Top Events for Tabletop Gamers at San Diego Comic-Con 2023
By Michelle Nguyen Bradley
Summer is here, and so is the return of convention season! A chance to see friends, learn about new games, enjoy entertainment, and experience your fandoms to the fullest!
This year at San Diego Comic-Con, tabletop gaming is back in full force, and we’re sharing some highlights that we’re looking forward to next week!
Comic-Con Special Edition Games
Comic-Con Special Edition Games features an EXPANDED gaming experience, featuring board, card, and dice games; new, classic, role-playing games, and LARPs. There are tournaments, demos, and a huge game library to check out games to play for free! Find the complete list of available games here.
*Disclaimer: Due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strikes, panel details are subject to change.
Panels
Playing tabletop games and creating them are at the forefront of a bevy of unique panels hosted by fans and professionals alike, so you can learn more about the games you play and how they are made! Here are some of our picks below!
Thursday, July 20, 2023, 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm PDT
Room 29CD
Secrets of D&D Dungeon Mastering with Chris Perkins
Chris Perkins (principal game design architect, Dungeons & Dragons), dungeon master extraordinaire, is here to answer “How do you do THAT?!” and give you advice on how to level up your dungeon master game. All are welcome, from DM-curious to experts!
Thursday, July 20, 2023, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm PDT
Room 3
Learn how to create, promote, and crowdfund your dream project with tips from creators who have been there, done that, and done it again. Featuring Ashlie Hammond (author, projects coordinator for Monkey Minion Press), Rebecca Hicks (Little Vampires cartoonist, The Gorgon Show voice actor), Ray Chou (writer, founder of Mythworks), Kimi Hughes (owner and designer, Golden Lasso Games), and Andrea Rosales (Milestone Initiative artist, graphic designer.)
Thursday, July 20, 2023, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm PDT
Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library
No Latency Live — Cyberpunk RED Actual Play
The crew of the No Latency Podcast takes on a heist in their continuing adventures in Night City. Jade (Save the D8, SkullorJade), Paris Arrowsmith (artist/writer, R. Talsorian, System Switch), Evan Christopher (Save the D8, MAM Talent), Tracie ‘MissMagitek’ (writer, R. Talsorian, MagiRPG), and Peter d. M. Castro (System Switch, Sporcle) hosts an actual play of live Cyberpunk RED by R. Talsorian games.
Thursday, July 20, 2023, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm PDT
Room 25ABC
Roll for Initiative! Playing Dungeons & Dragons 2023
Experts in the field of Dungeons & Dragons and tabletop games share how role-playing games have found their way into pop culture and will continue their meteoric rise. Hear about current trends in RPGs from live stream plays, nostalgic releases, and more. Featuring Kailey Bray (founder, Pixel Circus), Michelle Nguyen Bradley (Critical Role, Outbreak Undead: USotDead), Gabe Hicks (designer, Mythic Grove), and Johnny Stanton IV (Of Dawn and Dusk, Rolling for Red Nose Day). Moderated by Ross Thompson (Cephalofair Games.)
Thursday, July 20, 2023, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm PDT
Room 7AB
You’re ready to launch your best homebrew ideas to the world. The goal is to be in high demand, but what happens when you outgrow your dining room table? Co-founder of Brooklyn Quarter Danielle Beckmann moderates a panel of adventurous industry professionals—Matthew Lillard (Scream, Scooby-Doo), Bill Rehor (Beadle & Grimm's), Noura Ibrahim (Black Dice Society), Timothy Reese (Novel Chronicles), and Brian Suskind (Kobold Press)—who will share the insight, work, luck, and challenges that made them experts.
Thursday, July 20, 2023, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm PDT
Room 7AB
Magic: The Gathering Goes to Universes Beyond
Magic: The Gathering's Universes Beyond lineup is bringing the game to exciting new places, crossing over with your favorite books, games, and shows. From The Lord of the Rings to Doctor Who, Gavin Verhey (principal game designer, Magic: The Gathering) will share the secrets behind bringing these sets to life and provide some sneak peeks of the future.
