Tom Vasel
Founder & Head Game Guru
The Dice Tower
A passionate board game reviewer and creator who’s spent years exploring, critiquing, and celebrating the world of tabletop gaming through The Dice Tower’s reviews, podcasts, and community events.
Your Favorite Creators, All in One Place
Legendary Guests
ALL ABOARD EXPO 2026 Special Guests
Let’s be honest: board games don’t just appear out of thin air. Someone has to dream them up, argue over the rules, and figure out what the meeples look like. Our special guests are those someones, the creative chaos at the heart of the tabletop world. They’re the folks who make us laugh, think, and occasionally flip the table (in the best way), turning wild ideas into unforgettable moments of play.
This ALL ABOARD EXPO, you’ll get to meet them face to face - the designers, artists, storytellers, and personalities who have shaped the games we love and the ones we haven’t discovered yet. They’ll be sharing stories, trading tips, and probably sneaking in a quick round or two between panels. Behind every rulebook and roll of the dice is a story, and they’re here to tell it: how inspiration strikes, how ideas evolve, and how a simple spark becomes something that brings people together around a table.
So come curious, come ready to chat, and maybe even play. Because the best part of this hobby isn’t just the games - it’s the people who make them and the players who keep the fun going.
Masters of Play
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Yohan Goh
Board Game Designer
A South Korean board game designer known for playful, clever titles like Fold-it and the award-winning Odin, bringing creative twists and accessible strategy to modern tabletop gaming.
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Rob Daviau
Board Game Designer
Restoration Games, LLC
Pioneering legacy games like Pandemic Legacy, Risk Legacy, and Betrayal Legacy, where choices permanently change the game and story.
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Maëva da Silva
Art Director + Illustrator
Libellud
Known for her warm, playful visual style, seen in games like Harmonies, Dixit: Disney and Stella: Dixit Universe, adding color, charm, and personality throughout.
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Emerson Matsuuchi
Game Design and Game Design Instructor
NYU & ELVTR
Best known for the Century trilogy, Foundations of Rome, and Specter Ops -designs praised for smooth systems, strong themes, and depth that scales beautifully for many players.
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Colby Dauch
Studio Manager
Plaid Hat Games
Oversaw standout titles like Dead of Winter, Mice and Mystics, Summoner Wars, Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn, and Forgotten Waters—known for strong themes and narrative-driven play.
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Randy Flynn
Board Game Designer
Flatout Games
Best known for his award-winning debut with Cascadia, and Tabriz, Cascadia: Alpine Lakes, Cascadia Junior, and Frenzy Falls, Randy blends approachable mechanics with clever gameplay into his games.
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Anthony Perone
Board Game Designer
A board game designer who loves creating games that spark interaction and personality at the table. The brain behind Lone Wolves, Courtisans, Last Lantern and Daydream.
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Hana Cho
Lecturer, Educator and Researcher
Happy Baobab
Grand Prize winner of the 2025 Teacher’s Game Literacy Competition, a passionate educator who specializes in game-based learning - using board games as innovative tools in the classroom.
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David Esbrí
Game Designer & Illustrator
Devir
David has worn almost every hat in the board game industry - he designed and illustrated games like the acclaimed skirmish game Carnevale: The Miniature Game, Home Raiders, and Fanhunter: Urban Warfare.
