CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF DUNGEONS & DRAGONS AT GEN CON
Info
About the Cover Artist 8
Code of Conduct 14
Gen
Welcome 6
Maps
Convention Center 20
Crowne Plaza 30
Downtown Indy 24
Embassy Suites 30
Exhibit Hall 18
Hyatt Regency 31
JW 32
Marriott 34
Omni 35
Stadium 26
Union 36
Westin 37
D&D 50th Celebration
History and Gen Con 74, 76
Acknowledgement 75
Guests of Honor and Panel Series 84
Current Highlights 88
50 Years of Fiction 90
Highlights
Awards 72
Block Party 42
Diana Jones Award 70
Entrepreneurs Avenue 62
Gen Con Online 62
Makers Market 54
Official Merchandise 48
Show Highlights 66
Sponsors 38
Stadium 56
Streaming Live on Twitch 68
Gaming
Board Games & Card Games 96
First Exposure Playtest Hall 100
Games Library 120
Kid Zone 108
Live Action Roleplaying Games 102
Megagames 106
Miniatures Games 110
Miniatures Hobby Events 114
Open Gaming 118
Roleplaying Games 92
Programs & Events
Anime 150
Art Show 152
Authors Avenue 154
Auction 136
Charity Partners 134
Costume Contest 124
Costume Parade 126
Electronic Gaming 158
Entertainment 138
Escape Rooms 160
Event Team Thank You 169
Film Festival 140
Game Design College 164
Gen Con 2025 166
Join the 2025 Event Team 168
Puppetry Program 122
Supplemental Activities 162
Trade Day 130
Writers Symposium 156
ZED: The Isle of Misfit Events 128
Welcome!
One of the thrilling things about tabletop gaming is that it’s always exciting. Every year, there are amazing new games to play, cool new designers to meet, talented new artists to admire, and new friendships to be forged.
But this year is particularly special, for it was 50 years ago that the world of tabletop gaming changed forever with the publication of Dungeons & Dragons and the invention of roleplaying games. Before 1974, we were a community of wargamers — two kinds of wargames: those played with toy soldiers and those played with cardboard chits maneuvered over hex maps of famous battlefields.
Dungeons & Dragons changed all that. It inspired a generation, and another generation, and every generation since, and pioneered a category of games that continues to inspire and surprise us. Out of this burst of creativity, other genres of games sprung forth, like trading card games, art, roleplay-inspired fiction, and eventually, an explosion of new boardgames, live-action roleplay, and all manner of associated accessories and merchandise.
Perhaps most shockingly to those original wargamers still living with us, roleplaying has entered popular culture. Initially, this was most apparent in video games and, eventually, massively multiplayer online games, like World of Warcraft, where concepts like character attributes and power levels have become part of the common vernacular. And most recently, streaming celebrities (and even regular ol’ celebrities!) have embraced this most wonderful pastime.
With great love and a deep appreciation of our legacy, Gen Con celebrates 50 years of Dungeons & Dragons at the 2024 convention with a robust slate of panels, games, film documentaries, and even a D&D museum.
As we gather to celebrate this seminal moment in tabletop gaming history, we’re not just commemorating a game, but honoring a movement that bridged imagination with reality, bringing together minds and hearts. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer, a newcomer eager to roll your first die, or simply intrigued by the rich legacy of Dungeons & Dragons, Gen Con 2024 promises to be an unforgettable journey through the past, present, and future of roleplaying.
Join us in celebrating not just a game, but a phenomenon that has forever altered the landscape of gaming and storytelling. Welcome to a gathering fifty years in the making — here’s to the next chapter in our incredible adventure together.
KENNEDY
Peter D. Adkison Chairperson of the Board
Gen Con LLC
Gen Con would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the ancestral lands of the Myaamia (Miami), Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), and other Indigenous peoples.
A special THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS to Bruce Walter from Fern Exposition, who is celebrating his retirement after the 2024 convention. We couldn’t have done these last 24 shows without you!
Sales Admin Assistant
SOFTWARE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
TEENA WHITTENHALL Program Manager
WEB DEVELOPMENT
RENNIE ARAUCTO, SAM ASIF, MATT ELHOTIBY, PETER FASULA, AURORA HAMPTON, SUWADA HINDS, TOM HUNTER, SCOTT NORRIS, JONATHON ROSCOE, MARTIN STREICHER, DAVID TVERAAS
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS & PARTNERS Fern Exposition, Reaction AV, John
Cathy
A BIG thank you to ALL who make Gen Con possible, including game manufacturers, gaming clubs, Event Organizers, and of course Gen Con attendees! 2024 Cover Art by Elaine Ho.
Sutton, Stacia Kirby,
Rundell, Alesia Clardy, Owen Seyler, Rita Milandri, and the Q-Rooms Team, Jason Lavengood, Rob Banayote, Jordan Augustine, Amber Sherman, all Gen Con Captains and Event Team, the staff of the Indianapolis Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, Visit Indy, and Downtown Indy.
2024 Program Book Cover Artist Elaine Ho
Get to know Elaine Ho, the talented artist behind this year’s Gen Con program book cover. Elaine is an Asian American illustrator and art director, and she’s forever drawn to the broken and the beautiful.
Read on to learn more about her art, her creative process, and what it’s like to be an exhibiting artist at Gen Con!
What inspired your work on this year’s Gen Con program book cover art?
Since it’s the Year of the Dragon, dragons had to be the main subject! It was a blessing to have Genevieve as Gen Con’s mascot, and I wanted to paint an eastern dragon living with her, showing both kinds can coexist in this world. We’re represented by the dragon tamer at the bottom, symbolizing the underlying humanity that ties us all together.
What’s it like to be an exhibiting artist at Gen Con?
Stressful (because of all the prep) but satisfying (because of all the people who have nice things to say about my work!). It’s a rollercoaster of highs and lows, but at the end of the day, it all pays off.
What can attendees look forward to seeing at your booth at Gen Con this year?
I’ll have prints, pins, playmats, and limited edition metal prints, most notably a one-off master edition metal print of the painting I made for Gen Con. Along with my monsterlover series, I’ll also have a couple of Baldur’s Gate 3 paintings, and lots of original work!
Art Show Table 51
Important Info
Registration Policies
*For on-site refunds or exchanges, please visit the Customer Service kiosks.
Badge Refunds/Exchanges
The last day to receive a badge refund was June 14, 2024. Badges are non-refundable and non-transferable after the deadline. However, badges can be exchanged at the Customer Service kiosk as per our exchange policies.
Event Ticket Refunds/Exchanges/ Cancellations
Event-specific ticket refunds/exchanges must be requested at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the event. All refunds will be managed at the Customer Service kiosks and will be refunded to the purchaser. All ticket refunds are subject to a 5% administrative fee for the total sum of tickets refunded. A valid government-issued photo ID and a Gen Con 2024 badge are required to process any type of ticket refund or exchange. All refunds will be credited back in the original form of payment. For ticket exchanges, please present the ticket for the event you would like to exchange and provide the Game ID number for the event you wish to purchase. If an event has been canceled, please see a nearby Event HQ for further instructions. No refunds will be given for canceled events without a stamp or signature from the area’s Event HQ. The last day to receive a ticket refund is 4 pm on the Sunday of the convention.
Generic Ticket Refunds
Generic tickets are only refunded to system credit. There is no cash or credit card refund for generic tickets. System credit is non-refundable, non-transferable, does not expire, and can be used to purchase badges or tickets for any future Gen Con. All ticket refunds are subject to a 5% administrative fee for the total sum of tickets refunded. Ticket refunds will be managed at the Customer Service kiosks and will only be refunded to the purchaser. A valid government-issued photo ID and a Gen Con 2024 badge are required to process any type of ticket refund on site. The last day to receive a generic ticket system credit refund is the Sunday of the convention, no later than 4 pm.
Lost or Misplaced Badges & Event Tickets
Gen Con cannot replace lost, stolen, or forgotten badges or event tickets. Lost, stolen, or forgotten items must be repurchased at full cost. It is recommended you check with the Gen Con Show Office in Room 112 of the convention center to see if your materials have been turned in to Lost & Found before buying new materials. Gen Con LLC assumes no responsibility for lost, stolen, or forgotten materials. To repurchase your items, go to the Customer Service kiosks in the Main Registration area. If your shipment is confirmed to be lost by the USPS, Gen Con will replace your convention materials at no cost to you. Gen Con cannot replace items that have been delivered.
Electronic Ticketing
How Does E-Ticketing Work?
E-Tickets are purchased the same way as paper tickets, but they will not be shipped to you or picked up at Will Call. Instead, they are stored in your Gen Con account and associated with your Gen Con badge. Event Hosts will admit you by scanning your badge rather than taking a paper ticket. A receipt, confirmation email, or tickets that are paper are not e-tickets.
Is E-Ticketing Optional?
We are using e-ticketing with a select group of event organizers. Specific events will be designated as e-ticketed only. There will be no option to get paper tickets for these events.
Do I Need to Have a Smartphone to Use E-Ticketing?
Nope! As an attendee, all you need is your badge. Event organizers will use a smartphone or other device to scan your badge and redeem your e-tickets.
How Do I Get E-Tickets?
E-tickets are purchased the same way as paper tickets, but they will not be shipped to you or picked up at “Will Call.” Instead, they are stored in your Gen Con account and associated with your Gen Con badge. A receipt or confirmation email is not an e-ticket.
Gen Con Badges
Why Do I need a Badge?
Everyone attending Gen Con (excluding children ages 10 and under) must wear a valid Gen Con badge at all times for identification while in the convention center and surrounding hotels and during gameplay/events. A badge will allow you admittance into the Exhibit Hall, Art Show, Anime events, seminars, and other events happening in public areas during the convention. It is also needed to purchase tickets for events. Badges must be visible at all times to assure staff and security of your eligibility to participate in the show. (Gen Con does not offer parent badges, shopper badges, or other types of limited-access, discounted badges).
Children 10 & Under
Children ages 10 and under are admitted for free when accompanied by an attending adult and must be registered in the Gen Con children’s log for security purposes. They are not required to have a badge unless they will be participating in an event that requires an event ticket. Come to the Customer Service or Badge Registration kiosks to register your child and provide us with your contact information in case you and your child are separated. You will receive a wristband that must be attached to your child’s wrist while in the convention center and surrounding areas where you are participating in Gen Con events. All children must be accompanied at all times by a Parent or Guardian with a valid badge. Children ages 11 and above are subject to standard badge pricing.
Payment
Gen Con accepts cash or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express) as payment. Checks and money orders are not accepted at any time. A 10% admissions tax will be charged on all badge purchases, in compliance with Marion County laws.
Registration and Customer Service
What is Registration?
Registration covers all processes associated with attending the convention, obtaining badge credentials, and purchasing event tickets. Registration offers three services: Customer Service (Including Event/Badge Registration), Accessibility Services, and Will Call. The Main Registration kiosks are located near the Maryland Street entrance in the convention center’s Wabash-East Concourse. There is also a remote Event Registration site in Hall C. Each service area is clearly marked for your convenience.
Event Registration
Event tickets can be purchased onsite at the Customer Service kiosks located in the convention center’s Wabash-East Concourse near the Maryland Street entrance or at Event Registration kiosks in Hall C and the Stadium (Credit Card Only). See the Area Hotel Maps for specific locations. Gen Con accepts cash and all major credit cards (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa). Gen Con does not accept checks or money orders.
Customer Service
Refund and exchange requests, Badge and Event ticket purchases, or questions regarding the convention or show policies can be directed to Customer Service. These kiosks are located in the convention center’s Wabash-East Concourse near the Maryland Street entrance. Refunds or exchanges will only be processed at the Customer Service kiosks. Event-specific ticket refunds/ exchanges must be requested at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the event. All refunds will be issued back to the purchaser of the original ticket(s).
Accessibility Services
This kiosk is located next to the Customer Service kiosk. Disabled patrons may use this kiosk for their one-stop registration needs. Will Call pickup, badge and event ticket purchases, and refunds or exchanges can all be made at this location. Customer Service will also have special stickers to alert staff and event team members that the bearer may need additional assistance (i.e., limited waiting in line, etc.). A sticker is required in order to receive special assistance. The Special Services kiosk is the only place to obtain a mask exception
Parents may also use this kiosk if they have already purchased a badge but need to obtain a child wristband.
Will Call
If you selected Will Call as your delivery method for your badge and/or event tickets, you may obtain your items at the Will Call kiosks, located in the convention center’s WabashEast Concourse near the Maryland Street entrance. You will need to present a valid government-issued photo ID to obtain your packet. Small children with no photo ID must be accompanied by a parent or guardian with a valid ID in order to pick up their packet. Please keep in mind that Will Call lines and wait times may vary.
Items purchased online during the convention have a mandatory two hour wait time until they are available for pick up. Please go to a registration kiosk on site for faster service.
Child Registration
All children ages 10 and under must be registered at the Event/Badge Registration or Customer Service kiosks. Registering your child provides the Security Team with contact information in case you and your child become separated. Be sure to register your child and pick up a child wristband when you arrive at the show if you have not already done so.
Contact Us
If you have any inquiries regarding Registration, Customer Service, Will Call, Policies, or Refunds, please come to the Customer Service kiosks in the Wabash-East Concourse near the Maryland Street entrance of the convention center.
If you have any questions after the show, feel free to call (206) 385-1967 or email customerservice@gencon.com.
Regular Customer Service hours are Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 5 pm (Pacific).
At a Glance
Customer Service/Main Registration
Wednesday, noon – Thursday, 2 am
Opens: Thursday at 7 am
Closes: Sunday at 4 pm
Accessibility Services
Thursday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday, 10 am – 3 pm
Will Call
Wednesday, noon – Thursday, 2 am
Thursday – Saturday, 7 am – 11 pm
Sunday, 7 am – 3 pm
Remote Event Registration Hall C
Thursday – Saturday, 8 am – 8 pm
Sunday, 8 am – 2 pm
Stadium Remote Event Reg
Credit Card Only.
Thursday – Saturday, 7 am – midnight Sunday, 7 am – 3 pm
Exhibit Hall
Thursday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm
Info Booth
Wednesday, noon – 7 pm
Thursday – Saturday, 7 am – 7 pm
Sunday, 7 am – 5 pm
Show Office
Wednesday, noon – 9 pm
Thursday – Saturday, 7 am – 9 pm
Sunday, 7 am – 5 pm
Important Info
Show Policies
Ethics & Conduct
All of the following constitute grounds for expulsion from the convention without refund:
• Violating any federal, state, or local laws, facility rules, or convention policies
• Failure to comply with the instructions of Gen Con Event Staff or security personnel
• Using anything in a threatening or destructive manner against a person or property
• Endangering the safety of oneself or others
• Threatening, stealing, cheating, or harassing others
• Failure to conduct oneself in a mature and responsible manner
If you experience or witness any of the above, please seek out Gen Con Event Staff or Gen Con Security to report the incident. If you can’t locate an Event Staff member, please report the incident to Show Management in the show office located in Room 112
Anti-Harassment Policy
Gen Con: The Best Four Days in Gaming! is dedicated to providing a harassmentfree event experience for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, or affiliation. Gen Con does not tolerate harassment of convention participants in any form. Convention participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled without refund at the discretion of show management.
Security
Security is provided by a professional security firm and may include off-duty law enforcement personnel, security guards, and Gen Con Event Staff. All security personnel serve to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone. Please show them the respect they deserve. Failure to comply with the directives issued by uniformed security and staff may result in immediate expulsion without refund.
Costumes & Weapons
Please note that exceptions may be made to items in bold when you are participating in the cosplay contest, but only for the period in which you are on stage.
• Costumes, cosplays, and general attire must provide the same level of body coverage expected at an all-ages public beach, but no speedos or thongs.
• Footwear is required at all times.
• Costumes should not impede the movement of yourself or others around you. They must fit through a standard American doorway.
• Costumes should not have any functional sharp edges or points that could be a risk to yourself or others.
• Costumes may not include smoke, odors, or fog.
• Cosplay may not include:
° Words, images, or symbols conveying racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, or otherwise prejudiced or bigoted messages or sentiments.
° Obscene or offensive language or images including uncensored profanities and pornographic content
• Costumes should not represent or incorporate the iconography, uniform, or appearance of persons or objects associated with prejudice or bigotry (e.g., Nazi imagery).
LEGAL INFORMATION
• 20th and 21st-century uniforms may not be worn as costumes. These include any uniform that can be construed as a military uniform from any country or a uniform worn in an official capacity, such as security guard, police officer, deputy, fire marshal, paramedic, etc. Active duty military personnel are permitted to wear their government-issued uniforms.
• Costumes and cosplays may incorporate audio or lighting elements of reasonable volume or intensity. Sounds and lights must be able to be turned off quickly if they become disruptive to nearby attendees or events.
Weapons and props:
• Costumes and cosplays cannot include historical or modern weapons, nor items that could be confused for them. This includes (but is not limited to): self-defense equipment like pepper spray or tasers; recreational weapons like Airsoft, paintball, water, cap, or BB guns; sharp-edged tools like knives or scissors; or martial-arts weaponry including wooden practice weapons.
• Fantasy or sci-fi/futuristic weapons are allowed so long as they do not resemble actual historical or modern weapons and are handled with respect for the safety and personal space of other attendees.
• No live steel or weapons that can fire projectiles.
• Weapons and props must not exceed the height of a standard American doorway.
Any weapon or prop that makes noise must be able to be turned off and must not be excessively loud.
Questionable items can be brought to the Information Desk in the convention center during operating hours to be checked for compliance with this policy. Some events may provide exceptions to this policy under strict circumstances defined by that event. Items purchased in the Exhibit Hall which violate this policy must be wrapped and immediately removed from the convention premises.
Gen Con Event Staff or security personnel may inspect any item or costume or request that an attendee remove a mask at any time during the convention. Failure to comply with these policies and/or the instructions of Gen Con Event Staff or security personnel may result in immediate removal from the convention without refund.
If you have any questions about these policies, please contact Gen Con Customer Service before the convention or visit the Information Desk in the convention center during operating hours.
Advertising
There is no flyering, postering, or show billing of any kind in or around any of the convention grounds, including the hotels. If caught, you may be asked to leave the convention and have your badge revoked without a refund.
Event Spaces
Gen Con reserves the right to clear each room after an event. Attendees will not be allowed to remain in the room for the next event. Items cannot be stored in event spaces. If found, items may be moved or discarded.
Lost & Found
The Gen Con Show Office (Room 112) will serve as the center for lost and found items during the convention. Unclaimed property will be turned over to the convention center security office at the close of the convention. You can help protect your belongings by including identification tags with mobile phone numbers in wallets, purses, backpacks, and other loose items. Labeling belongings helps Gen Con staff attempt to return recovered items to their rightful owners. Gen Con LLC assumes no responsibility for lost, stolen, or forgotten materials.
