Gaming Groups Los Angeles

The Rooftop Throwdown

Hello, fellow gamers! **The Rooftop Throwdown** is an inclusive gathering of gamers open to gamers and games of all varieties! The premise is simple, come lounge with us, enjoy the sunset over the city, and meet some of the most passionate gamers this side of California! **Games provided by host:** There will be Two console gaming stations with Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Play Station 4 with games such as Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, Overcooked, Gang Beasts, and more! Additionally, there will also be board / card games such as Rivals of Catan, Taco-Cat-Goat-Cheese-Pizza, Joking Hazard, and more! **Participants are encouraged to bring their favorite games to share!** Anyone may set up their own gaming console / game at any station not being used. Due to limited power access, if you wish to bring your own display, please reach out to the host for approval first. Anyone who provides a game, console, or equipment to share with others is encouraged to establish their own rules for the safe handling of their items and all participants are expected to respect and abide by those rules. If you are not bringing a console system or game, please bring a controller just in case! **Did someone say POTLUCK??** The host will be providing water, chips, and other snacks. All participants may bring any food items they wish and are encouraged to bring something shareable. Vegan friendly and allergen safe food items can be kept separate if necessary. Ice chests, compostable plates, and reusable cups and utensils will be available. **RSVP lists fill FAST so be sure to get your spot now!** **RSVP Policy:** 45-participant maximum. If you RSVP and do not show you will be noted and will be removed from future RSVP lists until otherwise determined by the host. **IMPORTANT:** For more details about our policies and practices, please read our House Rules by clicking or copy and pasting the link below. ([https://1drv.ms/b/c/11719e91f44edfca/IQB4HNO3YVLfQ7Jr7cbU1FziARIBwxb4TIt1kFUPcbh71oM?e=nQ6miq](https://1drv.ms/b/c/11719e91f44edfca/IQB4HNO3YVLfQ7Jr7cbU1FziARIBwxb4TIt1kFUPcbh71oM?e=nQ6miq)) By participating in any of our events you agree to abide by the policies outlined in this text and in our house rules. Any questions? Please reach out! Donations: We never charge an entrance fee. The joy of bringing people together is priceless! Each event is an opportunity to elevate the experience, and we want to manifest all that limitless potential! We ask all members of the community to consider donating to this effort. With your help we can make each event as fun and memorable as we can handle! Let’s fly! Thank you for reading! -A Flock of Gamers <3

1199th Meeting - First Thursday - Power Grid Recharged with Brazil board

Gateway 2026 - Labor Day Weekend Strategicon - LAX Hilton

August 2026 - Playtest games at Geeky Teas!

