Click the link for the official lineup of role-playing games scheduled for it on Monday, May 21st. 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!

GRPA – Monday, May 21st 6-11pm

Game #1 – Death in San Francisco
Dresden Files
3-6 Players
GM – Mattea Ezgar

Date: Today

Place:  San Francisco – Where the world is both the stuff of Dreams & nightmares. The vision of reality is based on what knowledge one has of the world’s true composition.

Purpose:  The Homicide rate has been spiking, says SFPD. However, these crimes are not sitting well with the force. Not because they are happening but because some of the pieces aren’t fitting into a nice bow tied box. They need answers fast. Are you willing to help?

Based on the hit series of novels by Jim Butcher, the Dresden Files RPG offers an easy-to-learn, easy-to-play system that is nonetheless rich in detail and complex enough to satisfy any player. It is a game of Urban Fantasy, where myth and magic exist alongside the 21st Century as we know it. Running off the FATE system, all the game asks of players is four 6-sided dice, an imagination, and a flair for the dramatic. Note that while this story takes place after “Changes,” it is not set in Chicago, and so the uncertain end of that novel will not be addressed. New players are, as always, very welcome.

Game #2 – PFS #02-09: The Heresy of Man – Part III: Beneath Forgotten Sands (Tier 5-9)
Pathfinder Society
4-6 Players
GM – Joshua Archer

Beneath the desolate deserts of godless Rahadoum, the Pathfinder Society races against time to beat the traitorous Shadow Lodge to an ancient Jistkan citadel. But their rivals aren’t the only obstacle in the PCs way: the long-lost ruins teem with terrible outsiders bent on manipulation and destruction, including a self-proclaimed avatar of the div god Ahriman. Beneath Forgotten Sands brings the three-part Heresy of Man series to a stunning conclusion.

This is a Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for 5th to 9th level characters (Tiers: 5–9). Players may build characters according to the Pathfinder Society Play rules. I will have some ready-built characters for those who do not have their own. I will also assist those wishing to create PFS characters via email or on the forum.

Game #3 – Rokugan High
Legend of the Five Rings
3-4 Players
GM – Mike O’Brien

The empty halls of Rokugan High School were quiet.  So quiet, in fact, that as senior class president Hantei walked through them, he could hear the sound of his footsteps echo throughout the entire building.  Being the leader of his entire class was an exhausting responsibility and once again it had kept him at the school later into the night than he would’ve liked.  However, the experience was rewarding and with prom only a few days away, the end was near.  He would deliver his classmen to graduation and that would be the end of it.

Suddenly, the sound of distant laughter caught his ear, causing him to whirl in place.  Holding his breath for a moment, he hoped to catch another hint of sound, but there was none.  ‘Had I truly heard that,’ Hantei thought to himself, ‘or has this late hour taken its toll on me?’  Hesitantly, he turned to continue on his way home, letting the memory of the laugh fade from his memory.

Legend of the Five Rings is a simple and innovative d10 system that was designed to give players the opportunity to plays as samurai in the fictional land of Rokugan.  Using a roll/keep system that lets gamers choose the outcome of their roll, players take on the persona of characters in service to the emperor.  Rokugan High is a parody of this world, letting 4 players instead adopt the role of the “popular kids” serving the class president in a highschool setting.  This game is meant to turn the original concept of L5R on its ear, so light-hearted players are encouraged.

Game #4 – PFS #02-11: The Penumbral Accords (Tier 1-5)
Pathfinder Society
4-6 Players
GM – Alex Young

The daughters of Absalom’s mysterious Blakros family have long been among the most pursued maidens in the Inner Sea. Now the family’s matriarch approaches the Pathfinder Society to help her break a centuries-old pact with the denizens of the Plane of Shadow to save her twin daughters from a life of servitude at the hands of the Onyx Alliance. Heading into the fan-favorite adventuring location of Blakros Museum, the PCs have only a short amount of time to break the Penumbral Accords and solidify the Pathfinder Society’s ties to the powerful Blakroses.

This is a Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for 1st to 5th level characters (Tiers: 1–5). Players may build characters according to the Pathfinder Society Play rules. I will have some ready-built characters for those who do not have their own. I will also assist those wishing to create PFS characters via email or on the forum.

May GRPA Event: Monday, May 21st 6-11pm
Please call the store (415.457.8698) or (Email Us) to reserve a spot in any of the above games.

THE FINAL BATTLE FOR CASSINO!

