Learn how to be a more effective GM, how to deal with disruptive personalities, and how to ensure that everyone has a good time. Covers basic rules and gamemastering techniques.
Learn how to be a more effective GM, how to deal with disruptive personalities, and how to ensure that everyone has a good time. Covers rules and gamemastering techniques.
Game Theory: Applying Game Mechanics to Relationships
Summary:
Game theory can mirror how we have relationships with others (romantic relationships, friendships, co-workers, etc.,) and these same theories can also be used to change relationships. Learn how.
Creating memorable villains is tough, but we've got them right here! Come talk with Michael Satran & his amazing min-, coho-, alli-, luminaries, about how to make villains & adversaries.
Invitation to the Ball: A History of Ballroom Dance & Culture
Summary:
The masquerade ball is a classic trope of film & fantasy. Learn the culture & find out what makes a waltz Viennese, how to behave when the Duke asks you to dance, & why vampires love tango.
Description:
The masquerade ball is a classic trope not only of gaming but of fantasy and adventure literature in general. Come learn what actually happens at a ball, the history of the dances, and the culture surrounding dance. Understand what makes a waltz “Viennese,” how you should behave when the Duke asks you to dance, and why a vampire would tango, and maybe even polka, but never samba. This seminar will inform you on the history of ballroom dance and include a discussion about how to apply it in your games and fiction.
Classroom Gamification: What Works and What Does Not
Summary:
Not every attempt at gamifying the classroom works. We'll facilitate a conversation on the best practices and those to avoid when attempting to achieve course learning objectives.
Description:
Face it; not every form of classroom gamification works, but we learn more from our failures than our successes. This seminar will facilitate a conversation on what works in the classroom and what doesn’t. The motivation for this course came from an experience with a 2015 Floodplain Management course at Western Kentucky University. Since 2007, my student pass rates for the national certification exam for floodplain managers (Certified Floodplain Manager – CFM exam) averaged about 80 percent. However, in 2015 only one out of seven students who took the exam passed it. This occurred even though more class time was spent on CFM topics than in previous years and more time was spent on learning games.
Come see SBJ, Sean, and Alan as we spend an hour to talk about what we've played so far at Gen Con, our new games we are currently making, and what you should do or see.
Join industry professionals John Adamus & Mark Richardson for a frank discussion of what it takes to turn your idea into your first game that people can purchase.
Writing Effective Scenarios, Settings, and Campaigns
Summary:
Learn from industry professional John Adamus about what it takes to write scenarios, settings, & campaigns that take the game from your table to the publishing world.
Join us to discuss what makes a great adventure module. We'll give you our perspective on what makes a module good, bad, or great, & then take questions from the audience.
Time is precious & there is no room for bad games. Come find out how to make your RPG sessions & campaigns better. Bring your problems & leave with solutions, & a few laughs along the way.
Description:
The cast of the Misdirected Mark Podcast is on a quest to eradicate bad gaming, one group at a time. We are here to help you make your games better and have more fun. If you have questions...we have answers. You have problems...we have solutions. You have a funny story...we love to laugh (with you, not at you). This seminar is an open format, taking questions and topics from the audience. Our advice is best described as a mix of: helpful, scholarly, blunt, and irreverent. With enough combined years of GMing to be a venerable half-orc we have the experience to help. So bring your best problem and see if you can stump the cast.
Join us for a non-denominational Christian worship service sponsored by the Christian Gamers Guild. We'll read scripture, sing familiar hymns, hear a sermon, and offer an optional communion.
Join us for discussion with Q&A on balancing faith & gaming, gaming as a ministry, defending gaming from attacks, the use of evil & magic in games, & other topics.
Informal discussion on what is involved with running that first game. Hints, suggestions and no-no's. All ages, all experience levels welcome. Join the fun.
You have run your share of games. Now you're looking to take those games to the next level. GM 210 is a deeper look into the skills and techniques you can use to bring your RPG games to life.
Description:
A more detailed look at the skills, tricks, and techniques a GM can use to bring more life into the games they run. Tips on improvisation, creating engaging storylines, involving the players more, and shared creation will be covered - any many more ideas as well! The Gamer Assembly seminars are always interactive. Bring your ideas and questions, and an open mind.
Join the creative team that bring Game Salute titles to life (Dann May and Cody Jones) for all the latest news about all the titles published by Game Salute.
Description:
Join the creative team that bring Game Salute titles to life (Dann May and Cody Jones) for all the latest news about all the titles published by Game Salute. Hear about our new releases sneak peeks at what titles may be coming in 2017!
