connection also helps.
If your group needs more visual aids, you could use a VTT, or virtual tabletop. A VTT is a shared digital space where the GM can show art and maps as well as pull up rules. Popular VTTs like Roll20 and Foundry have official Tales from the Loop content. This allows the GM and players to look up rules, store their characters, and roll dice on the same screen. GMs can even add things like GIFs and music to aid in setting the scene.
You might be able to find an open group by checking out your local game store. Many stores have places where people can post open tables, either in-store or online. If online play is what youâre looking for, you could check TTRPG gaming groups on Reddit or Discord. Many have an LFG or âLooking For Gameâ channel where people search for players and GMs. Hereâs a Reddit group dedicated to the game. StartPlaying also has a powerful, easy-to-use search tool for browsing plenty of open games! Finally, you can call upon any interested friends. You can all learn the game together as you play. Someone will need to volunteer to be the Game Master, however.
If you want to learn to play Tales from the Loop but donât want to run it, youâll need a GM who can teach. If you are a GM, you need a chance to be in the playerâs seat every once in a while. Professional GMs have years of expertise running games in a way that makes new players feel welcome and challenging those who know the game well. They can craft compelling mysteries outside of the recommended ones used in the books and incorporate ideas from each new group they play with. Skill with improvisation takes time to cultivate, and professional GMs have put in that time.
Not just that, but professional GMs also tackle the headache-inducing tasks like scheduling the group and fiddling with the technological aspects of online play. With a professional GM at the helm, you can just show up and have a good time. Theyâll also go the extra mile to incorporate cinematic music and storylines tailored to your character. If you want a one-of-a-kind TTRPG experience, look up a professional GM.Â
StartPlaying allows you to easily find and book sessions with professional Dungeon Masters and Game Masters that work for your schedule. You can focus on enjoying the game without worrying about the logistics of organizing sessions. Playing online provides flexibility, as you can join games from anywhere with an internet connection.
Player reviews on StartPlaying make it easy to find a Dungeon Master whose style aligns with your preferences. With reviews from other players, you can gauge whether a DM is the right fit for how you want to play, whether itâs combat, role-playing, storytelling, or a specific genre.
Professional Dungeon Masters on StartPlaying are committed to running the best game ever. When a Dungeon Master is focused on running the best game every and are doing so professionally, games are less likely to get cancelled. Players who play in professionally run games are also incredibly invested, and not likely to flake on sessions.
With the search tool offered by StartPlaying.Games, you can find GMs that run on your schedule and run the game you want to play. Each GM has a profile page complete with reviews that describe their storytelling style so you can find the one thatâs best for you. Give it a look and find an open table today!
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