Gaming

Dragon Con, Game on.

Join thousands in a world of limitless adventures.

Don’t have a “Meltdown!” We won’t leave all of you gamers “Alone in the Dark” by going virtual. If you’re “Commander Keen” on gaming, it’s your “Quest” to grab a “Paladin” (Get it? “pal and then?”) join us for the “Kaos” for all-day gaming. This is the “Ultima” way to get your favorite Dragon Con gaming experience without spending your “Time Runners” over to AmericasMart Building 3 and playing “Frogger” over Peachtree Street.

Okay. We’re done with the game puns. We know they are “OverKill.”

That was the last one. Promise.

Role-Playing Video Gaming Collectible Card Gaming Joystick Gamebar NSDMG LAN Games & E-Tournaments LARPS and Werewolf Miniature Games Board Gaming Artemis Starship Bridge Simulator Save Point Tabletop Gaming

Role-Playing

Campaign Information

D&D Adventurers League (DDAL)

D&D Adventurers League Events uses the Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Rules. For all D&D Adventurers League Events, participation requires membership in the RPGA/DCI and a character created using the Character Creation Guidelines available from the following website: http://www.dndadventurersleague.org. Please refer to this website for additional information.

D&D OnDemand, under the DDAL umbrella, are scheduled 2-hour events for those who are wanting an introduction to D&D Adventurers League, or even just to 5th Edition D&D, or just have a couple hours to kill. These events are geared towards new characters and new players. Pre-generated characters, basic rules, dice, and pencils will be provided for those who wish to just show up and play. The D&D OnDemand events will even cater to replay, as the available content varies from slot to slot. These events will run every 2 hours from 9am to 9pm Friday/Saturday/Sunday and 9am to 3pm Monday.

This year, we will be offering several Charity Events, with all ticket sales going to the Dragon Con Charity for 2023, CURE Childhood Cancer. 2 of these events are Author-run events (with events written by Jay Anderson and Dave Sklenecki). In addition, we will be offering a DDAL Epic Event for Charity, in which all tables of players are playing the same event at the same time, and whereby actions at one table can and often do impact events at other events.

Pathfinder Society (PFS)

Pathfinder Society uses Paizo’s Pathfinder 2^nd Edition Rules for all of their newer stuff, but we will be offering a few older PFS 1E events for those who still love playing 1^st Edition Pathfinder. For all Pathfinder Society events, participation requires membership in Paizo’s Organized Play system and a character created using the Character Creation Guidelines available from the following website, http://paizo.com/pathfinderSociety.

PFS Quests, under the Pathfinder Society umbrella, we will be offering walk-up 1(ish) hour mini-events for those who want to just drop by and play a little Pathfinder 2E.

This year, we will be offering we will be offering a PFS Interactive Event for Charity on Sunday afternoon (2pm – 7pm), in which all tables of players are playing the same event at the same time, and whereby actions at one table can and often do impact events at other events.

Starfinder Society (PFS)

Starfinder Society uses Paizo’s Starfinder Rules. For all Starfinder Society Events, participation requires membership in Paizo’s Organized Play system and a character created using the Character Creation Guidelines available from the following website, http://paizo.com/starfinderSociety. Please refer to this website for additional information. In addition, there will be previews of the new Starfinder 2E rulesets, with 2 Playtest scenarios available that will allow you to see and play under the new rule system that is being developed, as well as give feedback to Paizo about your experience.

SFS Quests, under the Starfinder Society umbrella, we will be offering walk-up 1(ish) hour mini-events for those who want to just drop by and play a little Starfinder.

This year, we will be offering we will be offering a SFS Interactive Event for Charity on Saturday afternoon (2pm – 7pm), in which all tables of players are playing the same event at the same time, and whereby actions at one table can and often do impact events at other events.

ShadowRun Missions (SRM)

ShadowRun Missions uses Shadowrun 6th Edition Rules. For all Shadowrun Missions Events, participation requires a character created for Shadowrun 6ed using the rules found at http://www.shadowruntabletop.com/missions/. Please refer to this website for additional information.

