Groupfinder: Built by players, for players

Oh boy. This is going to be a lot of things to talk about. We have been busy and productive. But, as is tradition - here is an update on the updates we have added - We have Group manager, post listings updates, library redesign, timezone filtering, game applications and some more. So here we go. Group manager We'll start with the biggest new feature on Groupfinder. The Group manager. This has been something we have been working on since the start of the year and now finally got around to releasing it.  /images/general-media/1786708533_fHKbu2AS.png What it is, is the logical next step from Groupfinder's core function. Once you find a group, you can move everything to the manager and keep track of your players, your documents, notes, maps, images, links, polls, timefinder polls and session notes. As an integrated part of the platform it will help you keep everything organized and in one place. You can read more about the manager on this info page we created.  But to break it down simply, here is a list of all the base functionalities: /images/manager-info/group-overview.png Manager dashboard As a group owner/GM, you can create a manager group within moments - Enter the game's name, add some illustrative images and the group is created. On the dashboard you can start adding images, organizing documents and inviting your players. Asset management All documents most likely should not be visible to all members. You can set different view and edit permissions for each category. For example, create a separate category for "The Goblin Boys" and let only your goblin players see the contents. You can share forbidden goblin knowledge with only them. Or create a category, that everyone can see for your worldbuilding lore bits. The map of the world, the overall history of the campaign or an illustration of the tavernkeeper that already hates your PCs. We cannot describe all the possibilities and approaches, as we imagine you will all find a different way to interact and organize your games. And more power to you - this is your group manager, we only provide the framework. Player folders To keep specific assets private, you can find a folder on the right side of every member. This is a folder that only the group owner and that specific user can see - no external prying eyes allowed. Timefinder Scheduling is the biggest boss of tabletop gaming? Pretty much. While we cannot create a tool that completely solves it - we have timefinder - a scheduling poll system to settle on the next date that works for everyone. Session notes Players forgetting what happened last time, only to be reminded moments before the session starts that they are about to fight the BBEG? Write a session note after the last game and make it easier for your players to remember what happened last time and what the current direction is. Session notes can also be useful when trying to go back in time to know where the downward spiral of your campaign began. In addition players can leave session feedback. Things they liked and things they didn't. This will help any GM improve by focusing more on aspects the players enjoyed and cut back or rethink parts that didn't really jive with them. Polls, questionnaires and safety tools Group manager has interactive assets for you to use to settle on a specific question, understand the players' preferences and make sure everyone is enjoying the game, by having everyone fill a safety tool questionnaire. You never know if you don't ask. And there is more to discover. You will get the best idea of what and how the manager works by just tinkering and trying it out on your own. You can switch over to (and from) the manager by interacting with the finder/manager button in the menu. /images/general-media/1786709626_5gGr5AH5.png Post listings update We updated both the player and games listings pages. With added subcategories to quickly filter and find specific types of posts, you should find it easier to only find what you are looking for. /images/general-media/1786709750_LLT1IETF.png With this update, Groupfinder is now welcoming all West Marches games, when before we were rather hesitant about groups with no fixed amount of seats. Library redesign The library has slowly grown into one of our core elements. And the library, while practical, was due some attention. And boy - it definitely got some. With this update, the entries have a more logical layout. The tabletop community has tons of interesting games, projects and creators. We are all about empowering and helping you spread the word. /images/general-media/1786710068_3ifxmq5c.png If we created an entry for you in the past - be sure to visit your page and claim it. Once we approve your claim, you will have access to editing and improving it. And if one of your favourite creators, projects or game systems is in the library, be sure to pop over and click that "Recommend" button - this will help them a lot, as they will become more visible in the library. Timezone filtering Timezones and filtering by time and day were a thing many of you had asked for throughout many months. While we understood the need for such filtering options, we couldn't pin down exactly HOW the filtering should work. Well, now we did - now you can either look games by selecting your timezone (and the deviation) or by selecting specific weekdays and expected game starting times. /images/general-media/1786710633_01LM4ygV.pngYou should be able to use the filters to find games that work with your schedule. Game applications Want your potential players to fill out an application, to make sure they are a good fit for your game? You can build a game application that users can fill out. If they seem like a good match - get in touch with them and invite them to the group you created via group manager (See how this all ties together nicely?). /images/general-media/1786710844_lwLsPRj0.png And many other smaller updates This update log is long enough as it is - but there are many other smaller updates and improvements to discover and utilize. But hopefully we are steering Groupfinder in the right direction to make it even better for everyone to use and eventually start playing. If you have any feedback or critique - we welcome it all. Either use the Contact us button, or join our Discord server and we can chat there. The team is there ready to listen and help. Be sure to try out our new Group manager and share your feedback and ideas with us. Till next time.