Just for retail store owners to gather, meet other owners from around the U.S./world, & talk shop & what interests you at Gen Con, the past, & the future. Bring a business card. Families welcome.
Lolita is a popular, extremely feminine Japanese fashion that evokes the Rococo era. It's often misunderstood in the West, especially when one is both a Lolita & a gamer. So where do the two meet?
Confessions of a Formerly Fat Gamer - How I lost over 100 Pounds
Summary:
I have struggled with my weight my entire life. I decided to finally take my future into my own hands and make a change. It took a year, but I dropped 100 pounds & have kept it off - here's how...
Hacking in Fiction, Games, & the Media - The Good, the Bad, & the Bizarre
Summary:
Join our panel of professional hackers as we discuss interesting & absurd portrayals of hacking of 2015 in games, movies, TV, & books. Learn ways to depict hacking in a fun but accurate manner.
Description:
Join our yearly panel of professional (and slightly inebriated) white hat hackers as we discuss the best and most dreadful portrayals of hacking over the past year in games, movies, TV, and books. Ask those questions you've been dying to about real hacking, cybercrime, and malware. Learn ways that you can depict hacking in a fun but accurate manner.
Have you seen shows like Critical Role, Barky's Brigade and others and said "Hey, we could do that!" Join the discussion as we walk through how to broadcast your home game to an audience!
Description:
Have you ever wanted to showcase your RPGs to a wider group than just those sitting around the table? Have you seen shows like Critical Role, Barky's Brigade and others and said "Hey, we could do that!" Join the discussion as we walk through how to broadcast your home game to an audience! We'll be covering YouTube, Twitch, podcasts and more giving you insight into the work and equipment required to bring your passion to the digital screen.
From dread cabals to evil cults, ancient beings and the fabled NDA, come join us to explore the secrets of the Forgotten Realms in our fifth celebration of the setting, its creators, and its fans.
Description:
The Forgotten Realms is a world full of secrets. From dread cabals to evil cults, ancient beings and sinister brotherhoods, to the fabled NDA, come join us to explore the secrets of the Realms in our fifth annual celebration of the setting, its creators, and its fans.
Getting a podcast started can be tough, and we understand that. This panel will discuss the tech side of a podcast, how to get started, & will cover mics, hosting online, and so much more.
Do you have a podcast and you're not sure how to grow your audience? Are you having trouble building a community? This Q&A session will be an open discussion to help elevate your podcast.
Getting a podcast started can be tough, and we understand that. This panel will discuss the content side of a podcast, how to get started, & will cover on-mic talent, music, and so much more.
Does the unexpected give you cold sweats? Players want to go off the rails? This seminar will give you the tools you need to be more comfortable improvising and make your games more dynamic.
Description:
Improvising while GMing a game is a skill many people think they will never have. The Gamer Assembly is here to show you that not only can you improvise - you already do, you just might not realize it! We will discuss the keys to good improvisation and how doing it more often can really take your games to the next level. Maybe even Epic Level! It won't be all talk either. Several improvisation games and skill builders will be taught and used! The Gamer Assembly panels are always interactive. The seminar wall between presenter and participants is torn down as we explore these topics together. With the speaker acting as moderator and guide through these topics, you're sure to learn a lot!
Sometimes a tool you need isn't in the game you have. Much can be learned from game systems you haven't played. Come learn how you can integrate ideas from other games into your own sessions.
Description:
Cortex+, FATE, Dungeon World, Fiasco, and other smaller press and Indie games have been making a lot of buzz in the hobby the past few years. The members of the Gamer Assembly have played and GMed many classic and modern game systems like these, and each has contributed to a new insight into our own GMing styles and skills. Let's spend an hour discussing what be learned by widening your horizons, and how you can bring the many pieces together to make for better gaming.
Learn the basics of writing & performing stand-up comedy from working comics who learned first-hand from master comedy mentor, Bobbie Oliver. Want to learn more? Stay for our workshop.
Thinking about taking the lead at your table? GM 101 focuses on the issues common to new Game Masters. Advice and support, answers to your burning questions - all here at Gamer Assembly's GM 101!
Description:
Keeper, Dungeon Master, Game Master-there are many names for the job. Thinking about taking the reins at your game table? This seminar focuses on the issues common to new Game Masters. We'll talk about what works and what traps to avoid. Most importantly, we'll get right to the heart of why its great to GM a game, and how you can have a great time doing it. The Gamer Assembly panels are always interactive. The seminar wall between presenter and participants is torn down as we explore these topics together. With the speaker acting as moderator and guide through these topics, you're sure to learn a lot!
