Friday, July 10, 2026
Panel & Workshop Schedule
Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Location: Colorado Ballroom
Panel Name: Welcome Home, Adventurers
Description: This genre was built by passionate readers, creators, gamers, and dreamers, and this weekend is for all of you. Join us as we kick off the convention, celebrating the worlds, characters, creators, and friendships that have turned this community into something truly special.
Moderator: Brian J. Nordon
Panelists: Matt Dinniman, Jeff Hays, Jez Cajiao, Travis Baldree, Will Wight, Travis Deverell AKA Shirtaloon
Guest Speakers: Maude, Emily Labes-Royce, Geneva Agnos
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Colorado Ballroom
Panel Name: This Character Voice Was a Mistake at Chapter 3
Description: A narrators’ panel on early voice choices that accidentally become canon for an entire series. Especially when you thought it was a throwaway character, so you gave them something difficult or ridiculous for fun, only to realize later they’re now recurring, important, and contractually bound to that voice forever.
Moderator: Heath Miller
Panelists: Andie Parsneau, Neil Hellgers, Justin Thomas Hames, Annie Ellicott, Johnathan McClain, Eric Jason Martin
***
Location: Crystal Peak
Panel Name: Writing Addictive First Chapters - Workshop
Description: Your first chapter has to do more than introduce, it has to compel. This workshop breaks down how to establish voice, stakes, and momentum immediately, while avoiding slow starts, over-exposition, and weak openings. Work with the pros on how to craft the perfect opening.
Moderator: Nathan Ameye
Panelists: Arthur_Mega_Pint_Inverse, Chris Vines, Aaron Michael Ritchey, Warby Picus, Doug Lohse, Ryan Maxwell
***
Location: Sopris A
Panel Name: The Genre That Wouldn’t Stop Leveling
Description: From dungeon crawls and apocalypse systems to cozy fantasy and cultivation hybrids, panelists discuss the explosive growth and transformation of LitRPG.
Moderator: Toni Weisskopf
Panelists: Greg Tolley, Shami Stovall, Robyn Wideman, Michael-Scott Earle, JD Glasscock, Willpowah
***
Location: Sopris B
Panel Name: OP Doesn’t Mean Done: Long-Term Storytelling With Broken Builds
Description: How do you sustain a series when the MC is already top-tier? This panel covers escalation, new forms of conflict, and shifting stakes beyond raw power growth.
Moderator: Jeremy Frazier
Panelists: Alex Knight, Hunter Mythos, Kevin Sinclair, Noret Flood IV, D. Petrie, Eric Ugland
***
Location: Columbia
Panel Name: I Just Voiced It, I Didn’t Write the Trauma
Description: A look at how narrators deliver emotionally intense LitRPG scenes while maintaining professional detachment from the absolute chaos happening in the text.
Moderator: Katherine Grant-Suttie
Panelists: Garrett Michael Brown, Daniel “Dan the Voice Man” Wisniewski, Laurie Catherine Winkel, Daryl Mayfield, Jack Fields, Joshua Story
***
Location: Harvard
Panel Name: Leveling Up My Normal Life in a Fantasy World
Description: A discussion on how LitRPG slice-of-life stories turn ordinary experiences into meaningful progression, from cooking and crafting to social bonds and community building.
Moderator: J.L. Mullins
Panelists: S.L. Rowland, AlwaysRollsAOne, Rachel A. Cooper, Tommy “Sourpatch Hero” Kerper, Jonathan Waters, M. Tress
***
Location: Yale
Panel Name: Beyond the Book: Expanding Your IP Into Games, Comics, and More
Description: From web comics to interactive fiction to full game adaptations, discover how to reimagine your IP for different audiences while preserving narrative depth and emotional impact.
