Events

Jockey for the top spot on the speed puzzling leader board in this month-long jigsaw competition at Diversions! Throughout the month, teams of two or four can attempt their fastest time at assembling either a 300 or 500 piece puzzle anytime during Diversions’ open hours. Simply check-in, pick your puzzle, and let those fingers fly!

The leaderboard will be updated throughout the month, so if another team outpaces your puzzling, fear not – your team can make multiple attempts during the month to stay in the lead! But don’t wait too long – the fastest 2-person and 4-person teams will be selected on the month’s LAST BUSINESS DAY and receive a free puzzle, free drink vouchers, and bragging rights as Diversions’ Lead Marathoning Jigsaw Jockeys!

Entry is $10/team, with each subsequent attempt free with a purchase.

Find more details for this twice-monthly recurring Zombicide event on  Aftergame!

Enrich your gaming and queer communities all at once! Join Diversions for our in-house edition of Gaymers Gathering, an event focused on bringing together new and familiar friendly, queer folks to enjoy games together.

Grab a name tag and pick out your (first) game from our library of 500+ games and puzzles — it's as easy as that! If you’re arriving solo, we will have a hosted table you can join to meet others and find some gaming opportunities. Diversions offers an accessible gathering space for all who want to join, and we have snacks, drinks, and seating aplenty!

Not sure if you’re interested in games, but still looking to connect? Spectators, cheerleaders, and friendly conversation are always welcome, regardless of if you’re gaming or not.

Featured game: Rainbow

Rainbow is a quick-playing hand management game where players play solo cards, sets, or runs to win points on cards in the center of the table. The cards that were played in the previous round are the NEW points available to win in the next round. Most points at the end of the game wins!

About Gaymers Gathering:
Diversions hosts Gaymers Gatherings with the goal of building community and creating a safer, inclusive, and intentional space for the LGBTQ and gaming communities. We encourage you to stop by and roll some dice, puzzle over some pieces, embark on a quest, or just come to chat! As a Queer-owned business, Diversions is proud to offer these events for our community to enjoy. All ages are welcome and encouraged to attend, whether you are looking to game or not. You can bring your own game or choose as many as you'd like from Diversions' game library! Gaymers Gathering also happens monthly at Press Coffee on the third Saturday — please confirm dates and times, as holidays and extenuating circumstances may cause changes to the schedule. 

LET’S PLAY! Game, socialize, and build a sense of community and joy together at Diversions for our FREE Second Sunday Social! Whether you bring your friends or show up solo, you'll have a fun time gathering around a game with friendly faces.

We’ll have nametags available and ‘Open Table’ signs on most tables to make it easy to meet, greet, and play! Join our greeting game as you arrive — featuring one of our party-style games — to easily jump in and meet others. When you’re ready to try another game, our staff will be available for game recommendations, assistance with setup, or learning new games.

The main social is from 2-5PM, but gaming is free ALL DAY. Making new friends can be hard, but make it a little easier by sharing a game together! Head to Aftergame to let us know you’ll be attending and see who else might be joining!

Join Diversions to learn the thrilling hit game Blood on the Clocktower! This cryptic social deduction game might remind players of similar games (such as Mafia, Werewolf, or Traitors), but this game has become known for its unique roles and twists. With sessions every week, we're excited to welcome more players to the game through these introductory, learn-to-play sessions.

Click here to see all scheduled Clocktower events and details.

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. This session is geared towards folks who haven’t played before; the Storyteller (the game host) will go over the rules in depth before diving in to at least one full play-through, and will pause throughout the game to provide context and explanation to assist player understanding.

Storyteller: Jessi H.

• Doors open at 5:00PM and participants are encouraged to mingle prior to the game. The game starts at 5:30 sharp!
• This event is FREE, but a Player Pass is required to participate - grab yours here!

Dive into the world of Golarion as an agent of the Pathfinder Society, or perhaps give aid to the people of the Pact Worlds as part of Starfinder Society during Paizo Organized Play sessions at Diversions! These open role-playing sessions welcome players of all experience levels; with the option to join as your schedule allows, this format of RPG play is great for players with busy or unpredictable schedules.

