Our History

Read about our rich legacy of over 30 years of running tabletop roleplaying games for both youth and adults

About us

The Roleplay Workshop was created in 1989 to use the strengths of tabletop role play gaming to work with adolescents. As a teacher at Archway School in Oakland, Becky began creating the world of Abantey as a personal project. When her students found out what she was working on, they wanted to participate. She ran games as an extracurricular activity for several years, and eventually opened an independent business with both summer and school year programs.

In 2005, the programs expanded to offer evening gaming for older teens as well as adult program alumni. Over the years, the adult program has expanded, introducing not only non-alumni to our game, but also adding other role play systems, including CyberPunk, Serenity, and Burning Wheel.

Press

Yes, we’ve gotten some press over the last 30 years. Check out the links below!

The Geek Initiative – geekinitiative.com/spotlight-on-professional-gming-becky-thomas-and-the-roleplay-workshop/

Oakland North – oaklandnorth.net/…/elaborate-role-playing-world-fosters-new-perspectives-for-oakland-kids/

SFGate – sfgate.com/…/EDUCATION-Storytelling-game-for-kids-is-on-a-2666892.php

The Escapist (gaming website) – theescapist.com/…/interview-rebeccathomas.htm

San Francisco Summer Camps (blog) – sanfranciscosummercamp.com/2013/02/20/camp-director-diary-the-roleplay-workshop/

Radio

An amazing audio piece for KALW by one of our alumni, Rafi Ronquillo.

Video

A video about The Roleplay Workshop created by one of our amazing alumni, Cody Flowers.

Testimonials

Read real testimony from parents and students from our youth program.

From Players

A fantastic place for people young and otherwise to build breadth of mind and strength of character while having an uproariously good time.

Marco October 30, 2016

A truly amazing and unique way to learn and have fun.

Sean October 30, 2016

The Roleplay Workshop really helped develop and shape who I am today. Calling it merely a game does not give credit to the true legacy and magic that Becky has created here. Not only did I make countless lifelong friends but my grades also improved and I developed and grew as a person holistically. I had the privilege to play for several years before eventually becoming a staff member in the program. The rigorous training and support I received as a staff member was some of the most in-depth and relevant training I have received and beats or rivals any subsequent employment in the following decade as I entered the official working career world.

Being able to interact with so many different personalities, characters, individuals, and create stories together is incredibly enriching and fulfilling. Staff and players get to customize practically all aspects of each game and their feedback and troubleshooting helps improve the program making it more accessible, fun, and inspiring for future generations of gamers. If you read the story of the Whale Leech in the manual, you will find our staff group’s lasting legacies written and edited by program alumni. If you continue with the program, I have no doubts that you will also get to go on incredibly journeys and be inspired to write down your memories for the next generations to come.

I often look back fondly on the days I played the role-play workshop and remember how much I grew from the experience. I also have no doubts that it played an influential role in my college applications process which led to my admittance and graduation from UCLA.

Becky and the staff that she has trained have all been some of the warmest, caring, encouraging, creative, friendly, and intelligent individuals that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of this amazing opportunity to participate in this program.

Max M. October 30, 2016

I’ve been coming to/working at the Roleplay Workshop for several years now, and I can’t recommend it more. Possibly the best (fully self-contained) tabletop role-playing game world ever created.

Zev C. October 30, 2016

I’ve always lamented that I did not know about Abantey when I was in middle school and high school. I was fortunate enough to hear about the program as a young adult, and even more fortunate to work with Becky Thomas for some years. As an educator, I can easily say that I’ve never seen a program, game, curriculum, or anything that is more effective as a teaching tool than Abantey. The detail, creativity, realism, and elegance of Becky’s learning game is something I wish all schools could implement. Anything I write will not do justice to the amazing educational program Becky created, the lessons she instills in youth, and the positive impact she has had on Bay Area youth for the past 25 years. I can’t wait for my daughter to turn 13 so I can send her off to Abantey and wait for her to come back with stories of challenges, teamwork, and heroism.

Luis R. October 30, 2016

Without a doubt one of the most influential afterschool and summer programs that I was exposed to growing up.

Rich C. October 30, 2016

When I was a middle school student, this program helped with improving my math skills. Not only that, but It also lead to an awesome social group of friends who I met through the program.

Michael P. October 30, 2016

This place is amazing! I recommend it to all RPG fans. Becky is extremely creative and a great storyteller! If I lived in the Bay Area you couldn’t get me out of there. Hugs from Portugal!

Sofia D. M. October 30, 2016

One of the most rewarding – and fun – things I’ve ever been a part of, both as a player and a staff member.