In May of 1944, the Allied offensive in Italy had come to a grinding halt. The Allied efforts to break the German defenses centered around Monte Cassino had been frustrated at every turn. Despite repeated attacks since January, the Allied advance gained no more than a few miles around the formidable Axis defenses that guarded the Italian capital of Rome. Even the bold amphibious maneuver at Anzio, designed to outflank the defensive lines anchored around Cassino, had turned into a disaster. The Allied forces at Anzio were trapped on a tiny beachhead, stuck on the defensive against repeated German counterattacks.

With the invasion of Normandy imminent, the Italian campaign was about to be relegated to a side show. Key units and resources were being stripped away from the Allied command in Italy to reinforce the upcoming invasion of France. The Allied commanders in Italy knew the clock was ticking. They had one final, best chance to take Rome. On May 11, 1944, they launched OPERATION DIADEM – the final great push against the fortified lines around Cassino. 

Our huge cross-Bay Infantry Aces campaign is coming to a roaring conclusion! We’ll be celebrating the end of our awesome dual-campaign with our friends at EndGame in Oakland – as well as marking the 68th anniversary of the fourth and final battle of Cassino – with a multi-player Mega-Battle on Saturday, May 19 at 11:30am right here at Gamescape North. Don’t miss the big finale!

Flames of War Infantry Aces Escalation League Mega-Battle
Saturday, May 19th 11:30am-6pm
A Roll of the Final Dice at Cassino!

Click the link for the official lineup of role-playing games scheduled for it on Monday, April 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!

GRPA – Monday, April 30th 6-11pm

Game #1 – Terra Nova
Ashen Stars (Gumshoe)
3-5 Players
GM – Dale Horstman

They call you lasers. Sometimes you’re called scrubbers, regulators, or shinestars. To the lawless denizens of the Bleed, whether they be pirates, gangsters or tyrants, you’re known in less flattering terms. According to official Combine terminology, the members of your hard-bitten starship crew are known as Licensed Autonomous Zone Effectuators. You’re the seasoned freelancers local leaders call when a situation proves too tough, too baffling, or simply too weird to handle on their own. In the abandoned fringe of inhabited planets known as the Bleed, you’re as close to a higher authority as they come.

The Terra Nova, last of the great luxury liners from the Combine’s heyday, is dead, a victim of disaster now drifting in the space between worlds. Her final call echoes across the Bleed. The last of the survivors clutch desperately to life, waiting for rescue. All but one, that is. One of them waits only for a chance to finish the job, uncovering a secret which the Terra Nova has kept hidden for decades…

Ashen Stars is a sci-fi RPG focusing on space opera procedural mysteries, using the GUMSHOE system. The PCs are ‘Lasers’ – Licensed Autonomous Zone Effectuators, who are essentially freelance police in a space frontier (‘the Bleed’) after a big war that ended seven years ago. The Federation-analogue, the Combine, haven’t pulled themselves together after the War yet, and hence rely on the Lasers to keep peace in the sector and to investigate crimes and distress signals. You have a PC-owned ship with a PC crew and the focus is picking up investigation contracts and building up your precious reputation score rather than your wealth.

Game #2 – PFS #0-27: Our Lady of Silver (Tier 5-9)
Pathfinder Society
4-6 Players
GM – Joshua Archer

You and your fellow Pathfinders are sent to Katheer, the shining capital of Qadira, to witness the wedding of Pathfinder Faireven to the wealthy and beautiful Lady of Silver and bring back a trove of relics given to the Society as part of the wedding dowry. When the wedding is disrupted by unscrupulous thieves, you soon find yourself dodging double-crosses, accusations of grave robbery, and worse. You must find the relics soon, or risk facing the eternal expulsion of the Society from the treasure-filled deserts of Qadira.

This is a Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for 5th to 9th level characters (Tiers: 5–9). Players may build characters according to the Pathfinder Society Play rules. I will have some ready-built characters for those who do not have their own. I will also assist those wishing to create PFS characters via email or on the forum.

Game #3 – Flying High
Do: Pilgrims of the Flying Temple
3-5 Players
GM – Mike O’Brien

(Note: This game will only last a maximum of 2 hours.)

Dear Pilgrims of the Flying Temple,

Hi, how are you! My name is Melanie. I come from a very small planet.
There is me, my house, my cat, and two trees.
I am not doing so well as my planet has been eaten by a whale.
It is a very small planet. I woke up and I was inside a whale! I don’t want to get (more) eaten.
Please help!

