Getting to Know the Waystone Annex
The Annex has been around for one month now. All of the hand wringing and number crunching has birthed a real, tangible place for games! Folks are rolling dice, hobbying in a calm shared space, and even having fun comparing vinyl collections via the Annex’s record player.
Folks have been sharing how happy they are having the option of playing in a less energetic space than the speakeasy, and that booking a table is much less challenging now—probably the two biggest concerns on our last Community Survey.
Tables and Terrain
Tables in the Annex each have their own room, and are the same design as in the speakeasy (with some small improvements).
When the Annex tables are converted flush, they’re the right size for larger games such as Horus Heresy and Warhammer: The Old World. When the inner table surface is lowered and the accessory panel is set on top, the play area is the perfect size for current editions of Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar.
How to Book an Annex Table
The Annex is available to book during business hours for anyone with a Waystone membership.
Go to the table reservation page via the ‘Book a Table’ button in our site header, or using the Achieve client app on your phone (Google Store, Apple).
Scroll down until you see the ‘Annex Booking’ options. If they’re greyed out, it just means you aren’t logged in to your account, or you don’t currently have a membership.
Follow our typical booking flow. You’ll notice that there’s no ‘Table Setup’ option since the Annex is self-serve. You’ll have the ability to select whatever terrain you’d like from the terrain library and arrange it how you’d like.
Check in at the speakeasy or request independent annex access.
Remember to update any guests on how the space works and to keep an eye out for them before your reservation. Because the Annex is unstaffed, we can’t let guests in without you if they arrive before you—though we’ll certainly enjoy chatting them up about their army in the speakeasy if they do.
Tip: You can book Annex tables with as little as 30 minutes advance notice—perfect for sneaking in a quick game with a friend when you find yourself with a little extra time in the day.
Raising and Lowering the Tables
If converting the table flush, first stow away the wood slat on top of the table.
Find the small wooden levers under the table.
Moving from one side of the table to the other, gently switch each lever one by one.
If lowering the play surface, retrieve the wood panel from underneath and place it onto the table. You can install it on one side as a staging area for models, or set it in the middle to define two play areas (great for splitting the table between two smaller games).
24-Hour Access + Lockers
Another important facet of this new space is that it allows us to offer 24-hour access as a membership add-on. We’re now seeing folks booking hobby jams with friends early in the day, playing games past close, and more.
These are big elements of that dream we’ve been chasing since Waystone opened—of that hobby and game space that really has a “club” feel to it; you let yourself in, see who’s hanging out that day, and have everything you need to comfortably get a game in. Community Amplifiers get lockers, too, allowing them to keep their stuff here, and not need to cart all the essentials to and from home every game.
Membership upgrades like these go a long way to helping us make up the cost of this awesome new space, so if you’re thinking about adding 24-Hour Access to your membership, or becoming a Community Amplifier (or both), we’d love to help you with that. All the details and perks are outlined on our recently updated Membership page.
The “Break Room" - Drinks & Snacks
Just down the hall and on the right, you’ll find what has been lovingly dubbed the “break room”. Here you’ll find your free member coffee and tea, as well as a self-serve station for other drinks and snacks where you can self-pay via a QR code.
We’ve been wanting to have snacks on hand for a long time, and the Annex has helped make that a reality with peanut m&m’s, snack bars, and an awesome selection of the non-alcoholic drink options from next door (including our new locally bottled root beer, Alta amaro soda, and a non-alcoholic chelada, brewed in Mexico by Katrina Brewing).
What’s Next for the Annex?
Our main priority has been to make the Annex a great space for people to play games, but now that it’s open there are a number of bells and whistles we’d love to start layering in. More artwork, a coffee table, and some additional terrain shelving are all things we have in mind. We also want to know what cool ideas you’ve got. The Annex will be a focus of our next Community Survey, so keep an eye out for it in the next month or so.
In the meantime, if you have feedback for us that you think would be helpful right away, never be afraid to reach out.
All the best,
Dustin