Pathfinder & Starfinder Society meets at Diversions on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, starting at 5:30 PM. Session playtime varies and usually takes no less than three hours. Details of upcoming sessions can be found here!

Learn more about Pathfinder Society and Starfinder Society, or find out where our local Shifting Corridors Lodge hosts games elsewhere across the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area! 

This Advanced session is open to any scripts the Storytellers deem worthy – the possibilities are endless! Players will be expected to have a strong understanding of the game, characters, and rules and be ready for a challenge.

Click here to see all scheduled Clocktower events and details.

• Player Pass cost is $12, which is required to participate - grab yours here!
• Spots are limited to 15 players for each session
• Doors open at 6:00PM and participants are encouraged to mingle prior to the game. Each game starts at 6:30 SHARP. 

STORYTELLER: Jessica I.
OPENING SCRIPT: Blind Man's Bluff

Looking for your next favorite game or to learn a game with others? Join local game guru Michele to enjoy a new gaming experience. With the benefit of having a knowledgeable guide to help you enjoy the game to the fullest, it’s sure to be a good time!

In Camel Up, up to eight players bet on five racing camels, trying to suss out which ones will place first and second in a quick race around a pyramid. The earlier you place your bet, the more you can win — should you guess correctly, of course. Camels don't run neatly, however, sometimes landing on top of another one and being carried toward the finish line. Who's going to run when? That all depends on how the dice come out of the pyramid dice shaker, which releases one die at a time when players pause from their bets long enough to see who's actually moving!

Whether you're looking to just get an overview, have a rundown of the rules, play a few rounds, or experience a full game, Michele will provide guidance and encouragement (and maybe a little friendly competition) as players try out this new game together.

Decide the fate of the woodland as asymmetric factions fight for contrasting goals.

Sample a buffet of indie TTRPGs, presented by seasoned GMs!

In the wide world of tabletop roleplaying games, independent (indie) publishers are known for pushing the boundaries of the game format, exploring new mechanics, experimenting with narrative pacing, and more, all while often delivering more inclusive and engaging games than some more well-known games. Discovering new indie TTRPGs is not always easy or obvious, which is why we are excited to bring this event to Diversions!

On Saturday, May 16th, Corridor Games on Demand (CGoD) invites RPG fans—and the RPG-curious—to experience a smorgasbord of selected indie RPGs, all hosted by the seasoned CGoD GMs, as part of an ALL-DAY indie RPG celebration at Diversions. 

Check out the full schedule, the list of games, and ticket/pass information.

Enjoy an afternoon of gaming and conversation with other LGBTQ+ gaymers, hosted by Press Coffee & Diversions! Choose from 40+ games or join our 'hosted table’ — a featured game for folks who might arrive solo, gaymers who want to try a new game, or people looking for new social connections. Grab a name tag, pick out your (first) game, and enjoy — it's as easy as that! 

Press Coffee is an accessible gathering space for all who want to join, and they'll be serving up irresistible drinks and snacks. Build community with new and familiar faces at these monthly Gaymers Gatherings, every third Saturday of the month from 2-5PM or monthly at Diversions.

About Gaymers Gathering:
Diversions hosts Gaymers Gatherings with the goal of building community and creating a safer, inclusive, and intentional space for the LGBTQ and gaming communities. We encourage you to stop by and roll some dice, puzzle over some pieces, embark on a quest, or just come to chat! As a Queer-owned business, Diversions is proud to offer these events for our community to enjoy. All ages are welcome and encouraged to attend, whether you are looking to game or not. You can bring your own game or choose as many as you'd like from Diversions' game library! Gaymers Gathering also happens monthly at Diversion -- please confirm dates and times here. 

With the current revival mahjong is experiencing in mainstream culture, we are excited to be welcoming a new monthly mahjong gathering at Diversions to introduce folks to the game, improve player skills and comfort, or help players find other folks to join a table!

New players are welcome, as are seasoned Chii callers, and everything in between. Tables will be available, some sets will be provided, and the free popcorn will be plentiful! No ticket needed, and players are encouraged to claim a seat for the game on Aftergame.