Role-Playing Games (Non-Campaign)

This year we have over 100 events across many different game systems including 26 D&D 5^th edition games. Make sure to pick up your tickets from gaming registration before heading up to the second floor assembly area in Mart building 3. The Non-Campaign games start at 9am, 1pm, 6pm and 10pm and last 4 hours. There is an evening session that starts Thursday at 8pm. Generic tickets are also an option even if an event shows as sold out on the website. Especially as the convention goes on a number of people do not show up for their events and we will fill them with people who have generic tickets. You can get generic tickets at gaming registration or from the marshal in the assembly area. Also if you show up with a full table of regular tickets for an event, check in with the marshal to get seated early to save room in the assembly area as we have several very busy slots. See the Dragon Con app for more information on the specific games.

We are looking for people on both sides of the game master screen. Both players to explore the worlds created by others, and game masters to create those worlds for others to explore. Non-Campaign means a role playing game where you will play a character provided by the game master for generally one game slot. To find out more information about the role-playing options and all of gaming, check out the registration website at gaming.dragoncon.org. If you have any questions about the non-campaign role-playing options you can contact us at noncampaignrpgs@dragoncon.org.

Video Gaming

Dragon Con Video Gaming is back for another year of panels, parties, and pedantic perspicacity. From Baldur’s Gate to Night City, we are your place for visiting virtual vistas! If it has pixels, we have panels.

Many of your favorite events will be returning this year, including The Science of Pokémon, Dub Your Own Otome, Giant Gameboys, and panels highlighting both fan-driven content as well as information on the making of video games. Special guests include voice actors from many of the most popular video games including Baldur’s Gate 3, Mass Effect, Final Fantasy XIV, and more!

New for this year, the Video Gaming Track is pleased to announce panels on speed-running, eSports, and more!

Dragon Con Video Gaming Presents – The 8-Bit Bash

The Dragon Con Video Gaming track is proud to present The 8-Bit Bash, featuring music from the golden age of video games (or, as most people would call it, the 70’s and 80’s). DJ Nemesis will be spinning the tunes from start to finish, so remember to hydrate – you’ve got a lot more Dragon Con to go!

The 8-Bit Bash will be on Thursday night in the Westin, as if you needed another reason to come to Dragon Con a day early!

The Video Game Costume Contest

The Video Game Costume Contest is back for another year. We’ll be giving out Best in Show, 2nd place, & 3rd place prizes, as well as honorable mention and judge’s choice awards.

The Video Game Costume Contest judges on craftsmanship of the costume as well as screen accuracy of the character portrayed.

Judges will be looking at the costume itself, the workmanship, design, and inspiration. This will be open to individuals, experts and novices, and part of the judging process includes a description of the game and character being portrayed. All judges are costuming professionals with extreme costume backgrounds.

Pre-judging and registration will occur in Westin Augusta E-H, from 2:30pm to 5pm. You must be pre-judged in order to participate in the contest. Pre-registration is not open to the public, but contestants may bring one handler with them to pre-judging. Limited to 30 contestants.

Please contact the Video Gaming Track at videogamingfans@dragoncon.org with any questions.

The Final Fantasy Fish Finding Scavenger Hunt (aka FFFFSH)

The Dragon Con Video Gaming track is back for its second year of finding your favorite fish both IRL in the Georgia Aquarium and online in Final Fantasy XIV! Did you know that there are over 160 species of fish in FF XIV that can be caught and displayed in your in-game aquarium? Did you also know that many of those fish are based on real fish in the Georgia Aquarium? Do you have what it takes to find those fish and be an Expert Fin-vestigator?

Saturday from 7:00 to 10:00 pm in the Georgia Aquarium (admission required).

The Heroes and Villains Ball

The biggest and baddest party at Dragon Con returns!

In previous years, we’ve had celebrity appearances, Dancing Deadpools, Lightsaber Limbo, and Wil Wheaton’s Walk of Shame. Costumes welcome, but not required. DJ Limit Break will be spinning ’til the wee hours!

Saturday night, Westin Peachtree Ballroom.

(Note: If you are planning a group meetup or photoshoot for the Heroes and Villains Ball, please contact the Video Gaming Track at videogamingfans@dragoncon.org).In previous years, we’ve had celebrity appearances, Dancing Deadpools, Lightsaber Limbo, and Wil Wheaton’s Walk of Shame. Costumes welcome, but not required.

