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March 9-13, 2026
Moscone CenterSan Francisco, CA

Agenda

Play with the Designers

Banana Chan  (Game Designer, Publisher, Game and a Curry)
Jonaya Kemper  (Assistant Teaching Professor of Performance, Play & Design and Creative Technologies, UCSC)
Sean Nittner  (Director of Projects, Evil Hat Productions)
Tom Lehmann  (Designer, Independent)
Location: Room 3016, West Hall
Date: Wednesday, March 11
Time: 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Pass Type: Festival Pass, Game Changer Pass - Get your pass now!
Audience Level: All
Track: Special Event, Design
Format: Special Event
Vault Recording: Not Recorded
Audience Level: All

This unique session will allow you to play a tabletop roleplaying game with the designer present, who will discuss design decisions and options during play and their development process. This session will feature Jonaya Kemper, Sean Nittner (Agon), and Banana Chan (Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall). Participants will be able to play in one of the three games that the designers will be running.

Takeaway

Designers who like a hands-on approach to learning about the design process.

Intended Audience

How different designers approach mechanics, theme, and balance; what is considered when writing for campaigns and characters for open-ended storytelling.