ScrapYard Armory

This was the final year for Historicon in Lancaster Pa.  Next year, the convention will make a big move into bigger (and hopefully much better) digs in Baltimore MD.  While we’ve had a lot of good times here in Lancaster, I am personally looking forward to the change.  Baltimore will end up allowing Historicon to take on a much more national image.  The convention is clearly outgrowing its current home.

Demo Agent “Speck” was on hand once again with an impressive array of games, grinders, and boot camps to celebrate the 25th Battletech Anniversary.  There were literally several hundred people who came by and played a game or two.  Speck is a testament to what a great Catalyst Demo Agent should be.  Give me one-hundred “Speck”s made of lead, and I’d rule the world.

Happy Birthday BattleTech.  Lets Give Stuff Away!

25 years is quite a feat for any game in this business.  What better way to celebrate than by giving away lots of free stuff.  Raffle tickets were handed out during events for participation and kills with some fantastic prizes on the line.

IronWindMetals was offering 10% off coupons the entire event for all things BattleTech.  As I do every year I added more than a few miniatures to my collection, including one of the new LE Hatchetman.  The best part of IWM at a convention though is the bins of microfighters and battle armor.  Imagine ala carte battle armor with no shipping.  I picked up a few of at least half a dozen BA models including many that are online exclusives.

“Speck” also had some amazing CamoSpecs painted miniatures up for grabs.  Pictures are the only way I know how to do them justice.

Games, Games, and More Games

I was on hand Saturday for two games, The Battle for Galatea (Jihad Era) and Trapped on York (FedCom Civil War).  Expect to see some great after action reports on these battles in the very near future.

The Grinder was as always very well attended as a new generation learns to pilot their first Battlemech.  This year was the retiring of the Mechwarrior scale Grinder figures and the introduction of more than two battalions of Batlemechs from Iron Wind.  Resident paint slingers extraordinaire Dave Yingling and Scott Davis painted each and every one and they looked awesome (I’m kicking myself for not taking a few pictures of the lot).

There also were a lot of traditional historical games played during the con (not that I played any).  Some of them looked absolutely spectacular.  I snapped a few quick pictures of some of the best and brightest.

Special Thanks

Every convention has it’s special moments.  I’d like to thank a few individuals for their efforts to make this con awesome.

• “Speck” for pulling it all together and hosting another great convention.
• Skip for sharing some of his homemade brew.  Very tasty.
• Steve from Time Machine Hobby for helping to spring the Trap on York and kill some Davions.  I hope you enjoyed the game and get a chance to include some Battletech products and games at  your venue in Conneticut.
• Richard for his help in bringing down the Kraken in the Grand Melee.  Is it wrong for a Locust and an UrbanMech to team up to do 20 damage to an assault ‘Mech to force a pilot roll it is sure to fail?  I think not.