Published in 1985 (thus, of course, written and designed in 1984), this RPG remains ahead of its time and continues to influence other designers. How did it come about? What does it give us now?
100 & 75 Years: Anniversary of First U-Boat Patrols
Summary:
Examining the world's first submarine combat patrols: first U-boat ops of WWI 100 years ago, comparing technology, tactics & expectations with those of the first U-boat patrols of WWII 75 years ago.
The freeform story rules in 13th Age require a different approach to adventure design. We’ll talk about how to design with icons, backgrounds, uniques and more, and answer your questions.
Description:
The freeform story rules in 13th Age require a different approach to adventure design. We’ll talk about how to design with icons, backgrounds, unique and more, and answer your questions.
Rob Heinsoo, Mike Shea and Wade Rockett share their advice on how to run 13th Age, from handling icon rolls to collaborative worldbuilding and beyond. Got questions? Bring ‘em!
Description:
Rob Heinsoo, Mike Shea and Wade Rockett share their advice on how to run 13th Age, from handling icon rolls to collaborative worldbuilding and beyond. Got questions? Bring ‘em!
Join a panel of 13th Age designers as they build a new monster that’ll take advantage of the game’s mechanics to deliver all sorts of nasty surprises at the table.
Description:
Join a panel of 13th Age designers as they build a new monster that’ll take advantage of the game’s mechanics to deliver all sorts of nasty surprises at the table.
13th Age debuted one year ago at Gen Con! Join Rob Heinsoo, Simon Rogers and Wade Rockett as they talk about where the game is now, share what’s coming next and answer your burning questions.
Description:
13th Age debuted one year ago at Gen Con! Join Rob Heinsoo, Simon Rogers and Wade Rockett as they talk about where the game is now, share what’s coming next and answer your burning questions.
Back for another year, this popular event brings Game Masters together to discuss how to handle issues, tweaks, and problems at the gaming table. Novice & veteran GMs are welcome!
A crash course for game designers and publishers on game manufacturing. Tips on component choices, the production process, and ideas for running your kickstarter campaign will be up for discussion.
Description:
The team at Panda Game Manufacturing is here to give game designers and self publishers a crash course on game manufacturing. Tips on component choices, the production process, and even ideas for running your kickstarter campaign will be up for discussion. If you have ever wondered how board games are manufactured, this session is for you! A free game designers toolkit with various components produced by Panda Game Manufacturing will be given to all attendees at the end of the session.
How to give and take a critique is important not only for writing but in all aspects of life. Learn specifically how to avoid the traps that most writers fall into.
Open Q&A session about intellectual property (IP) in any industry, genre, etc. If the lawyer (Jason) likes your question(s), he will lob a pack of Magic Cards at you.
Come learn the secrets of good adventure design from the masters. We'll talk about plotting, encounter creation and balance, mapping, and more!
Description:
Whether you're interested in writing adventures for publication, or just want to create memorable adventures for the players in your home game, come learn the secrets of good adventure design from the masters. We'll talk about plotting, encounter creation and balance, mapping, and more!
Always Another Secret: Storytelling in the World of Mistborn
Summary:
Love Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn novels or the Mistborn Adventure Game? Looking to tell your own stories in Scadrial? Join this roundtable discussion to learn a few tricks from the game’s creators!
Want to know what it takes to get your game design onto a store shelf? These industry vets will help show you all the possible avenues - in whatever detail you need!
From the birth of White Wolf to her days as “employee #1” at WotC, Lisa Stevens helped manage transition of D&D from TSR to WotC. Join her for anecdotes from her history in gaming, followed by Q&A.
Description:
Paizo’s founding CEO Lisa Stevens has seen it all, from the birth of White Wolf to her halcyon days as “employee #1” at Wizards of the Coast. She’s been president of the Star Wars Fan Club, helped manage the transition of D&D from TSR to WotC, and has guided Paizo from the start. Join Lisa for lively anecdotes from her history in gaming, followed by a Q&A.
Presentation of edged weapons from the Stone Age to the present, including many authentic historical pieces.
Description:
Author and researcher Michael Z. Williamson talks about the history, development and manufacture of edged weapons from the Neolithic to the present, and displays many original historical pieces. Q&A, photos welcome.
Two professional biologists help you to write realistic environments and interesting ecologies. Learn how the environment and the biota can interact to further your stories.
What was it like to fight with a sword? With a spear? How did it feel to charge into a wall of enemy soldiers? Improve your writing by learning what ancient combat was really like.
How do wars end, what does the "end" of a conflict really mean, and what makes or breaks a peace? Explore the realities behind the end of military conflicts to create more believable fictional wars.
