The fastest, and possibly most furious, fun to be had in the world of TTRPGs is with Savage Worlds, a versatile system that gives you the tools to build nearly any gaming experience imaginable. The spiritual antithesis to crunchier systems like GURPS, it provides a streamlined ruleset while maintaining tactical depth and a lot of charm. From Eberron to East Texas University, you’ll need to find the right posse to join your table, so grab your bennies and mount your trusty steeds and/or hoverbikes, because these are the four best places to find your perfect Savage Worlds group.
1. StartPlaying
Topping this list is StartPlaying, connecting you with verified, experienced GMs offering a variety of campaigns and settings built on Savage Worlds. This platform was built specifically to connect players with professional GMs, providing a rigorous verification process and reviews from previous games. Unlike other options, you can search specifically for Savage Worlds or even particular settings like Deadlands. The intuitive interface shows how many spaces are left at each virtual table, frequency, and session cost. Multiple filters let you further refine your search by things like experience level, age range, and game styles, for example whether it’s more roleplay or combat-focused. They also handle the practical aspects like payment and scheduling that can sometimes bog down a gaming group. You’ll be flipping jokers and soaking damage faster than a Harrowed gunslinger can fan her hammer.
Find your Savage Worlds group today.
2. Discord
Discord and StartPlaying often go hand-in-hand, and Savage Worlds is no different. Many GMs on StartPlaying involve Discord in how they run games, and dedicated Discord servers for a particular setting regularly see GMs posting links to their virtual table on StartPlaying. As such, it’s no surprise that it takes second place on this list. The best and biggest is the Unofficial Savage Worlds server, a lively space which has a “Looking For Games” (LFG) channel that sometimes sees multiple posts per day. The community is generally helpful to newcomers, providing advice on rules and homebrews as well as casual hangs. That said, the LFG posts don’t generally involve as much information or vetting as with StartPlaying, so your mileage may vary.
3. Facebook
Savage Worlds has a massive presence on Facebook. With more than 11,000 members, the most active group is The Official Savage Worlds Facebook Group. While this isn’t specifically an LFG space, users do sometimes advertise open spots at their table here. Since it’s Facebook, these will mostly be for in-person games, which means you’ll have to simply hope for a local post or, if you make your own post, that local players and GMs will see it.
There is another aspect of this specific to Savage Worlds that makes Facebook especially useful compared to other game systems. Because the ruleset is so quick and adaptable, Savage Worlds is especially conducive to running one-shots, meaning games that only last one session. In other words, because the Savage Worlds system is known for its rapid character creation, role-play, and combat, it’s great to play for a single night with a bunch of strangers. This makes it a popular choice for open tables at your local gaming store, which likely has a Facebook and/or Instagram page. Check event listings there, and you may find an open IRL table for Savage Worlds quicker than you’d expect.
4. Reddit & Other Forums
While the Savage Worlds subreddit is great for lore and comradery, they stopped posting their semi-monthly LFG posts years ago. Similarly, the official forums at Pinnacle were permanently closed last year. There’s always the search function on r/lfg for reddit, or LFG forums on Virtual TableTops (VTTs) like Roll20 for free or paid games and the SWADE tag over at Foundry (SWADE stands for “Savage Worlds Adventure Edition”). But these are sparse and you’ll likely have better luck via the aforementioned options.
Shake, Rattle, Roll
From the Old West to Battletech to Battletech in the Old West, Savage Worlds offers endless possibilities across its numerous settings and homebrews. Finding the right group can make all the difference between a one-off skirmish and an epic campaign. StartPlaying offers the most professional and reliable experience, with vetted GMs and a smooth interface designed specifically for connecting tabletop gamers. Discord stands out as a close (and supplementary) second, and Facebook is a good choice for finding in-person tables. So gather up your bennies and always aim for the head. Happy adventuring!
Paul is an author and forever DM with a traditionally published sci-fi novel on the way. He’s a fan of all things narrative, especially when it involves dice and a lot of math. Find him on Instagram discussing the general state of the world.