Everyone gets an unopened pack of cards (to keep) for a hands-on discussion of intellectual property. There is a drawing at the end of the 1st hour for an unopened MTG box. After the drawing, Q&A.
All Your BS Belongs to Us: Nonsense in the Internet Age
Summary:
Some days it seems like it's impossible to figure out what's real and what's BS on the internet. Never fear. We're here to give you the tools you need to see through the nonsense.
What do Nessie, Bigfoot, and Mothman have in common? They probably don't exist...and they're not nearly as cool as some real, documented creatures. Doubt us? Come and see.
Description:
Join us as we examine and dissect various cryptozoological mystery monsters from Bigfoot to Nessie and look at their plausibility and the evidence presented for their existence. We'll delve into the methods used to search for them and look at some real animals who are way cooler than some pretend ones. We'll even tell the story of a real-life Bigfoot hunt and an encounter with the Skunk Ape Sage of Southern Florida. Dress code: please wear your best gorilla costume.
Crazy Conspiracies & Coverups: Secrets THEY Don't Want You to Know About
Summary:
The world is rife with conspiracy theories these days, and it takes time, effort, and an Occam's Razor +2 to cut through the crap. Join us as we discuss JFK, reptilians, and...Avril Lavigne?
Description:
Join the Skeptical Gamers as they take you on a wild ride through the world of conspiracies, coverups, and the tinfoil hat crowd. We'll crack open the secret tomes of the Illuminati, take aim at JFK assassination theories, and figure out whether or not Paul is really dead. Join us for the fun...unless you're afraid the reptoids who run the government will send the black helicopters for you!
Lies, Damned Lies, & Pop Culture: A Choose-Your-Own-Panel Adventure
Summary:
Join us as we discuss and debunk extraordinary claims in this choose-your-own adventure panel! Pseudoscience from movies, comics, games and real life ending in a Q&A!
Description:
In this panel audience members will pick the topics we'll discuss from an exhaustive list. Topics up for grabs include, but are not limited to: *Paranormal claims *Conspiracy theories *Fringe science and pseudoscience *Bad medicine *Scientific claims from movies, TV, comics, and games *Cool science stuff *Science for gamers. We hope to see you there!
Everyone gets an unopened pack of cards (to keep) for a hands-on discussion of intellectual property. There is a drawing at the end of the 1st hour for an unopened MTG box. After the drawing, Q&A.
How to Get Free Artwork/Photos for your Game or Business
Summary:
Different ideas on how you can legally get free photos, artwork, etc. for your game/business along with different ways that you can pay/contract with creatives, & what those contracts should include.
Building your ESO! The Ins & Outs of Evil Secret Organizations
Summary:
Heroes don't just need individual enemies. Heroes need enemies that come in bureaucratic structures! Come join us for an hour of discussion about how to build these!
From orbs to class 5 free-roaming vapors ghosts seem to be all around us these days. We'll dig through the history of ghost hunting and have a look at their claims...and raise some objections.
Description:
Join the Skeptical Gamers for this courtroom-themed examination of ghost hunting! What's really going on underneath the hood of all of these paranormal investigation groups? How sound is their science? How thoughtful is their theory? We'll discuss and deconstruct and if we do our jobs right you'll leave just a little more doubtful about those who claim they can track ghosts.
Stepping into ARGs - What is an Alternate Reality Game?
Summary:
What is an ARG? How do you play one? How do you find them? Come learn about what ARGs are & how you might start exploring the alternate realities they offer.
Come hang out and ask questions of some of your favorite podcasters & bloggers who are part of The RPG Academy network. Open Q&A, but aimed at new DM's running a first game.
Learn from industry professional and lifelong freelancer John Adamus what it takes to make it as a freelancer writer, editor, & designer in the gaming industry.
Learn from industry professionals John Adamus, Jeremy Morgan, & Matt Jackson what it takes to work as part of a cohesive team of freelancers all with the purpose of making a single product.
A fantasy world should have a cuisine that takes into account the resources of the people that inhabit it. This seminar demonstrates how to make up a complete cuisine using a simple template.
Description:
A subterranean culture probably wouldn't eat roast beef and an arboreal one wouldn't eat sushi. A fantasy world should have a cuisine that takes into account the resources and technology of the people that inhabit it. This seminar demonstrates how to make up a consistent, believable cuisine using a simple template.
Ever have a story or game ruined simply by the choice of a name? This seminar looks at language creation in general along with the pitfalls inherent in creating names.
Join the hosts of UnderDiscussion as they discuss everything that goes into starting a podcast, (equipment, hosting, expense) & avoiding the dreaded Podfade!