Hope you are all having a nice summer. While we haven't been bombarding the site with massive updates these past few months, we have been working on things in the background. Just to keep you all somewhat updated and ensured, that we are still actively working on the platform - here is a brief update and check-in. Minor improvements Every now and then we have pushed new and small updates to the platform. Just today, we finally got around to implementing the time & day scheduling to the game posts. So if you have a game post running, be sure to edit it and add the days you are planning on running the game, and at what time the session would be starting. Players looking for games will be also able to filter the groups based on those parameters. Do keep in mind that since the feature is new, almost all of the games listed at the moment are still without a preferred day and time - so they will not be shown to you when you use the filter. But as time goes on and games update their listing, more and more will have those elements. Additionally a few updates were added to the game post creation process - nothing gamebreaking or -changing. Just some convenience factors. .gg We have officially shifted to a new primary web address (although you are free to keep using whichever domain ending you have before - nothing should be negatively affected. But Groupfinder can now be also accessed via groupfinder.gg Even though the platform is global - having the .eu ending seemed to cause more confusion than we had anticipated. But this is more of a cosmetic change - nothing in our core values or goals has changed as a part of this shift. Library evergrowing The library is rapidly growing - every week new entries are added. Some thanks to the help of a few volunteers, to whom we are extremely grateful. It is becoming a proper tabletop gaming resource now. But it will never be complete - we are seeing new tabletop projects and creators pop up all the time - and we would love to be a gateway between them and you. Group Manager This is the biggest element we have been working on since the start of the year (and even before). While not ready to go live - we are anticipating that the day is drawing ever closer by every week and testing cycle. Group manager will be a parallel mode to Groupfinder - a system to manage your.. well.. group. Keep track of timefinder polls to schedule the next session. Share files with your players - or make them private, so that only you can see them - or only some of the players. This will make it easier to keep track of various notes, lore and character backstories. Or just share gifs.. Also a viable approach. But until we have anything more substantial to report - I will be signing off for now. But will keep a watchful and helpful eye on the platform. And if you have a friend or a group that could benefit from using Groupfinder - be sure to tell them about the site - it will be a win-win situation. The more people know about Groupfinder, the faster your games get filled - and the faster you find a group to join. Till next time.

Its gonna be May. /images/general-media/1778679800_avRWtoFC.gifThis is gonna ruin the tour... Well, it already is May - and its time for this month’s overview of what we have done during the last month. We would like to keep you updated as to how the platform is evolving and growing - especially since many of our updates might be something you have not noticed (you can read the last month's update log here). Birthday.. Of sorts It was the end of April of last year when we released the current version of Groupfinder. Partly. Most of you might not be aware that Groupfinder was first launched in 2021. We first created the platform for the Estonian TTRPG community to help our local players find groups and players more easily. And it was well-received and used, prompting us to keep working on it, improving and tweaking. /images/general-media/1778679949_qEWkiP3e.jpgHow far we've come since 2021.  Many years later, we decided to step it up a notch and redesign the entire platform and open it up to the world. More than half a year later, Groupfinder (now called Groupfinder, not Grupileidja) was finally released. It took us a few months before we were ready for the global audience. In september, we had our ducks in a row and we started spreading the word about the platform. Users from all over the world slowly started discovering the site and signing up. Gaining initial traction was a difficult task - users would not bother to use Groupfinder, because there weren’t users on the platform. A vicious circle that eventually was resolved thanks to our early pioneers, willing to give us a shot and posted their profiles and groups here. And now, a year later, we can see the platform has almost 6000 registered users with over 1500 active profiles and almost 700 active groups.    Players and systems During the last month, we improved player post creation - choosing the game system is now more visual and clearer. In addition - the process has been integrated with the Library. If a system exists there, it will be more visually distinct. As well as linked to the corresponding Library entry page. Hopefully more players will discover alternative systems to try out. /images/general-media/1778680166_bQADP9rj.pngChoosing the correct systems has never been easier. On Groupfinder The player profile page itself has also been updated and refreshed in multiple ways, making your profile a better calling card for you. Panel is Dashboard We used to call the homepage, the Panel. But we realized, that it didn’t make that much sense to most users. So it is now Dashboard. Not a huge change - but a change nonetheless. The dashboard also received multiple updates and tweaks to make things less cluttered and messy. Library is getting stocked During the month, the library has received multiple new entries. By multiple - I believe we can say well over a hundred new entries have been added. There are multiple new tools, video creators and podcasts/actual play entries for you to discover. Waiting for your next session? Perfect time to start enjoying an actual play series to keep the hype going and perhaps be inspired by the way other groups play. Article series “Covering the basics” We also started with an introductory blog series called “Covering the basics”. Something to guide new players taking their first steps in the hobby. Currently there is one for “Making a character” and one for “How to start as a Dungeon Master”.    And while not part of the series, you might want to take a look at the “Safety tools” article. Something to consider when starting a group with people you’ve never played with before. Tweaks & fixes We've kept a watchful eye on various bugs and problems that needed addressing. The mobile notifications were overly aggressive and at times got a bit spammy - we've told the messenger to calm down.  In messenger you can now react to messages, making it easier for you to agree upon a certain ruling or arrangement. Or, if you like, you can send an image of surprised Pikachu. Sending images in messenger is now possible. Sending a message to someone, but they just won't respond? Hover over their timezone on their profile and see what time it is for them. Maybe they are sleeping. Maybe you should also be? May-be that is all Thanks for reading this month’s update. We will keep on working on things in the background. You can join the Groupfinder discord server if you want to share some thoughts or problems with the platform.   And as always - if you have found Groupfinder useful in any way - be sure to share it with others. Either via a social media post, or just tell your friends about it. You sharing Groupfinder helps us grow. And with more users - more groups. Till next time.