WonderCon 2026 has ended

Create Your Own Event

WonderCon 2026

2:00pm PDT

RPG Gamemaster Workshop

Friday March 27, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT

From the team behind Darrington Press's Daggerheart, this workshop focuses on how to facilitate collaborative, exciting, impactful stories with players around the table. Game designers Spenser Starke (Alice Is Missing, Kids on Brooms) and Rowan Hall (Sunderfolk, Candela Obscura) lead a hands-on environment to hone participants' proficiency in running story-forward games like Daggerheart.

Special Guests

Spenser Starke

D-01, WonderCon Special Guest

Spenser Starke is a WGA screenwriter and the senior game designer at Darrington Press. He is best known for Daggerheart, Alice Is Missing, Candela Obscura, and Kids on Brooms. Additionally, he has worked on video games like Sunderfolk and is currently adapting a number of tabletop... Read More →

Friday March 27, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Seminars & Workshops, WonderCon Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Seminars & Workshops, WonderCon Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

3:00pm PDT

Our Seats at the Table: BIPOC Representation in Tabletop

Friday March 27, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

A Jordan Lambert (blogger and dungeon master, Blackness and Dragons), Cai Kagawa (game consultant and game master), Kai Grayson (screenwriter and game master, Roles for Initiative LA), Kawika Aguilar (actor and writer, Snowbright Studio), Markeia McCarty (nerd culture and gaming host, Something Scary, Critical Role), and Masood Haque (comedian and actor, The Rivals of Waterdeep, Idle Champions) discuss being people of color in the world of professional tabletop gaming: what it takes to get a seat at the table, to move into positions of power, to generate momentum, and to maintain hope.

Friday March 27, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games, BIPOC | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games, BIPOC

4:00pm PDT

Tabletop Role-Playing Game Design for Publishing

Friday March 27, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

There are fantastic tabletop role-playing games coming to store shelves. Industry experts Elise Rezendes (senior RPG producer, Darrington Press), Anais Morgan (product development specialist, Renegade Games), Kimi Hughes (owner, Golden Lasso Games), Johnny O'Neal (president, Brotherwise Games), and Spenser Stark (senior game designer, Critical Role) share how to bring storytelling to publishing in the tabletop game industry. Moderated by Ross Thompson.

Friday March 27, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games, Education, Science Fiction & Fantasy | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games, Education, Science Fiction & Fantasy

5:00pm PDT

From Daggers 'Till Dawn: A Daggerheart Actual Play

Friday March 27, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm PDT

Outlaws, bandits, and brigands have been terrorizing the frontier settlement of New Hope, but there is a new sheriff in town. During a sunset duel, a supernatural threat arrives, and old enemies must work together to survive until dawn. This actual play uses the Daggerheart TTRPG system from Darrington Press and involves audience participation. Shaun Leonard (tabletop creator and game designer) will GM our story with Kylie Rose (tabletop creator), Kim Wong (actor), Kevin Roy (tabletop creator), and Kai Miller (actor/creator), combating their fanged foes.

Friday March 27, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games

7:00pm PDT

The Last Light of Barrowfield: A Candela Obscura Actual Play

Friday March 27, 2026 7:00pm - 9:00pm PDT

Kevin Roy (writer, producer, filmmaker) runs a live Candela Obscura session set in The Riverlands, joined by Shaun Leonard (actor, pro GM), Kylie Rose (pro GM, Dicescape), Lemar "TheconGuy" Harris (host, comedian, GM), Markeia McCarty (Critical Role, Something Scary), and John Wayne Constance (actor). In this audience-friendly actual play, investigators confront a haunted lighthouse, a grieving spirit, and an impossible moral choice.

Friday March 27, 2026 7:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games, Horror and Suspense, Mysteries & Crime Dramas | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games, Horror and Suspense, Mysteries & Crime Dramas

9:00pm PDT

Dreadful: Interactive Tabletop Terror!

Friday March 27, 2026 9:00pm - 10:00pm PDT

In this interactive liveplay, the Dreadful Crew—Hailie Rose (TTRPG performer and content creator), Kai Miller (TTRPG performer and cosplayer), Kawika Aguilar (actor and writer, Snowbright Studio), Matt Caudel (actor and voice actor, TTRPG performer), and Morgan Moessinger (actor and TTRPG performer)—are ghost-hunting in a graveyard. While they roll for actions, the Dame of Dread, Sarah Durnesque (producer and game master, Pick Your Poison Productions), narrates, and the audience pulls blocks from the Dread Tower to increase the terror. If the tower falls, someone dies.