Friday, July 21, 2023, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm PDT
Omni Hotel, Omni Grand Ballroom DE, 4th Floor
Tabletop Game Design: From Idea to Reality
Eli Beaird (game designer/artist), Nicole Jekich (senior producer, Funko Games), Mike Trias (president/designer, Koalatie Games), and Kevin Hamano (Ignite Wonder Games) take attendees on a journey where tabletop game ideas are cultivated and turned into playable games. Panelists will explore various steps of tabletop game development, including playtesting, publishing, and getting one's game self-published.
Friday, July 21, 2023, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm PDT
Room 23ABC
Tabletop Game Designers: From Concept to the Table
Expert tabletop game designers Victoria Caña (Wizards of the Coast/Riot Games), Alex Uboldi (game designer, Darrington Press), Peter Vaughan (co-founder, Cardboard Alchemy), Heather O'Neill (CEO, 9th Level Games), and Erica Hayes-Bouyouris (game designer, Spin Master Games) share how to bring your game design to life, from initial concept, building prototypes, gaming mechanics trends and more. With moderator Chris Castagnetto.
Friday, July 21, 2023, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm PDT
Room 32AB
Do you love Dungeons & Dragons, puppets, and unscripted chaos? The cast of Perception Studio—host/GM Ryan Keiser (puppeteer for "Cucumber"), Danny Montooth (puppeteer for "Chunk"), Art Vega (puppeteer for "Brian"), and Andrew Lockerbieı—and Kim Wong (actress/voice actress, Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop, Snowdrop) join for a live one-shot of D&D on stage, Much of this game is encouraged to be derailed by the audience!
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PDT
Room 6DE
Dungeons & Dragons: An Animated Anniversary
Mark Evanier (show developer, Dungeons & Dragons), Katie Leigh (voice of Sheila, Dungeons & Dragons), David M. Booher (writer, IDW's Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures), Frank Todaro (voice actor, Netflix's The Cuphead Show), and Luke Gygax (son of D&D creator Gary Gygax) discuss the legendary tabletop game's 40th anniversary as a Saturday morning cartoon from the perspective of the talent who worked on the show and today's creatives who grew up on it. The session will be moderated by TJ Shevlin (2023 Eisner Awards judge.)
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm PDT
Room 5AB
Licensed & IP-Themed Tabletop Games in 2023
Licensed games are the hot trend in tabletop gaming, and publishers are working with more brands than ever. What does it take to bring your favorite license to a tabletop game, and how do designers capture the feel and story? Industry experts Christopher O'Neal (co-owner, Brotherwise Games), Kami Mandell (game designer, The Op Games), Matt Forbeck (lead game designer, Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game), and Elisa Teague (author, game & puzzle designer) talk about working with licenses and tabletop games. With moderator Chris Castagnetto.
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 4:45 pm - 5:45 pm PDT
Ballroom 20
Critical Role: Fireside Chat and Cast Q&A
A fireside chat and short Q&A session with the founders and cast members of Critical Role, including Ashley Johnson (The Last of Us: Parts I & II), Marisha Ray (Final Fantasy XV: Comrades), Taliesin Jaffe (World of Warcraft), Matthew Mercer (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom), Laura Bailey (The Last of Us: Part II), Sam Riegel (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Travis Willingham (Marvel’s Avengers), and Liam O’Brien (Star Wars: The Bad Batch).
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm PDT
Room 24ABC
Magic: The Gathering Panel, Blogatog Live
Magic head designer Mark Rosewater presents this one-man program in which he re-creates his daily blog, answering the audience's questions about the making of the popular trading card game.
