How does one find a living, breathing D&D group?

Cafe Society
1

Last week, I played a few sessions of D&D with my friends and loved it. Unfortunately, they live halfway across the country. My few local friends wouldn’t touch role-playing with a ten foot pole.

How can I find a local group?

2

Just ask some random people in the street.
Given the confidence and general people skills of D&D groups generally, you’re bound to meet someone suitable.

Or you could check out:
This site.
Maybe not exactly what you need but should help you get in touch with like minded people.

Or These forums or These

3

I tried to find a living, breathing D&D group but I could only locate undead ones.

Okay, there’s half a dozen signs up at my local gaming store for D&D groups looking for members. Yours would be a good place to start.

4

I’d suggest;

or the Wizards of the Coast boards.

Or a number of other nets.

Or check postings at your local game stores, but beware of the lower quality of people you tend to find in those cases.

If you find a group and check it out, you may or may not be inclined to walk away at the first session, depending on the chemistry and so forth. What I would recommend is that you pay attention to the people in the group, note the ones that seem more like you than the others, and ask them if they know of other groups. Lots of people tend to play in more than one group, or have done so in the past, and those people might be able to point you at other like minded souls.

5

Every gaming shop that I’ve ever visited had a notebook full of groups looking for members, and members looking for groups. If you want to add a page, include your age and preferred edition, and whether or not you’ll use house rules or go strictly by the books.

6

It’s been a few years since I played or hung out in game stores, but I’ll third Chimera and Lynn Bodoni’s suggestions. If there isn’t actually a bulletin board at your local game store, check with the guys who work there or hang out there. There used to be a terrific game store down in Costa Mesa where you could find some gamers, but that was 10 years ago.

7

Well, first you cast Detect Nerd…

Ahem. Check out your local universities. There may be games clubs.

8

To the high schools!

9

I dunno how old the OP is, but I think the risk of being being cursed with a Restraining Order spell is lower if he plays with college-age adults.