The purchase of a Gen Con badge admits one person to all basic activities and exhibits at Gen Con (the “Event”) during regularly scheduled hours for the day(s) it is purchased. Some designated activities require pre-registration and/or payment of a separate, additional fee. In accepting the badge and in consideration of being admitted to the Event, the holder of the badge hereby: (1) assumes full responsibility for his/her/their own safety, and accepts all known and unanticipated risks of loss, damage, and injury (including death or disability) to himself/herself/theirself and his/her/their property while attending, participating in, or becoming involved with the Event, regardless of whether or not such risks are attributable to the negligence of others; (2) releases and discharges Gen Con LLC and its employees, officers, directors, owners, sponsors, exhibitors, and contractors (collectively “Gen Con”) from any claims or liability for loss, damage, or injury (including death or disability) to his/her/their person and property arising out of or in any way connected to the Event, including but not limited to claims based on Gen Con’s own negligence; (3) consents to being recorded by audio and/or visual means, and authorizes and permits Gen Con to use and authorize the use of such recordings and his/her/their name, voice, likeness, and all reproductions thereof by any means and for any purposes, in all
now and hereafter known,
in perpetuity; and (4) agrees to comply with all the
and regulations of the Event.
Code of Conduct
Here at Gen Con, we’re in the business of having fun. After all, it wouldn’t be The Best Four Days in Gaming™ if we didn’t all have a great time together!
And as every gamer knows, a thorough rulebook is the key to everyone having a good time, so here are our rules for a safe and fun Gen Con. If you have a question about a certain policy or guideline, be sure to read through all of our policies, but if that still doesn’t answer your question, email policyteam@gencon.com. Game on!
Be Safe
• Follow all show policies, venue rules, and staff directions.
• No running, jumping, throwing, or other unsafe shenanigans.
• Support each otherin maintaining a safe environment.
• Report concerns to Gen Con Captains (wearing black Event Team vests).
Play Nice
• Don’t harass other attendees, staff, or vendors.
• Respect everyone’s physical and social boundaries and their personal property.
• No stealing, cheating, trolling, or griefing.
Have Fun
• Remember to eat, sleep, and shower.
• Make a friend.
• Play some games.
• Explore the show.
Updated Code of Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy
The above is an abridged version of our policy. For the full version, please visit www.gencon.com/gen-con-indy/policies
Everyone should observe common sense rules for behavior, personal interaction, courtesy, and respect. Harassing or offensive behavior will not be tolerated. Gen Con reserves the right to revoke, without refund, the membership and badge of any participant not in compliance with this policy. Harassment or unwelcome conduct, whether verbal, physical, visual, or in any other form, is strictly prohibited. Email us confidentially at policyteam@gencon.com if you have any questions or need to report an incident or concern.
Gen Con Values
Whether on site or online, you can help build a Gen Con spirit of cultural integration and awareness in tabletop gaming. Start by supporting underrepresented exhibitors at the convention, adding pronouns to your badge, or spreading the word of our Gen Con Participation Grants program. Thank you for your efforts to make Gen Con a better place!
Our Values
Creativity
We encourage, nurture, and support the amazing people, ideas, and technologies that bring Gen Con to life, in all its creative forms.
Inclusive Community-Building
We consciously build welcoming, safer spaces to gather, forge friendships, explore shared passions, and discover new ones. We value active listening and working with our community to shape a Gen Con that is anti-discrimination, anti-racist, and free of sexism, harassment, and hate.
Continuous Growth
We are always searching for new ways to play and celebrate games together. We practice self-awareness, remain humble, and hold ourselves accountable for the things we do to improve the industry ecosystem, grow as individuals and bring our unique experience to more people across the globe.
Our Place in Gaming History
We acknowledge the history and traditions of Gen Con and its place in the world of gaming. We seek to honor the individuals and accomplishments of those who built our industry while actively working for systemic change. Gen Con is where the story of tabletop games is often written, and we accept the challenge of promoting change so that future Gen Con is grounded in equality, diversity, and borderless joy.
Towards A More Diverse + Inclusive Gen Con (SEM24ND265789)
Sunday, 11 am, ICC: 245
Join us as members of the Gen Con Staff and DEI Advisory Committee talk about the work we’ve done and our goals for improvement. This is our report card to you in creating a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable Gen Con.
OUR MISSION
To create opportunities, experiences, and communities where people can share the joy of games together. We embrace progress while building on over 50 years of history to shape the spirit of Gen Con — a space where fun, empathy, play, and connection are always at the center — and carry it into the future.
Health & Safety
Practice Good Hygiene
• Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water.
• Use hand sanitizer before and after events, meals, and social interactions.
• Shower daily.
Get Some Rest
• Relax in the Quiet Room in Room 211 at the Convention Center.
• Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
• Take breaks outdoors for fresh air and enjoy meals at Block Party on South Street.
Nutrition Matters
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks to maintain energy.
• Plan meal breaks wisely to keep energy levels stable with proteins and whole foods.
• Carry healthy snacks like fruit, nuts, or protein bars.
Plan Ahead
• Wear comfortable shoes and bring an extra layer for varying temperatures inside the ICC.
• Bring a reusable water bottle and an extra mask if desired.
Be Mindful of Yourself and Others
• Prioritize health and wellness. Take breaks if needed and be mindful of signs of anxiety.
• Check in with others if they seem off. Always choose kindness and empathy during interactions.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure a healthy, enjoyable experience at Gen Con!
7 + 2 - 4 15 - 30 min
SHOW AND AUTHORS AVENUE
Cubicle 7 Entertainment 2121
D-Verse Publishing 1635 Dapper On Arrival 1352 Dara Studios 1553 Daria Aksenova 670
Moon Cards and Games 158 Dave & Adam’s Card World 2427
Boutique 2130
Devious Weasel Games 940
Devir Games 2827
DGS Games 2847
Diana Stein 152
Dungeons 3142
Guardians 2543
Throne 3031 Diemension Games Inc. 2671 Dire Wolf Digital 2402
3023
2760
DMDave Publishing 1929,
Flat River Group 1521, 1429, 1321
Flatout Games 403
Flesh and Blood TCG 1739
Floodgate Games 439
Floral Frolic 1653
Flying Frog Productions 729
Foam Brain Games 358
Fogel Pens & Creations 257
Forged Foam 1201 Format 1109
Forteller 3015
FoxMind Games 1909
Free League Publishing 2537
Frenemy Games Studio 160 Friendly Skeleton 2343
Gale Force Nine 421 Galladoria Games 1734
Game Envy 568
Game Theory Tables 3047
Game Trade Magazine 110 Game Trayz 2933
Gamegenic 821
Gamelyn Games 2745
Gamer Concepts 1317
GamerMats 1629
Games and Gears 740
Games Plus 1405
GameTalkNetwork.com 1931
Gamewright 1807
Gaming Honors LLC 464
Gaming Paper 123
GamingEtc.com Magic & Minis 1413
Gate Keeper Games & Dice 325, 2349
Gatherers’
Family Time Games 460
FanRoll by Metallic Dice Games 2600, 1543, 643 Fantasy Flight Games 821
RPGs, Entertainment, Seminars, Megagames, Trade Day
Second Floor
RPGs, Entertainment, Seminars, Megagames, Trade Day
Marriott
RPGs, Auction, Seminars, Workshops, Escape Rooms, Writers Symposium, Puppet Program
First Floor
Second Floor
Omni Severin
RPGs, LARPs, Megagames
Basement
First Floor
Second Floor
Union Station
LARPs, RPGs, Special Events
First Floor
Mezzanine
Second Floor
Entertainment, Film, Anime, RPGs
First Floor
Second Floor
ravensburger.us
freeleaguepublishing.com/en
Block Party
Block Party Returns to South Street
The new home of Block Party is just south of the convention center, on South Street, with convenient access from the ICC/LOS connector. Enjoy cold beer, wine, iced coffees, burgers, pizza, food trucks, and more delicious eats, all in an even bigger event space, now featuring cooling misters, more shade and seating, and easy access to the stadium, where you can dine indoors with refreshing air conditioning and free Wi-Fi.
Cinnamon Roll 4 Initiative Beer Release Party
Join us on Wednesday evening at 5 pm on South Street for the release of Cinnamon Roll 4 Initiative, the official beer of Gen Con 2024!
Cinnamon Roll 4 Initiative is a tasty, spicy cinnamon cereal-inspired ale brewed with lactose for the full breakfast experience.
Decades of great beers, fun games, and good times have been had with Sun King as the Official Beer Sponsor of Gen Con. To create a signature beer for the 2024 convention, Sun King turned to thirsty gamers and social media fans to choose the official beer style to be tapped at the annual Gen Con Block Party.
This past spring, thousands of Gen Con and Sun King Brewery followers voted, and with nearly 1,300 votes cast, comprising a whopping 42% of all votes, a cinnamon cereal-inspired ale was the winning selection!
Sun King Beer is excited to release Cinnamon Roll 4 Initiative on Wednesday, July 31 during the kickoff to the South Street Gen Con Block Party! This year’s official beer of Gen Con will be available during Sun King Beer Garden hours at the Block Party on South Street, at all Sun King tap room locations for carry-out, and at various eateries and bars throughout Indy for the duration of The Best Four Days in Gaming™.
Attendees 21+ can purchase beer to-go from the Sun King Brewery Beer Garden on South Street. Note: To-go purchases may not be consumed in the Beer Garden.
JugsCraft
When hunger strikes, gamers know to hit the HotBox Pizza tent on South Street to refuel! Treat your taste buds with this year’s official Gen Con pizza – The Critical Chip!
The Critical Chip packs a punch with the savory mashup of a zesty taco night and the classic craving of a cheesy pizza pie. It features salsa verde, fiesta corn with beans, mozzarella, jalapeños, and delivers a knockout hit with a ranch drizzle topping and crushed Doritos®. This ultimate prizefighting pie is only available at Gen Con 2024, so head to South Street and claim a champion’s slice of The Critical Chip at the HotBox Pizza tent all weekend.
This year’s official pizza was invented by contest winner Scott W. from Columbus, Ohio, and will be available exclusively from HotBox Pizza during Gen Con 2024.
Food Trucks
Choose from dozens of rotating food trucks on South Street!
Food Trucks Schedule
Thursday – Saturday, 9 am - 9 pm
Sunday, 9 am - 4 pm
Visit the Daniel’s Vineyard tent to swirl, sip, and savor the Official Wine Sponsor of Gen Con 2024’s exclusive blends. Back by popular demand, Dragon Dew will be available in convenient chilled cans. This sweet white wine with notes of citrus, lime, and orange packs a punch of flavor and has been a fan favorite since its debut in 2022. Also making a return is Code Red Rosé, a refreshing chilled sweet rosé with a bright flavor. And to round out this year’s selection, Daniel’s will be offering delicious wine slushies, perfect for chilling out and toasting to summer fun at Gen Con.
You can purchase wines online to pick up at Daniel’s Booth at Block Party, or ship directly to your house after the convention.
Block Party
Critical Hit Soda
Wild Bill’s Old Fashioned Soda Pop Co. is bringing the Wild West experience to South Street with their exclusive limited-edition stainless steel Gen Con souvenir mugs! Don’t miss a chance to level up your gaming experience with Wild Bill’s delicious and refreshing sodas and enjoy UNLIMITED craft soda refills throughout the event with the purchase of a mug. Sip in style while you explore the best in gaming culture, and make sure to snap a pic with their eye-catching Wild West saloon setup.
Gen Con is excited to once again host Critical Hit Soda as our Official Mocktail Sponsor! Stop by the Critical Hit Soda truck during Block Party and try any one of their exotic concoctions. With 100 totally unique flavors to choose from, you will find that perfect alchemical combination to complete your victory.
Block Party Concessions
Looking for a quick bite or convenient snack so you can get back to gaming? Check out these additional concessions vendors at Block Party for even more great meal options:
PB&J Factory
Market Square Popcorn
Mambos Cheesesteak
Samano’s Mexican
Sodexo Live! Food Stand
Stop by the Harry & Izzy’s tent to refresh and feast on the Official Gen Con Burger, the Pickled Goblin! This tasty angus steakburger patty is seasoned with their signature St. Elmo Seasoning and topped with American cheese, crispy pickle chips, bacon ranch, and served on a golden brioche bun. At the tent you can also enjoy other specialty burgers, worldfamous fiery shrimp cocktail, crispy tots, and refreshing drinks, including soda and water. See you there!
Block Party
Game on, foodies! Introducing the Official Taco Sponsor of Gen Con 2024 - Social Cantina!
Social Cantina is excited to offer two options for grabbing great Mexican food and drinks at Gen Con this year. Visit their full-service restaurant on the corner of Georgia and Illinois Streets and at their Gen Con Block Party tent all weekend.
A great taco, that’s how it always starts!
The Official Taco of Gen Con will have every paleontologist lining up to determine its DNA. Try the Jurassic Pork taco, exclusively at Gen Con!
Local Eats
Level up your caffeine game with the NEW ice-cold brews from Helm Coffee Roasters. Be the first at Block Party to snag an exclusive, official Gen Con Nitro Brew Coffee Can from the Helm tent, and stock up with a 4-pack for endless gaming. Don’t wait – once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Also, check out the delicious grub from some of Indy’s favorite eateries – they’ll be serving up tasty bites all weekend long!
• Boozee Bundts
• Craft Exports
• Island Noodles
• Jug’s
Official Merchandise
BCW Supplies
Booth 2707
Gen Con Prism Deck Case: $12
Gen Con Card Sleeves (100 ct.): $12
Bundle Sleeves & Case: $20
Visit the BCW Supplies booth to purchase the new, officially licensed Gen Con prism deck case and Gen Con card sleeves featuring Genevieve. Bundle the two together to save more, while supplies last.
Dispel Dice
Booth 3023
Hand-Poured D20 Dice: $45
Gen Con has teamed up with Dispel Dice to design three hand-poured
CoolStuff Inc.
Booth 1501
Limited Edition Commemorative Gen Con 2024 Play Mat: $30
Celebrate Gen Con by owning your own Limited Edition Commemorative Play Mat! This sleek, easy-to-use play mat features rubber on one side and a soft cloth material on the other. With a very limited production run, stop by the booth and get yours before they’re gone!
My Little Demon
Booth 666
2024 Limited Edition Lavender Blush Ride-Along Genevieve Magnetic Plush: $30
As the legend foretold, a kiss from a maiden made Genevieve blush, changing the color of her scales! Lavender Blush Ride-Along Genevieve captures the dragon as she transitions between colors and seasons with a mystic blue-and-lavender sorbet swirl pattern featuring a magnetic pad so she can stick to metal surfaces and keep you company.
Dryad Tea
Booth 1742
Sage’s Serenity Tea: $25
Sages will tell you that serenity is something that takes practice. They will often pontificate and wax poetic about the search. They will also send you on so many side-quests that your head spins, so feel free to take their advice sparingly! Exotic fruits, light tangy citrus, and a hint of delicate flowery jasmine are layered with green and white teas to bring the same serenity that Sages speak of, with far fewer side-quests and searches.
FanRoll by Metallic Dice Games
Booths 2600, 1543, 643
Mini Dice Bag: FREE With Any Gen Con Exclusive Purchase!
This exclusive 2024 mini set is not for sale and only available as a gift with purchase with any Gen Con exclusive. The dice glow in the dark and react with the black light tray, with the highest number of each side spelling out G-E-N-C-O-N-!
Gen Con Ice Dragon Sharp Edge Inclusion Dice: $50
A follow-up to the red dragon inclusion set that sold out in 2023 in 3 hours, these handpolished sharp edge dice feature a highly detailed ice dragon and come in a collectible carrying case. Sharp edge dice are never machine tumbled and provide a more precise roll. Only 1,000 sets exist!
Gen Con Black Light Liquid Core UV Reactive Dice: $75
These exclusive Gen Con Elixir Dice are infused with liquid that reacts under black light to give an incredible glowing effect, featuring the Gen Con logo and year. Works with the Blacklight Dice Tray and comes with a free black light flashlight.
Gen Con Blacklight Tray: $25
This exclusive Gen Con dice tray provides protection for your gaming surface and features four sides of LED blacklights to interact with your dice. The high-quality velvet trays unsnap to fold down flat for easy storage and transportation.
Norse Foundry
Booths 449, 2703
Dragon Pirate D20 Holder: $15
A crew could ask for no better captain than the Dragon Pirate d20 Holder Miniature by Adventurers and Adversaries! A veteran of countless voyages and adventures, the official Gen Con 2024 miniature is ready to help you navigate the waters of the exhibit hall or guide you to your ticketed event. Regardless of your destination, there’s sure to be a chest filled with loot at the end!
Gen Con Officially Licensed Metal Dice with Tin Case Holder: $50
Smite all foes in your adventures at Gen Con with these officially licensed metal dice! Each set is made of zinc alloy metal and is standard sizing 16-20mm.
Official Merchandise
Ravensburger
Booth 2001
Crystal Caste Booths 329, 903, 1829
Gen Con 2024
Collectible Dice: $15
An annual collector’s item! This one-of-a-kind colorful 7-piece dice tin set matches the free Gen Con d6 dice from Crystal Caste.
O Christmas Geek Booth 114
Baby Genevieve 2024
Holiday Ornament: $15
For 2024, Baby Genevieve is in quite a tangle! This 3” tall ornament, exclusive to O Christmas Geek, is handpainted in Genevieve’s signature red and yellow colors over a polyresin figure.
Discover the exclusive Baby Genevieve jigsaw puzzle at Gen Con 2024! Available at the Ravensburger booth and event space, this limited-edition puzzle features vibrant colors and a satisfying puzzle experience.
Don’t miss your chance to own a unique piece of Gen Con memorabilia. Perfect for collectors and puzzle enthusiasts alike. Visit us early, as quantities are limited!
WizKids
Booth 711
Gen Con Genevieve Game Piece: $5
Stop by the WizKids booth to pick up the official Gen Con Genevieve game piece! It’s the perfect upgrade or alternate mover for all your favorite board games!
Geek Orthodox Booth 142
Gen Con 2024 Exclusive Stained Glass Window Cling
Standard: $25
Large: $65
Introducing the third annual Gen Con window cling, featuring Genevieve in a dynamic new pose and now available in two sizes! Enjoy the vibrant and colorful appearance in a form that’s easy to apply, remove, and reapply — giving any window the stained-glass look!
Great American Gothic
Booth 517
2024 Gen Con Flask: $45-$65
2024 Gen Con Goblet: $85-$115
2024 Gen Con Tankard: $100-$130
Great American Gothic is pleased to announce the return of the official Gen Con flask, goblet, and tankard for 2024. Shop these beautifully crafted handmade items forged from statesmetal and authentic leather, available in limited quantities, while supplies last.
Official Merchandise
Rollacrit
Booth 3027 & Wabash Lobby
Official Gen Con Merch and Apparel
Rollacrit is the official Gen Con merchandise and apparel partner, providing all your exclusive convention merchandise needs.
Founded by a group of former ThinkGeek ronin, Rollacrit is a place for those who explore dungeons, construct settlements, defeat monsters, and roll dice with friends. Shop tees, hoodies, drinkware, hats, bags, and more apparel and gear at the Gen Con Store in the Wabash Concourse, at the Gen Con Mini Mart in the Exhibit Hall, and online all year
Makers Market
Discover the treasure trove of unique local vendors at our Makers Market — a vibrant affair where gamers and makers unite to celebrate The Best Four Days in Gaming™.