Friday March 27, 2026 9:00pm - 10:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games, Horror and Suspense | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games, Horror and Suspense

11:00am PDT

Spotlight on Ben Brode

Saturday March 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Ben Brode (Marvel Snap, Hearthstone), co-founder of Second Dinner and game director behind some of the most notable digital card games of the last decade, shares stories, humor, and behind-the-scenes design insights. From the early days of Hearthstone to the creation of Marvel Snap, he talks about how great card games are built and what he's learned about creativity, community, and taking big risks.

Special Guests

Ben Brode

WonderCon Special Guest

Ben Brode is one of the most recognizable card game designers, thanks mostly to his side gig as a rapper. Mostly known for leading the creation of MARVEL SNAP, Brode was also the first game designer and eventual game director of Hearthstone while at Blizzard Entertainment. As chief... Read More →

Saturday March 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games, WonderCon Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games, WonderCon Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

12:00pm PDT

The Artistry Behind Tabletop Games

Saturday March 28, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT

Art brings gaming to life, and illustration meets imagination in tabletop gaming. Industry illustrators and artists Kendall Hale (WonderCon special guest, illustrator and artist), Sam Rusk (tattooer and TTRPG artist, SINK!), and Kwanchai Moriya (illustrator and painter) explore the artistry behind creating captivating visuals for tabletop games, sharing insights and stories on bringing worlds and characters to life from concept to execution. Moderated by Ross Thompson.

Special Guests

Kendall Hale

E-01, WonderCon Special Guest

Kendall Hale is an illustrator and character designer currently living in Los Angeles. He is best known for his work on the trading card game Disney Lorcana, for which he has done the art on over 30 cards since its release in 2023. Kendall also works as a character designer in animation... Read More →

Saturday March 28, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games, Art and Illustration, WonderCon Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games, Art and Illustration, WonderCon Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:00pm PDT

Designing Tabletop Board Games

Saturday March 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Taking an idea from the prototype phase to the publishing shelf is no small feat. Game designers Moe Popular (Dark Heists), Manny Vega (Flamecraft), Ben Brode (Marvel Snap), Ian Clayman (Exploding Kittens), and Candice Harris (Rivals of Rock) share experience and advice about how to design tabletop games, from building your prototype, game development, and playtesting to publishing. Moderated by Ruel Gaviola.

Special Guests

Ben Brode

WonderCon Special Guest

Ben Brode is one of the most recognizable card game designers, thanks mostly to his side gig as a rapper. Mostly known for leading the creation of MARVEL SNAP, Brode was also the first game designer and eventual game director of Hearthstone while at Blizzard Entertainment. As chief... Read More →

Saturday March 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games, Education, WonderCon Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games, Education, WonderCon Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

2:00pm PDT

Shattering the Fourth Wall: Breaking into a Gaming Career

Saturday March 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT

Gaming industry professionals lead an open conversation around recruiting, partnerships, and marketing. Attendees will learn how charities are helping to make a difference in gaming, followed by an open Q&A.

Saturday March 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games, Education, Fandom, Video Games | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games, Education, Fandom, Video Games

3:00pm PDT

Venture Forth: An Immersive D&D Actual Play

Saturday March 28, 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

The cast of Venture Forth—Russel Bartek, Rodney Campbell, Kat Harris Mojica, Rebecca Hausman, and Shane O'Loughlin—led by dungeon master Seth Fowler, demonstrate their role-playing prowess, keen storytelling skills, creative gameplay implementation, cohesive ensemble performance style, and the impact of their immersive ruleset in a homebrew one-shot session. Expect drama, laughs, and detailed descriptions of violence.

Saturday March 28, 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games, Fandom, Games, Podcasts, Video Games | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games, Fandom, Games, Podcasts, Video Games

5:00pm PDT

Not Another Horror TTRPG One Shot

Saturday March 28, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm PDT

A ragtag group of adventurers—including Cai Kagawa (performer on Transplanar), Harli Kane (model, actor, cosplayer), Jake Lionheart (music producer, composer), and Jes Wade (TTRPG producer, ChariTTRPGs)—attempt to survive a Dread actual play GM'd by Kim Tsuyuki (marketing manager/cast member, 5 GMs in a Trenchcoat) that brings the audience along for the thrill and, if they're lucky, a kill. Combining their collaborative storytelling skills, the cast will lean into horror tropes and spoof up the genre.

