Get the inside track on Virtual Table Top Gaming & learn about our upcoming features.
Description:
Do you want to know what the future of Virtual Table Top gaming looks like? Do you have suggestions you would like to see implemented? Speak directly to the d20Pro developers in this informal, free Q&A session.
Learn from a panel of veteran cartographers and game designers the techniques they use to make maps of fictional worlds.
Description:
Great works of fiction and RPGs alike have a long history of using maps to help tell their stories. Whether you're a fellowship making its way to Mordor or chasing a thief through the streets of London, there is almost always a map at the center of the action and at our table. Come and learn from a panel of veteran cartographers, illustrators and game designers the techniques they use to bring these fictional realms to the maps on our game tables.
A discussion on the finer points of losing & how to be a good sport, thanks to the silliest game of them all! Led by Kate McDermott, voice of Asmadi Games.
Description:
A round table discussion on community and gaming. What can we do in our communities to recover when the pressure to win takes the fun out of gaming? How can we create a community that is welcoming and fun when so much of the world isn't? What are some ways to speak up when we feel our voices aren't being heard, or speak up for others when we seem them being marginalized? Led by the voice of Asmadi Games - Kate McDermott - this casual conversation will tackle some serious issues on community building. Bring your questions, your challenges, and your ideas for solutions.
Storytelling in the Realms: Tyranny of Dragons & Beyond
Summary:
Join Chris Perkins, Ed Greenwood, R.A. Salvatore, & Wolfgang Baur to discuss what makes great stories and adventures. Learn the origin of the Tyranny of Dragons & get a hint of future D&D stories.
Description:
Join Chris Perkins, Ed Greenwood, R.A. Salvatore, and Wolfgang Baur in a discussion about what makes great stories and awesome adventures. Learn about the origin of the Tyranny of Dragons story and get a hint of what’s in planned for future D&D stories.
Working on a game that has been around awhile gives you a comfortable starting point - and a lot farther to fall if you mess up. We will talk about keeping a game fresh while respecting its history.
Industry Insider Guests explore ways to bring horror to the gaming table. How do you overcome player knowledge, genre limitations, and other challenges to create a truly suspenseful experience?
Industry Insiders describe the process of forging one's identity as a game designer, and the forces that might get in the way of expressing that identity.
Always wanted to work in the games industry? Our panelists share their insight on how to get started, how to get to the next level and how to succeed as a freelancer.
No matter your diagnosis or where you are in dealing with your mental health, knowing you're not alone can make a difference. Come hear peers discuss how they get through the hard times.
Board game cafes such as Snakes & Lattes have been popping up all over the country. What does this mean for gaming? Hint: it's more than you might think.
The popularity of Flappy Bird showed the value of simplicity in games. Why do deceptively simple games including classical chess remain incredibly popular despite more complex and exciting variants?
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!
When will there be a game based on...? Many media properties extend into movies, TV, books, games, and much more. What are the opportunities and challenges of working cross-media?
FREE pack of unopened MTG cards (for you to keep) for a hands-on discussion of the four main types of intellectual property. Stay to the end for a chance to Win an entire Box of Conspiracy.
Pathfinder: A discussion about Intellectual Property (IP) and Licensing
Summary:
We’ll dig into Pathfinder and discuss key issues in IP for all businesses, including collaboration and licensing. Everyone who shows up will get FREE dice & entered to win a Box of Pawns.
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.
This seminar will let players and fans of Catalyst Game Labs catch up to all the latest news and developments in the worlds Shadowrun, Battletech, Leviathans and more!
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.
Talk to Kickstarter staff and experienced project creators about using Kickstarter to fund games. We'll field questions from the audience and try to answer everything that's on your mind.
Interested in setting up your own website, but not sure where to start? We've got you covered. Come join us as we discuss blog publishing, basic website set-up, "websites on a budget" and more.
Description:
Setting up your own website can be daunting, but we're here to tell you it doesn't have to be. Join a couple of seasoned web designers as we talk about different publishing platforms, knowing when or when not you need to know code, and how to set up a site with little to no budget. Manda Collis (Publisher Relations at DriveThruRPG) is an editor and online community manager. She has done various game-related web projects, including websites for Monte Cook Games. Brianna Reed (Nerdette Designs) is a freelance web designer and illustrator. She has produced work for various game companies, including Pelgrane Press.