**Players and game designers wanted for this open house style event!** Please read the event schedule, and all members, new and old, should check out the Code of Conduct at the bottom of this text. **FEE:** $8 to play at Geeky Teas - payable at the event to Geeky Teas at front desk. Once paid, you're covered to play games ALL DAY. **DESIGNER SIGN UP**: If you have a game to test during session one or two we have a new sign up protocol: **Fill out the form here- [First Play Designer Signup](https://gorgeous-mule-37d.notion.site/1c9a3d4ed35b8034b34ced27ef3d1c40)** Please read the descriptions of each time to determine if your game is appropriate for a scheduled session. *Note: new members must come to First Play as a playtester at least once before having the opportunity to run a game. If this is your first time showing your game at FPLA, please introduce yourself to either Damon or Cassandra (one or both will be near the front of the room) before your session for a quick explainer on how to get your game to the table and what to expect from playtesting.* **SCHEDULE:** Game days have 3 segments. **You do not need to come for the whole day!** However, it is good etiquette if you are testing your own game to stay and test at least one other designer's game as well. 11:00am - 1:00 pm **OPEN PLAY TESTING** This is unstructured play time, ideal for short games (45min or less), 2 player games, and games that require a quieter environment. If you're a designer, grab an available table and let people know you are looking for players. If you're a player, just sit down at a game and play! **SESSION ONE** 1:15pm - 3:15pm **SESSION TWO** 3:30pm - 5:30pm Scheduled sessions are the core of First Play! This event we have three scheduled sessions, with about 4-6 games running during each time slot. Following moderator announcements, each designer running a game will have the opportunity to do an 'elevator pitch' to players. After which, players decide which game they want to play. Two hour sessions are ideal for games that are 60-90 minutes, and have been playtested multiple times before. After play, be sure to leave time to give and receive feedback. Oh, and sometimes we give away prizes! 5:30-6:30pm **DINNER BREAK** 6:30-10pm **THE SKUNKWORKS** This is unstructured time to test your wildest ideas. Bring the game that may break in 5 minutes, the one that requires 10 people, or the one that may involve crawling on the ground. Bring objects that *could* be games, half baked ideas, and untested print and plays. Take risks, be silly, and most importantly, have fun! **SPECIAL NOTES**: No outside food is permitted but there are snacks/drinks sold at Geeky Teas. Also, FYI - There are cats at the store, roaming but keep to themselves. Please read these guides, especially if you are new to design or playtesting- **[How to do better playtesting!](https://gorgeous-mule-37d.notion.site/How-to-do-better-playtesting-1c9a3d4ed35b807b9f6ff643b5635885)** **[How to explain rules for your confusing game prototype!](https://gorgeous-mule-37d.notion.site/How-to-explain-rules-for-your-confusing-game-prototype-1d3a3d4ed35b80c683e7e4f6953e8545)** **Code of Conduct Rules** 1. Be kind. 2. Seriously, be even more kind than you think you need to be. 3. Read the guidelines for giving and receiving feedback. 4. Respect the rules of our venues (Geeky Teas, Paper Heroes, Odyssey, etc). We will continue to be welcome as long as we continue to be good guests. 5. New members must come to First Play as a playtester at least once before having the opportunity to run a game. 6. If you have RSVP'd to run a game, show up for your time slot. If you do not show up for your time slot, you will get a strike against you. Two strikes and moderators will discuss next steps with you about if you will be allowed to continue running games. 7. Be respectful of other community members- give as much as you receive. Playtest other peoples' games, not just your own. 8. In the case of an unresolvable or continuing conflict, please let a moderator know so we can determine next steps. 9. You will receive a warning if a legitimate complaint is lodged against you. In the case of a continuous issue, a group of at least 3 moderators will discuss and determine next steps. Consistent bad behavior will lead to a group ban. **See you soon!** **Have questions?** For FAQ's, please see here - [First Play FAQ’s](https://gorgeous-mule-37d.notion.site/First-Play-FAQ-s-1d5a3d4ed35b809eadb7c5c72359521b) For a specific question please email *cassandra@ixiongameworks.com* For community conversations join the Cardboard Alchemy Discord: [https://discord.gg/2pYk3TT](https://discord.gg/2pYk3TT) \- find the \#first\-play\-la\-chat channel\!

Indie RPG Game Night (Geeky Teas)

