ENNIE Award Dream Date Guide 2026

The ENNIE Awards ceremony returns to Gen Con on July 31st. As is tradition, the ENNIE Awards arranged eBay auctions where the winners sit with the award-nominated creators and publishers before the award show stage and receive some special books. This year, there are six chances to see the awards live from the best seats in the house alongside the nominees and pick up some amazing books. If you’re going to Gen Con, here’s what you can bid on.

WHAT ARE THE ENNIE AWARD DREAM DATES?

The ENNIE Awards are the best-known fan awards for tabletop roleplaying games. To financially support the ceremony, the ENNIEs offer "dream dates". From 2017, when I attended the awards with my dream date, Cubicle 7, and continuing through 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 (the pandemic prevented the in-person ceremonies in 2020 and 2021), I offer my thoughts on the ENNIE Awards dream date auctions. For the 2022 and 2023 reviews, I wrote a summary for the ENNIE Award Dream Date that still holds up as an overall review of the two-part event (“ENNIE Awards Pre-show Cocktail Reception” and/or “The 2026 ENNIE Awards” proper):

“Any attendee of the ENNIE Awards ceremony is able to see some of the best games of the year recognized, get a drink, and/or bid in their silent auction. For those that win an ENNIE Award Dream Date, they sit and talk with the publishers, have a front row view of the stage, pick up some great swag, monetarily support of the awards through their winning bid, and, maybe, be part of the experience of a publisher winning a Gold or Silver ENNIE Award. These Dream Date auctions fund the annual ENNIE Awards. The awards and ceremony aren’t free to organize; these auctions help to cover their costs of production for the metals as well as the actual event. For those that get to sit with the publishers, it’s an amazing time to talk with some of your favorite creators.”

The show is hosted on Friday from 6pm to 8pm (pre-show) and 8pm to 11pm (the awards ceremony) at the Crowne Plaza Union Station Grand Hall in Indianapolis, Indiana during Gen Con. Any attendee requires a “valid Gen Con badge to attend the ENNIE Awards and is responsible for any associated expenses with attending Gen Con in Indianapolis, IN. This is an in-person event, nothing will be shipped to the winner.”

THE AUCTIONS

ENNIE Award Dream Date With 2026 Judges
EBAY AUCTION END DATE: Sunday, July 26 at 12:00 PM ET
REWARDS: “Come experience the excitement of the ENNIE Awards with the 2026 Judges! Winner of this auction will receive the opportunity to join Christopher Gath, William Beeson and Hans Cummings, at a specially designated table right in front of the stage at the 26th annual ENNIE Awards. The winner will also receive a specially curated gaming bundle based on your gaming tastes valued at over $150MSRP!! Winner will be contacted after auction ends for curation details. Chris, William and Hans can offer up what it is like to read hundreds of books and listen/view hours of content. Want a peek under the lid of the ENNIE judging process? This is the chance to ask them anything!”
WHY SHOULD YOU BID? Because you want to know how the award nomination sausage is made. If you win this auction, you’ll sit with the ENNIE judges allowing you to talk about their gaming standards and review process. In addition, you’ll see the awards close-up and get a great bundle of TTRPGs to carry home.

ENNIE Award Dream Date With Exalted Funeral
EBAY AUCTION END DATE: Sunday, July 26 at 12:15 PM ET
2026 ENNIE AWARD NOMINATIONS:

• Best Cartography: Dolmenwood Maps Book, Exalted Funeral Press by Jonathan Newell, Glynn Seal, and Arlin Ortiz
• Best Monster/Adversary: Dolmenwood Monster Book, Exalted Funeral Press by (Authors) Gavin Norman with Kyle Hettinger, Amelia Luke, James Spahn, and Brian Yaksha with artwork by Bianca Canoza, Pauliina Hannuniemi, Jana Heidersdorf, Aaron Howdle, Chris Huth, Tom Kilian, Jethro Lentle, Ellie Livingston, Kyle Patterson, Mish Scott, Ulla Thynell, Andrew Walter, and Letty Wilson
• Best RPG Related Product: Beyond the Witching Ring: Dolmenwood Soundtrack Album — 12″” Vinyl LP, Exalted Funeral Press with music by Tales Under The Oak
• Best RPG Related Product: Dolmenwood Noble House Enamel Pins Set, Exalted Funeral Press
• Best Setting: Dolmenwood Campaign Book, Exalted Funeral Press by (Authors) Gavin Norman, Chance Dudinack, Luke Gearing, Yves Geens, Noah Green, Greg Gorgonmilk, Kyle Hettinger, Clint Krause, Amelia Luke, Scott Malthouse, Jonathan Newell, Frances Northcutt Green, Amanda P., Doyle Wayne Ramos-Tavener, Glynn Seal, James Spahn, Andrew Walter, and Brian Yaksha
• Product of the Year: Dolmenwood Campaign Book, Exalted Funeral Press

REWARDS: “Come experience the excitement of the ENNIE Awards with the Exalted Funeral crew! Up for auction is a truly unique opportunity: a Dream Date at the ENNIE Awards, proudly sponsored by the legendary indie RPG publisher Exalted Funeral! Whether you want to hobnob with the industry's finest, experience the thrill of tabletop gaming's biggest awards night, or just roll deep with the Exalted Funeral crew, this is your golden ticket. But that’s not all. To ensure you don't walk away empty-handed, Exalted Funeral is showering the auction winner with an absolutely massive loot drop from the highly acclaimed Dolmenwood RPG line. You will receive a complete, premium collection of Dolmenwood essentials, accessories, and collectibles. Total retail value over $300! The Ultimate Dolmenwood Loot Bundle includes:

• Dolmenwood Player's Book – The essential guide for creating characters and exploring the moss-grown realm.
• Dolmenwood Campaign Book – The ultimate referee's guide detailing the secrets, factions, and lore of the forest.
• Dolmenwood Monsters Book
• Dolmenwood Maps Book
• Official Adventure Scenario: The Fungus That Came to Blackeswell – A thrilling, ready-to-play adventure.
• Dolmenwood Adventuring Party Miniatures Set
• Dolmenwood Fungal Foraging Dice Bag
• Dolmenwood Referee's Screen
• Dolmenwood Cloth Referee's Map
• Dolmenwood Mossy Dolmen Dice Set
• Beyond the Witching Ring: Dolmenwood Soundtrack Album – A stunning 12" Vinyl LP to set the perfect eerie, magical atmosphere for your game nights.
• Dolmenwood Noble House Enamel Pins Set”

WHY SHOULD YOU BID? Dolmenwood is one of the hottest OSRs in roleplaying, its publisher, Exalted Funeral, is one of the major distributors in indy tabletop, and the game’s creator, Gavin Norman, is the individual that cracked the code when he turned D&D B/X into Old-School Essentials. If you’re an OSR gamer, this is the table offering the most old school fun. If you’re a creator and publisher looking for advice for how to take your brand from hobbyist to a trendsetter in the industry, this is the table you’ll want a seat at.

ENNIE Award Dream Date With The Panic Table Creators of How's My Driving
EBAY AUCTION END DATE: Sunday, July 26 at 12:30 PM ET
2026 ENNIE AWARD NOMINATIONS:

• Best Streaming Content: How’s My Driving?, The Panic Table & DNGN CLUB GAMES

REWARDS: “Lock the doors, check your blind spots, and get ready for a killer night. Up for auction is an incredible, high-octane opportunity: a Dream Date at the ENNIE Awards, proudly sponsored by the master storytellers and cinematic creators at The Panic Table! Fresh off their massive success and 2026 ENNIE nomination for How’s My Driving? (the sensational, pulse-pounding early-2000s slasher hack of the Daggerheart system), the crew is ready to give one lucky winner an unforgettable evening. If you love tense horror, cinematic actual plays, brilliant game design, and hanging out with some of the coolest folks in the industry, this is your ultimate ticket. The Panic Table isn't sending you home empty-handed. While the full contents of this loot drop are shrouded in mystery (just like the identity of the Plastic Bagman), they have explicitly promised oodles of swag!”
WHY SHOULD YOU BID? This auction sits you with The Panic Table, a group of actual play gamers that were nominated for their videos playing How’s My Driving?, a horror hack of the Daggerheart TTRPG. Do you want to watch the awards with master storytellers that elevate their game with immersive roleplaying? Then this is the auction for you.

ENNIE Award Dream Date With Son of Oak Studio Celebrating Legend in the Mist
EBAY AUCTION END DATE: Sunday, July 26 at 12:45 PM ET
2026 ENNIE AWARD NOMINATIONS:

• Best Art, Interior: Legend In The Mist – Core Book, Son of Oak Game Studio by (Artists) Alejandra Pinal, Mariusz Szulc, Mark Hretskyi, and Zach Causey
• Best Free Game / Product: Legend In the Mist Learn-To-Play Comic Book Adventure, Son of Oak Game Studio LLC by (Authors) Amit Moshe, Eran Aviram, Itamar Karbian, and Kelly Black
• Best Game: Legend In The Mist – Core Book, Son of Oak Game Studio by (Authors) Amit Moshe, Eran Aviram, Itamar Karbian, and Kelly Black with editing by Eran Aviram and artwork by Alejandra Pinal, Marius Zszulc, Mark Hretskyi, and Zach Causey with layout by Manuel Serrasáez
• Best Production Values: Legend In the Mist – Ravenhome Slipcase, Son of Oak Game Studio LLC
• Best Rules: Legend In The Mist – Core Book, Son of Oak Game Studio by (Authors) Amit Moshe, Eran Aviram, Itamar Karbian, and Kelly Black
• Best Supplement: Legend In The Mist – Action Grimoire, Son of Oak Game Studio by (Authors) Amit Moshe, Eran Aviram, Itamar Karbian, and Kelly Black
• Product on the Year: Legend In The Mist – Core Book, Son of Oak Game Studio

REWARDS: “Step into a world of myth, fireside tales, and award-winning game design! Up for auction is an extraordinary opportunity: a Dream Date at the ENNIE Awards, proudly sponsored by the masterful creators at Son of Oak Game Studio! Known for their revolutionary narrative systems like City of Mist, :Otherscape, and their breathtaking fantasy RPG Legend in the Mist (which has pulled in a staggering 7 ENNIE Award nominations!), the Son of Oak crew is ready to treat you to an unforgettable evening. If you want to talk game mechanics, narrative worldbuilding, or just celebrate tabletop's biggest night with an incredible indie studio, this is your golden ticket. Son of Oak is making sure you walk away with their crown jewel fantasy collection. The winner of this auction will receive a massive physical prize package (The Legend in the Mist: Ravenshome Slipcase Set – The complete, premium tabletop RPG box set + Studio T-Shirt):

• Legend in the Mist: The Corebook – The narrative-first rules for rustic, legendary fantasy storytelling.
• Legend in the Mist: Hearts of Ravensdale (Setting Book) – Explore a world of cozy villages and creeping twilight.
• Legend in the Mist Premium Slipcase – Sturdy, beautiful protection to keep your volumes snug on the shelf.
• Legend in the Mist Narrator Screen – A gorgeous 3-panel screen featuring stunning artwork.
• Legend in the Mist Character Pack – 20 beautifully illustrated pre-generated character folios.
• Official Son of Oak Studio T-Shirt – Wear your love for indie RPG design with pride.”