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 6:45 pm - 7:45 pm PDT
Room 6A
Critical Role: Making Candela Obscura
The cast and friends of Critical Role, including Taliesin Jaffe (World of Warcraft), Marisha Ray (Final Fantasy XV: Comrades), Robbie Daymond (Demon Slayer), Laura Bailey (The Last of Us: Part II), Anjali Bhimani (Ms. Marvel), Matthew Mercer (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom), and Ivan Van Norman (head of Darrington Press) discuss the making of Candela Obscura including the show, the game, and a whole new intriguing world.
Sunday, July 23, 2023, 10:30 am - 11:30 am PDT
Room 23ABC
Tabletop Gaming X Comics: Gather Your Party!
Jody Houser (Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins, Stranger Things, Dungeons & Dragons), Cecil Castellucci (Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins—Yasha Nydoorin, Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories), Spencer Cushing (editor, Dark Horse Comics), and others discuss role-playing games, comics, and what it’s like adapting these stories from one medium to another. Moderated by Cara O’Neil, Dark Horse Comics VP of marketing.
Sunday, July 23, 2023, 10:30 am - 11:30 pm PDT
Room 29CD
From Screen to Tabletop: Adapting the World's Biggest IPs into Board Games
Discover the secrets of making games based on hit comics, TV shows, and films. A panel of experts will answer your questions and discuss what works and what doesn't at every level of game development. From finding the right source material to marketing your amazing game, we'll cover it all!
Sunday, July 23, 2023, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PDT
Room 7AB
Whether you are a wise druid or a milleni-elf, grab your D20s! Embark on an adventure with Jeff Aldrich (Dungeonmeister series), Travis Baldree (Legends & Lattes), James D'Amato (The Ultimate Role Playing Game), and Jon Taylor (Dungeonmeister series) as they discuss the challenges of balancing the elements of a campaign, whether on a board or on the page. Their characters may have 99 problems, but a lich ain’t one! Moderated by Cecil Castellucci (Shifting Earth, Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins).
Sunday, July 23, 2023, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm PDT
Room 28DE
The Wide World of Tabletop Role-Playing Games
Role-playing games have taken the world by storm, and there are all kinds of games to jump into. Having a fresh design to capture players and the audience is about thematic storytelling and engaging mechanics. Hear from Chris O’Neill (9th Level Games), Markeia McCartey (Hunters Entertainment), Eddie Doty (executive producer, Amazon Games), and Gabe Hicks (designer, Mythic Grove) as they share what they are bringing to the table in 2023 and what the future holds. With moderator Ross Thompson (Cephalofair Games).
Sunday, July 23, 2023, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm PDT
Room 28DE
Pitching Your Tabletop Game: How to Get Your Game in Front of Publishers
More than 5,000 tabletop games come out each year. Publishers are constantly looking for new games with the latest trends and thematic designs. Hear from industry experts Matt Fantastic (creative director, Forever Stoked Creative), Tony Serebriany (senior director of inventor relations, The Op), Elisa Teague (author, game and puzzle designer), Ivan Van Norman (Hunters Entertainment), and Maggie Taylor Clayton (senior manager of North American sales, Exploding Kittens) on how to get your game in front of publishers and how to pitch. With moderator Ross Thompson (Cephalofair Games).
Sunday, July 23, 2023, 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm PDT
Room 29CD
D&D Enters the World of WEBTOON
Join D&D, WEBTOON, and the creative team behind the upcoming Drizzt webcomic: Paul Morrissey (publishing lead for Wizards of the Coast), David Lee (VP of content for WEBTOON), and Purpah (Suitor Armor, writer on upcoming D&D webcomic). They’ll discuss their new webcomic series and the process of bringing beloved Dungeons & Dragons characters to WEBTOON.
