So, we had a radically good time this weekend at our local DFW Battletech event, BTFest.. this is the 2nd year we had this event, and it was a hoot. Let me break it down for you and we'll talk about our hopes for next year.
In Keller, TX, (a Dallas suburb, its about a 45 minute drive from my house), the Keller Lutheran church housed our event. While an unusual home for a miniature convention, it was very cozy. Ample parking, easy access and one large area for our mischief.
The space was a little toasty with everyone inside and a little loud. It housed over sixty gamers over the course of the day. Organizers put a lot of thought into setting up the event and it worked.
Badges were 20 bucks and for that we got a salvage box (more on that in a minute), a dry erase marker, a set of dice, and free lunch and drinks throughout the course of the day. Food was good, hot dogs, taquitos, and chicken stripe along with cookies of various types. Drink service was limited to non alcoholic options, but they were everywhere. I felt very satisfied with the purchase price of admission.
Events included painting technique demonstrations from members of our community, a silent auction (proceeds going to a local cancer charity), a swap meet table, and games and demos running the range of BattleTech, (including Alpha Strike and AeroTech).
I got introduced to a new format that's an absolute delight: Alpha Strike Salvage Yard Royale. Every player opens a salvage box and picks a board edge on a four by four map. You deploy whatever you pulled out of the box on a spot on your chosen table edge. Then you play a free for all Alpha strike battle. Players with a size 1 or 2 unit are Skill 3, size 3 and 4 units are skill 4.
This format is an absolute blast, it plays fast and hard and leads to some interesting combats, including a glorious melee attack where my Ontos Tank crushed a Warhammer under my treads, (i died from jerk scouts killing me with dork shooting the same turn). The nature of the blind box salvage makes this format quick and it feels very similar to the grinder format for classic.
The charity auction had a host of really cool items including a pair of Cross stitched faction logos and we ended up raising thirteen hundred dollars for a local cancer charity. The swap meet table was fast and furious with some beautiful classics up for grabs (including some vintage BattleTroops stuff still in blisters).
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| Cross stitched logos for the charity auction |
The event was lively with folks of all ages and overall it was a successful day of fun and mayhem, but there were a couple of things that could be better. Unfortunately, if the event gets any bigger, I think it will have to get a bigger venue. If I had been having a bad mobility day and been in my wheelchair, I wouldn't have been able to get around inside the event space. Also, as I mentioned above, the space warmed up with that many people and it was very, very loud inside the space.
That aside, the other thing i think it could benefit from would be one of the many local game stores partnering up for the event. I am under the impression that if we'd a vendor there, they could have made some cash and everyone would have had a great day.
Overall, a fantastic experience that I am looking forward to next year and this was a great day of playing games and meeting the community.
4.5 stars
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