New to the VIG program? Didn't have time to read all the newsletters? Come join us for an informal orientation session so that you can make the most of your VIG package. VIG and VIG Companion only!
New to the VIG program? Didn't have time to read all the newsletters? Come join us for an informal orientation session so that you can make the most of your VIG package. VIG and VIG Companion only!
Join Pathfinder Society Regional Coordinators and experienced GMs as they explore the many facets of judging scenarios for Pathfinder Society Organized Play
Description:
Join Pathfinder Society Regional Coordinators and experienced GMs for an interactive workshop designed to make you a better Pathfinder Game Master! This introductory program focuses on improving GMing skills, handling challenges, and giving a great table experience. Part 1 includes four break-out sessions covering Roleplaying and Lore, Combat and Rules, Running the Game, and Advanced Topics.
A crash course on writing fundamentals—from the proper use of point of view to the conundrum of commas. It’s a great introduction for new writers and an excellent refresher for old pros.
Description:
A crash course on writing fundamentals! In this interactive Q & A session we cover the basics of good writing—from the proper use of point of view to the conundrum posed by commas. It’s a great introduction to the fundamentals of writing for new writers and an excellent refresher for old pros.
An overview of the state of publishing today. Want to know what genres are going to be hot? Do short stories still sell? We cover these questions and much more in our 2012 Market Update!
Description:
An overview of the state of publishing today. Want to know what genres are going to be hot? Wondering if short stories still sell? Worried that the eight-volume fantasy epic you wrote isn’t what publishers are looking for? We cover all of these questions and much more in our 2012 Market Update!
A panel of independent game designers are here to help! Hear about the major schools of rpg design. Learn some GM techniques from indie designers. Discover new games that match your interests!
Description:
This seminar is here to help you learn about the philosophical underpinnings of traditional games, Story Games and the Old School Renaissance. Our goal is to provide context about different types of games so that people can explore a variety of different games. We will share some handy techniques and tricks, either invented or discovered by independent designers, that you can use in your games. Indie games tend to be a hotbed of innovation and we want to help you take advantage. We will be happy to play matchmaker, finding just the game that would meet your particular interests. What sorts of things do you want to see in play? We can help you expand that to include things you didn't even think of, and then try to hook you up with games that do that.
Introduction to LARPing (Live-Action Role-Playing)
Summary:
We dispel the myths, discuss the different types of LARP, and explain what to expect. Q&A follows. The panelists are presenting the "Carnival Arcane" LARP this year, sponsored by Midnight Syndicate.
Description:
New to LARPing? Aren't sure if you should try it, or even what "it" is? Have you been avoiding LARPs because you think it's all either vampires or madmen with foam weapons? We will dispel the myths, discuss the very different events that all use the name LARP (from plot-driven to boffer combat), and explain what to expect at a LARP. So bring any questions you may have, and leave ready to take your gaming to the next level! The panelists have over 60 years of combined LARP experience writing, running, and playing, and this year we are presenting the "Carnival Arcane" LARP, sponsored by Midnight Syndicate.
Why in 897 was a Pope’s corpse disinterred, dressed in Papal regalia, put on trial, “executed” only to put on trial yet again a few years later and how did all this lead to the First Crusade?
Bring your writing to life with vivid descriptions that capture the imaginations of your readers. Learn when to provide two pages of rich detail and when to limit it to two lines.
Description:
Bring your writing to life with vivid descriptions that capture the imaginations of your readers. Learn when to provide two pages of rich detail and when to limit it to two lines. Discover techniques that let you stay succinct by drawing on what your reader knows, without leaving holes in your descriptions.
Creating dynamic characters can be the difference between a manuscript that sells and one that languishes on your hard drive. Join our panelists as they share methods for penning amazing characters.
Description:
Creating multi-dimensional, dynamic characters can be the difference between a manuscript that sells and one that languishes on your hard drive. How do you create vivid, living, breathing characters that engage and intrigue your readers? Join our panelists as they share their methods for penning amazing, interesting characters.
Join us for a discussion on what makes for a truly good RPG experience and what differentiates a good game from a truly great one. All opinions and questions welcome!
Description:
You've sat behind the screen before. You've run your players through adventure after adventure. Once you've learned the rules, what comes next for a truly good game master? Plot, character, and setting are vital, but what about often overlooked parts of the equation? What exactly is the social contract between players and game master? How is spontaneous improvisation managed? Who really controls the flow of the gaming table? Come delve into what makes a good rpg and what turns a good GM into a great one.