Sunday, July 23, 2023, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm PDT
Room 4
Panelists will share their experiences promoting RPGs and their strategies for building a following, reaching out to influencers, and leveraging social media. The panel will cover the ins and outs of crowdfunding a game, from setting realistic funding goals to creating a compelling pitch video. Finally, attendees will learn about the various aspects of production, including artwork, layouts, and printing. Featuring Tone Milazzo (ESPionage the Role-Playing Game of Psychics and Spies, novelist), Chris Czerniak (Tribes in the Dark, San Diego Role-playing Association), Kimi Hughes (Decuma, the Happy Jacks podcast), Mike Olson (Fate Core, Skullkickers: Caster Bastards and the Great Grotesque), and Ray Chou (The Wildsea, CEO of Mythworks), hosted by DuanEdwarDimock (graphic artist, programmer, lifeguard).
TTRPG Theater
The TTRPG Theater returns for its second year! Stationed at the Omni Hotel’s Grand Ballroom on the 4th floor, this theater will run live TTRPG actual play shows featuring various TTRPG systems, celebrity guests, and more! Here’s a list of all the shows in the TTRPG Theater below. Click the links for more info!
Thursday, July 20, 2023, 10:00 am - 1:15 pm PDT
RPG Theater at the Omni Hotel, Omni Grand Ballroom ABC, 4th Floor
The Desaturated: Pathfinder 2e One-Shot
Jacob Kile (Court of Corvids, GameGorgon, and QueueTimes) runs Markeia McCarty (Dimension 20, Rag & Bones, Power Play), Adam Bradford (CDO of Demiplane, co-founder of Nexus Digital Tools), Eddie Doty (showrunner for Crown Channel, produced for Geek & Sundry), A.Jordan Lambert (GM of Blackness & Dragons, writer for lambertraa), and Omar Najam (Critical Role, Dimension 20, Power Play) through an achromatic world where they have been tasked to bring down the desaturated to bring hue back into the world.
Thursday, July 20, 2023, 1:15 pm - 4:15 pm PDT
Omni Hotel, Omni Grand Ballroom ABC, 4th Floor
Journey with us to the dystopian near future of 2080 as Game Master Jason Azevedo (founder, RealmSmith) leads a phenomenal cast of Shadowrunners through a riveting one-shot adventure in the Sixth World. Welcome to the Shadows.
Thursday, July 20, 2023, 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm PDT
Omni Hotel, Omni Grand Ballroom ABC, 4th Floor
Star Trek Adventures by Modiphius
Star Trek Adventures is a Tabletop RPG where new discoveries await explorers of Starfleet. It’s a 2D20 game of action, adventure, hope, and shenanigans. The company GM and players boldly go where no con-goer ever went before. The Shackleton Expanse will never be the same!
Friday, July 21, 2023, 10:00 am - 1:15 pm PDT
Omni Hotel, Omni Grand Ballroom ABC, 4th Floor
One-Ring: The Quest for Bilbos Secret
In the idyllic land of the Shire, a group of hobbits sent by the legendary Bilbo Baggins embark on a quest that will shape their fates forever. A mysterious secret has been revealed, one that threatens the peace of their beloved homeland. As the clock ticks with a limited three-hour time frame, the hobbits set out to uncover the truth and defend their way of life. GM Kevin Parr (Dicecream Sandwich, QuestLine DnD) takes players Weston Gardner (composer, Arcane Anthems), ChelseaBytes (host, Twitch Streamer), LaurenDoesCosplay (cosplayer), Gabe Hicks (Dimension 20, Mythic Grove), Harli Kane (model, TTRPG performer), and Don Marshall (GM, Unpredicted Party) on a quest through The Lord of the Rings Role-Playing Game.
