January GRPA
January 23, 2012
Click the link for the official lineup of role-playing games scheduled for it on Monday, January 30th. Have a look below, and if you’d like to join us for any of these sessions, please select a game in which you’d like to participate and either call or write us back with your name and selection. All games are free and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, and you’ll be responded to immediately with your status in the game.
What’s GRPA? Find out here!
MTG Dark Ascension Pre-Release +
January 18, 2012
The new Magic set is right around the corner, and we’ve got a duo of great events planned for you near the end of the month at Gamescape. Whether you want to run some competition before the boosters hit the street or join your friends in ripping open packs on the release day, we’ve got you covered. Read on for details on both events and how you can be a part of the fun.
MTG Dark Ascension Pre-Release Tournament – Sunday, January 29th @ Noon
Continuing our very fun and successful series of Magic events, Gamescape is pleased to be hosting another Magic: The Gathering Pre-Release spectacular! MTG Dark Ascension releases on Friday, February 3rd. Our Pre-Release will take place one week before then on Sunday, January 29th at 12:00 noon. The format for this event will be a Sealed Tournament.
If you’re interested in attending the tournament, we ask that you please sign-up ahead of time, as we have limited space for the event. You can do this in a number of ways: either by calling the store, sending an e-mail, or by dropping into the store in-person. Please include your DCI number when you register. There are 40 spaces available, so be sure to reserve yours soon! We ask also that you please arrive to the tournament before 12:00 noon in order to pay your entry fee of $30.00. Included in your entry will be three MTG Innistrad and three Dark Ascension booster packs. All registered entrants will also get a pre-release foil promo card (while supplies last) of the double-sided Ravenous Demon/Archdemon of Greed.
The Sealed Tournament will consist of one flight of entrants with the goal of the event to be completed by 6pm. Prizes will be given in the form of MTG Dark Ascension booster packs, promo cards, and some other nifty prize support that we have in the store. We regret that we will not be admitting players after 12:00pm SHARP, provided that there is space left on the day of the event. Please arrive as early as you can.
MTG Dark Ascension Release Tournament – Friday, February 3rd @ 6pm
If you’re not able to make the Pre-Release, we’ll be holding another Release Tournament on the day that MTG Dark Ascension comes out. If you’re interested in attending, please arrive before 6:00pm to sign in and purchase your cards package under the same format as above. This Sealed Tournament will consist of four rounds of swiss pairing, with the goal of the tournament to be done by 10:30pm. Please sign up early to ensure a spot in the tournament.
Special Box Discounts
As always, we’re offering 20% off the retail price on full boxes of MTG Dark Ascension if you’re in our Customer Rewards system or if you sign up for our Geek Card program. The points that you accrue on the purchase will also be tallied on your account. Individual boosters will remain at the standard retail price of $3.99. In addition, WotC is offering a special foil buy-it-by-the-box promo card of Gravecrawler to anyone who purchases a full box of boosters from us.
Dreadfleet on Display
January 10, 2012
Avast, ye scurvy lumps ‘o lard, and read on if ye know what’s good for ye! This Sunday, we’re going to be showing off Dreadfleet, the massive boxed game of fantasy sea battles from Games Workshop, all day long. You can stop in and check it out anytime 1-5pm, and our master deckhand Max will make sure you have your sea legs under you for your very first battle on the tumultuous waves of the Old World’s salty seas.
Max has has been busy with scrubbing the decks and the miniatures, as well, to give these models the paint jobs they deserve – and they deserve the best, because they’re amazing. You’ll definitely be impressed, so come join the boarding party!
Dreadfleet Fantasy Naval Battles Demo
Sunday, January 15th 1-5pm
Where: Gamescape North, San Rafael
Dreadfleet is a boxed game for two (or more) players that includes everything you need to make war on the turbulent seas of the Warhammer world. At your command are two fleets of ships – the Dreadfleet led by the Vampire Count Noctilus, aboard his gargantuan sea-hulk the Bloody Reaver; and the Grand Alliance commanded by the Pirate Captain Jaego Roth, who recently stole the Heldenhammer- the pride of the Imperial Fleet, and one of the largest galleons to ever sail the high seas.
As your ships engage in furious battle, it’s down to you, the fleet captain, to make important split-second decisions. Do you bring all guns to bear on the closest enemy warship, or do you sail into position for a furious broadside? What happens when the warship catches fire, or worse, the powder kegs ignite? Exactly how much punishment can your warship take before it sinks without a trace? Are those Undead seagulls or flying piranha fish? And, when all else fails, do you have the courage to ram your foe, board their ship, and engage them in a duel to the death?
Join the Guild!
January 9, 2012
Our next Game Designers Guild meeting is coming up this Saturday, January 14th 6-9pm. If this is the first time you’re hearing about it, we’ve been hosting monthly meetings at the store where our brilliant cadre of local designers can playtest game prototypes, meet-n-greet each other, and discuss any or all aspects of board game design and manufacture. Everyone is welcome, whether you have your own game prototype, an idea for a game, or just want to get a behind-the-scenes look at the different processes of design and production.
Each meeting begins with a round of scheduled playtests, where participants have a chance to try one of several pre-selected prototypes, followed by a free-form session for open playtesting and discussions around board game design, development, and publishing.
If you would like to submit a prototype to be scheduled for playtesting at a future GDG meeting, please contact our Guild hosts, Greg Powers and Brian Powers, who will keep track of participants and what games are being playtested at a given meeting. Scheduling priority will eventually be given to players who have participated in previous playtesting sessions, but we expect it to take a few meetings before we have a diverse stable of games-in-progress to work with.
Please note that we will have generic non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) available for any participants wanting to use them, and designers are very welcome to additionally bring their own. We will also have feedback forms so that potential publishers will be able to take home ideas and suggestions in writing. The Gamescape Designers Guild is meant to be a workshop, of sorts, to help facilitate creativity and get more great games out on the market, and the environment that we’re shooting for is one of no pressure, no intimidation, and total legal creative safety.
To join in, just show up with a willingness to play, learn, teach, test, and help. You can give us a yell at the store or contact Greg and Brian via the addresses above for more info or to express your interest in bringing a game in any stage of production. We’ve even set up a board on our forums for Guild members to chat with each other in between meetings. That, especially, is a great place to introduce yourself and get your name on the list of regular contributors.
We think that the Gamescape Designers Guild is a great thing to be a part of, and we hope our creative community will use it as a service to help make their dream games happen. Be in touch with as things progress and help us make it exactly the kind of design meetings you want to join!
Bring On the New Year!
December 28, 2011
Another great reason for a Gamescape party! Did you get some great new games for the holidays but haven’t had the chance to play them yet during the craziness of the season? Bring ‘em along and join us at the store for a long night of fun! Our holiday gaming parties are getting better as they go on, and spending New Year’s Eve with us is a fun, free, and safe way to ring in 2012. We’ll be playing games, nibbling, socializing, and of course staying up late and having a blast. So whether you’re an old regular or this is the first time you’ve taken part, make sure you come by and show us your best game - it’s the best community of local gamers you could hope for!
Open gaming will start around 6pm and go until late; socializing and munching will surely start earlier. We’re also throwing in some other tempting activities, including a number of game raffles through the night. There are some real gems from the back room of the store in the pile, so you won’t want to miss any of it. Bring some treats to share if you like, and definitely bring your party hat. If previous years are any indication, it’s going to be a great night, and a super-fun way to ring in the new year!
NYE @ GSN
Saturday, December 31st, 6 ’til Late
Ring it and Bring it!