Plants and Fungi are fascinating, diverse and important beyond measure. Two professional biologists explain how diverse flora can add realism to your fiction.
A crash course in planet formation from Scott Rice-Snow, the Chairperson of the Department of Geological Sciences and Professor of Geological Sciences at Ball State University.
Write stronger medieval and ancient combat scenes by learning the truth about arms and armor from those eras. Our panelists will share their firsthand experience with medieval arms and armor!
What makes a war a war? How do dynasties and republics fight wars differently? And what can go wrong during war? Create richer military conflicts in your stories by learning what war is all about.
Talk to Luke and Nicole from Kickstarter and some experienced backers about what we look for when we back projects. We'll talk about what catches our eye, and what we see as danger signs.
Join past finalists, contest judges, and past winners as they give first-timers and veterans tips for submitting successful entries in next year’s contest.
Description:
Every year, Paizo.com hosts the world’s biggest RPG design contest. Fans vote for thousands of submissions from around the world, finally selecting one winner as the year’s true RPG Superstar! Join past finalists, contest judges, and past winners as they give first-timers and veterans tips for submitting successful entries in next year’s contest.
Got knowledge? Pathfinder is seeking a few good sages. Mark Moreland, creator of the ENnie Award-winning pathfinderwiki.com hosts a workshop on how to get involved in the Pathfinder Wiki community.
Description:
Got knowledge? Pathfinder is seeking a few good sages. Mark Moreland, creator of the ENnie Award-winning pathfinderwiki.com, hosts a workshop on how to get involved in the Pathfinder Wiki community. You can help us keep a living archive of the Pathfinder universe!
How does a Pathfinder RPG product go from a designer’s head to your gaming table? Join Paizo editors, developers, and graphic designers for an insider look behind the curtain at Paizo Publishing.
Meet the cast and crew behind the scenes of The Bob & Angus Show, a web series developed by Mayfair Games and Pulp Gamer Media.
Description:
Meet the cast and crew behind the scenes of The Bob & Angus Show, a web series developed by Mayfair Games and Pulp Gamer Media starring two puppet sheep that deliver, or at least try to deliver, news about games, geek culture, and ovine lifestyle.
You can create a believable world as fanciful as you like. Come talk about the science to investigate to make your reader believe there is no man behind curtain.
Bringing a Planeswalker to Life: Creating Costumes for Cosplay
Summary:
You are a Planeswalker, and sometimes you need to dress like one. How do you turn an image into clothing? The makers of Magic and cosplay artist Christine Sprankle help bring your characters to life.
Description:
You are a Planeswalker, and sometimes you just need to dress like one. But how do you translate a 2D image into clothing? The makers of Magic along with cosplay artist Christine Sprankle share how to bring your favorite characters to life.
Fictional worlds often include languages to make their setting more believable. This seminar will help you create your own language, suitable for adding color to a game or novel.
Join Rob and Jason during a live recording of the Building the Game Podcast. You can be a part of the show giving us your best ideas as we design a game on the spot!
How to use popular kids building block toys, like Lego, in various RPG games. Includes ideas on how to get started, where to get brick collections, and ways to enhance your games.
Learn how to break into a new genre when you've been writing in another genre for years. Our panelists have first-hand experience doing this, and they'll share their tips and tricks.
Learn how writers get paid, the basics of writing contracts, and how you long should expect to wait to see your story in print. A 1-hour crash course that covers the basics of the writing business.
Whether you're at the convention as an attendee or you're speaking on panels, we'll share some do’s and don’ts that will make your con experience a success.
How do editors create an anthology? How do they figure out who contributes to one? How are they marketed? Our panel walks you through the process from concept generation to finished book.
Learn how reviewers choose which books they review, get tips for working with reviewers and review sites, and learn ways to improve your chances of getting a great review!
Join award winning author David Farland as he looks at choosing what to write, deciding where to sell it, and weighing your likelihood of success before investing thousands of hours.
Description:
Most writers have a dozen that they want to write, but which book will make you the most money? In Hollywood, before a movie is filmed, studios will look at the film’s basic concepts, do a global market analysis, and consider the costs involved in making the film before they decide whether to pull the trigger. In other words, before the film is made, they determine whether it is worth investing time and money in it. Considering the fact that it can take hundreds or thousands of precious hours to write a novel—hours that you may have to salvage between family obligations, work, education, and other pursuits—you need to learn how to greenlight your novels, too.
Learn how to sell a finished story, get advice on choosing a market based on the length or genre of your story, and learn to improve the chance that the person you send your story to read it!
Get an overview of the state of the publishing market today, hear about the health of the industry as a whole, and discover exciting new opportunities available to authors.