WHY SHOULD YOU BID? The Mist line of games are an achievement. Legend in the Mist is, without a doubt, one of the best examples of revising a system – Powered by the Apocalypse – and combining it with elements of another well-known engine – Fate – to create something even better. PbtA involves rolling 2d6 against a static chart with three outcomes: failure, success at a cost, or complete success. Fate involves words as descriptors and powers. In Legend in the Mist, your fantasy character is an evolving collection of short phrases that describe them, their attitude, their items, and their missions/adventures. As you describe your actions, use (and spend) your phrases to add to your roll. Character sheets are short, descriptive, and always leveling up into the perfect character build. Add to that, gameplay is explained via either technical prose or in a comic book. If you want to sit with creators that combined the best elements of a pair of systems into something unique, and used the tried and true Tunnels & Trolls choose your own adventure method as a comic book to explain a TTRPG to the players, this is the table you need to bid on.

ENNIE Award Dream Date With Gene Koo (Bonsai Diary)
EBAY AUCTION END DATE: Sunday, July 26 at 12:40 PM ET
2026 ENNIE AWARD NOMINATIONS:

• Best Solo Game: The Bonsai Diary, Sticky Doodler by (Author) Gene Koo
• Product of the Year: The Bonsai Diary, Gene Koo

REWARDS: “A night of quiet reflection, brilliant design, and big celebrations. Up for auction is a unique, deeply special opportunity: a Dream Date at the ENNIE Awards, proudly sponsored by the visionary game designer Gene Koo! Gene is the creative mind behind The Bonsai Diary, the phenomenally acclaimed, mindful draw-and-journal game that has captured hearts across the tabletop community. It stands as an incredible 2026 ENNIE Award Nominee for Best Solo Game and a 2026 Origins Award Finalist! If you are a fan of indie RPG design, the cozy/mindful gaming movement, or simply want to share a fascinating conversation with one of the year's most celebrated creators on tabletop's biggest night, this is the seat you want to win. Gene Koo won't let you leave empty-handed! The winner of this auction will receive a specially curated gift.”
WHY SHOULD YOU BID? Despite being up for an ENNIE Award for a solo TTRPG, don’t leave Gene Koo at a table alone! If he is, he might make a game about it! (Which, now I kinda want...) No game, even a solo game such as The Bonsai Diary, is created in a silo; to be an award winning game, the creator and players have to buy into the concept and love the gameplay. If you want to learn how to create an award nominated solo RPG, bid on this auction and pick Gene’s brain!

ENNIE Award Dream Date With Darrington Press featuring Daggerheart
EBAY AUCTION END DATE: Sunday, July 26 at 1:19 PM ET
2026 ENNIE AWARD NOMINATIONS:

• Best Free Game / Product: Daggerheart Quickstart Adventure: The Sablewood Messengers, Darrington Press by (Authors) Spenser Starke, Rowan Hall and Mike Underwood
• Best Game: Daggerheart Core Set, Darrington Press by (Authors) Spenser Starke, Carlos Cisco, Rowan Hall, John Harper, Matthew Mercer, Alex Uboldi, Mike Underwood, Layla Adelman, Meguey Baker, Banana Chan, Chris Davidson, Rue Dickey, Felix Isaacs, Erin Roberts, Deven Rue, Rogan Shannon, Mark Thompson, Eugenio Vargas, and Chris Willett with edits by Laura Hirsbrunner, Amber Litke, Sadie Lowry, Ashley Michaela “Navigator” Lawson, Scott Gray, and Sebastian Yūe and artwork by Nick Acuna, Juan Salvador Almencion, Mauro Alocci, Ana Amaral, Anthony Avon, Mike Azevedo, Zoe Badini, Diana Bakieva, Adam Barker, Eliot Baum, Paul Scott Canavan, Carlos Cardona, Edgar Cardona, Kristina Carroll, Stephanie Cost, Luísa Costa, Katya Cyan, Cybercatbug, Daarken, Nikki Dawes, Carlos C. Díaz, Benjamin Ee, Geoffrey Ernault, Letícia Freitas, Bear Frymire, Gaboleps, Laura Galli, Kristina Gehrmann, James Green, Grant Griffin, Arturo Gutiérrez González, Juan Gutierrez, Leesha Hannigan, Rick Hefner, Suzanne Helmigh, Hendry Iwanaga, Jessketchin, Anthony Jones, Jack Jones, KarrahE, Sam Key, Ivan Koltovich, Alex Konstad, Samantha Kung, Linda Lithén, Samantha B. Lucas, Danil Luzin, Dominik Mayer, Julia Metzger, Maxime Minard, Andrea Tentori Montalto, José Muñoz, Reiko Murakami, Laura Marie Neal, Irina Nordsol, Tamara Osborn, Mike Pape, Jen Estirdalin Pattison, Mila Pesic, Henry Peters, Rafater, Andreas Rocha, Ryan Christian Rodero, Joshua Rodriguez, Henrik Rosenborg, Ilya Royz, Allan Santos, Stanislav Sherbakov, Ernanda Souza, Fernanda Suarez, Jenny Tan, Mat Wilma, and Maciej Wojtala under layouts by Matt Paquette & Co., John Harper, and Vee Hendro
• Best Rules: Daggerheart, Darrington Press by (Authors) Spenser Starke, Carlos Cisco, Rowan Hall, John Harper, Matthew Mercer, Alex Uboldi, Mike Underwood, Layla Adelman, Meguey Baker, Banana Chan, Chris Davidson, Rue Dickey, Felix Isaacs, Erin Roberts, Deven Rue, Rogan Shannon, Mark Thompson, Eugenio Vargas, and Chris Willett
• Best Streaming Content: Get Your Sheet Together, Darrington Press
• Product of the Year: Daggerheart, Darrington Press

REWARDS: “Up for auction is a monumental opportunity: a Dream Date at the ENNIE Awards, proudly sponsored by Darrington Press (the publishing arm of Critical Role). This is your chance to sit, chat, and celebrate the biggest night in tabletop gaming with an extraordinary group of industry titans and creative minds. Your "date" features an incredible, star-studded panel. You will be spending the evening rubbing elbows with the core creative team behind Critical Role's gaming universe:

• Spenser Starke – Senior Game Designer (Daggerheart, Candela Obscura)
• Rowan Hall – Game Designer (Candela Obscura)
• Rob Hebert – Game Designer (Daggerheart)
• Elise Rezendes – Senior Producer
• Jeremy Crawford – Games Director, a legend in the RPG industry!

The Loot: Signed, Ultra-Premium Deluxe Editions. To make this unforgettable evening tangible, the auction winner will walk away with a premium collection of signed, deluxe gaming gear from Darrington Press. The bundle includes:

• Daggerheart Core: Deluxe Edition (Signed!)
• Daggerheart: Hope & Fear Deluxe Edition (Signed!)”

WHY SHOULD YOU BID? The creators populating this table are a who’s who of gaming. The individuals listed are worth talking to. Add to that, this is the publishing arm for Critical Role, so there’s no telling who might come sit at the game. Oh, and you’ll be able to talk 5e, Daggerheart. and Candela Obscura to your heart’s content. This is a seat you’re going to want to bid on if you want to talk to some of the best-known names in TTRPG.

DISCLAIMER

The ENNIE Awards were a part of EN World and EN Publishing. In 2019, EN Publishing (and EN World) divested themselves of the awards to unaffiliate the organization dedicated to recognizing excellence in tabletop roleplaying games.

Egg Embry does not use AI in any of his writing. He participates in the OneBookShelf Affiliate Program, Noble Knight Games’ Affiliate Program, Kobold Press Affiliate Program, and is an Amazon Associate. These programs provide advertising fees by linking to DriveThruRPG, Noble Knight Games, Kobold Press, and Amazon. If you like the articles at EN World please consider supporting the Patreon.