I know this is probably asked a lot, but how does one get into

Go to the nearest hobby shop that sells tabletop gaming supplies, and see what organized play they have available. Chances are they'll have some sort of weekly play for a game like Pathfinder or D&D. If not, see if they have postings from other customers at the store who are looking for groups to game with.

If the store has organized play, find the SRD for the game they play online to familiarize yourself with the basic rules, then look up the special rules for making a character under that game's organized play. Make your character and show up at the store on the night they host their adventure league. If you found a Looking for Group posting from another customer, get in contact with them and figure out if they want to meet you to make your character or if they want you to find the rules online. Either way, show up to the store on the specified date and start playing.

From there, make friends around the shop and get into someone's home game if you enjoy what you experience.

>>55383856
The nearest hobby shop is an hour and a half away is the problem

>>55383797
why would you ever want to inflict that to yourself?

anyway the friends i have that play D&D do so online finding campaigns on roll20 or in specialized RPG play by forum websites that host D&D campaigns as if the entire forum was one big persistent MMORPG world.

Not OP, but I'm in a similar situation. Also, the LGS doesn't let new players into the weekly play session - you have to have proof of experience in TTRPGs, or one of the older (read, 40+ years old) players has to personally vouch for you.

>>55383797
http://dnd.wizards.com/playevents/organized-play