Description:
Join the hosts of UnderDiscussion as they discuss everything that goes into starting a podcast (and doing so on the cheap!) We'll be talking about the recording equipment, hosting the podcast, iTunes, show format, getting interviews, and avoiding the dreaded Podfade!
Want to write or design game material for the World of Darkness, Chronicles of Darkness, Scion, Scarred Lands, your own games & more? Come to this panel & find out how!
Are you a Storyteller? Discuss tips & tricks with veterans to get the most out of the games set in the World of Darkness, Chronicles of Darkness, Exalted setting & more at your table.
Engaging Quandary: Designing Complex, Meaningful Decisions For Role Play
Summary:
This seminar explores the design of character decisions in role play.
Description:
Join David Simkins, assistant professor of game design and development at Rochester Institute of Technology, for a talk on techniques in role play. Giving players complex, meaningful decisions can increase the sense of player agency, can heighten the tension and drama of a game, and can be used to express deeper themes through role play. This seminar explores the construction of decisions through digital, tabletop, and live-action role play. Using design theory, designed game structures, dramatic techniques, and case examples, we will explore some effective ways of developing meaningful decisions.
Here, There Be Dragons: The Ultimate RPG History Panel
Summary:
From its home-brew beginnings to a multi-billion dollar phenomenon, learn the history of our favorite hobby. With Peter Adkison, Jon Peterson, Michael Witwer, David Ewalt, and Paul Stormberg.
Description:
Dust off your pad of graph paper and plot along as the nation's top RPG historians and authors map out the history of our favorite pastime. From its humble, home-brew beginnings to a multi-billion dollar phenomenon, learn about the industry's influences, founders, successes and controversies. Moderated by Wizards of the Coast founder and Gen Con owner Peter Adkison, join Jon Peterson (Playing at the World), Michael Witwer (Empire of Imagination), David Ewalt (Of Dice and Men), and Paul Stormberg (The Collector's Trove) for this 1.5 hour history where the truth is often stranger than fiction.
Year 1 - A Chat About Our 1st Year as a Small Publisher
Summary:
Come join the founders of Mithrilpunk Press as they discuss their successful Kickstarter, their current & upcoming products, & their experiences as a small publisher working under the 5e OGL.
How are bakemono different from ayakashi? Get more from anime and film when you understand the cultural background! Learn basics of Japanese mythology in this primer with examples from anime and film.
Description:
What’s the difference between bakemono and ayakashi? What are those little creatures that show up in your favorite anime? Get the most from your anime and Asian cinema experience when you understand the cultural background! Learn the basics of Japanese mythology in this folklore primer, and see examples in action with video clips from anime and film.
How did Edgar Allen Poe influence Sailor Moon? What do Norse gods, Joan d'Arc, and Lupin III have in common? Who was the real Moriarty? Follow the antiheroic kaitou through anime, film and literature.
Description:
How did Edgar Allen Poe influence Sailor Moon? What do Norse gods, Joan of Arc, and Lupin III have in common? Who was the real-life Moriarty? Learn the origin of the kaitou, Japan’s archetypical thief, and follow this truly international antihero’s development through history with examples from anime, manga, film and literature.
Come meet RPG.netters, freelancers, anyone else you invite, at a friendly meet-up. Talk to GenCon vets for advice, plan events, show off loot, and share GenCon stories!
How are bakemono different from ayakashi? Get more from anime and film when you understand the cultural background! Learn basics of Japanese mythology in this primer with examples from anime and film.
Description:
What’s the difference between bakemono and ayakashi? What are those little creatures that show up in your favorite anime? Get the most from your anime and Asian cinema experience when you understand the cultural background! Learn the basics of Japanese mythology in this folklore primer, and see examples in action with video clips from anime and film.
Good-aligned campaigns are just so insufferable. We have discovered the secret to happiness. Evil. Join us for a lighthearted discussion of how to run an evil-aligned game. Join the revolution!
Description:
Good-aligned campaigns are boring. Rescuing princesses, slaying dragons, turning the undead, that's all passé. It’s time to add some variety to your RPG. Our mission is to encourage more gaming groups to try an evil setting. For several years, Josh Long has run a 3.5 campaign with all evil-aligned characters. The actual play podcast can be found at Geekspective.com. We'll share our hard-earned experience on what works and what does not when running an evil-themed role playing game. The group's solutions have led to a game that is more flexible, rewarding, and challenging than a traditional good-aligned campaign. We'll discuss playing evil characters, evil social settings, intra-party conflict, keeping evil characters motivated, setting tough encounters for ruthless player characters, and giving moral quandaries to amoral characters. We'll explain why it can be so good to be so bad.
