Creating your own board game is not only fun, it’s educational! Learn about systems and the iterative process, teamwork, time and resource management, research, critical analysis, and even science, history, math, and language development. This workshop will take you through the rapid prototyping process for a board game facilitated by Aaron Vanek, who has been teaching analog game design to middle school students for more than seven years.
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
North 151
Gaming industry professionals Jon Wolheim (VP, People and Culture), Chris Castagnetto (advisory board member), and other members of the Games for Love team and gaming professionals hold an open conversation around recruiting, partnerships, and marketing. Learn how charities are helping to make a difference in gaming.
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
North 151
Moderator Jes Wade (tabletop charity content producer) leads five talented (and busy) tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) content creators through a discussion on content fatigue and imposter syndrome. Aleks David Royt (co-creator of StoryQuest and prop master for Encounter Party), Brooke Eyler (cosplayer and professional dungeon master), Mayanna Berrin (writer and TTRPG performer), Cai Kagawa (costumer and TTRPG performer), and Johnny Stanton (creator of SINK RPG) explore combat in TTRPGs through the lens of defeating self-doubt and taking care of themselves with long rests.
Saturday March 29, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
North 151
The StoryQuest crew embarks on a comedic, improvised D&D one-shot that brings the audience along for the ride. Combining their storytelling, improv, and comedy skills, the folks from Story Quest (David Tilstra, Aleks David Royt, Oscar Montoya, Mayanna Berrin, Reed Sights, Jordy Martin, and Serenity Garcia) aim to tell a satisfying, collaborative, and family-friendly story on the WonderCon stage. A focus on the introduction to TTRPG games will be a guiding principle, on top of teaching audience members about storytelling strategies and how they can be a joint effort. Audience participation is both invited and encouraged, and prizes will be given out to the most enthusiastic audience members!
Saturday March 29, 2025 1:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
North 151
Games are more than just entertainment—they are engines of learning, connection, and transformation. From fostering literacy and mathematical reasoning to enhancing emotional self-regulation, games provide dynamic spaces for individual growth. This panel will examine how player communities—whether in tabletop RPGs, esports, or online cooperative worlds—build camaraderie, reduce social isolation, and support identity development. Whether you're a player, educator, or game designer, this panel will showcase how the magic of play extends far beyond the screen or the tabletop.
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
North 151
The cast of Venture Forth—Russel Bartek, Rodney Campbell, Rebecca Hausman, and Shane O'Loughlin—led by dungeon master Seth Fowler demonstrate roleplaying prowess, keen storytelling skills, creative gameplay implementation, cohesive ensemble performance style, and the impact of their immersive ruleset in a canon one-shot session. Drama, laughs, and detailed descriptions of violence are guaranteed!
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
North 151
The cast of Mythical Entertainment’s hilarious and heartfelt D&D actual play series appear ahead of their season 2 finale for a special live one-shot adventure where things will surely go awry, followed by Q&A where things will surely go smoothly! Mythical’s Emily Fleming, Trevor Evarts, Mikayla Barnes, Lucas Strader, and Jenna Purdy join for the fighting and fun. Moderated by DM T. J. Chambers.
Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
North 151
