How many people do you know who got interested in the game because of BG3? I imagine I'm not the only one.
I've always had a passing interest in it but my only friend who plays lives 8 hours away. I did a one shot campaign while visiting him years ago but I was totally overwhelmed. Now that I've played BG3 I'm thinking about finding a local game shop to meet some players..
I honestly don't trust local game shops anymore after way back when I was first getting into DnD, during the 3.5 era, I'd wanted to run a CG Drow Warlock. This character sheet got laughed out of my local, and I developed a blistering ten-year hatred for the very concept of Drizz't Do'urden as a result for how often the sheet got accused of 'aping' a character who doesn't even fit the archetype I'd designed.
That whole thing was what sent me into learning Pathfinder a few years after-- but I won't bullshit. BG3 has me considering going back and giving it another try what with 5e's changes to the system. Just... Never a brick and mortar local, ever again.
Sorry you had such a bad experience. Bullying someone for their choice of character is especially shitty! Fear of such judgment is why I tend to only play with friends.
Entire reason when Roll20 became a thing, boi I jumped. Even then, it takes me long enough to vet people for Roll20 tables that I just don't have the time to go sifting while I've still got coursework on my neck, otherwise I'd be looking for something now with all the character concepts already in my BG3 save folder.
Now that you mention it, the oneshot I played was actually Pathfinder. I have no idea what the differences are aside from Pathfinder being based on an old dnd ruleset (...right?)
I'm moving in a few weeks so my search is on hold until then. I know my friend has a GREAT local shop that he goes to so I don't think that's a universal experience you had