The doors open at 10:00 PM, Saturday night, Westin Peachtree Ballroom.

Collectible Card Gaming

Magic: The Gathering events includes:
All Weekend Play League and Eight Player Drafts; Midnight Hunt, Crimson Vow, and Zendikar Rising Sealed Events; War of the Spark, M19, and Guilds of Ravnica Retro Drafts; Commander Legends Battle for Baldur’s Gate, Streets of New Capenna, M20, and Late Night Mixed Re-Prerelease Events:, Chaos Sealed and Mini Master; and many other formats. Drafts on Demand during all open hours of the Gaming Hall each day.

Dedicated Command Zone
With a dedicated Command Zone, players can get their battleship Magic fix all weekend long. Constructed, Sealed, Draft, 2-Headed Giant, Emperor, 1V1, Spelltable, Oathbreaker – whatever flavor of Commander you want, The Command Zone is where you’ll find it!

Big events for the newest release: Bloomburrow
Dragon Con will feature tournaments focused on Bloomburrow as well as the recently released Modern Horizons III edition, which garnered worldwide attention when it was released. Fans will be able to purchase tournament play for both Modern Horizons III and Bloomburrow. A full slate of Commander League, Convention League, Drafts, and Sealed Commander events will also be available.

Disney Lorcana events including constructed tournaments will be available.

Returning events include popular legacy card games such as: Lord of the Rings TCG: Check out our Cube Draft of one of the most popular licensed games ever. Star Wars CCG Cube Draft, Ascension Star Trek CCG 1st Edition, 2nd Edition and Tribbles! As well as other classics. Also, Returning to Dragon Con after a many years absence is Yu-Gi-Oh! And we’re looking forward to popular new fresh games such as Flesh and Blood!

Rose Tatu Productions returns to again to Dragon Con to teach and play card-based games throughout the entire con. Card based games may be fast and fun or they can be complex and full of strategy. Rose Tatu Productions will be teaching many stand-alone games that are played; mostly, just with cards. The cards will tell you what they can do, but you decide how best to play each one. We will have some hot new games such as “Ark Nova” and “Dune Imperium” along with classics like “Vampire: The Eternal Struggle” and “Android: Netrunner”. Come by and learn games such as Century Spice Road, Fields of Green, 7 Wonders, Dixit, Arkham Horror LCG, and more. Set learning and demo times can be found in the Dragon Con App or in the Dragon Con Gaming Guide.

Events can be pre-registered for at gaming.dragoncon.org

National Security Decision Making Game

The fine folks from the National Security Decision Making Game (NSDMG) will return to the convention this year. If you pay attention to the news or current events or have an interest in military and geopolitics, it is a hoot!

They will be running different formats of their game, plus giving some great lectures and panels. They focus on contemporary, historical and futuristic geopolitical, military, technological, and economic issues.

In the NSDM political, military, and economic role-playing game: “You players are the congress. You over there, you’re the Cabinet. You folks in the corner are the Joint Chiefs. This guy’s the President. The scenario is: it’s the world as you know it today. Fix it. You may start now.”

New issues and problems arise in every game with different nations in play, showing a range of real issues across the world and modeling a number of different political systems through which the players navigate. Can you affect Iranian policy as the US? Can you take on the Ukraine playing Russia? As China, can you keep the West from interfering with your ascent to superpower status? And how do you solve a problem like Korea? Several of the games are earmarked specifically for science fiction and futuristic themes such as artificial intelligence and robotics, space exploration and exploitation, nuclear reactor disasters, electromagnetic pulse, supervolcanoes, and of course, pandemics.

Games are available every day, no extra ticket is required, and the schedule is available in the Dragon Con app. Events are held in the Westin.

LARPS Werewolf (Social Deception Gaming)

Live Action Role-Playing Games (LARPs): where theater meets tabletop gaming! This year, LARPs is pleased to offer events from our returning fan-favorite productions, as well as some exciting games that will be making their Dragon Con debut. For those LARP games that run continually throughout the year, we will have “display-only” tables staffed and ready to answer your questions. In AmericasMart Building 3. As the schedule is finalized, we will update the gaming registration website. We look forward to presenting many different opportunities in a variety of styles and formats for everyone, from the novice to the experienced LARPer, and even a few for those curious about LARPs.

