When you come to conventions, you will find all types of demographics and range of players in one space with the goal to have fun with friends, family or sometimes by themselves. However, there is a population of individuals that are often forgotten. In this discussion, we are going to explore what accessibility and inclusion […]
You’ve made your costume, you’ve registered for the competition… and now you have five minutes to explain it all to the judges??? That’s where your documentation (aka “build book”) comes in! Join us for a discussion of how to organize and present the story of your build in a clear and memorable way.
Historical fiction has been an integral part of fantasy from the very start of the genre and remains a core influence in the works of many prominent fantasy authors. How are authors inspired by history in classic and current works? What are the pros, cons, and pitfalls of historical influence? Join our expert panel of […]
Last year, Morningstar shared the background behind the “Choose Your DEI Adventure Program” for corporations to increase DEI participation. What quests should we highlight for 2023-2024?
The Central Michigan University and Gen Con Game Design Certificate is an online synchronous sequence of courses offered on the Gather.town platform. Each course has both an expert from the game industry and a curriculum expert to help guide course design. The courses help people design, implement, and consider applications of game play across fields […]
A deep dive into horror in the modern age of roleplaying. We’ll discuss safety tools, the evolution of horror, mechanics of monsters, & the marriage of atmosphere and gaming that makes horror unique.
Imposter Syndrome is not limited to professionals as 70% of the population experience this, including a great number of Game Masters. This panel is meant to start a greater discussion & normalize how common the condition is. Join Panelists Jay ‘Swole Initiative’ Foster (Pro Content Creator), Alicia Figliuolo (from Nailed It!), Beth The Bard (Top […]
What if you’re not just writing a TTRPG, but also managing a schedule, artists, and even other writers? Join our panel of expert game writers as they discuss effective leadership of TTRPG projects. Panelists: Ajit George (moderator), Richard Dansky, Mostafa Haque, James Lowder. Track: GCWS Game Narrative.
Join Gen Con’s Peter Adkison, Dwarven Forge’s founder Stefan Pokorny, and TD’s founder Jeff Martin for a look back at True Dungeon’s origin and the past 20 years at Gen Con. Hear how it all started, how it grew & adapted, and where it is headed
Whether you write solely for your own comfort, or whether you are a best-selling author, all of us are connected by common needs. Join our panel of writers as they discuss reclaiming our love of writing, our creative spark, and especially our connections – without toxic positivity. All the feels are welcome! Panelists: E.D.E. Bell […]
Fantasy. Science fiction. Horror. How wishes can be worked into stories and campaigns without completely breaking time and space. For writers, game developers, GMs, and even players.
Stuff happens, especially in 1948. 75th Anniversary of a year of “big deal stuff, panel reviews key events that continue to shape the world today. Gandhi assassination, India breaking from UK, Tokyo war crimes trials & executions, Alger Hiss/Whitaker Chambers and communist hunting, Truman beat Dewey, Israeli Declaration of Independence, First Arab-Israeli War, Czechoslovakia goes […]
Come and enjoy a Q&A session to help Christians gain discernment as we participate in the gaming community. Enjoy tips and ideas for hosting game nights, figuring out your own boundaries, building healthy relationships with gaming, etc.
Join our panelists as they discuss creating settings & rules that allow for each table that plays in their game to have unique experiences. Is there a line between too much & not enough?
This panel will include 5 panelists, and the support of Geek Therapeutics and will focus on the ways in which TTRPGs can positively impact mental health, as well as how the community can use safety tools to ensure that all players have a safe and enjoyable experience. In addition, we will explore how safety tools, […]
For those with a completed novel, we are pleased to offer this unique opportunity to have your work seen. Each attendee will get ten minutes to pitch one book to Diana M. Pho, Executive Editor of Erewhon Books. This pitch session does not mean a contract is offered, but allows the writer and the editor […]
There’s a growing set of TTRPGs that merge the complicated angst of teen existence into speculative concepts, whether it’s giant mechas or being a literal ghoul. Why is this particular combination so popular right now? How do these two themes work together to create compelling storytelling and gameplay? Which titles are capturing this in the […]
Are you a game designer looking to get your game published? Are you just interested in the ins and outs of the board game industry? Join the team from Panda Game Manufacturing for a behind the scenes look at game manufacturing.
This panel explores food’s role in world-building and story development. Whether you’re a writer, DM, or player, we’ll help you go beyond the basic stew and brew with tips and free recipe cards!
Valtir Faye will guide a seminar on cosplay crafting, including tips and tricks on how to begin, develop and execute techniques used in makeup design for a cosplay and prop making. Having made anything from complex clothing to more simple styles, and the same goes for props, from small props using foam and other simple […]
Join our panel of expert writers as they recount stories of narrative nightmares, some hard-learned lessons earned in the process, and how they moved past them—and examine how to recognize disasters, how to recover and course correct, and what they’ve learned in the process. Panelists: Sean CW Korsgaard (moderator), Jeremy Bernstein, Richard Lee Byers, Jerry […]