Your friend,
Melanie ( age 8 )
P.S. I will make you cookies.

Do: Pilgrims of the Flying Temple is a wonderful storytelling game where 3-5 players take on the role of fledgling Pilgrims who have been sent out into the universe to prove their worth and help as many ailing inhabitants as possible. Using a light and easy-to-learn game system, Pilgrims will take turns moving their story forward, trying to use all of the designated keywords before the end of the game. Be warned, however, as Pilgrims are quite adept at getting into trouble and it will take some serious teamwork and creative writing to get them out!

 
 
April GRPA Event: Monday, April 30th 6-11pm
Please call the store (415.457.8698) or (Email Us) to reserve a spot in any of the above games.

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. 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 Avacyn Restored Pre-Release Tournament - Sunday, April 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 Avacyn Restored releases on Friday, May 4th. Our Pre-Release will take place one week before then on Sunday, April 29th at 12:00 noon. The format for this event will be a Sealed Tournament. In addition, we will be opening the Helvault at this event.

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 72 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 six MTG Avacyn Restored  booster packs. All registered entrants will also get a pre-release foil promo card (while supplies last) of Moonsilver Spear.

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 Avacyn Restored 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.

Opening the Helvault will happen as players complete their issued achievements. Each time a player completes an achievement, they will bring the completed card to the organizers and we will break one of the seals on the Helvault. When all the seals are broken the contents will be divided up amongst the players. No one knows what’s inside the of Helvault – including all of the organizers and judges. Come help us crack it open and release Avacyn!
 
MTG Avacyn Restored Release Tournament - Friday, May 4th @ 6pm

If you’re not able to make the Pre-Release, we’ll be holding another Release Tournament on the day that MTG Avacyn Restored 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 Avacyn Restored 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 Silverblade Paladin to anyone who purchases a full box of boosters from us.

If you’re a fan of George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones, then you’ve got a lot to be happy about right now. Whether you’ve been reading the books as they’ve come out or you’ve only recently been exposed to the story through the HBO series, just about everyone is being transported to the world of Westeros on a regular basis and loving every minute of it. It’s also the perfect setting for a gaggle of great games that let you share the adventure with some friends – or that let you destroy them, leaving only husks where friends once were.

Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the GoT titles from Fantasy Flight Games we currently have in stock:
 
A Game of Thrones Board Game 2nd Ed (Fantasy Flight, 3-6 players, 2-4 hours $59.95)
This is one of the first games based on the novels and still one of the best. Longtime gamers you will know that this owes a lot to the classic backstabber, Diplomacy. But even if that doesn’t mean much to you this is not one to just pass by. Filled with deal-making and deal-breaking, this game captures the feel of the stories perfectly. Each player has to navigate political and military obstacles as they vie for geographic power. The winner is the one that can capture and hold the most cities – regardless of who gets in the way. Part of what makes the game so good is the balance: no player can just march in and take the cities they need. You will have to form alliances to survive, but when do you turn on that alliance to capture the victory? The game was off the shelves for quite a while, but now there’s a newly-redone 2nd edition that takes all of the best ideas from the old expansions and puts them all into one game. Come give it a try at one of our Thursday Board Game Nights.
 
A Game of Thrones Living Card Game (Fantasy Flight, 2-4 players, 1-2 hours, $39.95)
A brilliant concept in card games, FFG’s Living format makes it so the story keeps expanding without you having to buy hundreds of random packs just to keep up. GoT LCG has host of cards with which each player must build a deck that represents one of the six Great Heroes of Westeros, making for vast replayability. Using a combination of military might, diplomacy, and power challenges, each Hero vies for the Iron Throne and control of Westeros. The core set has plenty to keep you occupied, but when you’re ready for the monthly Chapter Packs ($14.95 each), each one has new cards and new mechanics in a fixed-distribution format, so there’s no obsessive collecting to deal with. Unless you enjoy obsessively collecting, of course.
 
Battles of Westeros (Fantasy Flight, 2 players, 1-2 hours, $79.95)
Based on the award-winning system game system found in Richard Borg’s Memoir ’44, Battle Cry, and Commands & Colors, Battles of Westeros is a two-player tactical battle game played with a horde of finely-sculpeted plastic miniatures. It uses a modular board that allows a nearly infinite variety of battlefields and scenarios – some directly from the books and others that players can set up themselves. Actions on the field are driven by a hand of cards that limit what you can do based on the draw, but victory or defeat is determined by how well you use the resources given to you. The production on Battles of Westeros is top-notch and will appeal to anyone that loves lots of pretty pieces. The base game includes armies for House Lannister and House Stark, but there are a host of reinforcement packs for those armies and additional expansion packs for some of the other Houses, all available at the store.