From talking rats to green-skinned monsters, discover ways to make your inhuman characters resonate with the reader without making your creature characters any less monstrous!
Description:
From talking rats to green-skinned monsters, discover ways to make your inhuman characters resonate with the reader. Our panelists discuss how to make the reader care about your monster without making it any less monstrous, explore ways to make inhuman heroes more than just people with fur, and reveal tricks for getting the reader to root for your creature characters.
Invitation to the Ball: A History of Ballroom Dance and Culture
Summary:
The masquerade ball is a classic trope of film and fantasy. Learn the culture and find out what makes a waltz Viennese, how to behave when the Duke asks you to dance, and why a 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.
Join Paizo Campaign Coordinator Mike Brock and Pathfinder Society Developer Mark Moreland as they discuss all aspects of the largest Pathfinder campaign of all time.
Description:
Want to learn how to get involved in the fastest-growing organized play campaign in the world, with games running at conventions, game stores, and homes in every state and all over the planet? Already an active Pathfinder Society player with questions about the campaign? Join Paizo Campaign Coordinator Mike Brock and Pathfinder Society Developer Mark Moreland as they discuss all aspects of the largest Pathfinder campaign of all time.
A tale written as if told by your hero has a very different feel from one told by a narrator. Learn when to use different points of view and explore techniques that will help you to use them properly.
Description:
A tale written as if told by your hero has a very different feel from one told by a narrator. Choosing the right point of view can make or break your story. Our panelists discuss when to use different points of view and explore techniques that will help you to use them properly.
PFS GM 101 Workshop (Part 2): Practice Makes Perfect
Summary:
Join Pathfinder Society Regional Coordinators and experienced GMs as they explore the many facets of judging scenarios for Pathfinder Society Organized Play
Description:
Pathfinder Society Regional Coordinators and experienced GMs lead a hands-on workshop designed to make you a better Pathfinder Game Master! Part 2 of this program introduces the Deck of Many Situations, a tool to help GMs focus on improving their improvisational technique while applying the lessons learned in Part 1. Participants draw cards with difficult GMing situations, and have a brief period to resolve the situation before time is called. Our expert GMs offer advice and techniques based on observation of your GMing style tailored to help you sharpen your skills and improve your expertise.
Russia 1812 -The Battle of Maloyaroslavets: Beating the Retreat: A "What If" 200th Anniversary
Summary:
Napoleon's Army leaving burning Moscow ruins confronted & turned back by Russians. Rich with battlefield photos, discusses history with potential & historical implications had things gone another way.
Digital Gaming in D&D has never been bigger! Members of the D&D Digital Team, Cryptic Studios and others come together to discuss the past, present and future of D&D Video Games.
Setting the proper mood for your story is vital, but it requires finesse. Our panelists divulge how to use language, structure, and setting to create the perfect mood for your tale.
Description:
Setting the proper mood for your story is vital, but it requires finesse. Our panelists divulge how to use language, structure, and setting to create the perfect mood for your tale. Plus, get tips on how to maintain the mood without losing your literary voice.
Authors must often tell stories from the perspective of characters that aren’t anything like them. Learn to write convincing characters whose backgrounds are completely different from your own.
Description:
Authors must often tell stories from the perspective of characters that aren’t anything like them. In this panel, learn techniques that let you dip into the psyches of characters whose background is completely different from your own and to do it in a way that is convincing to your reader.
Advice for newbies in the field from those who have been around the block. Common misconceptions on how the industry works, & how to avoid the biggest mistakes when sending in submissions & proposals.
Description:
If you're a new writer, editor or game designer this panel is for you!
How can your favorite novels & video games improve your tabletop campaign? Does gaming enhance your enjoyment of novels? Our Industry panelists discuss the role of story across games & fiction.
Admit it: Sometimes the fun of a game is not playing the game--it's building the world! RPG designers sit down and talk about how to make your world sharper, more exciting, and 10 pounds lighter.
Learn to create distinctive voices for your characters that still feel natural to the reader, and explore the art of writing convincing conversation.
Description:
Capturing a character’s voice can make the difference between a character the reader believes in and one that just doesn’t ring true. Learn to create distinctive voices for your characters that feel natural to the reader, and explore the art of writing convincing conversation.