Moderator: Jenn Bean
Panelists: Scott Gaeta, Justin M. Sloan, Tao Wong, Steve Beaulieu/Jaime Castle, Jeffrey “Falcon” Logue, Madix-3
***
Location: Princeton
Panel Name: I Was Just Here for One Recommendation
Description: A BookTok and creator panel on the rabbit hole effect of LitRPG content. We explore how fast-paced hooks, addictive progression arcs, and emotionally charged moments turn casual viewers into instant fans, and why no one ever actually leaves with only one book.
Moderator: Richey Stephens
Panelists: Run Storm, Morrigan, PopPop, Jessica Worgo, Brian Bell, Sam Boyd
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location: Colorado Ballroom
Panel Name: Who’s a Good Murder Machine?
Description: A look at animal companions in LitRPG, from loyal pets to overpowered sidekicks. Authors and narrators discuss how to balance charm, combat utility, and emotional connection without letting the companion steal the entire story.
Moderator: Ryan “RinoZ” McGrath
Panelists: Matt Dinniman, Haylock Jobson, Travis Deverell AKA Shirtaloon, James Hunter, Luke Chmilenko
***
Location: Crystal Peak
Panel Name: I’ve Got 99 Quests and Absolutely No Self-Control
Description: A funny look at quest overload in LitRPG, where the system keeps stacking objectives and “just one more quest” turns into a lifestyle choice.
Moderator: Seth McDuffee
Panelists: Eric Ugland, Ryan Rimmel, Brian J. Nordon, RavensDagger, TheBusyBard (B.J. Webster), John Stovall
***
Location: Sopris A
Panel Name: Born on Royal Road
Description: A look at how serialized platforms reshaped LitRPG and progression fantasy, creating new storytelling styles, reader expectations, and publishing careers.
Moderator: J David Baxter
Panelists: AlwaysRollsAOne, Selkie Myth, Tommy “SourpatchHero” Kerper, Spencer Walther, Eric Dontigney, Ryan Maxwell
***
Location: Sopris B
Panel Name: One More Breakthrough and I Will Definitely Stop (I Will Not Stop)
Description: Authors and narrators explore cultivation and progression fantasy tropes, from realm breakthroughs and bottleneck panic to why nobody in these stories ever actually rests.
Moderator: Andy Dodds
Panelists: J.M. Clarke, Valerios, Andrew Givler, A.F. Kay, Steve Campbell, J.R. Mathews
***
Location: Columbia
Panel Name: Achievement Unlocked: Wait, People Actually Read My Books?
Description: A candid and funny panel on success, self-doubt, and the surreal experience of realizing people genuinely care about your work. From bestselling authors to fan favorites, we explore imposter syndrome, creative anxiety, and why many writers still feel like they somehow snuck past the tutorial unnoticed.
Moderator: Damon Courtney
Panelists: Cornman8700, Shawn Wilson, Dakota Krout, Jay Krauss, Plum Parrot, Noret Flood IV
***
Location: Harvard
Panel Name: From Page to FYP: How BookTok Actually Finds Your Book
Description: A practical look at how BookTok content gets made, what makes a story clip-worthy, and how authors and narrators can position themselves and their work to show up in creator content.
Moderator: TJ Lombardi
Panelists: Ginger and the Foxes, Morrigan, Jessica Worgo, Peter Whetzel, Keoni Taylor
***
Location: Yale
Panel Name: The Worldbuilding Spreadsheet Has Become Sentient
Description: A panel on organization tools quietly becoming more complicated than the actual story.
Moderator: Joshua Story
Panelists: Bosloe, Joedan Worley, OverXelous, Jason J. Willis, Derek, Justin Whitaker
***
Location: Princeton
Panel Name: The Plot Was Tight Until I Got Attached to Everything
Description: A chaotic writing panel on how a clean outline slowly collapses once side characters get too interesting, subplots refuse to die, and “just a small detail” becomes canon. When everything starts feeling important, nothing is safe to cut, and the story quietly becomes twice as big as intended.