NOTE: The primary variant played so far has been Japanese/Richii, but other variants are welcome.

Join Diversions to learn the thrilling hit game Blood on the Clocktower! This cryptic social deduction game might remind players of similar games (such as Mafia, Werewolf, or Traitors), but this game has become known for its unique roles and twists. With sessions every week, we're excited to welcome more players to the game through these introductory, learn-to-play sessions.

Click here to see all scheduled Clocktower events and details.

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. This session is geared towards folks who haven’t played before; the Storyteller (the game host) will go over the rules in depth before diving in to at least one full play-through, and will pause throughout the game to provide context and explanation to assist player understanding.

Doors open at 5:00pm and participants are encouraged to mingle prior to the game. The game starts at 5:30 sharp! This event is FREE, but a Player Pass is required to participate!

Storyteller: Andy M.

Read more about Blood on the Clocktower here!

Find more details for this twice-monthly recurring Zombicide event on  Aftergame!

Rally the woodland creatures, fame and glory await! Fight for money, justice, and freedom from powers far greater than the your scruffy band of rebels in this One-Shot of Root: The Roleplaying Game, led by GM Jack. 

The Marquise de Cat has led her armies to victory over many of the clearings of the woodland, but the Eyrie Dynasties rise again to oppose her. Meanwhile, the mice, rabbits, and foxes of the Woodland do not sit idly by - the Woodland Alliance, a homegrown rebellion, has emerged, promising to free the Woodland from any oppressors. In the midst of this war, you and your band of vagabonds travel between the clearings, taking on jobs no one else can or will do. You choose whom you serve, if anyone... but everyone knows you may tip the balance of the War!

Reserve your seat for only $5, which will be credited towards your Gaming Pass for the evening. Players are encouraged to claim a seat on Aftergame, which will also host the waitlist should seats sell out. Novice players welcome; no experience or materials required.

Root: The Roleplaying Game is the officially-licensed tabletop RPG based on the award-winning board game of the same name by Leder Games. Join for the Learn & Play of Root: The Board Game on Friday, May 15, to see why this game gets so much hype.  

Collect, assemble, and feed dinosaurs, making sure your herbivores don’t get chomped.

Looking for your next favorite game or to learn a game with others? Join us at Diversions to enjoy a new gaming experience. With the benefit of having a knowledgeable guide to help you enjoy the game to the fullest, it’s sure to be a good time! No ticket needed, and players are encouraged to claim a seat for the game on Aftergame!

SPECIAL DEAL – Get 15% off the featured game for the evening! 

The era of the dinosaurs is here! Your goal in Chomp is to form herds of dinos and make sure they are all fed. Herbivores and carnivores both need food sources, but if the carnies are not properly fed, they don't mind chomping an herbie to fill their bellies!

Gameplay involves dual rows of goal tiles and dino tiles, and each turn players select one tile to add to their personal arrangement. Goal tiles stay off to the side for endgame scoring, and dino tiles are arranged in front of each player. Dino tiles include three sizes each of herbivores and carnivores. Each tile must overlap previous ones, either on top of a quarter tile, half tile, or even a whole tile, ensuring that any covered dinos are completely hidden.

Adjacent dinos of the same species form herds, which will eat together if connected to a single food source — or die together if they are unfed, adjacent to a tar pit, or next to an otherwise unfed carnivore! At the end of the game, each living and fed dino scores 1-3 points depending on its size, and the player with the highest score wins.

Whether you're looking to just get an overview, have a rundown of the rules, play a few rounds, or experience a full game, our knowledgeable game guide will provide guidance and encouragement (and maybe a little friendly competition) as players try out this new game together.

Join Diversions for a thrilling round of Blood on the Clocktower every week! This Level Up session aims to build on prior experience while also introducing players to more complex elements of the game, such as Madness or changing alignment. Players are expected to understand the basics of the game and be ready to level up their skills!

Click here to see all scheduled Clocktower events and details.