WHAT IS THIS EVENT? At **Indie RPG Night** we gather to play story games and independent role-playing games (RPGs). These games are similar to role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) but tend to be simpler to learn, and have more shared narrative control for all players. WHO IS THIS FOR? Any experience level is welcome, with no prior knowledge required. Almost all games are meant to be played in a single night (sometimes called *one-shots* or *episodic*), so no regular attendance is necessary. WHAT GAMES DO WE PLAY? We play games that allow us to come together to have a good time telling a story collaboratively. We do not generally play games with a win condition. Some games we play have a game master (GM) and players, similar to D&D. Other games are “GM-less” or "GM-ful", and have no game master, where the rules of the game have us share narrative authority so we all have similar control over the story. Some examples include: * Apocalypse World * Blades in the Dark * Dream Askew * Fiasco * For The Queen * The Quiet Year * Microscope WHAT GAMES DO WE AVOID? We avoid role-playing games that may require players to have prior knowledge of rules (which is often the case with RPGs such as D&D). Many of us love board and card games, however this is not the event for those games. Note that some story games have elements that may look like board and card games, however we play games that share our goal of coming together to collaboratively tell a story. Although some board games have narrative elements (such as Above and Below), or can be played in a narrative manner (such as Arkham Horror), these do not meet our criteria. If you have any doubts, please talk to one of the organizers. It is also important that games played conform to our Community Standards (https://bit.ly/StoryGamesLA-CommunityStandards). WHERE AND WHEN IS THE EVENT? Locations vary so check the meetup event for the current location. On this night we play at **Geeky Teas & Games** in Burbank. We plan to meet up starting at 6pm, and pitch games promptly at 6:30pm. The venue closes at 10pm. Games tend to normally last 2-4 hours. Note that Geeky Teas requires a $8 cover fee that you pay directly to them upon entry to the venue. HOW DO I ATTEND? If you plan on attending, please RSVP here. We have tables reserved but space may be limited, so we will prioritize people who RSVP if we end up having too many folks. We will try to accommodate everyone best as possible. If your plans change, please update your RSVP as early as possible so we have an accurate count. You should not need to bring anything with you, however always feel free to bring writing utensils, dice, note cards, and so on. WHAT ARE THE RULES? We try to provide an inclusive space, and do not tolerate harassment or prejudice of any kind, including that based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or disabilities. By attending and participating you are agreeing to abide by our Community Standards (https://bit.ly/StoryGamesLA-CommunityStandards). If you have any issues, please contact one of the meetup organizers at any time, either during the meetup or afterwards. We use the X-card and other RPG communication and safety tools, which we write about in our Community Standards document, and review when our events start. HOW CAN I RUN A GAME? If you are new to the group and the events, we ask that you play the first few times to get a feel for the games we play, and for the environment and our community. If have done so, and wish to run a game, please get in touch with the meetup organizers either at the event, or in the **Story Games LA** **Discord** ([https://discord.com/invite/qbPzyRYBQv](https://discord.com/invite/qbPzyRYBQv)). After doing so, you simply need to bring the materials needed to play: rules, printouts, notecards or blank paper, tokens, printouts, and so on. We may have some of these items, but may not have what you need. HOW CAN I BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY? The best place to participate with our community prior to or outside of the events is to join the **Story Games LA** **Discord** ([https://discord.com/invite/qbPzyRYBQv](https://discord.com/invite/qbPzyRYBQv)). This is also where we sometimes host our online events.

Potluck, board games, karoke

Game Night - Tortugo Brewing Company

Looking for a place to play some board games? In the Los Angeles area? Join us at Tortugo Brewing Company in Inglewood! We'll have: 🎲 Craft Beers 🎲 Indie RPGs 🎲 Board Games

Hot August Board Games!

Hey party people! Come hit up Paper Hero's for a chill afternoon of board games with East Valley Board Games. Also, BUNDLE UP, as it can get quite chilly in our corner of the store. Layers are good. The gaming details: Attendance: This is a drop-in event, so you don’t have to stay the whole time. Come for an hour, come for two hours, show up late, leave early. As long as you clean up any mess that you leave, you're good with us and the wonderful store runners, Andrew and Zoey. NOTE: It is advisable that the best way to get in on a game without waiting is to come at the beginning of the event at 2pm. Otherwise you might have to wait for a game to end and another to begin. Parking: Paper Heroes is located in a strip mall on the northwest corner of Burbank Blvd. and Hazeltine Ave. in Sherman Oaks. No, we don't know why Meetup lists the city as Los Angeles and not Sherman Oaks. There are a few parking spaces in the small shopping center, and we would suggest looking for street parking as well. Since it's Sunday, meters will be free. **Important note: It's been brought to our attention that there are a few 1 hour parking signs around the venue, so as always, check parking signs carefully so you don't get a visit from a parking fairy.** We have had good luck parking on the east side of Hazeltine, just south of Burbank. Food: Outside food and drink is allowed in. We just ask as always that you are careful so as not to spill. There's a coffee shop next door, Nat's Early Bite, which is open until 3pm. Just please be careful and don’t spill food or drink on games, or you’ll be expected to replace them, which we think is a fair policy. Also, there are some game mats placed on some tables around the stores with signs asking patrons to not place food or drink on top of them. PLEASE RESPECT THIS RULE. Don't be a jerk. Guests: Guests are great! Just be sure to note it in your RSVP, and if your guests' plans change, please update your RSVP. Please understand that you are responsible for making sure that your guests spend at least $5 at Paper Heroes to support the business. More info on that in a second. Store policy: PH is asking that every person who attends our events makes at least 1 purchase or purchases $5 store credit to use in the future (the store keeps an account for you). Snacks and drinks can be part of this, but they're not ideal. It's a gaming store (also comic books!) after all (and was affected by the pandemic). What we like to do is put aside a list of games we want and buy or order them from PH, rather than get them from Amazon (doesn't Jeff Bozo have enough of our money?) The store runners and East Valley Board Games organizers (Felicity, Joe, and Alan) will remind you at the event. Games: Feel free to bring your own games, or just play the ones that others bring. There's always a healthy selection of strategy games, word games, party games, and so on.

