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.

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!

GRPA – Monday, January 30th 6-11pm
 
Game #1 – Dragon Slayers
Fiasco
3-5 Players
GM – Yoshi Creelman

“If You Want To Keep Those Hands, Get Them Off My Magic Cloak.”

The bumpkins in this pissant mountain town could never have taken down that dragon. Their biggest hero hasn’t seen battle since Drozzek rode down from the Smoking Mountains three wars-to-end-all-wars ago. That old codger they call their town wizard fried his brain with one too many “elixirs of awareness” and can’t even light a campfire with all of his spells combined. So yeah, we rode into town, a bunch of outsiders ready to solve that problem. Solve that dragon problem. And no, we don’t care what they think. And yes, we’re heroes. These yokels should worship at our feet. They didn’t blast those mummies to dust or decimate that deathtrap built with lost technology. And they sure didn’t slay that dragon. That’s our dragon, and its gold is our gold. So unless you’re bringing us ale, get out before we transform you into a turkey and server you for dinner.

Fiasco is a GM-less RPG for 3-5 players, designed to be played in a few hours with six-sided dice and no preparation. During the game you will engineer and play out stupid, disastrous situations, usually at the intersection of greed, fear, and lust. It’s like making your own Coen brothers movie, in about the same amount of time it’d take to watch one.

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 Pallid Plague
Pathfinder Society
4-6 Players
GM – Joshua Archer

Reports from Andoran’s Darkmoon Vale indicate that a new plague is causing the deaths of untold fey. The Pathfinder Society sends you there to aid the nymph queen in stopping the plague and finding and destroying its source. When the plague spreads to the human population of Falcon’s Hollow, the need to find a cure grows more frantic. Can you save the many denizens of Darkmoon Vale from certain death?

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.

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

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?

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!

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!

Have fun out there!

Moosetache Games Demos with David Schiller & John Montague
Saturday, December 3rd 12-5pm

David and John of Moosetache Games will be bringing along demos of their two hits, Hike and Rowboat for some card-flopping fun. Hike is a quick, travelable little gem that pits players on a trek for survival against the wilds of Mother Nature. Rowboat, recently reviewed in Wired magazine, is a trick-taking game akin to Bridge or Spades with a nautical theme and gorgeous cards. We absolutely love Moosetache’s mission: to encourage creativity and spread joy!
 

Gubs Demo with Cole Medeiros
Saturday, December 10th 1-4pm

A Parent’s Choice Award winner, Gubs, one of the newest offerings from Gamewright, is a total blast. Also reviewed in Wired, Gubs is about collecting and protecting friendly little yellow creatures that like to hide in the forest. As noted on the box, it’s a game of wit and luck, focused on its creative use of card combinations for infinite replayability and fun. Gubs’ creator, Cole Medeiros, will be on hand to show you how it’s played and to provide some helpful tips. Cole’s (and Gubs’) story is incredible, and you can read about the way the game was born here.
 

Idea Duck Designer Demo with Susan McKinley Ross & Chris Ross
Sunday, December 11th 1-3pm

What’s a holiday season without Susan and Chris? Another year, another beautiful, award-winning game…or two! The delightful duo who go by the name of Idea Duck will be at Gamescape in the middle of the month to teach and sign games for their fans and customers. This year, the focus is on Susan’s great game of visual perception and dexterity, Color Stix, and Chris’ new Parent’s Choice Silver winner, DestiNation USA. In addition to these, the usual suspects will be present: Fish Stix, Skippity, Hoot Owl Hoot!, and our best-selling game ever, Qwirkle, which just took home the coveted Spiel des Jahres award in Germany this year. Don’t miss this meet ‘n’ greet!
 

Blue Orange Games Demos with the Blue Orange Staff 
Sunday, December 18th 2-4pm

The fine folks over at Blue Orange have consistently been creating wonderful, super-fun games for kids and adults, and this year has seen some of their best. In addition to the wildly-popular Yamslam and Pengoloo games, they’ll be bringing playable copies of their entire line, including Gobblet, Froggie Boogie, Quack Quack, Double Shutter, Sumoku, and Fundomino – and maybe even some giant-sized versions, as well! Of special note this year are the games included in our gift guide: Analyze Me, Tell Tale, Dragon Face, and Sketch-It. Blue Orange has been one of our favorite companies for years, and we always enjoy spending time with them, whether it’s playing games or playtesting them.

This Sunday is a great day for heroes, for magic, and for adventure! Two of our excellent local GMs, Joshua and Alex, will be running introductory sessions of the Pathfinder RPG for anyone who would like to give it a try. They will each be taking willing players through a series of four scenarios specifically designed for the amazing Pathfinder Beginner Box. Relics, Ruins, Terrors, and Tomes will be the challenges, and all we need are some intrepid, heroic souls to see what’s inside!

If this sounds like a challenge that YOU are willing to make, come visit us this Sunday, December 4th for a fun, free gaming experience. Each GM will be running the adventures throughout the day starting at 12 noon and ending at 6:00pm. You need to bring absolutely nothing but your spirit of adventure, as Joshua and Alex will be providing dice, paper, and pre-generated characters for you to use. They’ll give you a brief introduction to the rules and a deeper background to the story, and then off you’ll go. And because Gamescape is hosting this awesome intro event, you get to walk away with the pre-painted miniature that represents the hero you play!

So if this is your idea of a Sunday well-spent, give us a call at the store and reserve a spot in one of the sessions. We’ll write your name down and save your place as long as you promise to show up on time, ready to delve into some dungeons. Time to strap on that armor…

This Tuesday, November 22nd, Gamescape’s regular Warhammer 40K night will be overtaken with the roaring guns and armored columns of the 41st Millennium! A massive battlefield will be staged in which dozens of brave tank commanders will seek to eliminate as many other armored foes as they can. The time of the year has arrived – it’s Tanksgiving!

All you need to do to participate in this event is bring your favorite Warhammer 40K tank, upgraded to your liking with a legal data sheet for us to check. What classifies as a tank? Any vehicle with the keyword ‘Tank’ in its profile. Easy as that. The fun begins at 6:00pm. Prizes will be awarded to overall winners and a special prize will be given out to the ‘prettiest’ tank of the day. After all, prettier tanks fight better!

For participants with less tank-inclined armies of the Grim Darkness (where there can be only war), the following exceptions will be allowed:

Tyranids: Any Monstrous Creature with no more than 4 Wounds.
Necrons: Monolith, Ghost/Doomsday Ark.
Dark Eldar: Raider, Ravager, Talos Pain Engine, Cronos Parasite Engine.
Tanks (including Super-Heavies) found in Imperial Armour will be allowed as long as a data sheet is attached.

Some helpful hints on game strategy: The more expensive your vehicle is points-wise, the worse it is for you when it goes up in smoke. There will be some fun objectives as well, so Fast Vehicles and Skimmers might find themselves at an advantage when compared to slower, heavy-gunned behemoths.

Warhammer 40K Tanksgiving 2011
Tuesday, November 22nd 6-10pm
Time to give TANKS.

Gamescape is extremely excited to announce the first meeting of our monthly Game Designers Guild! Starting on Saturday, November 19th 6-9pm, we will be 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 will begin with a round of scheduled playtests, where participants will 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!