Attending Conventions With Your Baby/Toddler/Child
Summary:
Join other convention moms as we discuss the best tips, tricks, and gear to help you and your children enjoy conventions together.
Description:
Join marimacc, the host of VikingBaby.net, and mother of the original VikingBaby, and other convention moms, as we discuss the best tips, tricks, and gear to help you and your children get the most out of attending conventions. Marimacc has attended hundreds of conventions, and nearly a dozen with her baby, and has some great do's and don'ts to help you attend conventions. A must attend for anyone with a new baby, or who will have a new baby at next year's Gen Con. You CAN bring a child AND have fun at a convention!
Meet with some of the industry's leading designers in an open forum. Learn tricks of the trade, how they got their big breaks. Questions are encouraged.
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!
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 and concerns common among new Game Masters.
Description:
We'll talk about what works and what doesn't. We'll talk about common traps to avoid, but most important, we'll get right to the heart of why its great to GM a game, and how you can have a blast doing it. The GM's Workshop series is 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 the topics, you are sure to learn, laugh, participate, and have a great time.
Introduction to LARPing (Live-Action Role-Playing)
Summary:
We dispel the myths, discuss the different types of LARP, and explain what to expect. Q&A follows. The panelists are presenting the "Carnival Arcane" LARP this year, sponsored by Midnight Syndicate.
Description:
New to LARPing? Aren't sure if you should try it, or even what "it" is? Have you been avoiding LARPs because you think it's all either vampires or madmen with foam weapons? We will dispel the myths, discuss the very different events that all use the name LARP (from plot-driven to boffer combat), and explain what to expect at a LARP. So bring any questions you may have, and leave ready to take your gaming to the next level! The panelists have over 60 years of combined LARP experience writing, running, and playing, and this year we are presenting the "Carnival Arcane" LARP, sponsored by Midnight Syndicate.
Do you write for the love of language? Is your favorite author one whose prose borders on poetry? Learn to use language to captivate your readers while avoiding the dreaded “purple prose.”
Description:
Do you read or write for the love of language? Is your favorite author one whose prose borders on poetry? Learn to use language to captivate your readers while avoiding the dreaded “purple prose.”
Get expert advice on creating perfect plots! Design plots that keep your story moving and your readers racing eagerly to the next page. Plus, learn how to properly present your plot in an outline.
Description:
Get expert advice on creating perfect plots! Our panelists walk you through the process of designing plots that keep your story moving and your readers racing eagerly to the next page. Plus, learn how to present your plot in an outline that will capture the interest of an agent or editor.
How to use conventions to get your foot-in-the-door, rather than sticking your foot in your mouth! Avoid common face-to-face mistakes when working to build a career in the gaming industry.
Beyond Child's Play - Raising Money for Charity with Gaming Events
Summary:
Gamers are as generous & have raised thousands of dollars for worthy causes. Learn how you can use your gaming skills to help a cause. Talk will include: successes, new projects & how to get involved.
Join the team of the next Dungeons & Dragons as they discuss designing the system’s core rules and classes, the playtesting process, and the challenges unifying the editions of D&D. Followed by Q&A.
Bored with store-bought adventures? Want to write better adventures quickly? Learn some of the techniques that RPG freelancers use when writing or prepping for a game! Practical advice any GM can use.
Description:
Learn some of the techniques RPG freelancers use when they are writing professionally--and when they are just prepping for Friday's game! Practical advice any GM can use.
Join Dragon Pro Studios for a Q&A and brainstorming session for the 4e Combat Manager, Monster Designer, and any potential utilities for other systems.
Learn about Protospiel, the Game Designer's Convention. Whether you're a game industry pro or a first-time designer, our panel will share tips about these weekends of intense game design creativity.
Join James Jacobs, Rob McCreary, & Adam Daigle as they reveal 2013's Adventure Paths, take your questions about past Adventure Paths, and share details on the brand-new campaign, the Shattered Star!
Description:
With the release of the Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path Anniversary Edition this summer, Paizo celebrates five years of Adventure Paths. Join Pathfinder Creative Director James Jacobs and developers Rob McCreary and Adam Daigle as they reveal 2013's Adventure Paths, take your questions about past Adventure Paths, and share details on the brand-new campaign, the Shattered Star!
Being funny is serious business! When should you inject humor into your manuscript? And how do you do it effectively? Our panelists teach you how to tickle your readers’ funny bones.
Description:
Being funny is serious business! When should you inject humor into your manuscript? And how do you do it effectively? Our panelists teach you how to tickle your readers’ funny bones.