Game Night @ Three Weavers Brewering

It’s on, Inglewood 🎲 Game Night Three Weavers is happening again! Come thirsty, leave victorious.

Strategicon Gateway 2026

Strategicon is Los Angeles' game convention that runs 3x / year. (Note: This event is not sponsored by our meetup, but is listed here because some of us go and game there.) About Strategicon: "Our conventions offer the chance to play, watch and buy a variety of board games, card games miniatures, roleplaying, collectables, and computer games. Convention opens on Friday at noon and runs continuously until Monday at 6 p.m." Going to Strategicon to game? Saturday includes RPG Games on Demand at various times, and Saturday and Sunday afternoon sessions include an RPG Games on Demand - Kids Edition. There's also tons of scheduled RPGs and games of all types. Check the Events schedule at the website for more details (it gets updated as the convention comes closer to running). There is an entry fee (full weekend or individual day passes), but individual games are free. For more info: http://www.strategicon.net/. Also there is the ability to volunteer for the convention to get free entry (and I can always use help at Games on Demand). Get in touch with Tomes on the Story Games LA Discord for volunteering information. Even if you don't volunteer, you can get a discount during registration by mentioning you are with **Story Games LA**, see: https://www.strategicon.net/?registration. For details on Strategicon's Covid-19 policy, see https://www.strategicon.net/?covid19_policy

Mahjong Madness @ Clifton's Sanctuary DTLA

DTLASIA, a project of the DTLA AAPI Alliance, is throwing a community mahjong night at Clifton’s Sanctuary—full of friendly games, great conversations, and a little healthy competition. Beginners, veterans, spectators, and night-owls are all welcome. Come learn a hand, meet your next game-night crew, and celebrate community over the tiles. 10 Open Play Tables 4 Advanced Tables 4 Learning Tables

Gamers Touch Grass (Night Walk)

Hello fellow gamers and night owls! **Gamers Touch Grass** is a whole new way to think about gaming! Doing it OUTSIDE! The premise is simple: put on your sneakers, head out the front door, and bask in the moonlight as we remind ourselves how far life stretches beyond our screens! There is no end to the green grass on every side! The only good part of hot days are the perfect outdoor temperatures at night! Let's skip the heat and enjoy the atmosphere of our city's beautiful night life! Tonight's Activity - **Sunset Boulevard Night Walk to Downtown** No destination, just a general direction from which our curiosities take hold as we explore and whiteness the small details of the city most hardly notice. Do we explore endlessly or do we stop and try a drink at a local pub? Enjoy a boutique? Grab some tacos? The adventure is ours to decide! **Here's the Plan:** Meet at: ECHO PARK LAKE at the North East corner near Echo Park Ave and Park Ave We will wait until 8:50 for late arrivals. At this time we will begin our walk. Though we will largely be staying on Sunset Blvd, we may choose to take a diverging path that interests us or find a place to spend time spontaneously. Please stay in contact with Troy if you are arriving after 8:50 so you can meet up with with the group. **What to bring:** * Comfortable clothes * Water * A flash light * A few bucks * A friend **RSVP Policy:** Just come!!! **Photos:** We take pictures at every event. Photography is one of Troy's passions. These pictures are used for the promotion of the community but can also be an opportunity for you to receive FREE self portraits. Please speak with Troy on arrival if you would like to receive a copy of a photo of you or if you would like them to be deleted. We respect all privacy requests. **Donations:** We never charge an entrance fee. The joy of bringing people together is priceless! Each event is an opportunity to elevate the experience, and we want to manifest all that limitless potential! We ask all members of the community to consider donating to this effort. With your help we can make each event as fun and memorable as we can handle! Let’s fly! Thank you for reading! -A Flock of Gamers <3