Long a staple of Dragon Con gaming, Werewolf has their own dedicated gaming space since 2017. Are you ready to lie and deceive your friends? Located on the 14 th Floor of the Westin, The Social Deception group at Dragon Con presents 4 days of Social Deception gaming! Our regular business hours will be available 12:00 PM to 5:00 AM Thursday – Monday. The Social Deception group provides experienced moderators to give you the best social deception experience! Join us for your favorites – Ultimate Werewolf, Witch-hunt, Secret Hitler, Two Rooms and a Boom, and more! A social deception gaming library will be available. In addition, we will be giving away prizes all weekend! All that is required to play is a Dragon Con Werewolf sticker (and of course Dragon Con membership)!

Miniature Gaming

Let’s sling some paint! Paint & Take will be in the same space with a new selection of minis!! Participate, take classes and have some fun. This year, we will debut the exclusive, fan-favorite, the Baby Dragon miniature with a custom base hallmarking the 2024 year. This is the 11th year for Paint & Take, and we’re adding some special figures from a couple game companies to the claw machine.

Wander: The Cult of Barnacle Bay returns with Panda Cult Games showing off their Shovel Knight: Dungeon Duels and La Cluck’s expansion into the Bay.

IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shadows of the Past will be back with the Dark Knight himself, Batman!!

These games provide a crossover experience with the Turtles taking on the Clown Prince of Crime or Shredder finding out the Birds of Prey are not to be underestimated.

Cool Minis or Not and the Marvel United and X-Men United games will be available for pick-up excitement, and their figures might be in the claw machine. :hint: :hint:

Classic BattleTech from Catalyst Game Labs just gets bigger and bigger with more play space and lots of support.

You can register for scheduled events at gaming.dragoncon.org.

Board Gaming

Board games will once again be offering Board Gaming memberships for only $10. This will allow you to play games from our extensive library all weekend for one low price. Additionally, your board games membership also allows you to participate in any of our sanctioned werewolf circles in the Westin. Memberships can be purchased in advance through Gaming Registration and at gaming.dragoncon.org.

We are kicking Thursday off with a Dragon Con Spades tournament. bring a partner and compete against the best players at Dragon Con. Play starts at 6PM when we open up. Board games will be open until 2AM nightly.

Our games check out desk will once again offer a selection of Play to Win games in cooperation with Double Exposure. Play a P2Win game and you can enter for a chance to win that game to take home with you.

Tournament games for 2024 include Catan, Ticket to Ride and SCRABBLE

We are planning to have local gaming enthusiasts demoing and teaching new games this year.

The board games area is also great for learning how to play and perfect strategies of games you may be thinking of purchasing for your home library. Some of the most popular titles will be available to try as well as many classic games. The Dragon Con board games library offers you an opportunity to try before you buy and our volunteers can help you figure out how to play even the most obscure of games.

Artemis Starship Bridge Simulator

Join a crew (or TWO) on our fully interactive Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator. It’s a LAN party/LARP/Escape Room mashup experience you can’t duplicate online!
You and your friends assume the roles of Captain, Helm, Science, Weapons, Communications, and Fighter Pilots to operate the Terran Stellar Navy spaceship, Artemis.

Captain: Channel your inner Kirk/Picard/Janeway and make the tough choices.
Helm: Ahead warp factor 1, then slow to impulse and hard to starboard. Bring us behind the enemy fleet just outside torpedo range…
Weapons: Load… lock… fire! Turn big enemy ships into small pieces. Just don’t fire nukes at point-blank range; go for beam weapons instead.
Science: Scan the sector, find the enemies, and check for secret intel and weaknesses. Watch out for cloaked ships.
Communications: Incoming message! Our space station is under attack! Taunt the enemy fleet leader to draw them away from the base, then call for reinforcements from other Terran vessels.
Engineering: Power and cooling are the name of the game. Boost power to warp to get us there, to weapons for more boom, and to shields when we’re getting toasted! Give it all she’s got!
Fighter: The Artemis can launch up to 2 single-pilot fighter craft to join the fight and add a bit more punch.
Your crew’s success–or failure–depends on your ability to follow the Captain’s orders and work together to defend Terran bases against an alien invasion. This event is a 6 to 8 player experience, suitable for ages 10+. Don’t have a group large enough for a full crew? No problem! Sign up and join with another small party and make new friends! Tickets are available at www.Jump2Warp.com or in-person at Westin Ansley Room 7.