From structuring stories to fit into a compact package to methods for plunging readers straight into the heart of your tale, learn tricks of the trade that will make you a short story master!
Description:
Learn to write amazing short fiction! From tips for structuring stories so they fit into a compact package to methods for plunging readers straight into the heart of your tale, our panelists offer tricks of the trade that will make you a short story master!
This one-hour seminar will feature a presentation by hardcore True Dungeon veterans (DDA) who will outline different aspects of how True Dungeon works. This is a great seminar for players new to TD.
Description:
This one-hour seminar will feature a presentation by hardcore True Dungeon veterans (Dungeon Dwellers Anonymous) who will outline different aspects of how True Dungeon works. This is a great seminar for players new to TD -- or for people just interested in seeing what TD is all about.
Making Room For Daughters: The Bechdel Test In Gaming
Summary:
Women are an ever increasing segment of the gaming population—not merely the stereotypical roles. Forget damsels in distress—we’ll discuss you how to make your games welcoming for women of all ages.
Being a GM is more than just knowing the rules or following advice. It's part art, part science and part voodoo. Come and join your fellow GM's for a seminar on our trade.
Description:
We will discuss what makes games good, bad, or great. Part seminar, part group therapy, part workshop, and all interactive, the GM's Workshop is sure to give you something to think about, talk about, and work on. The GM's Workshop series is 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 the topics, you are sure to learn, laugh, participate, and have a great time.
Game designer Monte Cook's got a whole new project in the works. Be among the first to find out the details. Plus, feel free to get him to sign your stuff, ask questions, or just stop by to chat.
Learn to craft terrifying tales that leave your readers hiding under the covers. We’ll discuss tried-and-true techniques that will let you turn out triumphant tales of terror!
Description:
Learn to craft terrifying tales that leave your readers hiding under the covers. In this panel, we discuss tried-and-true techniques that will let you turn out triumphant tales of terror. Whether you’re looking to probe the dark depths of the human psyche or send a chainsaw wielding maniac after your protagonist, our panelists tell you how to do it!
Want to publish your own tabletop RPG? This panel goes beyond Kickstarter, we'll talk about everything from motivation to finish the game to how to source printers.
Description:
Publishing your own game used to mean shelling out thousands of dollars for a huge print run and art, and still risk never earning your money back. Not any more. This panel goes beyond Kickstarter, we'll talk about everything from motivation to finish the game to how to source printers.
Industry Insider Guests of Honor discuss the issues and pitfalls of working with someone else’s property and dealing with fan expectations of said property.
Join Ed Greenwood, the creator of the Forgotten Realms setting, and James Wyatt for a rollicking group storytelling experience that will leave you dizzy with laughter.
Join Alex Flagg and Patrick Kapera for this no-holds barred, town hall-style roundtable on all things Crafty, including the forthcoming Spycraft Third Edition and Ten Thousand Bullets.
Sometimes the players in an RPG are so engrossed in the story, NPC's and game world that they can't wait for the next session. Other times they can't wait for it to end. How do you keep them hooked?
Description:
This seminar will explore the reasons for this interesting dynamic. We will discuss what engages players and what turns them off. Come find out how a single NPC can make the difference between player excitement and bored to tears monotony. How DO you keep your players "on the hook"? Share your own secrets and learn from the tricks others have used. -- The GM's Workshop series is 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 the topics, you are sure to learn, laugh, participate, and have a great time.
Lisa Stevens, Erik Mona, James Jacobs, F. Wesley Schneider, & Jason Bulmahn reveal upcoming Pathfinder RPG hardcover rulebooks, APs, and more in this spoiler-rich discussion of things to come.
Description:
Paizo CEO Lisa Stevens, Publisher Erik Mona, Creative Director James Jacobs, Managing Editor F. Wesley Schneider, and Lead Designer Jason Bulmahn reveal upcoming Pathfinder RPG hardcover rulebooks, Adventure Paths, and more in this spoiler-rich discussion of things to come.
Forensic Analysis of 2010 Torpedoing and Sinking of South Korean Corvette Cheonan
Summary:
Retired Navy Captain discusses evidence & analysis leading to conclusion that North Korea sank the corvette; weapons, platforms and possible motives; implications for peace on the Korean peninsula.
Join us as USA Today Best Selling Author Elizabeth Vaughan and master wordsmith Steven Saus whisk you away to lands of wonder as they read from their latest work.