More than just a place to buy your trinkets; it’s a hub for building creativity, a haven for local artisans, and a place to foster spirited conversations. Engage with the knowledgeable vendors as they share their passions and peddle their wares. Come experience the magic of our Makers Market as you add to your hoard. Roll for charisma, unleash your inner barterer, and immerse yourself in the craftsman’s world as you browse the hall.
Be on the lookout for roving entertainers, including jugglers, musicians, and perhaps even a magician will appear!
Participating Vendors
• Arrow Dot Press
• Baird Crafted
• Bearded Artist
• The Bracers Initiative
• Cloud Curio
• A Critical Hit
• Critical Hit Collectibles
• Cryptid Dicecraft
• Cr yTime
• Druids Garden Tea Company
• The Flickering Lantern
• Furry Feline Creatives
• L ilystrations
• Lore Link
• NerdyNixies
• Rin Marks Art Co.
• Sea Cow Games
• Silverwood Wood Designs
• Sunny Sponder
• Thor Custom Designs
• Tony Santiago Art
At a Glance Day + Time
Thursday – Saturday, 11 am – 7 pm Sunday, 11 am – 4 pm
Location In the hallway tunnel connecting the ICC and LOS
Stadium Events
See pages 26-29 for maps
Pin Trading
Join pin enthusiasts to trade official Pin Bazaar pins! Daily Trading will take place in the Stadium North Plaza (at the Horseshoe) and at the Capitol Food Court (near Cardhalla). Start collecting Pin Bazaar pins by visiting participating companies across the Exhibit Hall.
Did you know? More people are playing games in the stadium than in any other location at Gen Con!
Looking for a break from the crowds in the Exhibit Hall, or a place to recharge and refuel with a cold drink and a tasty snack? The Stadium has you covered! Enjoy free Wi-Fi, refreshing air conditioning, plenty of restrooms, a bounty of concessions, and ample seating to provide a well-deserved pause in your schedule. Food and beverages purchased at Block Party are welcome to be enjoyed in the Stadium.
While you’re there, check out the Midfield Experience and snap a pic on the actual turf that the Indianapolis Colts and Indy Eleven play on, with Genevieve standing proudly next to you. Share it on social media with #gencon!
At a Glance Day + Time
Thursday – Saturday, 7 am – 2 am Sunday, 7 am – 4 pm
Makers Market
More than just a place to buy your trinkets; the Makers Market is a trove of unique local vendors and a place to foster spirited conversations. Engage with knowledgeable vendors as they share their passions and you shop their wares. This year, we have over 20 vendors! See page 54 for details.
Event Registration and Customer Service
The Event HQ is on the Stadium Field, and you can both purchase event tickets and get help from Customer Service, including returning event tickets, so you don’t need to head back to Main Registration in the Convention Center. The HQ is open 7 am to midnight daily (4 pm on Sunday)
Board Games Library
The Gen Con Games Library is back in Lucas Oil Stadium! The Library hosts all the newest titles and the best games from recent years! With a thousand seats for gamers, the Library is the best place for you to sit down and game — either with the friends you came with, or new friends that you’ll meet in the Library. See page 120 for more details.
Did you know? The Games Library spans over 21,000 square feet. That’s nearly half an acre!
Club Lounge Special Events
AEG’s Big Game Night continues to thrive in the Club Lounge East! Over in Club Lounge West, Game Base 7 will be running a variety of board, card, and roleplaying games all convention long. Both Club Lounges are accessible along the Concourse at street level from the North Plaza entrance as well as from stairs on the Field up to the Stadium seats.
AEG Big Game Night ZED24ND253856
VISIT OUR FOOD PARTNERS
CURRY BOWL BY 1947 EATERY
Located on the second floor near rooms239/240,nexttoBen’sPretzels
BEN’S PRETZELS
Located on the second floor near rooms239/240,nexttoCurryBowl
VEGETABLE STIR-FRY
OHANALULU DONUTS
Located outside of Exhibit Hall K, on yourwaytotheLucasOilStadium
CHOCOLATE MOONSHINE
Our fudge vendor is located inside of ExhibitHallF,nearbooth#2801
MAUI WOWI
Located inside the Maryland Food Court,outsideofExhibitHallC
Stadium Events
Stadium Suites
With incredible field views, private rooms, extra seating, and ample counter space, the stadium suites in LOS offer a luxury experience for RPGs, special events, celebrity games, and more. It’s the perfect respite from the convention’s hustle and bustle to take the time for a memorable game.
Several different groups, including You Too Can Cthulhu, Gooey Cube, Limithron, Creature Curation, Realmsmith, Turtle & Phoenix, Hackpack, and Studio Ink Bat, are running games of D&D, Call of Cthulhu, Pathfinder, Dungeon Crawl Classics, Pirate Borg, Unknown Armies, Wanderhome, The One Ring, Vast Grimm, and more.
Scan to view events happening in the Stadium Suites!
Esteemed Gaming Groups
The Stadium hosts various events and is home to many of your favorites this year.
• Fight in the Skies Society
• Rogue Judges
• NASCRAG
• Rising Phoenix
• Able Kompanie
• Ottawa Red Shirts
• Cincinnati Arsenal Gaming
• No Rails Adventure Team
• Conspiracy of Gamers
• The Gen Con Games Library
Did you know? Since 2016, Gen Con has hosted over 17,000 games in the Stadium!
Blood Drive “Blood Lite Room”
We are thrilled to partner with The Heinlein Society and Versiti Blood Center of Indiana again for another record-breaking blood drive. By donating blood, you make a significant difference in the lives of others, and your donation helps people in need of blood transfusions due to surgery, cancer treatment, trauma, and more.
Did you know? In 2023, Gen Con collected 1,000 units of blood –an all-time record!
D&D Stamps and Players Handbook
The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate Dungeons & Dragons’ 50th anniversary at Gen Con by unveiling the limited-edition D&D stamps to Gen Con attendees in the stadium! Stamp sales and cancellations will be available all weekend long on the west concourse of LOS. Greg Breeding, the art director for the stamps, will be available for autographs at 10 am Thursday, following the stamps debut at Lucas Oil Stadium.
While visiting the stadium, don’t forget to grab a copy of the new, revised 2024 Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook. Take your game to the next level with more player options, enhanced organization, and engaging additions to the fifth edition rules, making this a must-have for your next campaign.
Limited quantities of both the Player’s Handbook and the stamps will be available daily. Get there early to secure your purchase! Share your loot with us on social media using #gencon, #DnD50atGenCon, and #DandDStamps!
Foam Swordplay
Engage in boffer (foam weapon) combat, roleplaying for noncombat and combat individuals, and a variety of non-combat classes. Don’t miss the opportunity to make your very own boffer! Thursday, 10 am and noon WKS24ND248333, WKS24ND249335
PANDAS, DRAGONS, and MIMICS, oh my! Come play these and other exciting games at the Catalyst Board Games Booth! Hurry, before the Crocodiles gobble them up!
PANDAS, DRAGONS, and MIMICS, oh my! Come play these and other exciting games at the Catalyst Board Games Booth! Hurry, before the Crocodiles gobble them up!
Experience the epic
Join us at our booth— the ultimate destination for awesome collectibles and giveaways, plus watch your favorite creators and trusted sellers stream on eBay Live. Catch us at Booth #1849 or on the eBay app.
Entrepreneurs Avenue
Looking for new exhibitors at Gen Con? Entrepreneurs Avenue is a dedicated spot in the Exhibit Hall for companies who are exhibiting with us for the first time.
Gen Con 2024 marks the 15-year anniversary of Entrepreneurs Avenue. Demo hot new games, discover up-and-coming publishers, and help us welcome the best and brightest newcomers to the tabletop gaming industry!
Companies Exhibiting in Entrepreneurs Avenue
Exhibiting Name Booth
Ad Atra 2958
Alpha Clash TCG 2857
Bellows Intent 2757
BGNations 2957
Birdwood Games 2959
Blue Heron 3062
Brueh Games Inc 2761
Burn the Fort 2853
CapyCat Games 2965
Charming Games Collective 2960
Dragon Egg Games 2860
Eastar Game Manufacturing 2863
Envy Born Games 3058
Fallenlights Studio 3054
Fambam Games 2759
Granite Glyph Publishing Co 2963
Gray Matters Games 2858
Happy Camper 2961
Exhibiting Name Booth
Incredible Dream 2955
Iron Studios 2765
Kozz Games: Dark Tomb 2854
Lautapelit.fi 2763
Lost Boy Entertainment 2962
Ludamus Games 3060
Ludus Magnus 2954
Mighty Boards 2865
Musings 2861
Pine Box Entertainment 2755
Possum Creek Games 2855
Soul Masters TCG 2953
The Arcane Library 2856
The Shivers Game 2862
Triceratops Games 2859
Ukiyo-e Heroes 3056
Universe of Legends TCG 2753
Weird City Games 2956
Please check the Exhibit Hall Map on our website for updates.
*Marketing Fellows in bold
2024 Marketing Fellowships
We are CapyCat Games, a Brazilian tabletop game developer and publisher. We are committed to creating innovative mechanics and fantastic worlds that break away from the conventional. In addition to developing and publishing our own games, we also act as curators of outstanding international titles, ensuring that the best and most creative games reach the Brazilian audience (such as Horrible Guild’s Wilderfeast and Glass Cannon Unplugged’s Apex Legends: Board Game).
At Gen Con 2024, we are going to present a first look at Skyfall Campaign Setting, a tragic and magitech take at 5e 2024 ruleset, inspired by Final Fantasy and greek tragedy and comedy. The campaign booklet presents new legacies replacing species (and our takes on few familiar ones), omens, new subclasses, and mechanics to dive deeper into the lands of Opath.
Ya’at’eeh, Hello. Burn the Fort is a game of anti-colonial Indigenous resistance, created and designed by Klee Benally.
Colonizers have built a military fortress and are waging a brutal invasion of your lands. Can you prevent their wagons from bringing supplies to the fort and burn it to the ground before the train reaches the Golden Spike? In Burn the Fort, each player takes the roles of a historic warrior fighting to stop colonial invasion of their lands. Players take turns gathering and playing cards, trading, battling wagons, and gathering Fire Tokens and the necessary Arrowhead Tokens to burn the fort. To win the game, players determine how much they wish to work together while facing colonial forces and waging fierce anti-colonial resistance. Burn the Fort is a semi-cooperative game where you’ll face history in challenging and empowering ways.
Since 2012, Iron Studios has led in creating meticulously detailed collectible figures, becoming Brazil’s first company to offer licensed products for collectors. Our global fan base appreciates our dedication to precision and authenticity.
At Gen Con 2024, we are excited to showcase our latest co-op board game set in the universe of OZOB. This game is a partnership between Iron Studios, Jovem Nerd, and UaiPiá Studios, combining high-quality miniatures, exceptional art direction, and innovative gameplay mechanics. Attendees can experience demo sessions, where players collaborate to achieve mission objectives across various difficulty levels. We will also feature a stunning statue of Ozob, exemplifying our commitment to artistry and craftsmanship.
Iron Studios, known for our innovative concepts and 1/1 scale replicas, continues to expand our diverse portfolio, capturing the essence of beloved characters. Join us at Gen Con to see the passion and detail that define Iron Studios.
Coming from the small island of Malta, Mighty Boards will make its Gen Con debut! Mighty Boards is a board game publisher known for Art Society, Hamlet: The Village Building Game, Vengeance, Posthuman Saga, Petrichor, and more.
This Gen Con, they will release the highly anticipated new co-op action adventure Fateforge: Chronicles of Kaan. The game offers an accessible, RPG-like board game experience for 1 to 4 players, and can be played in episodes of under an hour! Meaningful narrative choices and action-packed combat scenes are the heart of this game. Choose your hero and embark on a thrilling adventure full of increasingly challenging situations and surprising encounters where you’ll have to combine the full potential of your hero’s abilities to succeed!
Mighty Boards will also bring one of 2023’s hottest games, Art Society, and you’ll be able to take a sneak peek at upcoming Reiner Knizia game Rebirth.
What is Soul Masters TCG? A Tactical Trading Card Game, with a unique blend that combines the nature of trading card games with resource management and strategy. You take control of a Commander and their army to engage the opponent Commanders while managing resources and lowering their Commander’s Health Points to win the game.
Key Features:
· Fast Gameplay (25-30 min).
· Beautiful art with hand drawn characters.
· Very appealing price to attract players without quitting other games.
· Direct communication and distribution to stores.
· Stores that carry our product will have access to monthly kits that will provide materials for events.
· Weekly scheduled events for casual players.
· Organized play for competitive players with 1K tournaments, Regionals, etc.
· Players will be able to acquire products with our regular boosters while collectors can aim to invest in the limited release Collector Packs.
At Gen Con we will have promo, collector cards, and accessories.
UrbanTCG Entertainment LLC is a small indie game company created in 2022 by Vincent Wideman. Based in South Carolina, UTE was developed with the goal of creating interesting and imaginative trading card and tabletop games. Coming from a TCG background and growing up playing tabletop games with family and friends, Vincent aims to create fun and easy-to-learn games that support deep strategies and rewarding gameplay. Alongside game development, representation and equality are big driving forces for each IP that will be developed.
The first game in development that we are bringing to Gen Con is Universe of Legends TCG. UofL is a 2-year passion project that takes inspiration from well-known TCGs but remixes them with fresh and fast-paced gameplay that is fun for all ages but will have lore and stories that keep people playing for each set to come. Be sure to swing by, meet the creator and learn to play Universe of Legends.
Show Highlights
Wednesday Gaming
Stop by the historic Union Station building if you’ve arrived early and want to get some gaming in before the convention officially starts. On Wednesday, it is entirely dedicated to free and “by fans, for fans” events to get the dice rolling. Events start at 10 am and run late into the evening!
BIPOC Lounge
Opening Ceremonies
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Kick off the Best Four Days in Gaming™ with Gen Con and special guests as they share highlights for the weekend. The audience will also have a special music performance and prize drawings. Don’t miss it!
Thursday, 9 am
ICC: 500 Ballroom
The Gen Con BIPOC Lounge, in partnership with The Rose Gauntlet Foundation, is a dedicated space for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to connect, relax, and network for career-focused endeavors. We encourage BIPOC attendees to visit the lounge to build, assist, and provide resources for the community’s growth.
Attendees can find games and artwork created by BIPOC designers, a game library, scheduled events, refreshments, and a space to connect with fellow members of the BIPOC community.
Professionals can use this space to meet with fellow industry professionals, obtain resources from companies seeking to work with and mentor BIPOC creators, sign up for one-on-one meetings, and recharge from working the show.
Stop by, say hello to the Tabletop Gaymers, and join dozens of games! Pick up a Gaymer, Ally, and Pride badge ribbon and attend a Gaymer Gathering to meet other Gaymers and Allies at the convention.
ICC: Room 120
Thursday – Saturday, 8 am – noon
Sunday, 8 am – 3 pm
Gaymer Gatherings, nightly 6 – 8 pm
BIPOC Industry Networking Event
(ZED24ND254658)
Gen Con is excited to offer the 3rd annual BIPOC Industry Networking Event. This event allows Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to meet with gaming and hobby industry professionals, ask questions, and make connections.
Friday, 7 pm
ICC: Room 144-145
Towards A More Diverse & Inclusive Gen Con (SEM24ND265789)
Join the Gen Con Staff and our DEI Advisory Committee members as we discuss our work and our goals for improvement. This is our report card on creating a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable Gen Con. There will be a Q&A following the panel.
Sunday, 11 am
ICC: Room 245
Latine Lounge
The Latine Lounge returns to showcase the amazing games created by the talented Latine community. This space is open to everyone and is intended to share TTRPGs and adventures in an environment of joy, representation, and inclusion inspired by the cultures and experiences of Latin America. Attendees can drop by to see the showcased event organizers and creators and join games in Spanish or English hosted by members of the Latine community.
ICC: Room 124
Gamers Live (ENT24ND250508)
A Gen Con original since 2012 - the live improvised RPG comedy sensation is back! Join your favorite gamers as they fight [you tell us!] on their epic quest to [your call]! Inspired by the popular The Gamers franchise, Gamers Live features a rotating cast of improvisers and actors across the Zombie Orpheus Entertainment and Dead Gentlemen Productions universes. Suggestions from the audience shape the story as the performers respond to the chaos around them, hopping from the gaming table to the fantasy world and back again – for the enjoyment of all!
ICC: 500 Ballroom
Friday, 6 pm
Gen Con Dance (ENT24ND265788)
Dance the night away on Saturday at 9 pm during the last night of Gen Con! Enjoy DJs spinning a great mix of nerdy classics, the latest pop hits, and cash bars! The party happens at the Union Station: Grand Hall. Join us and get your groove on!
Quiet Room
Need to de-stress, de-compress, and re-group? Our Quiet Room, brought to you by Incredible Dream, is just the place! A low-light, self-monitored space where you can get away from the high stimulation of the convention awaits you. Take a moment or stay a while; whatever you need.
ICC: Room 211
Thursday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm Sunday, 10 am – 3 pm
Purchase a Gen Con 2024 Souvenir Cup
Collective Art Project
Express your inner artist by participating in the creation of a large-scale living fantasy painting! Join artist Kathleen Hardy, who created this year’s one-of-a-kind piece, and add your talent to the canvas.
The Collective Art Project is located in the Capital Concourse in the convention center.
Gen Con is committed to sustainability and eliminating single-use waste through reuse. This limited edition, collectible 44-oz Gen Con cup (lid included!) featuring the program book cover design by Art Show artist Elaine Ho will be available at all concession stands throughout the convention center and Lucas Oil Stadium from August 1-4 while supplies last. With your souvenir cup, you can enjoy $1 refills all weekend at ICC and LOS concession stands! All sales are final; there are no cup returns or exchanges. Hydrate, refill, repeat!
Community Row
Representatives from various local community organizations, charities, conventions, and gaming groups will be present to help you discover new gamer-friendly activities and raise awareness about all the awesome things they do outside of the Best Four Days in Gaming™! Tables will be staffed during Exhibit Hall hours, and attendees are welcome to learn more about local gaming, volunteering, civic, and educational opportunities available year-round.
ICC: Second Floor, Sagamore Concourse
Cardhalla
Cardhalla is a free, convention-long event, and everyone can participate! Help build a city (or just about anything your imagination can dream up) out of cards. Grab a pile and start folding and stacking!
On Saturday night, help us destroy the Cardhalla structure for charity. Bring your pocket change to throw, and all proceeds will be given to our 2024 charity partners. The structure’s damage begins Saturday at 10 pm with an auction for the first throw. Total destruction occurs at 10:30 pm. Gen Con would like to thank Steven and his team for volunteering annually to host this incredible event.
Streaming
Get in the Trunk Live!
ENT24ND254263
The Glass Cannon Network’s smash hit Delta Green series Get in the Trunk is coming to Gen Con for its first ever in-person live show!
Thursday, noon
Streaming Stage (ICC: 101-103)
ZOE Presents:
Scooby Doo - Where RPG You?
