Knight Watch Games

Knight Watch Games is a tabletop gaming store at 16350 Blanco Rd, Suite 116, in San Antonio, built around playing space as much as shelf space. It carries board games, miniature figures, trading card games, role-playing supplies and hobby materials, and it stocks Magic: The Gathering. The setting is a medieval-tavern theme, with private rental rooms, a free library of demo games and long hours every day of the week. It suits groups who need a table and a door that closes, as much as singles shoppers.

What's on the shelves

The store sells board games, miniature figures, trading card games, role-playing game supplies and hobbyist materials. Magic: The Gathering is the trading card game the store carries, and Games Workshop product is also sold. The store also publishes its own game, Gauntlets of Glory, a fantasy-themed tabletop battle royale for two to four players. Staff help with product selection and game recommendations.

Trading card sales are final. Magic: The Gathering and other tradable card games cannot be returned, along with clearance and discount items and Games Workshop product.

Play space and room rentals

Tables in the main store are first come, first served unless a reservation card marks them. Patrons are welcome to bring their own games, and an extensive library of demo games is free to use in the store at all times. Anyone looking for more players can put down the Flag of Camaraderie, which signals an open invitation to play with anyone.

The Renaissance Room and Dark Ages Room each have dedicated air conditioning, refrigerators, a hue light system, an iPad that connects by Bluetooth to a wall-mounted TV, props, a fog machine and sound-dampened walls. A reserved Death Star table that sits unused is released with no refund one hour after the reservation start time.

Four spaces can be reserved, in blocks of noon to 6 PM or 6 PM to midnight, any day of the week.

Community programs

The store runs several programs aimed at keeping the space welcoming: Ladies Knight Out and GM's Watch, plus a loyalty program. It hosts events, tournaments, workshops and gaming nights, and it takes part in charity events and sponsors gaming-related activities in the community.

Store policies

The rules are set out in a tongue-in-cheek medieval voice, but the content is plain:

• Patrons 15 or younger need an adult chaperone.
• Outside food and drink are not allowed, and alcohol, illegal drugs and intoxication are not permitted on the property.
• Smoking and vaping are not allowed inside, or within 20 feet of the entrance.
• Firearms are not permitted.
• Selling personal property in the store is not allowed, which includes Magic: The Gathering cards.
• Tournament players are expected to keep their conduct gracious, and cheating is not tolerated.

Undamaged, sellable product can be returned within 7 days of purchase for a cash or credit refund, or exchanged for a store-credit gift card within 30 days. Proof of purchase is required. Event and reservation cancellations must be submitted 48 hours before the scheduled start, so a Friday 7 PM event needs to be cancelled by 7 PM Wednesday. Same-day room cancellations are not refundable.

Hours and getting there

The store is open every day from noon to midnight. It sits in Suite 116 at 16350 Blanco Rd in San Antonio.

History

Knight Watch Games was founded in 2016 by the owners, a husband and wife, as a small gaming store in San Antonio and grew into a community hub that added events, tournaments, workshops and gaming nights to its retail business.

The local scene

Several other game and hobby stores sit within a few miles: HobbyTown (1.6 miles, San Antonio), Alamo City Comics (2.2 miles), Court Of Gamers in Hollywood Park (2.3 miles), Tabletop Games (2.3 miles) and Collectors Club TX (2.7 miles).