Saturday March 28, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games

7:00pm PDT

ProgCore: Classic Fantasy Meets Modern RPGs

Saturday March 28, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT

The TTRPG world is changing, abuzz about a return to "old school gaming." But what does that even mean in the modern age of role-playing games? ProgCore Fantasy creators Todd Stashwick (Picard, VisionQuest) and David Nett (Starter Kit, Hero's Journey Fitness) discuss with their collaborators—Drea Letamendi, Ph.D., Jason Charles Miller, Brian Ward, and Charity Stashwick (the Arkham Sessions; Batman: The Brave and the Bold; Final Fantasy XIV; Shout! Factory; screenwriter) about how to bring the joy of classic, old-school fantasy storytelling to RPG sessions while simultaneously caring for and protecting everyone at the table, regardless of the actual game you play.

Saturday March 28, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games

11:00am PDT

Spotlight on Spenser Starke

Sunday March 29, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Game designer and WGA screenwriter Spenser Starke (Daggerheart) and moderator Rowan Hall (Sunderfolk) discuss the intersection of the film and gaming industries. From selling his first tabletop game to a publisher to writing a screenplay for a major Hollywood studio, Spenser discusses what he has learned about working in both worlds.

Special Guests

Spenser Starke

D-01, WonderCon Special Guest

Spenser Starke is a WGA screenwriter and the senior game designer at Darrington Press. He is best known for Daggerheart, Alice Is Missing, Candela Obscura, and Kids on Brooms. Additionally, he has worked on video games like Sunderfolk and is currently adapting a number of tabletop... Read More →

Sunday March 29, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games, WonderCon Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games, WonderCon Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

12:00pm PDT

How to ACTUALLY Start an Actual Play: Roundtable Discussion

Sunday March 29, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT

Leading industry producers and creatives T.J. Chambers (executive producer/host, Mythical Entertainment), Jake Michels (creative director/co-founder, Good Time Society), Jes Wade (TTRPG producer, ChariTTRPGs), Reed Sights (StoryQuest), and Shane O'Loughlin (creative director, Venture Forth D&D) discuss what is involved in the foundation of a successful Actual Play. Attendees will find real-world context along with philosophical approaches and tips for aspiring creators. Led by Rebecca Hausman (producer/founder, Venture Forth D&D).

Sunday March 29, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games, Education, Podcasts, Seminars & Workshops, Web, Writers & Writing | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games, Education, Podcasts, Seminars & Workshops, Web, Writers & Writing

1:00pm PDT

Rolling with Story: How to Improv in TTRPGs

Sunday March 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

A panel of tabletop improvisers discuss the benefits and limits of rolling with both the dice and the story as a player character and as a game master. The conversation covers session zeroes, making flexible characters, and the challenging role of the GM when it comes to saying "yes, and" or the dreaded "yes, but." Shaun Leonard (tabletop creator and improviser) hosts Kim Wong (actor and improviser), Sammy Glicker (actor and improviser), Kylie Rose (tabletop creator), and David Carzell (actor and improvisor), making it up as they go along.

Sunday March 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games

2:00pm PDT

Queer Gaming: Adventuring with Pride

Sunday March 29, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT

For decades, LGBTQ+ players have put their own spin on tabletop role-playing games and video games. RPGs give queer gamers the chance to create heroes and fantasy worlds in their own image, and it is now impossible for the industry to ignore the impact of their fandom. How can gaming give LGBTQ+ people the opportunity to reimagine themselves? How does queer culture flip the scripts in classic fantasy and sci-fi RPG genres? Where is queer gaming headed? Prism Comics and moderator Tara Madison Avery (Death Saves, Stacked Deck Press), engage in a lively discussion of these questions with panelists Matthew Michael Brown (gamer; marriage and family therapist, Queer Magic Therapy), Bryan Gomez (Twitch affiliate and cosplayer), Ray Lancione (Qweerty Gamers), Sonya Saturday (The Greatest Thing You've Ever Seen in Your Life, J.K. Rowling and the Ungrateful Fans), and Estella M. Stone (Twitch Pride Guild, Electronic Arts Creator Network).

Sunday March 29, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
North 151

D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games, BIPOC, Comics, LGBTQIA+, Video Games | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games, BIPOC, Comics, LGBTQIA+, Video Games

4:00pm PDT

Battle Bracket: Which D&D Class Will Win?

Sunday March 29, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

You are invited to help determine the greatest Dungeons & Dragons class of all time. Panelists present arguments for their favorites, and the audience chooses which classes move forward in the tournament. The bracket is set, but the audience chooses the victor. Shaun Leonard (tabletop creator and game designer) will moderate with Kim Wong (actor), and others, representing their favorite D&D classes.

Sunday March 29, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
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D: d4 Tabletop Creative Conference, Games, Tabletop Games | 1: Programs, Games, Tabletop Games