Description:
Join us as USA Today Best Selling Author Elizabeth Vaughan and master wordsmith Steven Saus whisk you away to lands of wonder as they read from their latest work.
This one-hour seminar will feature a presentation by hardcore True Dungeon veterans (DDA) who will outline different aspects of how True Dungeon works. This is a great seminar for players new to TD.
Description:
This one-hour seminar will feature a presentation by hardcore True Dungeon veterans (Dungeon Dwellers Anonymous) who will outline different aspects of how True Dungeon works. This is a great seminar for players new to TD -- or for people just interested in seeing what TD is all about.
So, You Want to Be a Hero: Creating Captivating Heroes for Games and Books
Summary:
Heroes stand up and fight when every sensible soul is saving their own skin. But what drives them to risk it all, and what makes them so compelling? Come learn what it takes to make a hero!
The creator of FAR WEST, the setting which was the top-funded RPG on Kickstarter in 2011, gives you an inside look at the Western/Wuxia/Steampunk mash-up, and the plans for release in 2012 and beyond!
This Just In...From Gen Con! is a twice-daily podcast produced live at Gen Con Indy. Attend a live recording and see awesome interviews with RPG publishers, designers and otherwise amazing folks.
Battle of Sinop + 60: Canvas and Wood to Steam and Steel
Summary:
From Sinop in 1853 to dreadnoughts of WW I, retired Navy Captain traces 60 years of evolving technical, tactical and strategic naval warfare concepts: steam; wood/iron/steel; torpedoes and subs.
How about some food for your brain before you head off to find dinner? Paul Genesse and Gabrielle Harbowy, two of the Writer’s Symposium’s finest, will read to you from their new work.
Description:
How about some food for your brain before you head off to find dinner? Paul Genesse and Gabrielle Harbowy, two of the Writer’s Symposium’s finest, will read to you from their new work.
The Hunger Games—Equal Opportunity Gaming Dystopia For a Contemporary World
Summary:
Dystopias are a core theme of many RPGs. A discussion on how the Hunger Games dystopia is accessible to a modern audience, and how you can replicate this effect in your own games.
Description:
Dystopias form a core theme of many RPGs: the perfect apple of a world with a worm at its core, giving us the ruined world we love to hate. This panel looks at the appeal of The Hunger Games, the ways in which its dystopia is particularly accessible to a modern audience, and how you can replicate this effect in your own games.
Chat with the R&D team about the design and development process for some of Wizards’s recent games, including Waterdeep: City of Intrigue and the new miniatures game, Dungeon Command. Followed by Q&A.
Description:
Come chat with the Wizards of the Coast board game and miniatures team about the design and development process for some of Wizards’ recent games, including Lords of Waterdeep and the new miniatures game, Dungeon Command. Seminar to be followed by Q&A.
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people are a part for the gamer community. This seminar looks at gender and sexuality issues in gaming from design and publishing to game-play and community.
Description:
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people are a part for the gamer community, and although the community is known for its tolerance, GLBT people still often struggle to see places for themselves in the fantasy worlds we create. This seminar looks at gender and sexuality issues in gaming from design and publishing to game-play and community. PANELISTS ARE: Industry Insider Guest of Honor Steve Kenson, Joseph Carriker, Jeremy Crawford and Wesley Schneider.
Artist of Honor Todd Lockwood Meet and Greet - VIG
Summary:
Come meet the Gen Con Artist of Honor, Todd Lockwood! He'll answer all your questions about getting into the industry and will sign artwork, as well. VIG and VIG Companions only.
Selling games since l965, I know 200+ stories. Why did T.S.R. take over S&T magazine and void all lifetime subscriptions? How Crystal Cast turned disaster into $10,000 Cash at Gencon!
Prelude to the U.S. Civil War: A “What If” 150th Anniversary
Summary:
Could the Civil War have been avoided? If so, what would the implication have been for history? Reviewing the personalities and polarization that lead to America's most deadly conflict.
Got a few manuscript pages in your game bag that you want critiqued? Our authors will look at up to three pages and offer you an on-the-spot critique. Pre-registration is required!
Description:
Got a few manuscript pages in your game bag that you want critiqued? Our authors will look at up to three pages and offer you an on-the-spot critique. Don’t pass up this opportunity for some free one-on-one advice. Seats are limited and pre-registration is required!