ENT24ND250511
Zoinks, Jinkies, and Jeepers! Catch some livestreamed RPG comedy chaos as the folk from ZOE dive into a one-shot homebrew Scooby Doo RPG adventure rife with tricks, tropes, and special guest Peter Adkison!
Thursday, 4 pm
Streaming Stage (ICC: 101-103)
Sorority RPG Live With Becca Scott and Friends
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A Call of Cthulhu actual play with keeper Becca Scott chasing an all-star cast of investigators through Victorian London, as horrors from the unknowable cosmic depths nip at their heels.
Thursday, 8 pm
Streaming Stage (ICC: 101-103)
DesiQuest Live Play Experience
ENT24ND262328, ENT24ND269654
Led by Jasmine, the DQ team will continue to embark on a thrilling adventure filled with ancient mysteries, epic battles, and intricate storytelling in a storyline crafted specifically for Gen Con 2024!
Saturday, 1 pm
Streaming Stage (ICC: 101-103)
ZOE Presents: Demon Hunters A Comedy of Terrors - Live!
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For the first time ever, join the folks from ZOE as they perform their rendition of the DHRPG - live! A misfit crew of Demon Hunters must save the world from the forces of Evil. Yeah, we’re screwed...
Sunday, 2 pm
Streaming Stage (ICC: 101-103)
It’s Kind of a Fun Story Live!
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A live playthrough of the hit party game with some of your favorite personalities in gaming, hosted by last year’s IKOAFS Live! winner and stand-up comedian, Grant Lyon.
Friday, 5 pm
Streaming Stage (ICC: 101-103)
Kids on Bikes 2nd Edition Live!
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From the same producers of Gods of Metal: Ragnarock Live and Misfits & Magic Live, journey with an incredible cast into a fantastical small town, big adventure of the newest edition of Kids on Bikes.
Saturday, noon
Main Stage (ICC: 500 Ballroom)
SINK! Live!
Presented by Crimson Herald and Samurai Rusk
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Jasmine Bhullar, Jay Foster, Anica Cihla, and Diana of the Rose join DM Johnny Stanton as they journey through the Pirate, Tattoo, and Dungeon filled world of SINK! the definitive 5e Tattoo setting!
Friday, 9 pm
Streaming Stage (ICC: 101-103)
The Great Gooey Dungeon Game Show
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An interactive 3D dungeonscape game show. Be amazed by the dungeon, entertained by our wonderful panel of celebrity guests, thrilled by expert game master, Alphinius Goo, and win prizes!
Friday, 10 am Main Stage (ICC: 500 Ballroom)
All Himbos 2: This Time It’s Bicepsual
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TTRPG’s favorite self-confessed Himbos and Thembos bring their best Character Counter-parts for a SEQUEL!? Join us in this feel-good comedy Tales of The Valiant Adventure!
Friday, 2 pm
Main Stage (ICC: 500 Ballroom)
For the 24th consecutive year, the Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming celebrates the best in gaming, including game systems, supplements, magazines, companies, designers, events, or conventions. The winner is announced at Gen Con Indy, one of the first events at the convention.
In the months before Gen Con, the Diana Jones Award Committee, composed of gaming professionals worldwide, discusses and votes on the best of the past year. Finalists are selected, and further voting determines a single winner.
Winners receive the traveling Diana Jones Award trophy at a private event on Wednesday before Gen Con. The original trophy was lost, and a new one debuted in 2022.
Scan to learn more about the Diana Jones Award, including previous winners.
The items on this year’s shortlist are:
• Adepticon, a miniatures games convention in the Midwest
• Ami Baio, a game designer and owner of Pink Tiger Games
• Fastaval, an RPG and board game convention in Denmark
• TTRPGs for Trans Rights in Florida, a charity bundle organized by Rue Dickey
• United Paizo Workers, a workers’ union
Special thanks to the sponsors of this year’s Diana Jones Award ceremony:
Key Sponsors: Azora Law, Kobold Press
Ceremony Sponsors: Andrew Chesney, Anthony Gallela, Beach House Games, Bully Pulpit Games, Chaldea, Chip Theory Games, The Corner of Story and Game, Darrington Press, Free League Publishing, Gen Con, Gen Con TV, Geoff Engelstein, Heroic Journey Publishing, Heroic Signatures, Jim Kitchen, Lazy Wolf Studios, Lou Anders, Matt Forbeck, Mechanical Muse, Onyx Path Publishing, Peter Adkison, Randy Price, Renegade Game Studios, and Ross Thompson
We’d also like to thank our board members: Peter Adkison, Matt Forbeck, Michelle Nephew, and Camdon Wright. Plus, Aaron Trammell, who coordinates the Emerging Designer Program with Camdon.
To discover who has won the 24th annual Diana Jones Award, stop by the Gen Con Info booth or visit DianaJonesAward.org after the convention!
The Diana Jones Emerging Designer Program
The Diana Jones Award committee is excited to announce this year’s finalists and four winners for the Diana Jones Emerging Designer Program! The program is now in its fourth year.
Quinn Brander
Quinn Brander, a Cree designer from Vancouver, created the 2023 hit game Rebuilding Seattle, earning the Dice Tower’s Seal of Excellence. He is currently developing two new games: Rebuilding Chicago (2025 release by Wizkids) and a cooperative roguelite campaign game with Isaac Vega, set for a 2025 crowdfunding campaign to be published by Rose Gauntlet Entertainment.
Taylor Navarro
Taylor Navarro, a Puerto Rican-British TTRPG designer and mother of two in southeast England, is a 2024 Storytelling Collective Creative Laureate and Big Bad Con POC Scholar. She produces Tales from Sina Una and began designing for Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition in 2021. Her work includes Ghostfire Gaming’s The Seeker’s Guide to Enchanting Emporiums and Evil Hat Productions’ Deathmatch Island, and self publishing projects.
Clarence Simpson
Clarence Simpson, a half-Filipino board game designer and diversity advocate, previously worked as a software engineer in video games. He co-designed The Wolves, which won the Dutch Game of the Year award. His other games include A Message from the Stars, Chomp, and Merchants of Magick. His unpublished Shaking the Tree won the 2019 HABA USA Design Contest and was a runner-up for the 2020 Cardboard Edison Award.
Basil Wright
Basil Wright, a Black and Seminole Florida native, creates games that draw the magical from the mundane. Their works include Pelogos, Mouseia, You’re Naked, Run!, and You Can (Not) Pet the Cat. A 2023 Big Bad Con POC Scholar and panelist, they design accessible games that promote community and inclusivity for all players.
The committee would also like to congratulate our excellent finalists:
• Ar manda
• Otto Garay
• Laurie O’Connel
• Navaar Selk-Jackson
For more information about all our finalists, visit DianaJonesAward.org
Special thanks to this year’s sponsors of the Emerging Designer Program:
Key Sponsors: Bundle of Holding, Gen Con
Plus, thanks to Anyone’s Game for donating to the Emerging Designer Program for the cost of admission to their gathering.
Our Emerging Designer Program prize donors include:
• Atlas Games
• Evil Hat Productions
• Game Manufacturers Association
• Green Ronin Publishing
• Kobold Press
• NYU Press
• Pelgrane Press
• Protospiel Online
• The Game Crafter
Award Ceremonies
The Dice Tower Awards
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Thursday, 7pm – 9pm | ICC: 500 Ballroom
The 17th Annual Dice Tower awards will be presented live at Gen Con 2024 by the Dice Tower team and friends! Join us for a live show and congratulate the winners of fifteen different awards. Which board games have the best art, the best production, best strategy, best expansion, and more? Tom Vasel and Eric Summerer along with the Dice Tower staff will be hosting and announcing the best games of 2024, as voted on by a myriad of board game reviewers and podcasters. Come join us for skits, hilarity, and a celebration of the best of 2024.
The 2024 Ennie Awards
Cocktail Reception & Silent Auction
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Friday, 6pm – 8pm | Union Station Grand Hall Awards
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Friday, 8pm – 11pm | Union Station Grand Hall
The ENNIE Awards (the “ENNIES”) are an annual fan-based celebration of excellence in tabletop roleplaying gaming.
GEN CON 2024
Hunters Entertainment has returned to Gen Con with exciting panels, a live show, and more games to play than ever before!
Kids on Bikes 2e LIVE!
Gear up and join Community Director Markeia McCarty, plus a can’t-miss cast of familiar faces for a live Actual Play of KIDS ON BIKES 2E!
August 3rd | 12PM
ICC : 500 Blrm | ENT24ND266531
Our Panel Track
The Creators of Hunters Entertainment
Your favorite creatives from Hunters Entertainment discuss storytelling, game development, and TTRPGS!
August 1st | 10AM
ICC : 245 | SEM24ND266604
The Business of Making TTRPGS
Sit down for a frank discussion about what it takes to bring TTRPGs to life from leading minds in the business.
August 2nd | 12PM
Stadium : Meeting Room 8 |SEM24ND266627
Play Our Games!
Get into the games with Kids on Bikes 2e, Ragnarock, and more from Hunters Entertainment on the games floor!
Snap this QR Code to access all of our offerings!
Dungeons & Dragons & 50 Years
of Adventure
Gen Con
As Gen Con looks forward to another 50 years of Dungeons & Dragons, it is essential to take a moment to recognize and honor the incredible women and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) whose creativity, passion, and vision have played pivotal roles in shaping the game we cherish today.
Gen Con is indebted to these trailblazers, whose worlds were used to create intricate narratives and stories beyond our imaginations. Their contributions have enriched the vibrant fabric of D&D and Gen Con.
Gen Con celebrates the women who challenged stereotypes and shattered barriers, bringing their unique perspectives and talents to every aspect of the game’s creation and community-building. Women have shaped the tabletop industry in countless ways. And their voices will continue to be heard.
Gen Con acknowledges the BIPOC creators who have infused D&D with the richness of their cultures, folklore, and traditions. Their stories have broadened our horizons, inviting us to embark on quests that transcend the boundaries of our own experience.
Together, we stand on the shoulders of giants — the visionaries, storytellers, artists, and adventurers whose collective contributions have transformed D&D into the lively and modern game it is today.
As we roll the dice and embark on our next adventure, let us not forget the sacrifices made for us to play Dungeons & Dragons with our friends, families, and neighbors. May our journeys be guided by the wisdom of those who came before us and the promise of a future where all voices are heard, all stories are valued, and all adventurers are welcome.
Looking inside the 1974 Gen Con program, there is little sign that Dungeons & Dragons had been released earlier that year.
As Bill Hoyer wrote in his 1974 convention report…
The three-day event was sponsored by the Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association, which was the namesake for the small firm called Tactical Studies Rules—publisher of the 1,000 copies of the woodgrain boxes containing the original D&D rules. Gary Gygax held the first Lake Geneva Wargames Convention in the Horticultural Hall in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in 1968, and he first met his D&D co-author Dave Arneson there in 1969.
… D&D was the life of the party. Sales of the game had been low in the first half of 1974, as it was a difficult game to learn from the rulebook alone—but in person, people took to it immediately. The many gamers who learned D&D from its creators at Gen Con took home copies to their groups and seeded a dedicated fan base in wargaming and science-fiction fandom. Don Greenwood of Avalon Hill would later remark that “Gen Con is what got TSR off and running.”
The 1975 Gen Con program does indeed list D&D on its schedule, with Rob Kuntz running his “Sunken City” scenario.
In 1976, organized play of D&D became a staple of Gen Con once Bob Blake and his team from Valparaiso, Indiana, began hosting large tournaments.
Blake began publishing the tournament dungeons his group ran so that others could play these adventures. At first, these circulated only in miniscule numbers, but Blake arranged with the Judges Guild to publish his 1976 effort as The Gen Con 9 Dungeons.
TSR liked the idea of turning tournament adventures into modules. Their first in-house
TSR’s biggest release planned for Gen Con in 1979 was the Dungeon Masters Guide, which completed the initial Advanced Dungeons & Dragons ruleset.
But Gen Con XII became notorious for an unexpected reason: the disappearance of 16-year-old college student James Dallas Egbert III from East Lansing, Michigan. Weeks afterwards, the press speculated that the “cult” game of D&D had led to Egbert’s disappearance – and that Gen Con was the last place Egbert had been seen. Neither turned out to be true.
After the Egbert incident, everything changed for D&D—sales of the game immediately quadrupled, and players flocked to Gen Con. The 1979 AD&D Open tournament had included 324 participants; by August of 1980, Bob Blake could report 650 pre-registrations for the Open, and with walk-ins, the total number swelled to over 900. Teams of 9 pre-generated characters would attack the Slave Pits module series A1-4, which were developed in parallel as TSR products and tournament adventures.
Throughout the 1980s, the AD&D Opens, the tournaments run by the Role Playing Game Association (RPGA), and individual events submitted by countless gamemasters swelled the Gen Con programs. You can for example in 1984 see Ed Greenwood running his “Into the Forgotten Realms” event, years before the
Gary Gygax would leave TSR late in 1985, and after his departure, thoughts quickly turned to producing a revised second edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Where else would TSR turn to socialize these ideas in 1986 than the audience of Gen Con?
In 1997, TSR was acquired by Wizards of the Coast, publishers of the monumentally successful Magic: the Gathering collectible card game. Almost immediately, then Wizards CEO Peter Adkison determined that there would be a third edition of Dungeons & Dragons. It was first announced at Gen Con in 1999, 2000
Although Wizards of the Coast let Peter Adkison acquire Gen Con in 2002, the convention has remained vital to D&D. In 2012, after the kick-off of the D&D Next playtests, Wizards revealed their plans for
To celebrate the fiftieth Gen Con in 2017, a museum in the footprint of the Horticultural Hall in Lake Geneva was erected in Lucas Oil Stadium where early rare D&D artifacts were displayed, and panelists spoke to D&D’s past and future, including (shown
D&D GUESTS OF HONOR
Gen Con celebrates 50 years of Dungeons & Dragons with a series of panels that feature significant contributors to the history of D&D. Join Gen Con chairperson Peter Adkison and D&D historian Jon Peterson for a walk through every edition of D&D.
PANEL HOSTS
Jon Peterson studies the history of wargames and roleplaying games. He is the author of Playing at the World (2012), The Elusive Shift (2020), and Game Wizards (2021). He also coauthored the Hugo Award finalist Dungeons & Dragons: Art & Arcana (2018), the New York Times bestseller Heroes’ Feast: The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook (2020), as well as Heroes’ Feast: Flavors of the Multiverse (2023) and Lore & Legends (2023). He furthermore contributes to academic anthologies on games and a variety of online periodicals.
Matt Forbeck is an awardwinning and New York Timesbestselling author and game designer of over thirty-five novels and countless games. His projects have won a Peabody Award, a Scribe Award, and several ENnies and Origins Awards. He also runs the Diana Jones Award Foundation and is the father of five, including a set of quadruplets. He lives in Beloit, Wisconsin, with his wife and a rotating cast of college-age kids. For more about him and his work, visit Forbeck.com.
Peter Adkison is a serial entrepreneur. His first business was Wizards of the Coast, which he founded in 1990. While CEO, from 1990 – 2001, WotC published Magic: The Gathering, 3rd Edition D&D, and Pokémon. In 2002, Adkison acquired the Gen Con tabletop games convention which he still owns. After finishing film school in 2012, Adkison began developing a fantasy web series called Chaldea, which he continues to develop through his latest obsession, as executive producer of Gen Con TV.
JON PETERSON
PETER ADKISON
MATT FORBECK
Dungeons & Dragons - The “Original” Edition
Gen Con celebrates “Original” Dungeons & Dragons with guests Stephen Marsh and Mike Carr.
Friday, August 2, 9 am — ICC: 101-103 SEM24ND254018
STEPHEN MARSH
Stephen Marsh started Wargaming in 1969 and attempted to design a FRPG using hex sheets and The Golden Bough. Encountered D&D in 1974 and realized it solved all the problems he had. Corresponded with Gary Gygax from ‘74 on and added good and evil to alignment, underwater monsters and magic items to Blackmoor and wrote The Expert rules from the B/X set. Design credits from TSR, Chaosium and Hero Games.
MIKE CARR
Mike Carr is a fixture at Gen Con. He ran the first game (Fight in the Skies) at the inaugural event on August 24, 1968 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and has attended every Gen Con since. In 1976 Gary Gygax invited him to join TSR, where he worked until 1983. He edited TSR’s first three AD&D hardbound books and his design credits include the Fight in the Skies / Dawn Patrol game (pioneering the concepts of character creation and level advancement), the B1 module “In Search of the Unknown” for Basic D&D, and “Robbers & Robots,” an Endless Quest book that sold a quarter million copies. In D&D, Mike was the first-ever Cleric character in Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor campaign. His current project is a rhyming book for young readers, “Girls & Boys Love Great Big Toys,” which he is self- publishing this year.
Advanced Dungeons & DragonS
Gen Con celebrates Advanced Dungeons & Dragons with guests, Luke Gygax and Allen Hammock.
Friday, August 2, 10 am — ICC: 101-103 SEM24ND254021
Luke Gygax is the son of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) co-creator Gary Gygax and Founder of Gary Con® (garycon.com). Luke literally grew up at the gaming table with the designers that built the foundation of the RPG industry. He played the iconic character Melf, whose spells are still in the D&D rules. Luke is an author with numerous design credits. Luke is thoroughly enjoying being more active in the gaming community since he retired from the Army in 2022 after 33 years of service. Luke resides in Southern California with his beautiful wife, Bouchra, their three daughters, Miriam, Amira and Sabrina, as well as his faithful canine companion, Grogu Spoticus Gygax. Stay up to date with Luke’s projects and appearances at Gaxx Worx
Editor, World of Greyhawk 1E. Designer, Ghost Tower of Inverness, etc. Editing/ Development/Design Team, Dungeon Masters Guide 1E, Deities & Demigods, and around 100 other products 1978-1985.
ALLEN HAMMOCK
LUKE GYGAX
ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 2ND ED.
Gen Con celebrates Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition with guests, David “Zeb” Cook and Steve Winter.
Friday, August 2, 1 pm — ICC: 101-103 SEM24ND254023
STEVE WINTER
Steve Winter got his start in the RPG industry by answering a help wanted ad from TSR, Inc., in 1981. He’s managed to make a living from RPGs ever since as editor, developer, managing editor, creative director, web producer, designer, and author on countless roleplaying games, adventures, boardgames, wargames, novels, magazines, and web articles. A few highlights include 2nd Edition AD&D, World of Greyhawk, Marvel Super Heroes, Tomb of Annihilation, and Scarlet Citadel.
DAVID “ZEB” COOK
Against the odds, David “Zeb” Cook has been a professional game designer for 45 years, working in video and tabletop games. In 1979 when he was hired by Gary Gygax to be part of the nascent Design Department at TSR. Starting as employee number #24 he survived the boom and bust years of the Satanic Panic and numerous changes of upper management to become a senior designer. By the time he left in 1994, he had designed for almost all of TSR’s product lines and settings. He was the designer of the D&D Expert Rules, the Oriental Adventures expansion for AD&D, and the AD&D 2nd Edition rulebooks. In addition he created modules, campaign settings, rule supplements, board games, audio scripts, a gamebook, and several fantasy novels along with other things he’s probably forgotten.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 3RD ED.
