Getting Started

Welcome to RL Cooldowns! Here's everything you need to join the community and find your first group.

Ready to Jump In?

Join our Discord to get started. Everything happens there - introductions, LFG posts, event scheduling, and community chat.

Join Discord Now
1

Join Discord

Discord is the heart of RL Cooldowns. All communication, event planning, and group finding happens here. It's free, easy to use, and works on desktop, mobile, and browser.

First Time on Discord?

No worries! Discord is like Slack or Teams but for gaming. Download it at discord.com or use it in your browser. You'll need to create a free account if you don't have one.

After joining:

  • Read the welcome message and rules in #welcome
  • React to the rules post to unlock all channels
  • Take a minute to explore the channel layout
2

Introduce Yourself

Head to #introductions and tell us a bit about yourself. This helps us get to know you and helps you find people with similar interests!

What to Include:

Your name/alias, games you play, what you're looking for in a community, your availability (rough time zones/play times), and optionally: your real-life situation (parent, professional, student, etc.) - but only if you're comfortable sharing!

Example intro:

"Hey everyone! I'm Alex, working professional who plays mostly evenings EST. Main games are WoW (Area 52 Horde) and FFXIV. Looking for chill M+ groups and maybe normal raiding. Got two kids so I might AFK randomly - glad to find a community that gets it!"

3

Assign Your Roles

In the #roles or #welcome channel, you'll find reaction roles that let you self-assign tags. These help people find you and filter channels!

Important roles to add:

  • Game Roles: WoW, FFXIV, PoE2, New World, etc.
  • Time Zone: NA East, NA West, EU, etc.
  • Play Style: Raider, PvP, Casual, Crafter, etc.
  • Availability: Weekday Evenings, Weekends, Flexible, etc.

Don't worry - you can change these anytime!

4

Explore the Channels

Take a few minutes to check out the Discord and see what's happening. Here's the quick tour:

  • #general: Community chat, random conversations, memes
  • #parent-talk / #life-talk: Real-life discussions, parenting tips, work stories
  • #announcements: Important community updates and events
  • #looking-for-group: Post when you need more for content
  • Game channels: #wow-general, #ffxiv-general, etc. for game-specific chat
  • Voice channels: Hop in when gaming! No need to ask permission
Pro Tip:

Mute channels you're not interested in. Right-click the channel → Mute Channel. This keeps your notification noise down!

5

Find Your First Group

Ready to play? Here's how to find or create groups:

Option 1: Join existing groups

  • Check #announcements for scheduled events
  • Look in game-specific LFG channels for posts
  • React or comment if you're interested in joining

Option 2: Create your own post

  • Go to #looking-for-group or game-specific LFG channel
  • Post what you're running: game, activity, time, how many needed
  • Example: "WoW M+15, tonight 8pm EST, need tank + healer"

Option 3: Just hang out in voice

  • Hop in a voice channel and see who's around
  • Many groups form organically from people chatting
  • No pressure - lurking is totally fine!
Remember:

If you need to AFK or drop mid-activity - just say so! "BRB, kid woke up" or "Gotta bail, work emergency" is always understood here. No explanations needed beyond that.

6

Engage at Your Own Pace

There's no pressure to be constantly active. RL Cooldowns is here when you need it, not the other way around.

Ways to participate:

  • Daily: Check Discord, chat in general, join pick-up groups
  • Weekly: Join scheduled events, run content with regulars
  • Monthly: Pop in when you have time, catch up on announcements
  • Occasionally: Lurk, watch, absorb the vibe - no pressure to chat

All levels of engagement are welcome. Play daily or play once a month - you're still part of the community.

Common Questions

Do I need to be a parent to join?

Nope! We're for any adult whose real life doesn't pause for raid night. Parents, professionals, students, caretakers, or anyone with a busy schedule is welcome.

What if I'm new to the game?

Perfect! We love helping new players. Just mention you're new in your intro and people will offer to show you the ropes. No gatekeeping here - everyone starts somewhere.

What if I can only play 2-5 hours a week?

That's fine! Plenty of our members are in the same boat. We build flexible rosters specifically so people with limited time can still participate. Quality over quantity.

Do I need voice chat?

For most content, no. For coordinated raids or harder content, it helps but isn't mandatory. Plenty of people just listen and type. Do what's comfortable for you.

What if I go inactive for weeks or months?

Come back whenever! We don't kick for inactivity. Real life happens - take your break, and we'll be here when you return. No questions asked.

How do you handle loot/rewards?

Depends on the game and group. Generally we use in-game systems (personal loot, need/greed, etc.). For organized raids, we discuss loot rules before pulling. It's all transparent and drama-free.

Can I bring friends?

Absolutely! Share the Discord invite with anyone who you think would be a good fit. Just make sure they understand our values - life first, no drama, no pressure.

What if I don't see my game listed?

Ask in #general! If we have 3+ people interested in a game, we'll add support for it. Recent requests include Diablo IV, Destiny 2, and Guild Wars 2.

Still Have Questions?

Ask in #general after joining Discord, or reach out to any moderator.

We're here to help make your onboarding smooth!

Discord: discord.gg/4nghDaC4DP