Dragonbane represents all that a Nordic LARP is. See the vastness of it all, the living village, the 22 meter long (72ft) dragon & learn what to expect when LARPing in Nordic countries. Visuals & Q&A!
Description:
The Nordic LARP scene is known for its academic merits, theoretical discussions & good parties. This presentation doesn't cover the theory or academic parts, but takes you from the ground up & will show you what to expect if you come to Nordic countries to LARP. Dragonbane is a living village in the middle of nowhere w/a 22meter long dragon. It took over 5yrs to arrange, was created by 500+ volunteers, sponsored by 100+ companies, & had over 20 countries participating. It set more than a few milestones. About The Speaker: Timo Multamäki is a workaholic - but it's all matter of perspective, he says. He has published 3 board games & produced over a dozen large scale LARPs. He has been an active part of Ropecon, the largest gaming con of Nordic countries. He has been a semi-active LARPer since the mid 90's and is one of the few LARP 'old-timers' who has been in almost all Knutepunkt events.
Explore the different ways superheroes can change history with game designers who know all about both. Hosted by Kenneth Hite, Greg Stolze, Dennis Detwiller and Shane Ivey.
Medieval Travelling Food: The Theory and Practice of Hard Rations
Summary:
Learn about what medieval soldiers and travelers ate when they were in the wilds, and see what you can do as a game master or writer to make things just that much more believable.
Candlekeep Presents: 25 Years of the Forgotten Realms
Summary:
The panoramic Forgotten Realms world is one of the greatest, most popular fantasy settings of all time. Join the authors, designers, and scribes to glean a few secrets and hear some infamous stories!
Join Jen Page, star of Dorkness Rising, and game designer Monte Cook as they discuss the methods they use in their paranormal investigation webseries, Geek Seekers.
Join Pathfinder Society Regional Coordinators and experienced GMs as they explore the many facets of judging scenarios for Pathfinder Society Organized Play
Description:
Join Pathfinder Society Regional Coordinators and experienced GMs for an interactive workshop designed to make you a better Pathfinder Game Master! This introductory program focuses on improving GMing skills, handling challenges, and giving a great table experience. Part 1 includes four break-out sessions covering Roleplaying and Lore, Combat and Rules, Running the Game, and Advanced Topics.
Lots of people want to write, but what does it mean to be a writer? Our panelists illuminate the writer’s life and discuss the differences between “writers” and “people who write.
Description:
Lots of people want to write, but what does it mean to be a writer? Our panelists illuminate the writer’s life and discuss the differences between “writers” and “people who write.” From daily word counts to writer’s block, they explore the joys and challenges of the writer’s craft, and offer advice to help you achieve your dreams.
Our panelists discuss techniques for bringing war to the pages of your story. Learn how to craft epic battles that will blow reader away while keeping the focus on the characters.
Description:
You’ve armed your heroes to the teeth, your villains have sharpened their swords, and the armies of light and darkness are arrayed on the field of battle! Um, now what? Our panelists discuss techniques for bringing war to the pages of your story. Learn how to craft epic battles that will blow reader away while keeping the focus on the characters.
Learn about the First Crusade, including how crusaders followed a divinely inspired goose around Europe, how they besieged a castle containing nothing more than sheep, and engaged in cannibalism.
What kinds of playtests are there? How can you run them or play in them effectively? Learn how iterative testing improves a game. Designers and players are both welcome.
Description:
1) Discuss the purpose of playtesting. 2) The three styles of playtesting? 3) Playtesting your own game. 4) Runing someone else’s game. 5) Observing a playtest. 6) Playing in a playtest with panache. 7) Questions and answers
Is writing all about art and inspiration? Or is it more perspiration? Or is it something in-between? Our panelists debate this oft discussed topic to help you decide if you need a muse or a toolbox!
Description:
Is writing all about art and inspiration? Or is it more perspiration than inspiration? Or is it something in-between? Our panelists debate this oft discussed topic to help you decide if you need a muse or a toolbox!
Learn to create intense, believable combat scenes that clip along without throwing your reader off balance. Our panelists teach you everything you need to know to craft amazing man-to-man battles.
Description:
The duel to the death between the hero and his nemesis is a staple of fiction. How do you create intense, believable combat scenes that clip along without throwing your reader off balance? How much detail do you need and how long should the fight go on? How do you make a fight scene more than just a bunch of dramatic thrusts and parries? Our panelists discuss these very questions and many more!