Gen Con celebrates Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition with guests, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams, and Monte Cook.
Friday, August 2, 2 pm — ICC: 101-103 SEM24ND254026
JONATHAN TWEET
Jonathan Tweet has been bringing new ideas to roleplaying games since 1987, his work inspired several influential indie RPG designers, and he is in the Origins Gaming Hall of Fame. He authored or co-authored the RPGs Ars Magica (1987), Over the Edge (1992, 2019), Talislanta 3rd Ed (1992), Everway (1995), D&D 3rd Ed (2000), Omega World (2003), and 13th Age (2013). He values RPGs as a medium that encourages people to be creative. You can find his author page on Facebook and him on “Twitter”.
SKIP WILLIAMS
Skip Williams hails from Lake Geneva, WI, the birthplace of D&D. As a kid in school.
Skip rubbed elbows with many of the people who developed and influenced the original Dungeons & Dragons game, especially Gary Gygax, and was ultimately employed by TSR and WotC. At TSR Skip penned the Sage Advice column for Dragon magazine, worked on the RPGA Network, wrote for Polyhedron news zine, and wrote and designed for D&D. At WotC, Skip was a principal designer for 3rd Edition D&D and also worked on Chainmail, Forgotten Realms, and Greyhawk. Currently, Skip works for various game publishers and is co-director of events for Gary Con.
MONTE COOK
Having worked as a professional writer for more than 30 years, Monte Cook can honestly say that he’s never had a real job. As a game designer, he’s worked on hundreds of products, including as a codesigner of D&D 3rd Edition, and designer of HeroClix, Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, Ptolus, Arcana Evolved, Numenera, and so much more, including a number of Planescape products, Call of Cthulhu d20, Monte Cook’s World of Darkness, a whole bunch of d20 stuff, and — going way back — products for Rolemaster and Champions. As a fiction writer, he has published numerous short stories and two novels, The Glass Prison, a heroic fantasy set in the Forgotten Realms, and Of Aged Angels, a modern day conspiracy and paranormal tale.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 4TH ED.
Gen Con celebrates Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition with guests, Rob Heinsoo and Andy Collins.
Saturday, August 3, 10 am — ICC: 101-103 SEM24ND254027
ROB HEINSOO
Rob Heinsoo got into D&D in 1974 via the original Brown Box. His roleplaying work includes co-design of 13th Age, 13th Age Glorantha, and 13th Age 2E as well as lead design of D&D 4E. His card and board game designs include Three-Dragon Ante, Epic Spell Wars 1 & 2, and the upcoming Armello: the Board Game. He’s the lead designer at Fire Opal Games and blogs at robheinsoo.blogspot.com
ANDY COLLINS
Andy Collins began his design career writing and editing RPGs for Wizards of the Coast. He led development on D&D v3.5, co-designed D&D 4E and the Star Wars d20 RPG, and contributed to over 60 other titles. After moving from the tabletop to the realm of computer games, Andy led narrative & writing efforts for Marvel Heroes, a superhero action RPG title from Gazillion Entertainment, and for State of Decay 2, a post-apocalyptic survival game from Undead Labs. Recently he returned to Wizards of the Coast to help craft the new Virtual Tabletop experience for D&D. He’s also the co-founder of Bold Cat Studios, an independent venture that delivers design and marketing solutions to businesses large and small.
Dungeons & Dragons 5th Ed.
Gen Con celebrates Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition with guests, Mike Mearls and Rodney Thompson.
Saturday, August 3, 11 am —
MIKE MEARLS
Mike Mearls is incredibly fortunate to have spent more than 25 years creating games. He has won awards for his work in tabletop RPGs, board games, miniatures games, and trading card games. He led the creation of 5th edition D&D and played a critical role in the development of 4th edition. He contributed to multiple Magic: the Gathering and D&D miniatures sets. His favorite Pokemon is Gengar and he considers the UrbanMech to be the ultimate example of 31st century military technology.
RODNEY THOMPSON
Rodney Thompson is a tabletop and video game designer of over 20 years. His design credits include Star Wars Saga Edition, Lords of Waterdeep, and the 5th Edition core rules of Dungeons & Dragons, as well as a number of supplements for 3rd. 4th, and 5th Editions. He is the founder of Scratchpad Publishing and creator of its first two games, Dusk City Outlaws and Spectaculars. Rodney is currently a Senior Design Lead at Bungie, working on the Destiny franchise.
D&D Museum
Located on the second floor in the Crossroads Concourse. Stop by and check out Dungeons & Dragons archives from all 50 years!
2024 D&D Stamps
The U.S Postal Service will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons by unveiling special stamps! You can get your Dungeons & Dragons stamps at the Stadium in the West Concourse all convention long
Wizards of the Coast Special Events
Join the D&D team to get a deeper look into the soon-to-be-released 2024 Player’s Handbook, get insights on the design process, learn how community feedback shaped the final product, and more! ICC: 232 on Thursday at 1 pm. Come experience a night of fantastic fun with a starstudded cast! Food, drink, and surprises await. Wizards of the Coast presents D&D Live! Saturday at 7 pm at the Indiana Rooftop Ballroom.
2024 D&D Player’s Handbook
Available ahead of release for a limited time only! Head over to the Stadium West Concourse
Baldman Games
As the Official Adventurers’ League host for Gen Con, Baldman Games has brought D&D to Gen Con year after year. This year, they are offering over 100 events, including demos of D&D and D&D Open!
Gen Con Presents –D&D 50th Seminars
Join Gen Con Chairperson Peter Adkison and some big names in Dungeons & Dragons to learn about every edition of the game. Names like Jon Peterson, Steven R. Marsh, Mike Carr, Luke Gygax, Allen Hammock, and more. They will share memories, insight, and stories about their times working on the different editions.
Gooey Cube
Gooey Cube is bringing you another adventure from Genzacon!
Make sure to grab your adventure from Booth 2243 If those characters look familiar, it’s because they are fashioned after the Gen Con staff. And don’t miss The Great Gooey Dungeon Game Show, an interactive 3D dungeonscape with special guests, Alphinius Goo, and prizes!
Infinite Imagination
One of the longest-running RPG gaming groups at Gen Con. Though they don’t focus on D&D, they still have many RPG events to choose from. Check out Private Eyes, an RPG that takes place in 1927 Chicago.
The Glass Cannon Network
The Glass Cannon Network returns with Call of Cthulhu Live!
National Society of Crazed Gamers (NASCRAG)
Looking for an entry to D&D without being too overwhelmed? Check out NASCRAG. This independent gaming group celebrates 45 years of fun, puzzles, roleplaying, and puns. They have a reputation for more puzzles and roleplay-focused games with little to no combat.
Goodman Games
The keepers of Dungeon Crawl Classics, Mutant Crawl Classics, and others. Goodman Games has over 150 events at Gen Con this year.
Lynnvander Studios
Looking for more D&D fun? Join Lynnvander Studios for Imaria
The Pillars of Power. This is a oneshot adventure based around the complexities of mana, anti-magic, and more.
D&D EVENTS
50 Years of D&D — Endless Quests
Rose Estes (the writer of many of the original Endless Quest books) — joins Matt Forbeck (the writer of the latest Endless Quest books) to talk about the development of early D&D fiction.
Friday, August 2, 4 pm, Conrail Room, Crowne Plaza
50 Years of D&D — Ravenloft
Join Tracy and Laura Hickman (the creators of Ravenloft) and James Lowder (Ravenloft novelist) to discuss the scariest of the official D&D settings and how it first spawned, with host Matt Forbeck.
Friday, August 2, 5 pm, Conrail Room, Crowne Plaza
50 Years of D&D — History
Join Dungeons & Dragons historians Ben Riggs, David M. Ewalt, Jon Peterson, and Mike Witwer to discuss the history behind the design and development of D&D, with host Matt Forbeck.
Friday, August 2, 6 pm, Conrail Room, Crowne Plaza
50 Years of D&D — Forgotten Realms
Join Ed Greenwood (the creator of the Forgotten Realms) and Forgotten Realms novelists Jeff Grubb and James Lowder to discuss how some of D&D’s most legendary stories came to be, with host Steven Schend.
Saturday, August 3, 4 pm, Conrail Room, Crowne Plaza
50 Years of D&D — Comics
Join D&D comic-book writers Ed Greenwood and Jeff Grubb, along with editor James Lowder, to talk about how D&D made the leap from collaborative storytelling to sequential storytelling, with host Ben Riggs.
Saturday, August 3, 5 pm, Conrail Room, Crowne Plaza
50 Years of D&D — Fiction
Join us for an all-star panel discussing D&D fiction throughout the years, featuring Rose Estes, Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, and James Lowder, with host Matt Forbeck.
Saturday, August 3, 6 pm, Conrail Room, Crowne Plaza
ED GREENWOOD is a Canadian writer, game designer, actor, scriptwriter, and librarian who created The Forgotten Realms fantasy setting. Ed also created or co-created Stormtalons, Mornmist, and dozens of other worlds, and worked in Amber, Oz, and Middle Earth. His 450-plus books have sold over 60 million copies worldwide in over 40 languages. Ed has been a Guest of Honor at Gen Con many times down the decades.
JEFF GRUBB builds worlds for a living. He is one of the co- creators of Dragonlance and a co-founder of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. In addition, he has written tabletop game classics such as Spelljammer and Al Qadim, as well as bringing the Marvel Universe to roleplaying games with the original Marvel Super Heroes game. He has written novels set in the Realms, Dragonlance, Guild Wars, Star Wars, Starcraft, and Warcraft. Most recently he has moved onto computer games, including Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 for ArenaNet, and Crucible for Amazon Games. He is currently contributing to Elder Scrolls online. He lives in Seattle with his Lovely Bride and two cats.
ROSE ESTES spent the first ten years of her life being sickly and bedridden in Chicago. Sounds sad but she enjoyed the time, reading mountains of books and National Geographics that expanded her world and her imagination. Had D & D existed at the time, she would have been in her element. After being trapped in hot, horrible Houston, Texas until freed by graduation from high school she traveled extensively from Alaska to Guatemala and lots of places in between, generally working as a journalist. She lived on the west coast of Mexico and the mountains of British Columbia for several years before settling in a small town in Wisconsin, and going to work for a small company called TSR Hobbies.
Taking a leave of absence from the company to travel with a tent circus, she stumbled across a Choose Your Own Adventure book and immediately recognized how it might be applied to D & D. Almost by accident she wrote the first book Return to Brookmere, named after the small mountain village where she lived in B.C. This was the first book in what would become the Endless Quest series that has been credited with bringing literally millions of young boys (and a few girls) into the game. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Academy of Adventure Gaming, Arts and Design in 2022 which made her impossible to live with and extremely difficult to get her swelled head through doorways.
Aside from the eight Endless Quest books she wrote for TSR (which sold over 21 million books at last count) she has written a total of 40 books and is currently at work on number 41, which will be titled Different
She currently lives and works on the Central Oregon Coast where she owns the Hauser Gallery & Dragon Emporium.
Other Fiction Guests of Honor include: Tracy Hickman, Ben Riggs, David M. Ewalt, James Lowder, Jim Zub, Michael Witwer, and Matt Forbeck.
Roleplaying Games
A Roleplaying Game (RPG) portrays characters in a fictional world of shared imagination. Guided by a Game Master(GM), they will devise the setting and present players with challenges they must face to advance the story.
The possibilities are as big as your imagination; rules give the game structure, and outcomes are resolved by chance, typically by the rolling of dice. This simple formula for shared, narrative gameplay — the GM describes a situation, the players decide how their characters will react, the outcome is decided by a structured test of chance — has been used to launch countless campaigns through various fictional worlds. Ask yourself where you want your imagination to take you. Find a roleplaying game while bringing your friends along for the journey.
For a full schedule of RPG events, use our mobile app, go to gencon.com to purchase tickets, or scan the QR code for a complete list of events with tickets available.
SHADOWRUN,
Roleplaying Games
RPG Groups
AAW Games
Baldman Games
Catalyst Game Labs
Chaosium
Cincinnati Arsenal Gaming
City of Glass Games
Creature Curation
Free League Publishing
Game Base 7
Gooey Cube
Heroes of Rokugan
Infinite Imaginations
Kobold Press
Legends of the Shining Jewel
Limithron
Magpie Games
National Society of Crazed Gamers
JW: White River Ballroom C-D
JW: Griffin Hall
ICC: Room 122-123
ICC: 134
Stadium: Field
Crowne Plaza: Illinois Street Ballroom East & West
Blades in the Dark, Call of Cthulhu, DRR, Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons, Glitterhearts, Year Zero
Vast Grimm
Alien, Blade Runner, Dragonbane, Vaesen
Dungeons & Dragons, Rank 5, Star Wars
Dungeons & Dragons
Legend of the Five Rings
Dungeons & Dragons, Hero System
JW: White River Ballroom F Tales of the Valiant
JW: Grand Ballroom 10
Stadium: Lower Suites, Stadium: Meeting Rooms 5-6
Hyatt: Third Floor
Stadium: Field
Novus Ordo Seclorum Omni
Paizo
Pinnacle Entertainment
Windmill Game Co.
You Too Can Cthulhu
ICC: Sagamore Ballroom 4-7
JW: 307
JW: 301
Stadium: Lower Suites
Pathfinder
Dungeons & Dragons, Pirate Borg
Avatar Legends, Rapscallion, Root: the RPG, Urban Shadows, Zombie World
Call of Cthulhu, Dungeons & Dragons
Call of Cthulhu
Pathfinder, Starfinder
Savage Worlds
Dread, Golden Hour
Call of Cthulhu
Board Games and Card Games
Board Games (BGM) and card games — including Trading Card Games (TCG) and Non-Collectible Card Games (CGM) — span many themes, mechanics, and genres. Played on boards, with cards, or with other physical components, board games feature gameplay structured by rules and typically focused on resolving quantifiable victory conditions.
Board games and card games represent a vast array of tabletop gaming experiences, and different games emphasize different qualities and characteristics: some focus on competition, strategy, teamwork, manual dexterity, random chance, and so on! With so many choices, it can be hard to know where to start.
Check out the board and card game events this year to explore your possibilities — play your favorites, compete against worthy adversaries, or try something new!
For a full schedule of board games and card games, use our mobile app, go to gencon.com to purchase tickets, or scan the QR code for a complete list of events with tickets available.
Find hidden objects with a magic flashlight!
Board Games and Card Games
Board and Card Game Groups
Avalon Hill
Bandai Japan
BoardCrunch
Cincinnati Arsenal Gaming
Conspiracy of Gamers
Fight in the Skies Society
Game Base 7
Ghost Galaxy
Kelly’s Heroes Gaming Collective
Kingswood Games
Legend Story Studios
Pastimes
Pine Box Entertainment
Ravensburger
Slugfest Games
Smirk & Dagger
Sorcery League
The Pokemon Company International
Train Gamers Association
Wise Wizard Games
ICC: Hall E
Stadium: Field
ICC: Hall A
Stadium: Field, ICC: Hall B
Arschmallows, Betrayal at the House on the Hill, Heroquest, Life in Reterra
Digimon Card Game, Dragon Ball Super, One Piece Card Game, Union Arena
Dice Throne, Keyforge, King of Tokyo, Radlands
Carcassonne Big Box, Catan 3D, Terraforming Mars, Takenoko
Stadium: Field Canvas, Springsign, Wizard Miners
Stadium: Field
Stadium: Club Lounge West
Arkham Horror, Battlestar Galatica, Cards Against Humanity, Dawn Patrol, Wingspan
Codenames, Dominion, Power Grid, Splendor, Ticket to Ride
Stadium: Field Keyforge, Mindbug Beyond
Hilton: Monument Hall
5 Minute Dungeon, Hues and Cues, Sushi Go Party!
Stadium: Field Warlord: Saga of the Storm
ICC: Hall B
ICC: Hall B
ICC: Hall C
Flesh and Blood
Magic: The Gathering
7th Sea City of Five Sails, Doomtown, Legend of the Five Rings
ICC: Hall A, ICC: 130 Disney Lorcana, Disney Villainous
ICC: Hall B
ICC: Hall D
Stadium: Field
ICC: Hall B
Crowne Plaza: Victoria Station A—D
ICC: Hall B
Red Dragon Inn, Where’s My Ride?
Adventure Party: The Role-Playing Party Game, Boop the Halls, Tesseract
Sorcery: Contested Realm
Pokemon TCG
Boxcars, Empire Builder, Great Western Trail, Ticket to Ride
Caution Signs, Robot Quest Arena
First Exposure Playtest Hall
SPONSORED BY
PRESENTED BY DOUBLE EXPOSURE (ORGANIZERS OF DEXCON, DREAMATION, METATOPIA, AND THE ENVOY PROGRAM)
At a Glance
Playtest Games in Development in The First Exposure Playtest Hall (FEPH)!
Sessions start every two hours beginning at 8 am each day. Seats are FREE! Reserve your ticket through the event catalog to guarantee your spot, but standby players are welcome to join us onsite.
Prototypes will range in quality from index cards and pennies to full production-value prototypes. Your input is valuable at every stage!
FEPH ROOM PARTNERS
Participating Designers Include
10:01 Games
4StoryGames
4th Pillar Games
9 Kingdoms
AB Games
Adventure Together Games
Adventures Unbound
Advertent Development
Al Goes Out Of Town Enterprises
All-Nighter Games
Alsubhi
Andalusia Games
Anthropos Games
Apis Games
Around the Stump Games
Art of Play
Artisan Games
Automa Garden
Back in Holland Games
Bad Cat Media
Bad Crow Games
Barbershop Games
Berengar Games
Big Shot Wrestling
Black Suit Games
Blood and Salt Studios
Blue House Games
Blurred Vision Inc
BosTopCo-Op
Boujeeas Games
Breault Games
Burger Games
Cameron Fleming
Cascadian Creations,
Casualpetitive Games
Chrono Core Studios
Civil War: Battlefields
Crash Test Games
Danger Kit Games
Demon Summoner
Department Of Lore
Dice or Death Games
Diecaster Games
Dolphin Hat Games
Dr. Zero Presents
Dreamscape Gaming
Emergent TTRPG
Escape Mail
Fiktitious Studios
First Fish Games
First In Heart
Flatworks Gaming
Flower Flame
Four Harts Games
Game Essence
Games Over Coffee
Gaming Honors
Giant Food Games
Glasgow Gamesmith
Gnomeski Games
Good Lich Games
GTBOMB Studios
Guthmeister Games
Hansen
Harrow House Games
Hedra
Hounded Games
Hwy 6 Bros LLP
Katchmer Games
King Steven’s Games
Kings Never Die games
Littlest Lantern
LoftBoys Games
Luft Games
Luminous Games
Malcontent Games
Matthew Huntley Studios
MCDM Productions
Mike and Daws
Million Dreams Games
Minty Beans Game Labs
Monsters Masters & Mobsters
Moon Saga Workshop
Mariah Schab
Naughty Jester Games
NightLight Labs
Nitroglycerin Games
OCTOFire Studios
Old Dreamer Press
Origami Whale Games
Palmer Games
Party Tails
Pax Ad Astra
Pet Roc Games
Pet Slime Studios
Puff Duck Games
PurebloodRPG
Quill Gaming
Radium66
Revenade Games
Rising Empire Studios
Rule 1 Games
Sawyer West
Sentients
Serpenthelm Studios
SharkBear Games
Shattered Gems TCG
Sheetz Gaming Cooperative
Shimmeroo Games
Slam B Productions
Snow Days Gaming
Something Clever Games
Studio Los Angeles
Studio V
Subtle Monsters
Swords
Tales of Sacadia
Tanis Games
TerritoryCardgame
The Devil May Care Games
The Gambit Foundry
The Great Filters
The Riverside Realm
Through the Ash
Tortugas Games
Trey ‘n Pals
Tunnel Monster Collective
Underdragon Games
Unfamous Games
Warehouse 93
Whales Entertainment
Winged Sandals Games
Wingmen Games
Winsmith Games
Wonderbow Games
Wrong Cauldron
Zoard Games
…and more to come!