Come learn all the ins and outs of being a VIG! Hear about the perks, the rules, and how to access the VIG customer service and ticket system. VIG and VIG Companion only!
Come learn all the ins and outs of being a VIG! Hear about the perks, the rules, and how to access the VIG customer service and ticket system. VIG and VIG Companion only!
Come learn all the ins and outs of being a VIG! Hear about the perks, the rules, and how to access the VIG customer service and ticket system. VIG and VIG Companion only!
From the Table to the Panel: How RPG's Influence Comics
Summary:
Love gaming table tales turned comics? Learn how it’s done with Scott Kurtz (PvP, Table Titans), Ryan Sohmer (Looking for Group), Brian Patterson (d20Monkey), and Nolan T. Jones (House of ORR).
Description:
Ever had something so epic or hilarious happen at your gaming table that you thought, 'I bet people would read a comic about this!'? You're not alone! Learn about how some of the most popular comics around take inspiration from their roleplaying adventures with panelists Scott Kurtz (PvP, Table Titans), Ryan Sohmer (Looking for Group), Brian Patterson (d20Monkey), and Nolan T. Jones (House of ORR).
Fantasy Role Playing and Reality: Ever the Two Shall Meet!
Summary:
RPGs & Reality. Join expert designers for a panel discussion on fantasy games and reality. Many topics covered.
Description:
Join expert designers for a panel discussion on fantasy games and reality. Panelists: Ken St. Andre (author and game designer, Tunnels & Trolls, Starfaring, Monsters! Monsters!, Stormbringer, Power Trip), George Strayton (designer of three dozen products, Star Wars D6, Indiana Jones, D & D, MIB, LOTR, The Secret Fire, writer/producer on Xena, Hercules, Transformers, Star Trek 2009), Vito Pandolfo (Why Is My Coworker So Crazy?, two upcoming game releases, Metal, Magic & Lore RPG). Panel discussion will cover multiple topics: story arcs, combat realism, character devices, verisimilitude, player types, and immersive game mechanics. And we may have some surprise panelists, so stay tuned!
What tabletop designers should know about video game design. A discussion of how working for traditional tabletop game companies differs from working for video game companies.
If no one knows how to play your game, they won't play it. Pathfinder ACG designer & IIGoH Mike Selinker goes through his rules to writing rules, defining what makes good rules good & bad rules bad.
There's no doubt that Kickstarter has transformed the entire hobby game industry in the last few years. The panel focuses on what has changed, what has stayed the same, and what is to come.
There are a number of unwritten rules to gaming. Look at a number of in-game and meta-game scenarios that test social contracts and influence how players interact to maximize everyone's enjoyment.
A panel designed toward women who want to get involved in the game industry and what obstacles there are to face, how the industry is changing, and other business tips.
Whether using an existing setting or a world of your own, involving the divine can be challenging. How can you make religions feel real? How do you involve deities without undermining players?
If you're a game designer, you probably need to know a little math. James Ernest will show you the basics of probability theory, analyzing some simple casino-style games.
Last year Industry Guests spoke about gender representation in gaming art. The seminar was packed and wonderful discussion ensued. What has changed in a year?
Are you a designer looking to create or improve your very own roleplaying game? Discuss the basics of RPG design, common obstacles, and how to deliver the experience you want your players to enjoy.
It's the best of times and the worst of times to start your own game company. This panel discusses the opportunities and challenges of doing your own thing.
A League of Gaming Legends unites to discuss the super-powered spandex set and the challenges and rewards of creating comic book and superhero-based games.
Ever wanted to get your game published on the new frontier of Crowd Sourcing? Learn everything you need to know in this updated Standing Room Only panel from last year!
Kickstarter is one of the best ways to get your RPG created. We'll look at the pitfalls to avoid along the way and the methods to create a fun, engaging, and ultimately successful KS.
Enhance your gaming sessions using the foundations of improv comedy! Part seminar and part workshop, you'll learn the basics of improv, and how to apply those basics to your games.
Indie RPG Design Marketing: Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom
Summary:
RPGs are enjoying a Golden Age, thanks in part to dozens of gifted, passionate independent designers. Learn how they're leveraging Kickstarter and online sales to reach large new audiences.