Friday, July 21, 2023, 1:15 pm - 4:15 pm PDT
RPG Theater at the Omni Hotel, Omni Grand Ballroom ABC, 4th Floor
Hunters Entertainment: Gods of Ragnarock TTRPG Actual Play
Welcome, mortals, to Gods of Metal: Ragnarock! This is the first live actual play of the latest soon-to-be-released tabletop role-playing game from Hunters Entertainment (Outbreak Undead, Alice Is Missing). Gods of Metal: Ragnarock is an epic heavy metal fantasy RPG within the dual worlds of Mundania and Ragnarock. GM Ivan Van Norman (creator of Ragnarock, Sagas of Sundry) will take Jason Charles Miller (Rezodrone, Final Fantasy XIV), Michelle Nguyen Bradley (Critical Role, Outbreak Undead: USotDead), Markeia McCarty (World of Darkness: Hunter The Gathering, Outbreak Undead: Project Nero), Luis Carazo (Exandria Unlimited: Calamity, NCIS: LA), Joseph H. Johnson, Jr. (host/producer, Tabletop Jocks), Noxweiler Berf (Outbreak Undead: Rag n Bone, Realms Apart) to claim fealty to one of the six metal gods, form their adventuring band, and quest for glory! Incorporating gaming and rock artistry included is an original soundtrack by Rezodrone (Cyberpunk 2077).
Friday, July 21, 2023, 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm PDT
Omni Hotel, Omni Grand Ballroom ABC, 4th Floor
Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game Live Play with Glass Cannon Network
A new group of superheroes is making its Comic-Con debut, as personalities from the Glass Cannon Network bring their unique brand of unhinged role-playing madness to the Multiverse. Gamemaster Troy Lavallee, along with Joe O'Brien, Skid Maher, Matthew Capodicasa, Noura Ibrahim, Alicia Marie, and Marvel's own Nick Lowe (VP, Marvel executive editor), create a superhero story that makes the Avengers look like a knitting club. Don't miss the action-packed, laugh-inducing mayhem that will leave you wondering if spandex suits come with built-in comedic timing!
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 10:00 am - 1:15 pm PDT
Omni Hotel, Omni Grand Ballroom ABC, 4th Floor
Children of Éarte is a "fairy tale for grown-ups" in an ongoing actual play 5e campaign from the mind of Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood, Daredevil). This special episode features Hope LaVelle (Heroes of the Planes, stunt, and motion capture artist), Alicia Marie (author, costume, and performing artist), Adam Bradford (CDO of Demiplane; founder, D&D Beyond and Pathfinder Nexus), and Lauren Urban (Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, Codename Entertainment), with Gabe Hicks (A Kids Guide to Tabletop RPGs, Fallout: Winter of Atom) and Michelle Nguyen Bradley (Tabletop News, Vampire: The Masquerade: New York by Night), tells an untold story of the characters aboard the Starlight Special on the first night of the magical journey that forever changed their lives. Awakened by mysterious lights just before dawn, what could they portend?
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 1:15 pm - 4:15 pm PDT
Omni Hotel, Omni Grand Ballroom ABC, 4th Floor
Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill! from D&D
See a live performance of the new official D&D streaming TV show starring Matthew Lillard and other TTRPG luminaries: a fast and funny D&D game-meets-improv comedy show where everyone meets their heroic demise.
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm PDT
Omni Hotel, Omni Grand Ballroom ABC, 4th Floor
Mazes Fantasy Roleplaying Actual Play Audience Interactive Event
Save versus death! No one has ever survived a raid on the Murder Mage’s Maze—what makes you think you can adventure? Come on down: you are the next adventurer trying to defeat the Murder Maze, a super deadly, old-school dungeon in this unique take on an RPG actual play. When one “adventurer” dies, another will rise from the audience to take their place. How long can you stay alive? You have the aid of special guests, your “loyal” henchmen. Hosted by the designer of Mazes Fantasy Roleplaying, Chris O’Neill (9th Level Game). Mazes is a return to the classic sword and sorcery dungeon crawler with award-winning yet delightfully simple modern rules. Are you brave?
That’s SO much gaming for one convention and just think: SDCC isn’t event gaming focused. Did we miss anything from the list? Tweet us @WatchTabletop and let us know!
