Building a Local Moonstone Community
As we’re all aware, Moonstone is a fantastic game! Whether it’s the unique models, the engaging gameplay, or the enticing lore, there’s something for everyone to love… But some of us have a small problem. Depending on where you live, there might not be anybody nearby to play with!
Finding others to play with is a problem that’s fairly common in tabletop gaming. Each game is an investment, so folks gravitate towards games with an existing group of local players, making it challenging for other games to gain a foothold. But every great gaming community has to start with someone, and if you want more local Moonstone players, that someone might be you!
Becoming an advocate for a game is a topic others have talked about before; Tabletop Minions in particular has a great video on the topic. If you want to build a local community, you have to take the lead in introducing folks in your area to the game. Even getting just a couple other people playing can open up new connections, and before you know it you’ve got a community! So… how do you start?
This is the demo table I had set up for Adepticon in 2025.
Prep Work
Before diving in, know that building a community can take time. After all, Moonreach wasn’t built in a day! And as with many things, patience and persistence can pay off. However, before you go out and start running demos, here are a few things to consider doing first.
Study the Rulebook
Folks tend to ask a lot of questions during demo games, and knowing the answers by heart can make demos run more smoothly, so players can focus on having fun. Besides knowing the rulebook, the online FAQ is also a great resource to familiarise yourself with.
Have Everything You Need to Play a Game
If you’re going to run a demo, be prepared to provide everything for at least two people to play. Aside from what comes in the Starter Sets, you’ll also need a mat to play on, some terrain, and typical gaming supplies like dry erase markers and tape measures (or measuring widgets). Depending on where you run the demo, you may even need a table.
Have Pre-Made Troupes
Have at least two troupes of 4 models each ready to go. Pick characters that are beginner friendly, such as those from the two Starter Sets, or any characters that are fairly straightforward. (Maybe leave the Witches and Norse at home for now!)
Paint Your Models
We all have our pile of shame/potential, but if you’re going to introduce others to Moonstone, make sure your demo models get priority! You don’t need to be an artist by any means, any set of painted models will create a more positive impression than grey ones.
Get Plugged into the Online Moonstone Community
Moonstone has an active online community with a lot of folks that can help make your demo a success! Discord, Facebook and Reddit are great places to ask questions, get advice, and stay in the know about Moonstone.
Run a Practice Demo with Friends and Family
Even if they don’t play tabletop games, running a demo for friends and family is a great way to practice for the real thing. They might even ask questions or come up with situations you hadn’t thought of!
Running demos should be fun for you and the person/people having a demo. Moonstone’s narrative approach means that even if someone loses, they’ll hopefully have fun doing it!
Finding a Group
Once you’re ready to run a demo, the next step is to find others that might be interested. If you’re already connected to local players, ask if any of them would want to try something new. Otherwise, look for local gaming groups in places like hobby/gaming shops or on social media. Many gaming stores also have Discord servers or Facebook pages you can use to get connected.
Next, get in touch and ask about running a Moonstone demo. Be prepared to answer questions about what Moonstone is, in case they’re unfamiliar with it, and what they would need to provide for your demo. This is where all that prep work starts paying off! Showing that you’re knowledgeable about the game and have everything you need to run a demo can build trust and make them more open to helping you out.
Once you have a demo setup, get the word out! Remind folks on social media as the day approaches, even on places that aren’t necessarily gaming focused like your neighborhood or city Facebook pages. You can even go old school and post flyers!
Running Your First Demo
Demo games can be nerve-wracking if you’ve never done one, so keep these things in mind as you go.
Keep it Simple
The Board - Your demo board doesn’t need to be a masterpiece of design, a few buildings and some scatter terrain is all you need. In fact, having too much terrain can distract your players from focusing on what makes Moonstone fun and unique.
The Demo - A standard game with 3 or 4 models per player and only 5 Moonstones on the table is great for a quicker demo. Alternatively, the Sleepy Heads scenario can ease players in while letting them get to the action fast!
Be Excited
Nothing draws new players in like seeing passion and excitement coming from you! Engage with your players, have a helpful attitude, and make sure everyone is having fun!
Be Flexible
No demo is ever the same. Different people will have different experiences and ask different questions. Go into your demo with a plan, but be prepared to toss those plans and go with the flow. People asking questions is a sign that they’re interested, so don’t kill that excitement by sticking to a rigid plan.
Be Knowledgeable
Besides knowing the rules, know what it takes to get started. In particular, know what comes in both Starter Sets, as well as having advice for folks who’d rather buy a couple boxes of models that excite them.
Afterwards
Once you’ve run your demo, do your best to keep any momentum you’ve built going. Try and connect to your players in other ways if possible, whether online or in person. They might think of a question afterwards and being able to easily contact you can help keep the excitement fresh in their minds.
If you do get some folks playing, set up a time to play with them, either as an opponent or as a coach for others as they try out their new troupes. As a bonus, if you play in a public place like a gaming store, others might see the game and ask about it!
If at First you Don’t Succeed…
Keep in mind that sometimes things don’t work out on the first try. Maybe the people who would be interested couldn’t make it, or maybe they just didn’t hear about it. Wait a while and try again, maybe at a different place if you have options. Again, the key is to be patient and persistent.
Good luck!
