I am once again making the pilgrimage to Morristown NJ, for the annual Game Design festival known as Metatopia. It’s a whirlwind of panels and playtests with no equal. I hope to see many people there, and to test my three game designs.
Here is what I know for certain about my schedule. I will likely be sitting on a large number of panels, and recording as many of them as I can for the RPG Design PanelCast.
Thursday
Flying in at 3pm, then heading down to the city to meet and greet for a very happy halloween.
Friday
D002: “Playtesting 101” presented by Rob Donoghue & Jason Pitre. Playtesting is an absolute requirement for any game to be successful. This panel shows how to get the most out of your playtesting efforts no matter what kind of game you’ve designed. Friday, 9:00AM – 10:00AM;
B135: [FOCUS GROUP] “Tell Me About Your Game” by Genesis of Legend Publishing; presented by Jason Pitre. It’s a card game about role playing game designers. Your goal, if you choose to accept it, is to gain publication credits by pitching the most innovative RPGs you can. Friday, 3:00PM – 4:00PM
Saturday
D036: “Accessibility Issues For Game Designers” presented by Russell Collins & Jason Pitre. Games are about imagination and creativity so the print medium shouldn’t be a barrier to entry. Understanding the needs of persons with learning differences and the options that designers have will keep you from excluding people who are eager to enjoy our hobby. This seminar will focus on blindness, low vision, and dyslexia and strategies to present your game content for those with print disabilities in digital and audio media. Saturday, 9:00AM – 10:00AM;
R223: [BETA TEST] “Posthuman Doorways” by Genesis of Legend Publishing; presented by Jason Pitre. Transhumanism. The idea that sufficiently advanced science and technology can change what it means to be human. This game invites you to explore those questions during play. You are forced to make hard choices and explore one potential future. Individuals knowledgeable about GM-less games and transhumanism are ideal. Saturday, 10:00AM – 1:00PM
D050: “Electronic Book Publishing 101” presented by Darren Watts, Jason Pitre & Joseph Bloch. What are the differences between publishing hard copy books and electronic publishing? This panel will fill you in on everything you need to know, from standards and tools to markets for reaching your audience. Saturday, 3:00PM – 4:00PM;
D052: “Legalese: Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents” presented by Justin Jacobson & Jason Pitre. It’s all about protecting yourself. Where and when do these legal concepts apply, and what do you need to do to make sure you’re covered without spending a fortune unnecessarily? Saturday, 4:00PM – 5:00PM; Serious, All Ages.
D061: “Dangerous Mechanics: Rules That Looked Good On The Surface” presented by Kenneth Hite, Will Hindmarch, Rob Donoghue & Jason Pitre. The panelists will deal with mechanics that look good on the surface but can have unforeseen negative consequences in play. Spending XP, no-effect rules, dice-generated currency – all have hidden dangers. Explore these and other light bulbs that didn’t quite work out. Saturday, 9:00PM – 10:00PM;
Sunday
R357: [ALPHA TEST] What Came Before; “Rogues Gallery” by Genesis of Legend Publishing; presented by Jason Pitre. This game is meant to be played during an ongoing Pathfinder/D&D or Dungeon World campaign when you don’t have everyone show up for a session. The adventurers sit around a campfire and a rogue tells a story of her mentors’ great deeds of larceny. You play through that flashback-adventure as an all-rogue party. All players must have experience with Pathfinder/D&D or Dungeon World. Bonus points if you have read the 2nd ed Complete Book of Thieves, or if you have OSR experience. Sunday, 10:00AM – 12:00PM