Moderator: K.T. Hanna
Panelists: D. Petrie, Waldo Rodriguez, Jeff Kohanek, Justin Marks, Frank Morin
Time: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: Crystal Peak
Panel Name: Crowdfunding 101: Turning an Idea Into Money Without Losing Your Mind - Workshop
Description: A workshop aimed at those thinking of launching a crowdfunding campaign for the first time. Learn the fundamentals of structuring a campaign, setting realistic goals, building reward tiers that, and avoiding the classic trap of underestimating fulfillment (I am signing HOW many books?)
Moderator: Jay Taylor
Panelists: Oriana Leckert, Maxwell Salzberg, Dana Claire, Jenn Bean
***
Location: Sopris A
Panel Name: Stats, Skills, and Serotonin
Description: Why has LitRPG become such a massive comfort genre for readers? A discussion on escapism, community, progression, humor, and the stories people return to again and again.
Moderator: Jack Fields
Panelists: Steve Beaulieu/Jaime Castle, Travis Baldree, S.M. Boyce, Justin Marks, Jacob Holo, Bosloe
***
Location: Sopris B
Panel Name: Random Encounter: Audience Edition - Interactive Panel
Description: Audience members help shape the world, the party, and the story while panelists improvise encounters and attempt to maintain control for more than five minutes.
Moderator: Frank Morin
Panelists: Justin M. Sloan, RavensDagger, Greg Eckert, Ryn aka Jonathan Smidt, Spencer Walther, Tommy “SourpatchHero” Kerper
***
Location: Columbia
Panel Name: I Have a Solution: It’s Called Fireball
Description: Sometimes authors and characters naturally fall into relying on the same spells or mechanics that keep working well, and the challenge of pushing beyond them without losing what readers love. Finding new creative angles while still honoring the strengths that made those choices effective in the first place.
Moderator: Wayne Mitchell
Panelists: Warby Picus, Peter J. Lee, OverXelous, Lars Machmüller, C. Mantis, Doug Lohse
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Crystal Peak
Panel Name: Crowdfunding: Masterclass - Workshop
Description: An advanced session for experienced creators focused on scaling campaigns beyond initial success, covering stretch goal design, production planning, audience communication, and managing momentum.
Moderator: Jay Taylor
Panelists: Oriana Leckert, Maxwell Salzberg, Dana Claire, Jenn Bean
***
Location: Sopris A
Panel Name: From Page to Performance: Bringing LitRPG to Life in Audio
Description: A behind-the-scenes conversation between authors and narrators about translating stat sheets, character voices, system messages, and combat pacing into audio.
Moderator: Khai Dattoli
Panelists: Erin Bennett, Steve Corona, Gary Furlong, Heath Miller, Andie Parsneau, Jessica Threet, Tim Lounibos
***
Location: Sopris B
Panel Name: Live Companion Creation: No One Is Responsible for What We Summon - Workshop
Description: An interactive workshop where panelists and the audience collaboratively design brand new LitRPG animal companions from the ground up. Expect creative chaos, questionable abilities, and at least one creature that should probably not be allowed near loot. Together, we will shape their personalities, purpose, and progression, and see just how quickly a simple idea can become a world-altering problem.
Moderator: Richey Stephens
Panelists: Reck Well, Haylock Jobson, Joedan Worley, Jay Krauss
***
Location: Columbia
Panel Name: The Road Not Traveled: Scenes That Almost Happened
Description: Every story has a shadow version: deleted scenes, abandoned powers, alternate character paths, jokes that didn’t survive edits, and plot turns that almost changed everything. In this panel, we’ll pull back the curtain on the creative process behind LitRPG storytelling and explore why certain ideas make it into the final book while others get cut, changed, or locked away for everyone’s safety. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, author insight, fan questions, and a few glimpses at the versions of the story that almost happened. Perfect for fans who love: deleted scenes, worldbuilding, game mechanics, character development, and “what if?” moments.