Live Action Roleplaying Games
Live Action Roleplaying Games (LARPs) bring your favorite RPG elements — heroic characters, collaborative storytelling, and chance event resolution — to life through immersive, live-action play.
In a LARP, you physically portray your character, generally by moving around in real space and with more direct player-to-player interaction than in a traditional tabletop RPG. LARPers often enhance their roleplaying with costumes and props. LARP events are a great way to experience immersive roleplaying and improvisational storytelling — no previous experience is needed!
For a full schedule of LARPs, use our mobile app, go to gencon.com to purchase tickets, or scan the QR code for a complete list of events with tickets available.
A Selection of Groups Running LARPs
Stadium: East Concourse
Cthulhu International Union Station Dark Aeons Elder Entertainment Union Station Call of Cthulhu
Amtgard
Amtgard Battle Grounds
BYOV Union Station BYORP
City of Glass Games Crowne Plaza World of Darkness, Laws of the Night, Mind’s Eye Theatre, Cosplay Chess
Omni Masque of the Red Death, Strange Case of Good and Evil 2.0
The Game Theatre Omni Mystic Realms DICE!
WAG
Union Station Cthulhu Live
Megagames
Megagames are just what they sound like — games, but make it mega!
Combining aspects of board games and LARPs, megagames often involve dozens of players weaving interconnected storylines through multiple stages of play. Each player is assigned a role (sometimes with a backstory, personality, or a secret goal), and as they play through multiple sub-games, the outcomes of their play drive the story of the larger game. Megagames can take the form of anything from large-scale government simulations of natural disasters, to preparing for a kaiju attack, to seeing how a real-world government would react to aliens arriving on Earth!
For a full schedule of Megagames, use our mobile app, go to gencon.com to purchase tickets, or scan the QR code for a complete list of events with tickets available.
Megagame Groups
Basenti
Megagame Coalition
National Security Decision Making (NSDM) Inc.
Northern Virginia Gamers (NOVAG)
Spoonbill Games
The Game Theatre, LLC
Omni Oligarchy, Oligopoly, wrestLEgacy - Colossal Tussle III, Mischief of Faction
JW, Stadium, Union Station
Crucible of Nations, Den of Wolves, Hear/Say 4: A Mega Murder Mystery, Pantheon, Touched by Darkness
Le Meridien ColdWar-1960s Sci-Fi Variant , Near Future Science-Fiction Crisis, Doomsday Scenario, American Revolution Crisis
ICC Wings of Glory Megagame: Battle of St. Mihiel Salient
Omni Coalitions: Councils of the Republic
Omni Blood Feud, Dragon Thrones
Kid Zone
Looking
for something fun to do with the kids? No problem, we’ve got you covered!
Gen Con has family-friendly events for children of all ages. Meet other gaming families, try new games, get crafty, and inspire the next generation of gamers in the KID Zone, located in Wabash 2 and 3 in the convention center!
WABASH 2 For older kids ready for structured activities
Most of the events in this area are ticketed. You’ll find kid friendly crafting events, appropriate introductory RPG events, wand making, and a variety of other activities. Search “KID” events in the online Event Catalog to see all events offered here.
WABASH 3 For younger kids
This is the place to introduce younger kids to the gaming world and all its possibilities. This side of the room has some scheduled events, but primarily has many free-form activities and a large inventory of age-appropriate board game and card game titles available for free play. Stop by any time to see what’s happening and join in the fun!
This area is most appropriate for kids ages 4-9 years old; please note that kids may not be left unattended in this, or any area.
A curtained off nursing space is available for use.
At a Glance
Day + Time
Thursday – Saturday, 10 am – 8 pm Sunday, 10 am – 3 pm
Location
Wabash 2 & 3
MANY OF THE EVENTS IN THE ROOM ARE RUN OR FACILITATED BY
For the littlest of littles
There is an adjacent crawling and toddler area. This area provides a clean, carpeted, quiet area where your little ones can spend some time during the convention.
KID ZONE SPONSORED BY
Miniatures Games
Miniatures Games are some of the most visually impressive events at the convention — recreating the great battles of history, engaging in magical and fantastical combat, or waging never-ending war in the distant future — all on a tiny scale!
Minis games bring the action to life with physical models, often assembled and painted in painstaking detail, and many players enhance tabletop play with modeled terrain pieces. At Gen Con, minis games depicting battles and conflicts from the real world are categorized as Historical Miniatures (HMN), while those played in fantasy or science fiction settings are called Non-Historical Miniatures (NMN).
For a full schedule of miniatures, use our mobile app, go to gencon.com to purchase tickets, or scan the QR code for a complete list of events with tickets available.
Miniatures Games
Minatures Groups
Able Kompanie
AerodromeACE
Ares Games
Atomic Mass Games
Catalyst Game Labs
Cincinnati Arsenal Gaming
DGS Games
FASA Games
Games Workshop
Indianapolis Gaming Collective
Mantic Games
Ottawa Red Shirts
Northern Virginia Gamers (NOVAG)
Privateer Press
Snap Ships
The SmoreySwamp
WizKids
Wyrd Games
Stadium: Field Flames of War
Stadium: Field Aerodrome
ICC: Hall C Wings of Glory, Sails of Glory, Quartermaster General: East Front, American Revolution Crisis
ICC: Hall E Star Wars: Shatterpoint, Marvel Crisis Protocol
ICC : Hall A Battletech, Leviathans
ICC: Hall B Space Hulk, Fallout Wasteland Warfare, Fallout: Factions, Dropzone, Dropfleet
ICC: Hall B Freeblades
ICC: Hall B Aetherstream: Leviathan
ICC : Hall E WarCry, Kill Team, Warhammer Underworlds, Blood Bowl, Age of Sigmar
ICC: Hall C Mordheim: City of the Damned Skirmish, Mobile Frame Zero: Rapid Attack
ICC: Hall B Kings of War, Armada, Halo: Flashpoint
Stadium: Field Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures, Rivet Wars, Silent Death
ICC: Hall B Ares Zombies, Formula Waaaaagh!, Gaslands, Wings of Glory
Stadum: Field Warmachine
ICC: Hall B Snap Ships Tactics
ICC : Hall C Axis & Allies - War at Sea
ICC: Hall B HeroClix, Star Trek: Into the Unknown, Dungeons & Dragons Onslaught
ICC: Hall B Malifaux, The Other Side
Miniatures Hobby Events (MHE)
The beloved craft of miniatures.
Painting, sculpting, and more! Featuring events for all skill levels. Try your hand at painting miniatures for the first time, practice your skills, or compete against other painters!
Speed Painting
Battle against the clock to paint the best mini in the time limit! Event fee includes use of supplies, and you get to keep the mini you paint! Ticketed events are associated with different manufacturers, some of which have final rounds you can compete to get in. Be the best painter in your group and advance to a championship round on Sunday!
SPEED PAINTING SPONSORS
Paint and Take
Thursday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday, 10 am – 3 pm
A free, walk-up event — you’ll be given a miniature to keep, paints and brushes to use, and friendly instruction if you need help! Note that this event does not have tickets; it is first come, first served.
PAINT AND TAKE SPONSORS
CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF THE #1 WRESTLING GAME IN THE WORLD!
Miniatures Hobby Events (MHE)
Aces of Painting
MHE24ND250987
Watch professional speedpainters compete to paint the best mini; all competition minis are auctioned off for charity on Saturday night at the Gen Con Auction. No ticket required for this event.
ACES OF PAINTING SPONSORS
Miniatures Painting Competition
MHE24ND269029
ENTRY DROPOFF
Thursday, noon – 5 pm
Friday, 10 am – 6 pm
ENTRY PICKUP
Saturday, 7 pm – 9 pm
Sunday, 10 am – 3 pm
Featuring a $1000 cash prize for BEST IN SHOW, ribbons, and trophies! Check at the MHE HQ table for further competition information or scan the QR code above. Entry fee is two generic tickets.
Gen Con Painting Competition
Awards Ceremony
MHE24ND250990
Saturday, 7 pm
LOCATION
2nd Floor Serpentine
COMPETITION SPONSORS
Dozens of Ancestries
Hundreds of Gear Options
Trillions of Combinations
Design your custom miniatures at the booth and get next-day printing here at GenCon
Sign Up to Support Our Eldritch Foundry Prism Color Engine Kickstarter
See color printed models at booth 2842
#open-gaming on Discord
Ready to start your game now? Post in the #lfg-indy channel in the Gen Con Discord to let other attendees know, even if they aren’t wandering the open gaming space right now. Include what game you’re playing, how many more players you can fit, and where you are located in the hall, so folks can find you.
Borrow a cone from the HQ — just make sure to return them once your game starts up so others can use them!
Looking for a Teacher:
Checkered Flag
Place one of these flags in your cone if you’re looking for someone who knows the game to join and teach you.
Games Library
Play the newest and hottest titles Gen Con has to offer and the most popular games from recent years!
The library is the largest destination at Gen Con for chilling out with friends and having a great time. Event tickets grant you access to thousands of titles and unlimited plays during your session!
Full games are awarded as prizes all weekend long!
Children with wristbands play for free with an accompanying ticketed adult! The library also hosts miniatures painting classes, other game sessions (tickets available separately), pick-up games, and much more! Come play with your group or join others looking for players!
At a Glance Day
+ Time
Thursday – Saturday, 8 am – 1 am
Sunday, 8 am – 3 pm (last game checkout at 1 pm)
Location
The Stadium
Puppetry Program
Gen Con’s Puppetry Program returns with workshops, seminars, and performances! Puppets have been used for centuries to educate, entertain, and captivate audiences. We’re excited to explore puppetry with you! Whether you’re planning to laugh and be silly at Puppet Karaoke, learn to build in our workshops, or hit the nostalgia button in our seminars, you’re sure to find something wonderful in the Gen Con Puppetry Program!
Guest of Honor
Pam Arciero
Pam Arciero is a principal puppeteer with Sesame Street, performing numerous characters, most notably Grundgetta Grouch for over 40 years. She has worked on many adult and children’s programs including performing Leona for Between the Lions, Blue’s Clues Blue’s Room, Chappell’s Show, Allegra’s Window, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, TV Funhouse, Oobi, Eureeka’s Castle, and The Great Space Coaster. She has performed in many commercials and films, including Zappos, Fuze, Angel Soft, Sundance Myths, Sundance Film Festival, Extreme Measures, Little Monsters, and Follow That Bird.
Late Night Puppet Slam (ENT24ND249813)
As a stage director, Pam directed Aanika’s Elephants for New Victory Theater, on 42nd Street, NYC. She directed and choreographed Iftah Ya Simsim-Sesame Street Saudi Arabia, Sesame Live Shows for Sesame Place, Beaches Turks and Caicos, Beaches Jamaica, Port Adventura, Barcelona, Spain; Sea World Orlando, Play with Me Sesame Live, US tours, and Disney’s Wahoo Wagon at the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles.
Pam directed the film Whiskey Neat as well as Between the Lions and Oobi for television. She has taught for the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, the University of Hawaii, Sesame Street International, Taipei National University of the Arts, the University of Connecticut, and California State University, Fresno. Pam is the Artistic Director of the National Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, in Waterford, CT. She holds a BA in Dance and Drama from the University of Hawaii and a MA in Puppetry from the University of Connecticut.
Hilarious and slightly naughty skits from some of the funniest puppets around. Not for kids!
Friday, 10 pm
Westin: Grand IV–V
At a Glance Day + Time
Events run through the weekend! Check the event catalog on gencon.com for the full schedule.
Location
Marriott: Indiana Ballroom E
SCHEDULE
Costume Contest
Join us for Gen Con’s 38th annual Costume Contest!
Whether you want to show off your cosplay skills and compete or be dazzled by the amazing creativity, the Costume Contest is a can’t-miss event at Gen Con!
You’ll find the Costume Contest on the Main Stage (ICC: 500 Ballroom) at 4 pm on Saturday. For spectators, the Costume Contest is a free, ticketed event. Attendees without tickets may be seated if space allows, but priority is given to those with tickets. A valid Gen Con 2024 badge is required for entry.
Can’t make it to the show? No worries! The Costume Contest will be livestreamed and made available by VOD on our Gen Con Live Twitch channel at twitch.tv/genconlive.
At a Glance
Costume Contest ENT24ND265787
Day + Time
Saturday 4 pm – 6 pm
Location
Main Stage (ICC: 500 Ballroom)
CONTEST RULES & ENTRY FORM
Saturday
9 am
Deadline to drop entries at the Information Booth.
9:30 am – 1:30 pm
Costume Contest Check-In
500 Ballroom Reception
Contest entries will not be accepted after check-in has closed.
3:05 pm – 3:45 pm
Costume Parade
3:30 pm
Pre-Show Entertainment
3:45 pm
Contestants report to line up for the Costume Contest.
4 pm
Costume Contest begins!
SPONSORED BY
Contest Basics
Costume entries may be simple walk-on-and-pivot displays or may involve a short presentation. Performances are limited to two minutes. You may perform your own speech, drama, song, or other skill, or you can simply model while our emcee narrates text that you provide. Either way, the emphasis of judging is on the costumes.
Costume Contest Contestant Info
Registration
Registering in advance is highly recommended. The costume contest is limited to 70 entries. If any category receives 14 entries, that category will be closed. Entries will be accepted on a first come, first entered basis. When the contest reaches capacity, a waiting list will be created. Entries on the waiting list will be admitted to the contest if a registered entry drops out or does not appear at check-in.
To register, first read the rules, then print and fill out the form linked in the QR code or ask for a form at the Information Booth. This form does not register you for Gen Con — only the costume contest. A valid Gen Con badge and two generic tickets will be required when you sign in at Costume Contest Check-In.
An emcee introduction is REQUIRED! You must submit a short introduction for yourself that you would like the emcee to read as you appear on stage. Type or handwrite it (neatly) and attach it to your entry form. This is your chance to impress the judges;
include a description of the construction of your costume. This description is limited to 100 words. Gen Con reserves the right to edit material.
On-site entries: If you register on site, fill out the entry form (your introduction for the emcee must be attached and typed or neatly written) and drop it in the “Costume Contest Entry” box located at the Information Booth by 9 am on Saturday. If you miss this deadline, come directly to Costume Contest Check-In (500 Ballroom Reception) and staff will determine if there is room for you.
Contestant Check-In: All contestants must appear at Contest Check-In. Mailing or dropping an entry form reserves a space for you, but you are not officially registered until you appear at checkin. Contestants who do not appear at check-in (see Saturday timetable) are considered dropped. Check-in takes about 30 minutes. Your emcee introduction is required at check-in.
Costume Contest
Costume Categories
Choose a category for your costume and check it on the entry form. If your costume fits multiple categories, pick the category you prefer. We will review your costume at check-in to make sure you are in the right category. Categories may be closed depending on the number of entries.
• Fantasy / Historical: Wizards, barbarians, pixies, mermaids, warriors, Renaissance citizens, etc.
• Game Characters: Video games, board games, roleplaying games, etc.
• Pop Culture: Robots, aliens, spaceship pilots, heroes, villains, etc.
• Professional: To keep the contest fair, you must enter the Professional category if you meet any of the following criteria, regardless of your age:
1. You are a past first-place winner of a Gen Con costume contest or other major costume contest within the past 5 years.
2. Your costume was constructed by a professional in the garment or costume industry, whether it was you or someone else.
3. Your costume was constructed by someone who earns the majority of their living in the construction of costumes or clothing.
4. First-place winners in the child category will be evaluated for the Professional category on a case-by-case basis. Costumes made by adults will be moved to the Professional category. Children who make their own costumes may be allowed to remain in the Child category.
• Child: Ages 0–13, all costume types
• Groups: Teams of two or more costumers.
• Potluck: Anything not mentioned above!
Awards and prizes will be presented for the following special categories:
• Best In Show
• Staff Favorite
• Golden Needle
• MARVEL: Special prize awarded to the best cosplay featuring an iconic
Costume Parade
The parade is a great way to gather with fellow cosplayers and show off your cosplay creativity at Gen Con! Anyone in costume may join the parade anywhere along the route listed below. Parade participants will assemble outside Hall A at 3 pm.
Contestants: The parade is encouraged but optional; contest judging will not consider parade participation.
Parade Route
The parade begins outside Hall A.
Enters Hall A traveling through the length of the Event Hall.
The parade will then exit through Hall D.
The parade continues north along the Crossroads Concourse, exiting outside the doors to the Westin.
A sharp right turn on Maryland Street through the Maryland Street Motor Lobby.
Another right turn at the corner of Capitol Avenue.
The parade ends at the Georgia Street entrance
ZED The Isle of Misfit Events
We have all kinds of games and events at Gen Con, including those that don’t fit into standard categories. When an event is so unique it can’t be defined by one of our regular categories, we place it here.
We’ve listed just a sampling of ZED events on this page, but you’ll find all kinds of interesting events here, such as escape rooms, social deduction games, megagames, and unique events you won’t find anywhere else! Don’t overlook this category, as you never know what might turn up!
NSDM
The National Security Decision Making (NSDM) Game is a fastpaced, challenging simulation of contemporary politics and eternal strategic principles. It is modeled after the simulations used by senior U.S. Government officials.
Here’s the game in a nutshell: “You players are the Legislature. You over there, you’re the Cabinet. You folks in the corner are the military leadership. This guy’s the President. The scenario is: it’s the world as you know it today. Fix it. Start now.”
NSDM will have events throughout the weekend.
Le Meridien Hotel
Laser Tag: Kill Team Live
New from Games Workshop: Laser tag + Warhammer 40,000! Kit up as either a Veteran Guardsman or Ork Kommando and play a mission from Kill Team!
Thursday – Saturday 9 am – midnight
Sunday 8 am – 4 pm
ICC Sagamore Ballroom 3
Deceptively Social Gaming
Deception Alley: Play your favorite social deduction games with your friends! This year’s confirmed games include Are You A Werewolf?, Ultimate Werewolf, Witch Hunt, and Blood on the Clocktower!
Two Rooms and a Boom: Social hidden role game where one team’s bomber attempts to find the other team’s president. Hostages are exchanged between two rooms.
