Every year our core gaming group puts on a private con in Iowa called Cheapcon. Usually attendance is about 20 folks. Since most of them had never played battletech I decided to bring "Big Stompy Robots" to the con in the form of an introductory tournament. We used 3025 rules only, and we had two instructors on hand to help everyone get the hang of things and avoid flipping through rule books.
In preparation I took the units from two copies of the introductory box set and divided them into 8 factions using the master unit list website for balance. Here's a shot of the sign-up table.
As you can tell I ran out of time to paint all 32 mechs. To give new players a hint at the depth of the battletech universe, each signup sheet had the symbol of the faction they would represent and summary catch phrase. We had takers for all 8 teams, most of which had never played battletech before.
The premise of the match was a "Mech Olympics". Any nation, no matter how small, that could put up a lance was allowed to compete. Victory conditions were simple, each player started with a 4 mech lance. The object was to achieve a 3-1 unit advantage over the other player, or if that wasn't possible, be the last Mech standing. To make things a little more interesting each side had a command and communication bunker that provided a +4 initiative advantage situated on a hill on their home side. Destroy your opponents' bunker while keeping yours alive and you'll probably gain initiative for the rest of the fight.
Here's a shot of the first match, Oberon Confederation vs Taurian Concordat. The oddly painted units were fighting for the Oberon Confederation. The Taurians (in tan) easily won the day by getting a 3-1 unit advantage that stopped the match in their favor.
The second match between the Draconis Combine and the Lryan Commonwealth started out with a bang. On the first round of close combat, the Draconis Hunchback blew the head off the Lyran Zeus! The Lyrans played well and with a non-insubstantial number of kicks from their Banshee were able to pull out a win.
Bout three turned into a real grudge match between two old friends, neither of which had ever played battletech before. One picked the Capellan Confederation, the other the Magistracy of Canopus. At the end of this match the last remaining unit on the winning side had one leg, one arm, no center torso armor, and a head hit. The Magistracy was able to get it done... barely.
The last match was also between two old friends, one of which had wanted to run an Atlas from the moment he saw the artwork in an old 3025 tech readout. Here the Free Worlds League faces off against the Federated Suns. The Leaguers had an Awesome. Their tactic was to concentrated on everything
but the Atlas trying to win via the 3 to 1 rule. Before they could get it done, the Fed's Jagermech was able to score a couple of luckly crits. At the end it came down to the Altas vs. the Awesome. By using cover to advance, the Atlas was able to put down the Awesome and become the last mech standing, handing a win to the Federated Suns.
At the end of the first round, here's the damage. I hope to get together with the winners soon to see who takes home the Gold.
Everyone seemed to really enjoy the Tournament. Two people went out and picked up the box set, and I have a new player for my Battletech RPG. Next year I'm considering taking this introductory format to the public convention in our home town.