Luke E. October 30, 2016

While Abantey was some of my best memories as a youth.

Sean H. October 30, 2016

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From Parents

Just tried Abantey summer camp for the first time for my shy 14 year old who would rather not go to summer camp at all. He’s now too old for most camps, so it was tough finding something for him to do. He loves Abantey and is asking me to sign him up for additional sessions! He’s never had much to say about his other summer camps, but he comes home every day from this one chattering enthusiastically about his character, the other kids’ characters, and their adventures and interactions in the game. He really likes the lunchtime ultimate frisbee too. I’ve watched them play in Mosswood Park several times from a nearby building and all the kids participate, seem to be having great fun, and get quite a workout. I am pleased that there are girl campers at Abantey, and I’m pleased that my son, who is slow to warm up, has had an easy time getting to know all the other kids and the counselors. We both like that he can choose lunch from a Piedmont Ave restaurant every day – a burger or Chinese food or fish tacos. A counselor takes the kids’ orders and picks it up. What a great idea. This is the best summer camp experience we’ve had, and I’m looking forward to next summer!

Ginger October 29, 2016

Roleplay workshop is fantastic! Kids really learn how to work together and stay on task while having fun! It is a must do camp for my kids every summer – they insist! Both my girls loved the Roleplay workshop. They learned teamwork, cooperation and to pay attention to details! They had so much fun, it was always at the top of the list of camps to go to each summer.

Abby October 29, 2016

My 16 year-old twins have been loving Abantey for 4 years now. Becky and Steve are great with the kids and the game is very exciting. If your child (age 12 and up) loves fantasy, adventure, and roleplaying games like Dungeons and Dragons, then they will probably love Abantey. Abantey is an interactive storytelling game that: a) teaches students math, science, and problem solving skills, b) allows youth to work through complicated mysteries to create their own story, c) teaches youth personal responsibility both in the game and in real world using fantasy scenarios, d) allows youth to experiment, succeed, fail, and learn in a safe environment that teaches about real life consequences, and e) is *completely* computer and technology free with a focus on interaction between players and making new friends. Abantey was created by a classroom educator, but my kids think it’s just plain fun.

Claire October 29, 2016

Our son loves playing Abantey at Roleplay Workshop. It’s very creative and engaging, and we highly recommend it!

Susanne October 29, 2016

I am so happy to have such an engaging and high quality camp, right here in Oakland! We were referred to Abantey by a friend, and we are so grateful for it! My son has attended it during spring break, summer break and winter holidays. He is not the kind that is easily motivated or excited about things, but he is ready to go to Abantey any time. Although he has been there for quite some time, he tells me he “still have a lot to learn.”

Alana Z. October 29, 2016

My son has loved his experience with Abantey and looks forward to sharing it with his younger brother this summer.

Sandy October 29, 2016

My twelve-year-old son has been “doing” Abantey after school and on school holidays for a couple of years now. He loves it! He fantasizes about the adventures all week in anticipation of the next session. A boy who “hates” teachers, he idolizes the camp director, Becky, despite the disciplined behavior she expects of her charges. I think this program appeals to kids who like video games, as well as imaginary adventures.

Dave October 29, 2016

Your kids will love creating characters, going on adventures and living in a fun new world– all the while learning how to strategize, work in a group and solve problems. My boys continue at home to create characters and talk about the world of Abantey. Better than any video game.

Ellen October 30, 2016

My 11 year old twin boys love The Roleplay Workshop. It is highly educational as well as multidisciplinary but they just think it is fun.

Julie D. October 30, 2016

Does your child (age 12 and up) love fantasy, adventure, and roleplaying games like Dungeons and Dragons? Then they will probably love Abantey as much as my kids do! Abantey is an interactive storytelling game that: a) teaches students math, science, and problem solving skills, b) allows youth to work through complicated mysteries to create their own story, c) teaches youth personal responsibility both in the game and in real world using fantasy scenarios, d) allows youth to experiment, succeed, fail, and learn in a safe environment that teaches about real life consequences, e) is *completely* computer and technology free with a focus on interaction between players and making new friends, f) allows youth to become a hero and maybe even the stuff of legends! Abantey was created by a classroom educator, but my kids think it’s just plain fun. The programs are held inside of a local game store (Dr Comics & Mr Games; 4014 Piedmont Ave., Oakland), and include a summer day camp (M-F, 9am-5pm) with extended care available as well as school year programming (after school and Saturdays). Check out their website for more information: roleplayworkshop.com.

Fan of Abantey October 30, 2016

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