 
FIGHT FOR THE ROAD TO ROME!

Stretching from the Sangro River on the Adriatic coast, through the Appenine Mountains, and to the Garrigliano River on the western Tyrrhenian coast, the Gustav Line was a combination of concrete bunkers set into Europe’s rugged terrain. The only practical route of attack was up Route Six to Rome, via the town of Cassino. Yet Cassino was fortified, lay behind the Rapido River, and was in turn overlooked by the peak of Monte Cassino, crowned by a castle and monastery.

In April, we’ll be recreating the epic struggle for Cassino at Gamescape North in San Rafael and Endgame in Oakland (but with a lot less mud), using the the Flames of War Infantry Aces escalation campaign system from the Cassino campaign book. The first session is this Saturday, April 7th 1-6pm, right here at Gamescape North. We will then switch off between stores, following the schedule below.

In order to play, you will need 600 points from a Late-War infantry company to start with, and we’ll be building from there on a weekly basis. The company commander of your force will be gaining experience and abilities from the games. Full details can be found on the forums, and an overview of Infantry Aces is posted on the Battlefront website. New players are welcome, as we’ll surely have enough extra models to be loaned for those interested in joining for the first time. Hope to see you on the mountain!
 
Saturday, April 7th – Gamescape North
Sunday, April 15th – Endgame
Saturday, April 21st – Gamescape North
Sunday, April 29th – Endgame
Saturday, May 5th – Gamescape North
Sunday, May 13th – Endgame
Saturday, May 19th – Gamescape North (Last day of combat with a Total War-style mega-battle!)

Flames of War Infantry Aces Escalation League
Saturday, April 7th to Saturday, May 19th
Dig in for the long haul!

In a small valley far south of the Empire, a band of Generals – some young, some old, and even some who are dead – prepare to take the fantasy world by storm!

Hearing that the undead Prince is gathering his forces to attack, rival Generals in The Valley have responded by marshalling their own forces in an effort to counter this growing threat and maintain the balance of power in the area. Unfortunately, none of the Generals know what the others are doing, and so each are quite surprised when Ransakhep begins his march, and everyone responds to the challenge of battle resulting in an escalating feat of arms!

Gamescape is hosting a Warhammer Fantasy league in one of our favorite formats: Escalation! Starting on Saturday, March 31st and running until Saturday, May 12th - a total of four sessions – we’ll be running story-driven Warhammer battles for prizes and glory. There’s a ton of things planned, including special daily contests and a big three-round tournament at the end of the league. Nick has the entire plan charted on our forum, so make sure to check it out and read up if you’re interested in being a part. This is going to be some serious fun, and it’s only going to get bigger and better!
 

Warhammer Fantasy Battles Escalation League
Saturday, March 31st to Saturday, May 12th
Things are gonna heat UP!

On Sunday, March 25th, Gamescape will be hosting its first of this year’s Warhammer 40,000 tournaments. From 11am to 7pm, teams of two will battle it out against one another, trying to prove which factions truly make the best of friends. Each player will create an army worth 750-points and combine it with a partner’s list to create a single, kitted-out 1500 point force. The day will consist of three rounds, with ample time for breaks and lunch. Prizes will be given to the victors, of course.

Make sure to bring at least TWO copies of your army list, your figures, and of course your all-important ally. Friends can be supplied if necessary, so let us know ahead of time if you will need help finding a partner. Check the forum for sign-ups and the complete rules. Hope to see you – and a friend – there!
 

Warhammer 40K Doubles Tournament
Sunday, March 25th 11am-7pm
NEVER leave a buddy behind!

Our next Game Designers Guild meeting is coming up this Saturday, March 10th at 6-10pm. If this is the first time you’re hearing about the Guild, 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.

This month the guild is going to be talking about what to do with your game after you’ve put in all the hours for development and playtesting. How do you actually get your baby published? There are so many winding roads to follow! If you have experience in navigating this maze, please bring along your stories – successful or not – as there are many people who have questions about the process. Through the evening, we’ll be talking and sharing ideas about bringing games to market.

