How to Meet other players at an Inn
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I'm curious if anyone has developed a skill with this by playing PoGo or if someone is a little less socially awkward than me...
I have an inn that I like to set-up at because I have access to a greenhouse and the inn without moving and the rate of foundables that pop-up can keep you busy for at least an hour without them running out and you having to move to a new location. There is a restaurant very close to the location, but it has been closed for some time.
Therefore, when I see a car park in the same area I KNOW that they are either a Harry Potter or a PoGo player and are there for the same reason as me. So I'm sitting in my car and they are sitting in their car (gets hot in the South Carolina sun). How in the world do I start a conversation with this person in the other vehicle without being a complete weirdo? I'd love to make friends I could go battle in fortresses with...but I just can't think of a natural way of meeting them. If someone else has experienced this awkwardness and succeeded...please give me advice! :)
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Where in SC are you? Usually people come up to me and ask if I'm playing POGO. I only play HP though. I would meet up if you're close. I'm in the Myrtle Beach area.
Your post made me smile.
First off, get out of your car. Just not good form approaching strangers in a car. Consider it personal space. With the fine weather you're having in SC, simply get out of your car and make it obvious you're focused on your phone. I'll lean against the hood of my car with my phone in one hand corded to my battery pack in the other. If anyone wants to or is considering engaging you, you are making it easy for them, and they will get out of their car too.
Once you frequent local Fortresses regularly, you start to spot who the players are by their behaviour, as it will mimic your own, so to speak. If you're socially awkward as I can be around people I don't know, have a question or two prepped in advance to help you break the ice, and let it flow.
@HerMayree I'm in Columbia, so not just a 30 minute drive, lol! There seems to be a lot of people from the Myrtle Beach area. Maybe we could set-up a group hangout and I could plan a trip to the Beach for the summer 😎
@ZookiTabooki Thanks for the advice, lol! I was in my spot today when a huge white truck with tinted windows rolled up and parked in "the area". I sighed, got out of my car, and went and sat on a bench in the scorching hot sun. I even cut on my AR so I would look ridiculous trying to grab foundables by pointing my camera all around. Alas, big white truck person stayed in their truck...so after about 15 mins baking I moved back in my car and moved on, lol. Maybe next time?
Definitely next time and good call on the AR lol. Expect the unexpected; and I'll tell you why...
I live close to a busy area in uptown Toronto. One day I walked over to a local Pokemon Go "Gym" (equivalent to a Fortress) to engage a level 3 Raid Boss. While I waited out the timer, I sat on a nearby bench. As I sat there waiting, I looked up to see a lady pushing a baby stroller walking past me, then stop a few feet away. In tow was a young 6 year old boy.
I look down at my phone to see there was a second player who joined me in the 'lobby' and I immediately started looking around to see who the new player might be. There was nobody around I could see. Then I glanced at the young boy who had his back to me and wondered, 'could it be him? Naaah!'
Sure enough, as I was about to dismiss him, he spins around and looks right at me, cellphone in hand. All I could do was smile. He spins around, looks at his mother, runs over, plunks his **** down right next to mine like we were old friends and declared "OK! Lets do it!".
This shocked me as I'm nearly 50 years old and not the most approachable looking guy. I look asking to his mother who just rolled her eyes with an approving smile. And so we helped each other defeat the Raid Boss, thanked him for his assistance, shook hands and went on our way, having made a new friend. Never in a million years would i have seen that coming, and it may not seem like much, but I'll never forget it.
That was one experience of many unexpected experiences over the last 3 years and all thanks to geo-location gaming. Give it time, put yourself out there, play safe and you'll have plenty of your own stories before long.
I am friending locals through a facebook group someone set up. That is helpful. I agree inside a car is personal space but hanging outside your car will make you more approachable. I had my game open on a train today and the conductor said - Pokemon GO???? I said no Wizards Unite. He told me they call our Engineer Peekacho b/c he is such a big PoGo player LOL.
Folks tend to be more inclined to introduce themselves and find out if you're playing near fortress locations, because they might be hoping to join a group challenge. I've made several new friends, young and old, at our local community college. It's a popular spot because there's a fortress and an abundance of inns and greenhouses. When I'm in a quiet spot where it's obvious that anyone else who's there is probably playing WU or PoGo, like you described, I'll usually just ask if we're standing near each other. Same as you though, other people are often in their vehicle and I'm in mine. It's pretty hot here in the Texas Panhandle too. When this happens, I'll usually get out of my car and continue playing. I see this as a symbolic gesture. I'm saying "I've left my safe space, and I'm willing to be social." If they happen to glance in my direction, it should be obvious to them if they're playing WU or PoGo that I am also playing. Sometimes they'll pick up on this social cue and get out of their vehicle, followed by an exchange of friend codes and some thoughts about the game. Most of the time though, they'll just stay in their car and avoid eye contact. Can't win them all. Fortresses in high traffic areas are definitely the best spots for social interaction. The quiet out-of-the-way spots are generally where people go to avoid being social.
I've no experience in Pogo but in Ingress it's quite obvious who is playing along. So I just walk to them and introduce myself.
I didn’t finally meet my first person. However, she was there for Pogo. She had downloaded WU, but said the spell tracing was too hard for her. We exchanged friends codes.
Starting to wonder if putting out dark detector s might be another way to find people. Like I leave 1 dark detector, you leave a DD if you are interested in raiding. Like using Dark detectors to advertise your availability to raid.
I tried that, I came to an Inn that only had one dark detector. I added a second one, but the person drove away soon after I did. I thought it seemed like an invitation
I love this conversation because I relate to it so well! No success here making friends yet. If I find something that works, I’ll let you know. Best of luck!
Lol feeling the pain in this one... Someone had a local Inn in a park lit up yesterday with 3 detectors and we were actively hitting the Fortress together. Looking around I spotted someone actively and intently swiping their phone so I walked over to swap codes... Not sure what they were actually doing but it apparently wasn't WU, POGO or Ingress as they got quite upset. I think moving forward I'm just going to shout "Free friend code for Muggles and No-Majs!" when I get near the inn or fortress.
In addition to what others have suggested, I'd also recommend wearing a Harry Potter and/or Pokemon shirt or hat too, depending on the game you're playing. It will definitely make it more apparent that you're a fan at least! I think I'm going to start wearing my Hufflepuff shirt as well when I go to spots where I think there are other players around I'd like to make friends with. :D
@SiyaLark I had the thought that i should just carry a wand around. Surely people would notice if they’re WU players. 🤷🏻♀️
I am fortunate to work at Indiana Wesleyan University where there are many Inns and fortresses! Any locals should come by—I’ve never played with other people and i really want to!!! #IWUWU 😂
Turn the music back on and up the volume all the way. That way they'll both know you're playing HPWU, and to avoid you because you don't know how to turn off the music.
I've met a pokemon player now, haha! I saw him walking the same inn path as me and stopping to swipe at the same places...so I asked him what he was playing.
I will say, I looked for a Facebook group in my city and have found a nice community of people who are in my city that play. I haven't met any of them yet in person, but I'm hopeful that we will soon.
@SiyaLark I've totally considered wearing something Harry Potter related! Right now it's in the 100s and I'm sweating through just about anything, but wearing a harry potter scarf in the winter has me all kinds of excited! :P