Moderator: Ginger and the Foxes
Panelists: Dakota Krout, Michael Chatfield, Nicoli Gonnella, James Hunter, Daniel Schinhofen
Time: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Location: Crystal Peak
Panel Name: Where Does the Joke Go? A LitRPG Timing Workshop
Description: Participants break down scenes and experiment with where humor works best inside action, dialogue, and progression beats so tension is preserved and jokes still land.
Moderator: Zura Johnson
Panelists: Luke Messa, Miles English, Waldo Rodriguez, Eric Dontigney, Jolly Jupiter
***
Location: Sopris A
Panel Name: Writing Without a Map: Discovery vs Planned Progression
Description: Some writers outline every level; others let the system evolve on its own. A discussion on structured planning versus organic storytelling in LitRPG and progression fantasy.
Moderator: M. Zaugg
Panelists: Todd Menesses, Seth McDuffee, Bosloe, J.M. Clarke, Michael Chatfield, TJ Lombardi
***
Location: Sopris B
Panel Name: When Your Side Quest Becomes the Main Plot
Description: A funny look at how accidental storytelling happens when minor quests, NPCs, or worldbuilding threads take over the narrative.
Moderator: K.T. Hanna
Panelists: Andrew Givler, Nicoli Gonnella, Jeff Kohanek, Jonathan Brooks, J.L. Mullins, Elizabeth “SilverSidhe” Oswald
***
Location: Columbia
Panel Name: The Voices in Your Head Were Real
Description: A lively panel about the partnership between authors and narrators, featuring discussions on character interpretation, audiobook surprises, fan reactions, and what it takes to turn progression fantasy into immersive audio entertainment.
Moderator: Run Storm
Panelists: Austin Rising, Erin Bennett, Luke Chmilenko, Gary Furlong, Craig Hamilton, R.A. Mejia
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Crystal Peak
Panel Name: A Tank, a Healer, and a Bard Enter the Guild Hall
Description: Different backgrounds, voices, and creative styles walk into LitRPG and immediately make it more interesting. This panel celebrates how diversity among authors and narrators shapes the genre, from the way characters are written to the way they are performed in audio. Panelists explore how seeing yourself reflected in stories and hearing different voices bring new depth to worlds, making LitRPG feel more inclusive, more personal, and more alive for readers and listeners alike.
Moderator: Pavi Proczko
Panelists: Ryan H. Reid, Elizabeth “SilverSidhe” Oswald, Rebecca Brokaw-Sands, Jer “Tonic” Patch/Toni Binns, Hunter Mythos, Kia Leep
***
Location: Sopris A
Panel Name: Under the Covers: Tropes, Trouble, and Why We Love Harem Stories
Description: From steamy tension to laugh-out-loud misunderstandings, this panel dives into the tropes that make harem fiction so addictive. Authors share their favorite scenes to write, the trickiest emotional beats, and what keeps readers coming back for more (besides the obvious).
Moderator: Edie Skye
Panelists: Bruce Sentar, Michael-Scott Earle, Aaron Renfroe, Stuart Grosse, Rose (TJ) Reynolds, Jacob Holo
***
Location: Sopris B
Panel Name: We Started a Podcast and Now We Have Opinions We Can’t Take Back
Description: A panel on how talking about books, writing, and narration in long-form audio slowly turns into strong takes, evolving communities, and unexpected authority.
Moderator: Brian Bell
Panelists: The Longwinded One, Jessica Worgo, Madix-3, Reck Well, PopPop, Richey Stephens
***
Location: Columbia
Panel Name: The Dungeon Core Is Trying Its Best
Description: Dungeon core storytelling from the perspective of a living, evolving dungeon trying to survive relentless adventurer incursions. Every floor, trap, and chamber becomes an act of adaptation as the dungeon itself struggles to endure, expand, and remain intact under constant pressure.
Moderator: Chris Boucher
Panelists: Jeffrey “Falcon” Logue, Jonathan Brooks, Dakota Krout, Jez Cajiao, James Hunter, Ryn aka Jonathan Smidt