Thursday – Saturday 6 pm – 2 am
Games on Demand
Do you want to play a game? Join Games on Demand, where a diverse team of enthusiastic GMs will introduce you to their favorite independent and small-press RPGs! All of these games are rules-light and easy to learn! No experience is necessary; we’ll provide everything you need and teach you how to play! Play games like Blades in the Dark, Fall of Magic, Kingdom, Thousand Year Old Vampire, and more.
Trade Day is designed to provide hands-on training, networking, and professional development opportunities for educators, mental health professionals, librarians, and retailers.
Anyone with a 2024 Trade Day badge is eligible to attend Trade Day.
Trade Day Marketplace
Wednesday, 10 am – 5 pm | JW: 1st Floor
Back for a second year, the Trade Day Marketplace is a great opportunity to demo games and products that can help in the classroom, therapeutic sessions, library, and at FLGS. It’s a great opportunity to meet and talk to the publishers about their line and how it can work for your particular needs.
You must have a 2024 Trade Day badge in order to access the Trade Day Marketplace.
Participating Companies
9th Level Games
Central Michigan
University Press
DPH Games Inc.
FanRoll by Metallic Dice Games
Flagbearer Games
Foam Brain Games
Games Workshop
Ghost Galaxy
HABA USA
Lost Boy Entertainment
Mana Project Studio
Robin’s Nerd Supplies
Rowan Rook & Decard
Start Here! The Introductory RPG
The Story Engine
VGCUSA
* Companies subject to change/cancellation
At a Glance
Trade Day Event List
Trade Day has over 110 events being offered for the retailer, educator, librarian, and mental health professional. Use the QR code for the most up-to-date information of all Trade Day events and for detailed info about a specific one.
Here are some event highlights for each of the Trade Day audience affiliations.
Retailers
• Gamifying Sales Education - A Lesson In Sales & Gaming (TRD24ND245013) 11 am
• Discord DIY Community (TRD24ND256630) 1 pm
• AMA For The Hobby Gaming Retailer (TRD24ND261219) 3 pm
Educators
• Cosplay In The Classroom (TRD24ND248520) 11 am
• Designing An Educational Escape Room (TRD24ND246953) 2 pm
• Workings of Magic: Using Games to Transform Corporate Learning (TRD24ND253661) 2 pm
Librarians
• Connections: Librarians Putting Like Things Together (TRD24ND264191) 10 am
• Utilizing Community Volunteers For Your School Or Library Gaming Program (TRD24ND260085) 1 pm
• Table Top Programming For All Ages In Libraries (TRD24ND246059) 2 pm
Mental Health Professionals
• A Dark Night: Helping Children Understand Mental Health Through Super Heroes (TRD24ND244421) 11 am
• Double Trouble: Navigating The Game Of Relationships And Connection (TRD24ND254017) 1 pm
• How To Use Comics For Mental Health & Wellness (TRD24ND249345) 3 pm
Crossover Events
We also have “crossover” events which provide opportunities to learn perspectives outside your specific field. These events are a great addition to your professional development.
• Making Cents Of Games: Using Games To Fundraise (TRD24ND245317) 10 am
• Game Changer: Ensuring That All Gamers Can Participate! (TRD24ND255618) 3 pm
• Safer Spaces For Women In Gaming (TRD24ND256637) 4 pm
Trade Day
Event Highlights
Keynote
Let’s All Play Together: What Educators, Librarians, and Retailers Can Learn from Each Other PRESENTED BY KATHLEEN MERCURY
Wednesday, 9 am
JW: White River Ballroom E
Impactful game-related programming is a universal goal for educators, librarians, and retailers. The needs, audience, and what works is different for each; let’s see how we can put them all together.
EVENT SPONSORED BY
About Kathleen Mercury,
M.A.T., M.E.T.
An award-winning teacher and designer, Ms. Mercury has been pushing the boundaries of using design thinking to merge game design and instruction from elementary to collegiate levels for over 20 years. She has taught everything from the core subjects to Design and Gifted Intervention in schools from the Midwest to California to overseas in Bucharest, Romania. Currently, she is a Lecturer in the School of Education at California Polytechnic Humboldt teaching methods courses and supervising student teachers.
Kathleen is a published tabletop game designer with Greece Lightning (2021) and upcoming titles Tulip Season and Valkyrie.
www.kathleenmercury.com
Demo Night & Social Mixer (TRD24ND244188))
Wednesday, 7 – 9:30 pm
JW: Grand Ballroom 5
A chance to demo games from some of your favorite Trade Day presenters, publishers, and exhibitors and socialize with your fellow Trade Day attendees!
EVENT SPONSORED BY
All Trade Day events are free; you must have a 2024 Trade Day badge to
Charity Partners
Gen Con isn’t just about gaming; it’s also about giving!
Gamers giving back to the community is a key part of The Best Four Days in Gaming™! This year Gen Con partnered with two incredible organizations in our charity efforts to support Indianapolis and the gaming community. Please welcome Tangram and The Rose Gauntlet Foundation as Gen Con’s official 2024 Charity Partners!
All proceeds from participating charity events will be split evenly between our two partners.
Founded in 1985, Tangram is a leading nonprofit organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana, dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve their fullest potential.
Through a wide range of person-centered programs and services, Tangram provides support, resources, and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families.
Tangram is committed to making a positive impact and driving meaningful change for individuals with disabilities, promoting equality, and fostering a more inclusive and accessible world for all. For more information about programs, volunteer opportunities, or ways to support their mission, please visit thetangramway.org or contact info@thetangramway.org
The Rose Gauntlet Foundation is a dedicated community-driven initiative that creates events and provides resources that foster inclusivity and uplift underrepresented people within the tabletop gaming industry.
The Rose Gauntlet Foundation’s roots trace back to the inaugural “Big Gay Dinner,” a gathering of LGBTQ+ professionals in tabletop games passionate about expanding the community. What started as a small gathering became a vibrant community seeking to extend its reach and impact. In response to growing demand and a steadfast commitment to the cause, The Rose Gauntlet Foundation was formed as an official 501c3 non-profit organization in 2023.
The Rose Gauntlet Foundation believes that by supporting the community, they can empower others to champion each other and support the aspirations of all who seek to thrive within the hobby and industry of tabletop games.
Learn more at rosegauntletfoundation.com
Auction
The Auction returns for Gen Con Indy 2024, in the 2nd floor Marriott Ballroom 5 & 6.
This easy-to-access area is connected via tube walkway to the Indianapolis Convention Center. For those dropping off for the auction, there is a side entrance on South Missouri Street that allows for an easy and pain free drop-off process, complete with a ramp up to the building and an elevator up to the auction entrance. Please refrain from using the hotel turnaround driveway to unload, as this could cause issues for other attendees.
How It Works
Buyers
REGISTRATION: When you arrive at the auction, simply pay $1 to be issued a card with your unique bidder number good for the entire convention.
BIDDING: When you see an item you want, hold your card high in the air with your number facing the stage and KEEP IT UP for as long as you are interested. If you hold your card up for longer than other bidders, you win! It’s that easy!
PAYMENT: You can pay for each item as you win or open a daily tab by paying $50 non-refundable fee. This money will be credited towards any purchases you make. If you open a tab, your winnings will be stored until the end of that day’s session. We accept cash and major credit cards. There is a 3% Buyers Premium added to each transaction, which is waived for cash transactions.
CONSIGNMENT STORE: Not in the mood for a bidding war, but still looking for a good bargain? Peruse and discover hidden gems amongst the thousands of items available at the Consignment Store, now in a bigger space with wider aisles. This means more items, more room for browsing, and shorter wait times to get in. Anyone with a valid Gen Con badge can enter and purchase items without needing to register with the auction. New items are added throughout the show with some prices changing daily.
Auction Events
Charity Auction
Saturday, 7 pm
The most desirable items donated by exhibitors and collectors will be auctioned off, with all proceeds going directly to our Charity Partners – Rose Gauntlet Foundation and Tangram!
Sellers
PRE-REGISTRATION: All items must be registered on the auction’s website (livegameauctions.com) before the convention.
ITEM DROP OFF TIMES
Pre-Registered Live Auction Items and Consignment Store items accepted.
Wednesday, noon – 6 pm Thursday, 10 am – 8 pm
Additional Consignment Store items may be accepted depending on inventory.
Friday, 9 am – 5 pm
PAYOUTS: There are three options for receiving payment from your sold items: Any time after your item is sold through Saturday at 6 pm; On Sunday from 10 am – 2 pm, or if you don’t pick up your payout on site, we will automatically mail you a check.
UNSOLD ITEMS: Unsold items should be picked up on Sunday from 10 am – 2 pm. All unsold items not collected by 2 pm on Sunday will be donated to charity.
Collectibles Auction
Friday, 8 pm
The Collectibles Auction caters to rare and coveted items. Want a sneak peek? Look for Collectibles Auction items on display in the glass showcase near the auction stage. All times are approximate. Check for the updated schedule posted
At a Glance
Entertainment
The Entertainment category offers an amazing mix of concerts, live plays, comedy, and more.
Whether you’re seeking a break from the busy Exhibit Hall or looking to kick off your night with some fun, get ready for an unforgettable showcase of talent with Gen Con Entertainment.
D&D Live! Legacy Of Worlds
Behold an epic journey across the realms of D&D with “Legacy of Worlds,” a live play show commemorating the game’s 50th anniversary featuring an all-star cast.
Roving Entertainers
Dan the Bard returns for another Gen Con, marking his 16th or 17th year. He also performs at various Renaissance Faires and conventions, has 13 albums, and takes song commissions. Visit his booth, catch him busking, or attend his concerts to hear songs about D&D, Star Wars, Anime, and more.
Different Drummer Belly Dancers (DDBD) embrace their geek side at Gen Con. Watch live hallway performances, visit their booth, and take classes. Don’t miss their D&D Second Campaign dance before the Costume Contest on Saturday.
Roving Entertainers
Forward Motion in Indianapolis has advocated for new works with innovative performances in various spaces for nearly a decade. They focus on new works and free improvisation, commissioning and premiering dozens of new chamber works from various composers. Their core instrumentation includes flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion, with members regularly composing for the group.
Chris Ivanovich For over 40 years, Chris has been performing across the country, reading minds, multiplying money, and protecting people from the tyranny of flatware. He has fooled Penn & Teller. Just not with the same trick.
Marc Gunn is a Sci F’Irish singer/ songwriter blending Celtic songs with pop culture, using the autoharp. Inspired by Irish drinking songs and Renaissance faires, he writes about love, fear, and hope. He hosts the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast and leads Celtic Invasion Vacations, combining travel and music exploration.
Goater Mac’s Funhouse returns with a mix of Filk, Folk, and Skiffle. Enjoy sea shanties, songs about Dungeons, Dragons, Zombies, Cthulhu, and Celtic hits. Each show is a unique musical journey, showcasing a wide variety of musical styles.
Andrew McKee
The Irish Bard entertains with new and exciting arrangements of traditional Celtic and comedic folk music. So join the Irish Bard for Celtic folk, filk, and fun!
il Troubadore is Indy’s 16th Century Rock Band performing hits from all around the world and out of the world from galaxies far, far away. Everything from Klingon Opera to Wookiee dance tunes and Huttese anthems will surely delight audiences of all ages.
Instant Game Show Ever watch game shows and think, “I could do better?” Join Instant Game Show at Gen Con! When we set up in the halls, you could be pulled from the audience to win prizes, fame, glory, and maybe a FREE FOUR-DAY PASS to next year’s Gen Con! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates.
Ogham features multi-instrumentalists TJ Hull and Amanda Caretta who specialize in high-energy Irish dance music on fiddle and bodhran. TJ plays jigs, reels and other traditional favorites as well as more modern pieces; Amanda’s drum, the bodhran, is the heartbeat of traditional Irish music. When not touring the ren faire circuit or playing in pubs, Amanda and TJ game, hang out with their pets, and repay their debt to society by teaching music in the public schools.
Paolo Performing for almost 30 years, Paolo has entertained audiences worldwide with comedy and juggling at medieval and renaissance events. He has performed with The Flying Karamazov Brothers, won the International Jester Competition, and incorporates Dungeons & Dragons into his shows, juggling knives, giant forks, and other dangerous objects.
SCHEDULE, TICKETS + INFO
Need a break from the crowds of the exhibit hall?
Join filmmakers from around the world as they share their visions. The Gen Con Film Festival presents films that are inspiring, thrilling, suspenseful, and hilarious. Grab a seat and experience a different side of Gen Con.
SPONSORED BY
Feature Films
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Oregonda
Thursday 10 am | Westin Capitol III
Star Force Galactic Command is at war when intel is obtained of an enemy bio-weapon prompting the damaged spacecraft Oregonda to embark on a reconnaissance mission to save the world.
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The Eye Of The Salamander
Thursday 11:30 am | Westin Capitol III
An Aztec pyramid figurine found in the Valley of Mexico stores a dark secret.
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The Bostrom Scenario
Thursday 3 pm | Westin Capitol III
Alice Wonder, a young girl from New Zealand is haunted by the visions of her brother’s death, murdered by the impossible flash of a camera.
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The Demon Detective
Thursday 8 pm | Westin Capitol III
Miles Mako is a professional exorcist who takes on a new client after they encounter a demonic presence. Featuring cinema legends Adrienne Barbeau, Doug Jones, and Vivica A. Fox.
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Dr. Spiderwack’s Mindboggling Compendium of Fantastic Urban Beasts
Friday 10 am | Westin Capitol III
Vlogger Jareth Grass is sucked into a topsy-turvy magical adventure after he’s magically whisked away to the home of his estranged uncle Dr. Spiderwack.
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Shadow Vaults
Friday 11 pm | Westin Capitol III
During the 2020 lockdown, a group of friends meets weekly online to play Dungeons & Dragons to take their minds off the pandemic, but no one is ready for the story the new girl has to share.
Feature Films
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Killer Kabbage
Saturday 10:30 pm
Westin Capitol III
Two warriors, from the future, are tasked to go back in time to prevent the great Kabbage apocalypse from happening in order to save mankind.
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Bastion
Saturday 3 pm | Westin Capitol III
A college student suffering from memory loss discovers that he is on the verge of a scientific breakthrough.
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Empire Queen:
The Golden Age of Magic
Saturday 5:30 pm | Westin Capitol III
In a kingdom where magic is forbidden, a trio of adventurers embark on a quest in search of the legendary Sovereign Wand, which is needed to overthrow an evil queen and restore magic for all.
Clone Cops - WORLD PREMIERE
Saturday 8:30 pm | Westin Capitol III
A conglomerate dominates human existence through high tech, great deals, and free delivery. Their development of cloning technology has replaced many workers.
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The Love Song of
William H. Shaw
Sunday 10 am | Westin Capitol III
Billy finds himself haunted by imaginary superhero Fren-Ze. Unfortunately, the only two people who could help him have been feuding for years. Can Billy save himself and his friends, too?
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Mother Father Sister
Brother Frank
Sunday Noon | Westin Capitol III
Can the Jennings’ overcome secrets, dysfunction and the distances between them to learn that ultimately, the family that slays together?
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The Dreams in Gary’s Basement
Sunday 1:30 pm
Westin Capitol III
Gary Gygax was a high school dropout who cobbled shoes in the basement of his home. His family of seven was barely making ends meet, when he created a phenomenon that took the world by storm.
Film Festival Independent Series
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JourneyQuest: Season 4
Thursday 10 pm | Westin Capitol III
Season 4 of the critically acclaimed fantasy comedy!
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Table Chatter: Pilot
Thursday 2 pm | Westin Capitol III
A sitcom about a group of friends that shares a passion for tabletop gaming and collaborative storytelling.
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Roll Seekers and the Legend of Nabell: The Light of Tyve Campaign
Friday Noon | Westin Capitol III
Roll Seekers is an improvised, live, actual play web series and podcast on Twitch and TikTok, with a following of over 56,000 Seekers.
Film Panels
Find out what happens behind the camera and lights. Join our filmmakers as they share their experiences bringing the magic to the screen.
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Film Pre-Production Panel
Thursday 2 pm | Westin Council
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Film Budget and Finance Panel
Thursday 3:30 pm | Westin Council
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Film Animation Panel
Thursday 5 pm | Westin Council
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Filmmaker Meet & Greet
Friday 10 am | Westin Council
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Film Script Writing Panel
Friday Noon | Westin Council
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Acting for Film Panel
Friday 1:30 pm | Westin Council
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Life on Set, Shooting Your Film Without Getting Shot
Friday 3 pm | Westin Council
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Producing an Independent Film Panel
Saturday 10 am | Westin Council
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Female Filmmakers Panel
Saturday 11:30 am | Westin Council
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Promoting your film
Saturday 1 pm | Westin Council
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Film Post-Production Panel
Saturday 2:30 pm | Westin Council
Film Festival
Short Films
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Animation Short Film Block
Friday 12:30 pm | Westin Capitol III
A collection of short animated films: Arachne’, Can We Really Know Anything About Carrots?, FROSTBYTE, New Idea, Return to Hairy Hill, Truth Detector.
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Sci-fi Short Film Block
Friday 4 pm | Westin Capitol III
A collection of Short Sci-Fi Films: Bad Moon Rising | Cyberpunk 2077 Fanfilm, DRAGON FRUIT, Emily’s Mountain, Event Virus, iDISCONNECT, Nice Thievage, Restraint, The Lost Relic - A Star Wars Story, Universe 25.
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Horror Comedy Short Film Block
Friday 6:30 pm | Westin Capitol III
A collection of Short Horror Comedy Films, Bones, Camp Lynch, Day of the Cyclops,DeadHead,Have a Good Day, Last Sacrifice, Like Me, Midnight Snack, The ProphecyMMXXIV.
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Gamer Short Film Block
Saturday 10 am | Westin Capitol III
A collection of Short Gamer Films:A Dr. Mario Love Story, Bonno Eversong and the 20 Sides of Fate, Moving Day, RPG All-Stars’ “Guardians of the Gap”, The Fourth, The Venus Gambit, Time to Settle This, Virtuoso.
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Fantasy Short Film Block
Friday 1:30 pm | Westin Capitol III
A collection of Short Fantasy Films: Alive but Not Awake, Avatar: The Last Airbender- Suki & Sokka, Black Dragon, Carved In Stone, Dauntless and the Demigod, Fear of the Dawn, Illuminagents S2: Maze Tricks, The Loveland Frog, Wander Well.
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Horror Short Film Block
Friday 9 pm | Westin Capitol III
A collection of Short Horror Films:Bay for Blood, Bobby Came Home, Dark Side of the Moon, Leave No Trace, Shiver, Sleepwalker, The Monitor, The Night Visitor, The Ones Across the Pond, The Secret Other, The Strangle of Ivy.
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Action-Suspense
Short Film Block
Saturday 1:30 pm | Westin Capitol III
A collection of Short Action and Suspense Films:Inheritance, Killing Joke, Prop Wars: Prop Harder, The Butcher’s Cousin, The Taken.
Film Festival
Short Films
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Arcade Gamer: The True Story
Thursday 1 pm | Westin Capitol III
Jordan Dorrington is one of the best arcade video game players in the world. He holds multiple world records in the classic arcade game, Galaga (1981). Now eager to conquer Donkey Kong (1981), the film follows as he pursues his obscure obsession.
