i think your challenge is how to make friends. i get that. i face that difficulty too. and for me that does mean that sometimes i spend a few hours with people i have never met before who all know each other very well. and sometimes these people are not as welcoming as i had hoped.

as it happens, i like board games too. the nice thing with board games is that you don't have to worry about how well the other players know each other. if they advertised their event then you are welcome by definition. regardless if you get introduced or not. most events i go to, there is no introduction. on boardgame events we just play. so just go and enjoy the game. don't worry about getting to know the others. that will come over time. you get to know each other through your playing style. whether you or the others are competitive or cooperative, etc.

go there a few times, and you will start making friends.

the terraform mars example is a unfortunate one. i never had that happen. there was always someone willing to explain the rules. i played D&D for months without learning the rules. i even hosted D&D sessions without knowing the rules. all it took was players willing to be cooperative.