Save Point

Save Point returns with all your favorite free play games for the entire convention located on the first floor of AmericasMart Building 3 featuring classic arcade games and their complete lineup of games from other countries not usually seen in the United States.

Joystick Gamebar

Our local friends at Joystick Gamebar will be providing classic arcade cabinets in their new location inside the Peachtree Center Mall at the former spot that Benihana occupied. Dragon Con members can play their classic arcade and pinball missions for free.

LAN Games & E-Tournaments

LAN Gaming will have all your favorite PC games including STEAM and Battlenet access plus classic and new titles on the consoles for the Switch, NES, NES Classic, XBox One, WiiU, and PS4. Players need to bring their own headsets for PC gaming and are welcome to bring their own controllers for console gaming.

The eTournaments offering for Dragon Con is back again this year for your competitive video gaming needs. With PC and console gaming tournaments ranging from Valorant to League of Legends, Smash Ultimate to Street Fighter 6, Guilty Gear Strive to Teamfight Tactics and more, there is a tournament for everyone.

There will even be some free-to-enter challenge events over the weekend that anyone can try, with the top player each day earning some Dragon Con coins. All events, unless stated otherwise, will be Bring Your Own Controller. Online registration can be found at https://start.gg/dragoncon2024.

Step into a wonderland where pixels pulse with adrenaline! LAN Gaming is your digital playground.

PC Paradise: Dive into the rabbit hole of PC gaming nirvana! We’ve got STEAM and Battlenet like they’re our BFFs. From pixelated classics to cutting-edge masterpieces, our servers hum with excitement.

Console Carnival: Buckle up, because we’re taking you on a console joyride! The Switch flips, the NES Classic grooves, and the PS4 and PS5 flexes their digital muscles.

VR Odyssey: In 2024, we dropped jaws and raised eyebrows with the Meta Quest 2. Virtual reality? More like virtual insanity! But hold onto your headsets, because 2024 brings the Quest 2 and the Quest 3. It’s like strapping a rocket to your imagination and blasting off!

Bring Your Beats: Headsets? Check. Controllers? Double-check. Your own console? Triple-check. LAN Gaming is the ultimate BYO party. We’ve got open TVs for you to enjoy with your equipment (don’t forget the SWITCH Dock). Plug in, power up, and let the games begin!

So, fellow pixel warriors, sharpen your thumbs, charge your mana, and prepare for epic fragfests. LAN Gaming—it’s not just a place; it’s a state of mind.

Tabletop Gaming

The Table Top Track represents designers, players, and professionals involved in the pulp gaming industry. If your game involves paper or cardboard – we here to represent!

The Table Top Fan Track celebrates all things on the table top – whether that be role-playing games, board games, and card games. Here we interview industry insiders and creators! We talk at our panels about role-playing, tactics, and the folklore that has brought role-playing games to where they are today.

This year, the Table Top track celebrates 50 years of Dungeons and Dragons! We are proud to bring Ed Greenwood into our fold – the creator of the Forgotten Realms. If you are unfamiliar, that is the very world where games like the Baldur’s Gate series is set, where the Dungeons and Dragons movie was set! There would be no Baldur’s Gate if there wasn’t Ed Greenwood. We are also tremendously excited to welcome Luke Gygax to our panels this year. Luke’s father – Gary Gygax – was the co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons and largely responsible for our founding game getting off the ground. Today, Luke runs perhaps one of the most influential gaming conventions, Garycon, and a game developer himself!

We also welcome back our corporate sponsor – Kobold Press! Creators of the Tales of the Valiant game system and the winners of 9 Ennies and an Origin Award, the creators at Kobold Press will be telling us what’s new in the Kobold’s cauldron and about the future of Tales of the Valiant!

Also, don’t miss our Master Game Master panel! Consider signing up for it! At Master Game Master, our panel of industry giants will crown one winner who is declared this season’s Master Game Master at Dragon Con! This could be you! Sign up at our main panel room in Augusta 1-2 at the Westin!