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Satanimation
Friday 11:30 am
Westin Capitol III
An art major looking for an unconventional canvas unwittingly stumbles upon her professor performing a demonic ritual that begins with a virginal sacrifice to Satan.
Awards
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Gen Con Film Festival Awards Ceremony
Thursday 7 pm | Westin Capitol III
Celebrate with our talented filmmakers! Awards for Best Feature, Ovid Award, Best Short, Best Web Series, Best Student, Best Animated, Gamer, Documentary, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Horror, Fan Film, and Comedy films.
Anime
For over a decade now, Wasabi Anime has partnered with Gen Con to provide an authentic otaku experience for tabletop enthusiasts seeking some Asian pop culture goodness with their board games, dice, and analog gaming convention experience. This year we’re bringing back panels, new variations on some classic offerings, and even a super-kawaii maid cafe experience! Be sure to swing by the Westin to check out all of this year’s anime programming!
Crunchyroll Screenings (Westin, Caucus)
Crunchyroll comes to Gen Con with the return of an anime screenings room! Take a break from the hustle and bustle of gaming to chill out in the Gen Con Anime Viewing Room powered by Crunchyroll. Revisit an old title you haven’t seen in a while or discover your new favorite anime! Check each screening for rating information.
Tsundere Gamer Tiefling Raglan Shirt
Get yours at the Official Gen Con Store in the Wabash Concourse.
Maid Cafe (Westin,
Capitol I)
Manga Library (Westin, Cabinet)
Konnichiwa! Gen Con invites you to experience some kawaii culture via its very own maid café! Inspired by the popular storefronts in the Akihabara district in Tokyo, this all-ages ticketed experience will immerse you in the world of cute, colorful, and playful maids who are there to serve up an hour of music, games, and more. Each ticket includes a can of Boba Tea, a Taiyaki snack, and a gift from the maids. Deluxe seats (limited) include a cheki photo with the maids!
Manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. The Manga Library at Gen Con is a quiet space located inside the Westin Indianapolis where attendees can take a break from the crowds and relax in a quiet room while reading popular titles new and old from Japanese manga-ka and the occasional American author, too. Powered in part by our friends at Kodansha!
Mystery Anime Theater 9001 (Friday at
8 PM. Westin, Capitol II/III)
A Gen Con staple since 2010, Wasabi Anime® brings back its annual anime (often anime-esque) movie screening of questionable content, and even more questionable humor from its hosts. Cash bar available. Preferred seating and free “gifts” (don’t get your hopes up, folks) for premium ticket holders. This year’s movie will be… announced after the convention guide print deadline, so check online! Standard Tickets ANI24ND269924 | Premium Tickets ANI24ND269925
About Wasabi Anime®
Wasabi Anime started as an anime fan club in 2001 and is now the premier production group for designing and operating Japanese pop culture related programming for anime/comic/gaming events in North America. Aside from their work with Gen Con and other conventions, they also run their own convention called WasabiCon® in Jacksonville, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Portland, Oregon! ANIME EVENTS SCHEDULE, TICKETS, AND INFO
Art Show
Since the early 90s, the Gen Con Art Show has showcased some of the most talented and influential artists in the fantasy, sci-fi, comics, horror, and gaming genres.
At the Art Show, you can meet industry legends and upcoming new artists, find the perfect gift for the art enthusiast in your life, or just explore and immerse yourself in the wonderful world of art!
Attending Art Show Artists
Alex Dos Diaz
Amelia Leonards Art
Amy Nagi
Andrew (SchmandrewART)
Thompson
Angela Zhang
Art of Chuck Grieb
Art of Price
Babs Webb
Betty Jiang
BlindCoyote
Brigitte Roka/STARSIEVE
Bruce Brenneise
Bryce Kho
Caitlyn Kurilich
Cait May
Chris Casciano
Christopher Burdett
Claudio Pozas
Cloverkin
Coey Kuhn
Crystal Sully
Deb JJ Lee
Devin Elle Kurtz
Dustin Panzino/Inkwell
Elaine Ho Elisabeth Alba
Emerald Barkley
Emily Fiegenschuh
Erica Williams | HookieDuke
Eric Fortune
Eric Wilkerson Illustration
Erika Taguchi
Erik Ly
Faith Schaffer
Fian Arroyo gawki
Houndsaint
Ivy Alive
Jacob Walker Art / Critical Critters
Jamie Lee Kirseel
Jennifer Hrabota Lesser
Joanna Barnum Joe Slucher John Stanko
gencon.com
Jon Sideriadis
Kaysha Siemens
Kehasuk Kristina Carroll
LABillustration
Lucas Durham Maliveth
Mark Poole
Mark Tedin Illustration
Melissa Sue Stanley
Meredith Dillman
Mia Araujo
Michael Blank
Michael C. Hayes
Michael Cory Godbey
Cory Godbey
Migzy Co
Mike Pape
Miranda Meeks
Natalie Andrewson
Nen chang
Priscilla Kim
Rachel Quinlan Rain
Ralph Horsley
Reggie Herman Art Books
Reiko Murakami renattack
RJ Palmer
Rob Rey Rrk post
Sam Guay
Sarah Finnigan Savanna Mayer
Scott Murphy
Sean A. Murray
Serena Malyon
Shawn E Russell
Shylo Silvenar
Spectrumshift STABLERCAKE voidbug
Vonnart
Acuff
Sean Murray
Sean Andrew Murray is a freelance illustrator, concept artist, and teacher. His work features in Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Heavy Metal Magazine, and more. He has contributed to video games like Dungeons & Dragons Online and Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, and films such as Carnival Row and Minions 2. He also self-publishes books and games for his personal worldbuilding project, “Gateway.”
Dustin Panzino
Dustin Panzino is a freelance visual development artist and animator currently working in the gaming industry based in L.A. Graduating from RCAD in 2020, his work revolves around aesthetic world-building with a mix of indie Eastern and Western influences unified around foggy visuals unified with shape language and the use of colors.
Crystal Sully
(clipping of original artwork, 40 x 20)
Crystal Sully, aka the “Mother of Monsters” is an award-winning illustrator and concept artist who brings creatures to life for some of the most popular properties in the gaming industries. This includes Critical Role (Call of the Netherdeep), Magic: The Gathering (Lost Caverns of Ixalan, Lord of the Rings, Fallout, Bloomburrow), Dungeons & Dragons (Dragonlance, Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons, Tasha’s Cauldron, Phandelver, unannounced projects), Star Wars: Legion, and more on her website CrystalSully.com
Authors Avenue
Authors Avenue is a dedicated section of the Exhibit Hall for independent authors and small press publishers of fiction who work in the fantasy, sci-fi, horror, military, or anime genres. These chosen authors will showcase and discuss their works in historical fantasy, urban fantasy, children’s adventure, LGBTQIA+, steampunk, and much more.
Stop by to meet your favorite author or discover a new literary world to explore!
Authors
3WS Publishing
Alexander Boehme-Mason
Amy Allworden
Author Ray Wenck
Ben Wolf, Inc.
Brain Lag
Briana Lawrence and Jessica Walsh
C. S. Marks
Charles Embrey, Jr
Chris A. Jackson
Christopher Bair
Christopher D. Schmitz
Doug Bedwell
Elizabeth Corrigan
H.R. Green
H. T. Brady
Halsbren Publishing
Heroes of Time Productions
Intisar Khanani
Isaac Crowe
James Maxey
JW Troemner
Katika Schneider
Kimber Grey
Laura VanArendonk Baugh
Lynette Bacon-Nugyen
Maxwell Alexander Drake
M. L. Wang
Mike Shel
Nathan Marchand
R. Litfin
Red Writes Books (Jeri “Red” Shepherd)
Richard Fierce
S.A. McClure
TANSTAAFL Press
The Sci-Fi Gals
T Oliver Courtney
Virginia McClain
Check gencon.com for updates to this list.
At a Glance Day + Time Thursday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday 10 am – 4 pm
Location Exhibit Hall
Publishers
3WS Publishing TANSTAAFL Press
Halsbren Publishing
Brain Lag
Kimber Grey
Writers Symposium
28 Years of Celebrating Storytelling
Our events, panels, and workshops are open to all. These experiences are designed by and for writers of games and speculative fiction of all experience levels, but with as much fun and interest for gamers, readers, and fans.
At a Glance
What Join writers of all your favorite genres.
Where The second floor of the Downtown Marriott
When Thursday – Sunday
Schedule Full listing on the website and app genconwriters.org
New! Anthology and USB Drive
Read all-original stories written by some of our Featured Speakers in a new anthology, edited by the multi-talented Toiya Kristen Finley. We’ll also have this collection, in addition to bonus content and a discounted game and book bundle available in digital form on our limited-edition USB drive. Stop by the sales window at the front of the Writers Symposium to learn more or purchase yours.
2024 Featured Speakers
Akis Linardos
Alexander Bevier
Anthony W. Eichenlaub
Ava Kelly
Ben Riggs
Bradley P. Beaulieu
Brady McReynolds
Brandon Crilly
Brandon O’Brien
Brian Duckwitz
Briana Lawrence
Bryan Young
C. S. E. Cooney
Carlos Hernandez
Cat Rambo
Danian Darrell Jerry
Daniel ‘Doc’ Myers
Dedren Snead
Diana M. Pho
E.D.E. Bell
Elisa Teague
Erin M. Evans
Gabrielle Harbowy
Gregory A. Wilson
Howard Andrew Jones
James Farner
James Ryan
Jason Ray Carney
Jason Sanford
Jennifer Allaway
Jennifer Brozek
Jeremy Bernstein
Jerry Gordon
Jesse J. Holland
Jessica Walsh
Jordan Jones-Brewster
Jordan Kurella
Karen Menzel
Katherine Monasterio
Khaldoun Khelil
Kwame Mbalia
LaShawn M. Wanak
*Linda D. Addison
Lucien Soulban
Marie Bilodeau
Mary Fan
Matt Forbeck
Maurice Broaddus
Michael R. Underwood
*Mikki Kendall
Monica Valentinelli
Morgan Wilson
Mostafa Haque
Richard Dansky
Richard Lee Byers
S.E. Lindberg
Sandra Tayler
Sarah Hans
Sarah Sharp
Sharang Biswas
Sheree Renée Thomas
Toiya Kristen Finley
Victor J. Raymond PhD
Will Sobel
* Special Guest
Special Guests
Meet the Writers
Linda D. Addison
Linda D. Addison, the author of five award-winning collections, including How To Recognize A Demon Has Become Your Friend, recipient of the HWA Lifetime Achievement Award and SFPA Grand Master of Fantastic Poetry.
Exhibit Hall
Signing Schedule
Thursday
10 am Michael R. Underwood and Anthony W. Eichenlaub
11 am Bradley P. Beaulieu
12 am Storm Humbert and Gary Kloster
1 pm Erin M. Evans and E.D.E. Bell
2 pm Jordan Kurella and Annye Driscoll (Maker Fishmeal)
3 pm J.D. Blackrose and Gini Koch
4 pm Cat Rambo and Jeremy Bernstein
Mikki Kendall
Mikki Kendall is the author of bestselling Hood Feminism, and Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists, with A. D’Amico. She’s written for TIME, the New York Times, The Guardian, the Washington Post, Essence, Vogue, The Boston Globe, and NBC.
We’d love to meet you! Join us in the convention center, Wabash 1, where you can say hello to our professional writers, ask for a signature, or pick up one of the books, gamebooks, or media for sale - signed to you or for a gift. Please stop by this event anytime.
Thursday, 6 pm - 9 pm Free Event: ZED24ND259940
Writers Playing Live D&D
Writers love to write - and they really love to play. Sit back and enjoy a host of fun, quirky professional authors as they play for you a live, D&D adventure led by author, streamer, and legendary DM Gregory A. Wilson.
Friday, 7 pm - 11 pm ENT24ND262563
Friday
10 am Gregory A. Wilson and E.D.E. Bell
11 am Erin M. Evans and Elisa Teague
12 am Daniel ‘Doc’ Myers and J. B. Garner
1 pm Monica Valentinelli and Gini Koch
2 pm Khaldoun Khelil
3 pm C. S. E. Cooney and Marie Bilodeau
4 pm Dedren Snead and Sarah Hans
Saturday
10 am Ed Greenwood and Gregory A. Wilson
11 am Jeremy Bernstein and Matt Forbeck
12 am Dedren Snead and Daniel ‘Doc’ Myers
1 pm Jesse J. Holland and Cat Rambo
2 pm Sheree Renée Thomas and Danian Darrell Jerry
3 pm Richard Dansky and Bryan Young
4 pm Howard Andrew Jones and Ben Riggs
Sunday
11 am Special Guest Mikki Kendall
Electronic Gaming
Retro Arcade
The Retro Arcade room is full of classic arcade games, multi-game systems, and a 10-player Killer Queen cabinet! All machines set to free play and event tickets are available for hourly play or the whole day! Daily arcade tournaments will run throughout Gen Con.
Thursday – Saturday, 9 am – midnight
Sunday, 9 am – 2 pm
ICC: 125
Pinball Alley
Play more than 30 of the latest and greatest pinball machines from Stern, Jersey Jack, and other modern pinball manufacturers. There will be limited edition pinball trophies given away each day to the top players using Stern’s Insider Connected leaderboards. Stop by anytime for an unforgettable pinball experience. Pinball Alley is open all Gen Con for non-stop pinball action!
PRESENTED BY
The Sci-fi Adventure where your crew commands the bridge of a Starship! Outfit your vessel with upgrades provided by your Quartermaster to make your ship even stronger on one of multiple missions in a continuing storyline.
Thursday – Saturday, 9 am – 10 pm
Sunday, 9 am – 2 pm
Marriott: Ballroom 7 – 8
Escape Rooms
What is an Escape Room?
An escape room is an immersive experience where you and friends use clues, wits, dexterity, and luck to solve mysteries and escape. Escape rooms vary in size: portable boxes, briefcases, and whole rooms. We focus on larger rooms, but smaller ones can be found in our listings. For room-sized events, you usually have one hour to escape. Work together quickly to solve puzzles and riddles. Grab your squad and get ready for an adrenaline rush!
Pop Up Escape Rooms
Pop Up Escape Rooms (formally Experimental Gamer) returns to Gen Con with 5 Escape Rooms for this year:
• Cabin of the Cackling Man
The Escape Room USA
This dedicated year-round multi-room space will be hosting 8 different rooms running from early in the morning till late at night in their premium location 2 blocks from the convention center, Thursday to Sunday. Events include:
• Dark Wyvern Mining Escape Room Adventure
• Jail Break Escape Room Adventure
• Detention - Escape from the Cursed High School
• Keep Krampus Out - A Holiday-Themed Escape Room
• The Last Masquerade: Escape from the Red Death
• Secret Aboard Starship Astraeus
• CIA Interdiction Escape Room Adventure
• Space 2112 Escape Room Adventure
• Art Gallery Escape Room Adventure
• Bank Heist Escape Room Adventure
• Contagion Escape Room Adventure
• Trader Town Escape Room Adventure Eclipse Escapes
Use your wits to solve an Edgar Allen Poe-inspired puzzle, or break a series of curses to reo-pen a portal and escape Wonderland before you lose your heads. Eclipse Escapes has 4 rooms to choose from, including:
• Escape from Cryptid Valley
• Nevermore: a POEtic escape
• Warlocked: Escape the Lich’s Lair
• Wonderland: Escape the Knave’s Revenge
Create, Move, Explore
Events Beyond Gaming
While Gen Con is The Home of Tabletop Gaming™, we also have hundreds of events that aren’t strictly gaming related. These events engage the creative and curious spirit that make the tabletop hobby special. Find them in the online Event Catalog by filtering by: Supplemental (SPA), Workshop (WKS), and Isle of Misfits (ZED). These awesome events include crafting, exercise, dance, city tours, and more!
At a Glance
Create
ICC: 208-209
9 am – 2 pm
Get creative at Open Crafting! Looking to try a new craft or be inspired? Stop by our Open Crafting room. It has plenty of space and free supplies to make cool stuff! Crafty helpers and company representatives will periodically be in the room to help you level your crafting skills. FREE for anyone with a Gen Con 2024 badge.
This year, we’ve partnered with bernette® and Pintuck & Purl (a brick-and-mortar and online bernette® dealer) to bring sewing machines and classes to Indy! We have events like Introduction to Bag Making, Introduction to Wallet Making, Open Sewing with Bernette, and more.
Move
After long days at gaming tables, it’s important to move and stretch out your body! Did you know that Gen Con has many events to get your blood moving? Whether you’re into running a 5k, practicing yoga, dancing, or learning sword fighting techniques, we’ve got you covered. Find these events in the SPA category in the Event Catalog.
Explore
Get out and explore Indy! Brewery tours and haunted walking tours await you! Find these events by searching the SPA and “Isle of Misfits” categories for “tour” in the Event Catalog.
Game Design at Gen Con
Have a casual interest in game design? Want to explore a career as a game designer? Do you have an idea for a game but don’t know where to start? Gen Con has you covered.
Several events are being hosted at this year’s Gen Con to get those creative juices flowing. Here are some to get you started; others are yet to be discovered!
Game Design Events
• Intro To Tabletop Game Design (WKS24ND254139 / WKS24ND254140)
• Accessibility Is Not A Bolt-On - Universal Design for Creators (SEM24ND255641)
• LegalGeek Q&A About IP Law for Game Designers (SEM24ND259926)
• World Building for Game Masters, Game Designers, and Authors (SEM24ND248736)
• Gen Con and CMU Applied Game Design Certificate 2024-2025 (SEM24ND256461)
• Design an RPG in an Hour (SEM24ND254687)
• World Design for GMs, Game Designers, and Authors (SEM24ND249797)
• Redesigning Board Games for Instructional Purposes (WKS24ND253587)
• Rapid Game Design Prototyping (WKS24ND254137)
• Reverse Engineering A Game As A Design Exercise (WKS24ND261226)
Events may be sold out/change at the time of this publication.
Tie-Ins
If you didn’t already know, Gen Con hosts some great programs at the show that are great tie-ins for your game design journey.
• First Exposure Playtest Hall (FEPH) – ICC: Room 107-110
• Rose Gauntlet Foundation Programs and Resources –BIPOC Lounge/ICC: Room 240-241
Stay tuned for future game design plans hosted by Gen Con!
Join the Event Team in 2025!
The Gen Con Event Team is a mentorship program that allows behind-the-scenes access for our biggest fans. Start as an Apprentice and work your way up to Captain, helping run your favorite gaming convention! With positions available at Event HQs, in Will Call, managing Operations, setting up and troubleshooting Tech, and so much more, there’s
Want to learn more?
Join Erika Jackson, Gen Con Event Team Manager and veteran members of the Event Team for an information session on Friday 11am, ICC: 245 to get all the details.
Take your convention experience to the next level!
Thank You, Event Team!
Gen Con would like to thank its dedicated team of Captains, Deputies, and Program Coordinators. Your passion and expertise make Gen Con special, and the convention couldn’t happen without you!
