Visit us at our new website!

 We've moved to SaturdayNightSpaceOpera.com! Come visit us there!

We're back! SNSO Games Arrive Online!

We took a hiatus, but we're back! Oh boy, has it been a month. When did real life turn into the plot of a B-grade science fiction movie? (Hey, we know a thing or two about those!). So life with COVID-19 isn't so great, but maybe we can make the Stay At Home order a little less maddening...

GREAT NEWS: We're hosting our first SNSO game online! 

We've asked GM Erik to polish up the Star Trek game he was going to run in March and he's agreed to take us to warp THIS SATURDAY!

Now, this is a bit of test for us tabletop GMs. So just to be clear, there are a few ground rules:

1. This is a local event. We're still dedicated to serving our local community, so all the players need to be from the Twin Cities metro. We may expand at a later time, but for right now, we're sticking to our core mission of running games for those in our community. 

2. This is a camera-on game via Zoom. We still want to see faces and make this a safe environment for all participants. All players expected to do so with their camera on so everyone knows who's at the virtual table. And also, please mute your mic when you're not speaking, so everyone can be heard in turn. 

3. Be courteous, kind, and game with gusto! We play with the greatest players in the metro--whether they're newbies or old school game veterans. That said, we still expect everyone to behave accordingly. We know you've all been stuck inside for weeks--we're right there with you! Evildoers will be electronically shown the door. That's it really--be good to each other and have a heck of a time!

WHERE: Zoom Meeting 

WHEN: Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m. sharp

Questions? Here's an FAQ:

How will I join the game? 

Reserve your spot now via this Google form! 

We've got 5 seats open and it's first come, first served. We'll notify the first 5 participants via email and include a Zoom link for Saturday. THIS IS YOUR TICKET. Do not share it with anyone. Which bring up another question.

What if I don't know much about Zoom or online games?

You're in luck! We'll have GM Jen on hand to do a quick primer on Zoom for those who've not tried it out. So no worries, cadet!

Do I need to bring anything?

Actually yes, make sure you've got some earbuds or headphones to plug into your computer. You'll also need a broadband connection to play. If your connection is too slow for you to keep up, we may need to drop you from the game to keep it from effecting other players. Just so you know. Oh--and you don't need dice, but if you have the usual assortment of polyhedrals, it's never a bad idea.

What if I'm late?

We were happy to accommodate players who showed up late to the table when we ran in-person games. For everyone's security and safety, we'll be closing the game room by 6:15. This reduces our risk of having someone Zoombomb in. So, short answer: DON'T BE LATE.

Can I bring my friends? 

Sorry, but no. This one hurts us as much as you because it's what made SNSO so inviting. But if you get into the game (see below) you'll get a link to play via Zoom. If you share that link, you've essentially made it impossible for us to run a safe game, so you and your pal won't be able to play. 

How will I choose a character?

Those that have gamed with us before know that we always provide pre-generated characters or character templates to choose from. It helps us get right to the gaming part of the gaming! Once you're in the online Zoom meeting, we'll share character options in Zoom's chat window and you can choose from there. 

How will I roll dice?

Currently, the plan is to use a companion app. The GM may roll all the rolls on-screen just to keep things honest. We thought about the honor system as a back up--and it may come to that. But we'll do our best to keep things as transparent as possible. 

Will there be more games?

You bet there will! We've got a bunch of GMs waiting in the hangar bays to run more RPGs via online face-to-face apps. Watch for more updates, coming soon!

SNSO Games Postponed

Hi folks, we wanted to share the news that we'll be suspending games until the foreseeable future due to threat of the coronavirus. Governor of the great state of Minnesota, Tim Walz, has issued a Stay At Home order, restricting all non-essential activities and social functions. We're happy to comply with this. 

 

The Source officially closed their game room on March 12 and have just announced the closing of the store for the next few weeks. We support their decision to do so--it's the right call to protect their customers, staff, and the geeky community at large. We wish them the very best through these strange times and hope everyone comes through this safely. 

SNSO is exploring other options, including online games. But at the moment, we're taking time to social distance, spend time with our loved ones, and just practice self care. We miss you all and hope you and yours are doing as best you can.

With any luck, we'll all make it through this and be back at the tables to roll funny dice in exciting scifi games soon enough! 

For more on the virus, how to stay safe, and what to do if you think you've caught it, visit the CDC's website.

Stay healthy, wash your hands, and keep social distancing!

Join us every month for new sci-fi adventures!

We're always looking for new players to come join as at the game table. No experience necessary--and you don't need to bring a thing. It's also FREE! Just show up, sit down, and play!

We'll handle the rest!

Upcoming changes regarding our host venue

Saturday Night Space Opera has always been a wholly volunteer-run organization with game masters and players from around the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota and Wisconsin. We strive to create communities where all our participants feel welcome and valued. We enjoy rolling dice, building worlds together, and having fun. Our aim has always been to spread the joy of science-fiction gaming to the general public in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.

We first established our organization in 2014 at Source Comics & Games and it's become our home--the heart of our activities, our friendships, and where we put roots into the gaming community. We grew from just two game masters running roleplaying games to a rotating roster of a dozen active GMs. All of that happened through connections made at the Source.

In the last week, it's come to our attention that management at the Source has not supported as inclusive an environment as we'd hoped. Specifically, two former employees have come forward to share their experiences over several years while working at the store.

They’ve shared painful stories of bias and hate towards women, people on the autism spectrum, and members of the LGBTQ community. Since then, many customers have shared similar encounters experienced at the store, due in part from management or other employees.

While language in the Source’s communications states they are "...proud to be a part of your community and welcome you to ours!" some of us also know from our own experiences there that this has not always been the case.

In light of this, we’ve decided to host our events at several other area game venues, until we begin to see progress made by the Source in establishing a truly welcoming environment for all participants.

We hope management at the Source will take time to reflect—and in good faith act upon—the feedback from the local gaming and comic community and create a space that truly welcomes everyone. It would be our pleasure to return to gaming in such a setting.

We would like to extend our deep gratitude to current and former employees and other members of the gaming community at the Source that have made it a welcome space for us in the past. We could not have grown and thrived without you!

Heading into the fall and on to 2019 we look forward to new opportunities with other partner organizations and retailers around the Twin Cities. Watch for scheduling updates to come. We're also working on updating our website.

Thank you to everyone for coming to play games with us and we'll see you soon at the next Saturday Night Space Opera event!

Sincerely, the Game Masters of SNSO:

Jeff Conrad
Bob Cook

Erich Doll

Jenifer Doll

Casey Garske

Adam Hall

Spencer Hayes

Jay Mac Bride

Erik Mornes

Ben Ojanen

John Everett Till

Matt Towle