As always, feel free to pop in and say hello on the GDG board on our forums. You’ll find a great community of designers talking about a variety of game-related subjects. Hope to see you!

Click the link for the official lineup of role-playing games scheduled for it on Monday, February 27th. 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!

GRPA – Monday, February 27th 6-11pm

Game #1 – A Penny for My Thoughts
A Penny for My Thoughts
2-4 Players
GM – Yoshi Creelman

Having trouble remembering things? Do you know someone who cannot remember who they are? The Orphic Institute for Advanced Studies can help. We are seeking volunteers for the final stages of a new drug, Mnemosyne. Combined with a revolutionary new treatment process, Mnemosyne can help you remember who you are. Call immediately to setup an appointment, lest you forget.

A Penny for My Thoughts is a collaborative storytelling game in which players take the roles of amnesiac patients undergoing therapy to recover their lost memories. With the help of your fellow players, detailed memory triggers and a series of directed “Yes” and “No” questions uncover the details of your character’s story. A Penny for My Thoughts is a fast, GM-less, diceless game designed for single-session play. Come be surprised and excited at situations, events, and choices your character has brought to the Orphic Institute for Advanced Studies!

Game #2 – A Darklord Emerges!
World of Dungeoneer
3-5 Players
GM – Thomas Denmark

The Darklord and his minions are marching across the freelands of Tarnyss. A ragged band of heroes is all that stands between enslavement and peace. You can defeat the Darklord by beating back his armies, by crushing his dungeon strongholds, or by destroying the artifact of evil that gives power to the Darklord. You will face impossible quests and overcome heroic challenges to win – or you will die trying…

World of Dungeoneer is an RPG-like boardgame set in a grim fantasy world. It is based on the popular card game series published by Atlas Games. At the start of each game, a “Darklord” card is chosen who is trying to conquer the world with his evil minions: Angrihm the Lich King and his Undead Hordes, Nakari the Queen of Darkness and her legion of Naga maidens, or Umbar the Golem Lord and his mechanized horde. Players work cooperatively against the game. The war rages on both a giant world map where armies battle, and small dungeon maps where special Quests are completed by the players’ characters. Run by the famed artist and creator of the Dungeoneer card game, this will be a great chance to try it out before it hits the shelves!

 
Game #3 – The City of Strangers, Pt. II: The Twofold Demise
Pathfinder Society
4-6 Players
GM – Joshua Archer

A powerful local gang in Kaer Maga demands that you end the threat of the Shadow Lodge at once, as the Lodge’s very existence upsets the delicate local balance of power. Refusal means both the expulsion of the Pathfinder Society from Kaer Maga forever and also your untimely deaths. The choice is yours. The Twofold Demise is the second and final scenario in The City of Strangers campaign arc.

This product is a Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for 1st to 7th level characters (Tiers: 1–7). Players may build characters according to the Pathfinder Society Play rules. I will have some ready-built characters for those who do not have their own. I will also assist those wishing to create PFS characters via email or on the forum. Find out more about Pathfinder Society here.
 
 
Game #4 – In the Face of Death
Outbreak: Undead
2-4 Players
GM – Mike O’Brien

As the early morning sun rises on a new day, the world does not stir from its titanic slumber, nor has it been wrested from its dormancy in many months. And as earth sleeps, it dreams of death. Death in homes. Death in the streets. Death walking on the rotted ivory of teeth. Death is no longer a concept or a state, but the mask worn by the ones we love. It is the children who gnash their teeth at flesh, the husbands and wives who stalk their partners and the monsters that wear the skin of household pets. Abominations now control the globe, feeding on the meat of the living while the survivors starve. We are starving and we need you to help. Fetch us what you can from the supermarket across town, but be warned. The streets are avenues into Hell’s gaping maw, and it has coughed up the most abhorrent demons it could muster. Getting there will be hard, and getting back will be harder. Yet if you manage to survive, you will save us all.

Outbreak: Undead is a zombie apocalypse role-playing game where life is no longer a guarantee and waking up in the morning is cause for celebration. Four players will take on the role of survivors and, using an innovative percentile system, attempt to make it through the day.

Warning! This game is intended to be dramatic. It will contain graphic and mature themes that may be upsetting to some. If you have any problems with the concepts of death, violence, or the moral dilemmas that arise from life-and-death situations, we do not recommend signing up for this game.
 
 
February GRPA Event: Monday, February 27th 6-11pm
Please call the store (415.457.8698) or (Email Us) to reserve a spot in any of the above games.