Patreon is a popular crowdfunding website that allows creators to earn money from their supporters. A panel of 3 RPG Podcasters (RPPR, Drunk and Ugly, The Third Wheel) discuss how to use it.
Description:
Patreon is a popular crowdfunding website that allows creators to earn money from their supporters and fans on a regular cycle. This gives creators new opportunities and new challenges. Ross Payton from Role Playing Public Radio, Faust Kells from The Third Wheel, and Matt Campen from the Drunk and Ugly podcast all have experience using Patreon so we can answer your questions about it. Learn what works and what doesn't. If you're curious about Patreon, this is the panel to learn more about it. Be sure to check out our websites to learn more: Role Playing Public Radio: https://www.patreon.com/RPPR The Third Wheel: https://www.patreon.com/thethirdwheel Drunk and Ugly: http://drunkandugly.com/
A gathering of the world's greatest Kickstarter minds to answer YOUR questions! Panelists include board game Kickstarter experts, reviewers, publishers, & more! Q&A based.
A gathering of the world's greatest Kickstarter minds to answer YOUR questions! Panelists include board game Kickstarter experts, reviewers, publishers, & more! Q&A based.
Sometimes all you need is your beverage of choice & a group of pliable friends & strangers for a night of great gaming. A how-to guide for a fun & safe time.
Britannia 3rd Edition(s) Plans & Current Playtesting
Summary:
The designer describes the three games of the new edition(s) of Britannia: a revision of the original, a shorter diceless version, & a 90-120 minute broad market version. Recruiting playtesters.
Mystery scenario masters Kenneth Hite, Robin D. Laws, & Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan train their magnifying glasses on clue-gathering adventures to reveal the unlikely suspects behind your tabletop woes.
Of Course You Can Design a Game, but Can You Design a Good One?
Summary:
What does "good game" mean? A lot of different things to different people. But there are principles to follow before you use playtesting to determine your target market's reaction.
Swords, Spies & Shoggoths: The Pelgrane Press Panel
Summary:
Join Simon Rogers, Cat Tobin & others from the Pelgrane team for a behind-the-scenes look at what the award-winning UK publisher's been up to this year, & what they've planned for the coming year.
Robin D. Laws & guests teach structures & techniques to turn emotional confrontations between PCs from frustrating roadblocks into rich moments of human drama.
Join seasoned 13th Age designers to build a brand-new monster that takes advantage of the game's mechanics to deliver some nasty surprises at the table.
Robin D. Laws & Kenneth Hite talk roleplaying, history, conspiracy, occultism, writing, food, movies & whatever you ask them about in this live edition of their award-winning podcast.
LP vs OP (Licensed Properties vs Original Properties)
Summary:
Learn the techniques of working with licenses versus your own intellectual properties when designing or publishing works in gaming, film, or literature.
Campaign ideas & awesome RPG action are as close as the multiplex. Pelgrane Press designers help you adapt, adopt, & improve the plots & characters of Hollywood, Hong Kong, & Hammer Films.
If you're doing it right, one of the hardest parts of game design is writing clear rules. How to do it varies with your audience. Improve rules as you playtest. Includes Do's and Dont's handout.
Constant playtesting to improve a game is the major path to success in game design. You have to do it the right way, though. Many tips from a retired game design teacher & creator of Britannia.
C7's awesome card, dice and roleplaying games offer fantastic adventures in the worlds of Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, Lone Wolf, & more. Meet Dominic McDowall to see what he's got planned!
C7's awesome Card, Dice and Roleplayiing games offer fantastic adventures in the worlds of Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, Lone Wolf, & more. Meet Dominic McDowall to see what he's got planned!
Adventure terrain made up entirely of ice is already pretty daunting. Now add in crevasse fields, moulins, creeping debris, glacial surges, & meltwater torrents! A GM/geologist reveals all.
Description:
Build a richer environment for your adventurers, next time they step foot on a glacier! They might take on a challenge to cross a field of broken, slowly shifting ice blocks; follow meltwater flow across a mile-high glacier surface or through subglacial tunnels; walk on weirdly sculpted rock surfaces; or live with the seasonal dynamics and chaotic terrain of a glacier terminus. And they may want to think twice before drinking that ‘pristine’ glacial stream water! With lots of photos, we’ll examine a variety of glacier and glacier-edge settings, glacier behaviors, and their story possibilities. This session may be of interest to RPG GMs, writers (any genre), and game designers.