• $6 for a Player Pass, which is required to participate — grab yours here!
• Spots are limited to 15 players for each session.
• Doors open at 6PM and participants are encouraged to mingle prior to the game. Each game starts at 6:30 SHARP. (Note: This is 30 mins later than usual!)

STORYTELLER: Jessica I.

OPENING SCRIPT: Trouble Guing

Dive into the world of Golarion as an agent of the Pathfinder Society, or perhaps give aid to the people of the Pact Worlds as part of Starfinder Society during Paizo Organized Play sessions at Diversions! These open role-playing sessions welcome players of all experience levels; with the option to join as your schedule allows, this format of RPG play is great for players with busy or unpredictable schedules.

Pathfinder & Starfinder Society meets at Diversions on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, starting at 5:30 PM. Session playtime varies and usually takes no less than three hours. Details of upcoming sessions can be found here!

Learn more about Pathfinder Society and Starfinder Society, or find out where our local Shifting Corridors Lodge hosts games elsewhere across the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area! 

A mythopoetic mech tragedy about conflict on a grand scale, Dragon Reactor is the most recently published TTRPG from local game designer and GM, Quinn Morris.

Dragon Reactor is about warring governments, rising rebellions, slowly-waking god-machines, and the effects forever-wars have on those involved. It’s about the ever-turning wheel of time, and how we’re always racing against it. It’s about wanting to do the right thing, but having to pull the trigger instead.

Players take on the role of pilots who have fallen into possession of the most powerful war machines in the world, Dragons. What will you do with all that power? 

Dragon Reactor runs on a d6 dice pool system with tiered successes, and the bigger the action you're taking the harder it is to succeed. Pilots gain dice based on their stats and have various resources at their disposal to increase their chances.

Reserve your seat for only $5, which will be credited towards your Gaming Pass for the evening. Players are encouraged to claim a seat on Aftergame, which will also host the waitlist should seats sell out. Novice players welcome; no experience or materials required.

Content Warnings: War and the associated possible physical and mental tragedies that it may cause.

Is there an idea for a game you’ve been pondering over for years? Maybe you even have a few rules written down or have a full set of cards already made! Or perhaps you’re a gamer who loves the idea of playtesting games in development and working with designers to refine their concept.

Join us for this monthly game designer meetup, which aims to support and network game designers, artists, playtesters, and the wider community with an appreciation for the game design process. We encourage any aspiring designers to bring in a game or game concept they have been working on to give a brief pitch about it – a bit of a show-and-tell so we can see all the interesting projects our community is working on.

Join us the last Friday of every month (7-10PM) for this game designer meetup, and join our Discord channel to connect with other designers!

Can you defeat our reigning Quiz Queens?!? A battle of knowledge returns to our hallowed halls; join us for the next installment of NO-SPORTS TRIVIA, the trivia series presented by Diversions. For this quirky quiz, we’ve selected three featured topic categories from which the majority of questions will be inspired. For this month, the featured topics will be:

• Legalities
• High Fantasy
• Capitals

On Saturday, May 30th from 7-9:30PM, teams of up to four will face off in four rounds to be crowned QUIZ QUEENS! YAS! Winning team gets a free round of drinks, a permanent entry into the history books, and a crown to crest your clever cranium. 

Spaces are limited, so grab your (FREE) team pass before they’re gone, and enjoy trivia night!

SPECIAL FEATURE EVENT: KNAVES

"Every wall is a door. Every meal is a feast."

This special feature of the new Loric character, Knaves, is also a DOUBLE feature. Twin storytellers will wake players during the night. One tells the truth; one lies. When you are woken to gain information, you must choose one storyteller to deliver it. Good luck nailing down the truth!

Players will be expected to have a strong understanding of the game, characters, and rules and be ready for a challenge.

Click here to see all scheduled Clocktower events and details.

• Player Pass cost is $12, which is required to participate - grab yours here!
• Spots are limited to 15 players for each session.
• Doors open at 5:00PM and participants are encouraged to mingle prior to the game. Each game starts at 5:30 SHARP. 

STORYTELLER: Jack G. and Jessica I.
OPENING SCRIPT: Sects and Violets