Come talk with established and emerging RPG freelancers about what it takes to break into print, in venues like Kobold Quarterly, Open Design and other markets.
We'll look at some popular pseudo-archaeology memes and compare them to reality. We'll look at common ideas about archaeology, correct some misinformation, and have time for questions afterwards.
Pathfinder designers lead a hands-on workshop on rules design, as they discuss current design projects with attendees, and work with the audience to develop rules from concept to execution.
Description:
Pathfinder designers Jason Bulmahn, Sean K Reynolds, and Stephen Radney MacFarland lead a hands-on workshop on rules design, as they discuss current design projects with attendees, and work with the audience to develop rules from concept to execution.
Introduction to LARPing (Live-Action Role-Playing)
Summary:
We dispel the myths, discuss the different types of LARP, and explain what to expect. Q&A follows. The panelists are presenting the "Carnival Arcane" LARP this year, sponsored by Midnight Syndicate.
Description:
New to LARPing? Aren't sure if you should try it, or even what "it" is? Have you been avoiding LARPs because you think it's all either vampires or madmen with foam weapons? We will dispel the myths, discuss the very different events that all use the name LARP (from plot-driven to boffer combat), and explain what to expect at a LARP. So bring any questions you may have, and leave ready to take your gaming to the next level! The panelists have over 60 years of combined LARP experience writing, running, and playing, and this year we are presenting the "Carnival Arcane" LARP, sponsored by Midnight Syndicate.
A good support network is invaluable to writers. Our panelists discuss a variety of support networks, from writer’s groups and university programs, to online communities and NaNoWriMo.
Description:
A good support network can make the difference between getting through a particularly tough writing assignment and never reaching the end. Our panelists discuss a variety of writer support networks, from writer’s groups and university programs, to online communities and NaNoWriMo.
Covering the upcoming release schedule for the nWoD, cWoD, and Exalted through 2013. Includes a Q&A about new media and how it’s revitalizing the methodology of getting product into gamers’ hands.
How much does armor weigh? How fast can a horse run? How far can a longbow shoot? And why is it important to know these things? Our panelists show you how to add a dose of realism to your fantasy.
Description:
How much does armor really weigh? How fast can a horse run? How far can a longbow shoot? And why is it important to know these things? Make your writing feel “real” even when you’re penning a fantasy story. Believable fiction has a measure of fact. Our panelists show you how to add a dose of realism.
Learn to break down your stories into chunks of role & action. Give 'face time' to all characters, keep your scenarios within time/space constraints & have a balance of elements.
Come hear about developing a larger setting and talk about the considerations, scope, details, and pitfalls learned through the Midgard Setting Patron Project.
Have a game that needs an editor’s touch but don’t know what to ask? Learn what makes a book user-friendly, how organization affects use, & what the unforgivable sins are BEFORE your book is in print.
Educators, parents, and kids share their experiences with programs that introduce kids to gaming, from school curricula to homeschooling to summer camps, and pass on advice and inspiration.
How did a small time prince from a backwater kingdom rise to become one of the most influence characters in the ancient world? Come find out when we shrink 32 years of a man’s life into 2 hours.
Curious what the new Dungeons & Dragons system will offer if you’re a Dungeon Master? Join the R&D team as they discuss their plans for monsters, magic items, adventures, and more. Followed by Q&A.
PFS GM 101 Workshop (Part 2): Practice Makes Perfect
Summary:
Join Pathfinder Society Regional Coordinators and experienced GMs as they explore the many facets of judging scenarios for Pathfinder Society Organized Play
Description:
Pathfinder Society Regional Coordinators and experienced GMs lead a hands-on workshop designed to make you a better Pathfinder Game Master! Part 2 of this program introduces the Deck of Many Situations, a tool to help GMs focus on improving their improvisational technique while applying the lessons learned in Part 1. Participants draw cards with difficult GMing situations, and have a brief period to resolve the situation before time is called. Our expert GMs offer advice and techniques based on observation of your GMing style tailored to help you sharpen your skills and improve your expertise.
Why reinvent the wheel each time you create a story, character, or world when you could just steal from history! Join our panelists for a discussion on mining history for source material.
Description:
Why reinvent the wheel each time you create a story, character, or world? Sure, you can build your knighthood, priesthood, religion, or society from scratch, but stealing a bit of history and giving it a twist might work just as well – and feel more believable! Join our panelists for a discussion on mining history for source material.