However, wherever you start out, don’t try to join the action on your first visit. Hang around the fringes of any activity and listen to the RP style; make sure you are comfortable with it. Collect any notecards the group has on rules and character choices. If people are not actively involved in a roleplay, IM them and ask some questions. The answers will tell you a lot about the atmosphere of the group. If they are curt and condescending it will be hard to learn from them and you will need to learn how to roleplay. There are always rules in any group about how characters are developed and what they can do. If they are patient and willing to explain things, you might have found a good fit. If you are shy and hesitant to ask anyone, check to see if they have classes for beginners; some groups even require class completion before joining.