Final Launch Party, Livestream, and Adepticon Details

The launch of the Mercenaries Kickstarter live from Adepticon is almost here…are you ready??

We wanted to provide everyone with one final reminder of how to tune in to the livestream from Adepticon, the schedule for the broadcast, a list of the Launch Parties happening worldwide, and the full schedule for the Catalyst Demo Team at the convention.

Livestream

We’ll be livestreaming from the floor of Adepticon throughout the convention, starting with the launch of the Kickstarter on Thursday, March 23 at 10 a.m. CDT. You can find it at www.twitch.tv/Sixsidesofgaming and YouTube.com/sixsidesofgaming. We’d like to thank the Lynnvander Studios team that will be running and hosting our livestream.

The livestream will be filled with wonderful interviews, round table discussions, and of course, a host of awesome Actual Play Legendary Battles. The current schedule can be found here (subject to change; all times are Central Daylight Time (CDT) U.S.): 

https://bg.battletech.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AdeptiCon-Mercenaries-Livestream-Schedule-Sheet1.pdf

Guests

The following BattleTech guests will be available directly at the show for questions, autographs, and handshakes, as well as participating in the livestream. 

Randall Bills

Randall N. Bills has been writing and game designing for more than twenty-five years. He’s overseen the publication of hundreds of sourcebooks, rulebooks, boxed games and more for BattleTech across four different companies, as well as creative input on numerous other beloved game universes, including Shadowrun. He’s also written a half-dozen novels–including the Founding of the Clans trilogy–was the lore advisor on Harebrained Schemes’ BattleTech computer game, and was the co-story developer for Piranha Games’ MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries computer game. His most recent game publications include the alternate history tabletop miniatures game Leviathans and the Dungeons & Dragons Dragonfire deck builder game.

Loren Coleman

Loren L. Coleman is the owner and publisher of Catalyst Game Labs, and the most prolific writer in the history of the BattleTech Intellectual Property. Since 1994, starting with FASA, Loren has published 13 novels, scripted four computer games, written more than 100 short fiction pieces, and has been a major contributor in dozens of sourcebooks. #annoyingmikestackpole.

Ray Arrastia

Ray Arrastia is the BattleTech Line Developer for Catalyst Game Labs. His passion for the game goes back more than three decades, when he started playing the game at local game stores with friends. For the last 18 years, Arrastia has been a key part of BattleTech in a gamut of roles from QC, art, design, production, development, storyrunning, and management. He is a proud member of the team that has revitalized BattleTech for both the new and old generations of fans.

Brent Evans

Brent Evans is a long-time illustrator and award-winning art director.  As an artist, he began freelancing in 1987 and worked in many genres including political cartoons, comics, and children’s books. In 2005, he was hired by gaming visionary Jordan Weisman to work on several games, and immediately distinguished himself as one of the core illustrators for the BattleTech franchise.  His creative design and project management style inspired his elevation to Senior Art Director in 2009 for many legendary gaming franchises, including BattleTech, Shadowrun, D&D’s Dragonfire, Valiant RPG, and many more. From 2017-2019, he took on the additional role as Line Developer, leading the overhaul of the BattleTech product line and catapulting the brand into the industry-leading global success it is today. It is said that Brent’s “superpower” is the ability to recruit and develop creative talent.  

Additionally, Brent is a graduate of and serves as a Board member for the Game Design & Development program for the University of Washington. In January 2023, he launched his first new franchise creation called LAND & SEA, with a novel trilogy available as an Amazon exclusive.

Anthony Scroggins

Anthony Scroggins is the art director of miniatures design for BattleTech, wrangling a team of ’Mech nerds. Back in the year 2000, he discovered MechWarrior, and has been a fan of BattleTech ever since. A feelance scifi artist for 14 years. Mechs, armor, and space have always been a focus of interest. He lives in rainy Oregon, and has been enjoying the resurgence of tabletop BattleTech in a rapidly growing local gaming community.

Marco Mazzoni (Only Available Saturday and Sunday)

Marco Mazzoni is a concept artist/art director at Harebrained Schemes and a cover illustrator for BattleTech. With a love of the universe that goes back to the late ’80s, he is living his childhood dream of painting mechs and contributing to the recent resurgence.

John Helfers

John Helfers has been working in branded IP development and publishing for more than twenty-five years. During his eighteen years at Tekno Books, at one time the largest book packager in the nation, he managed several New York Times-bestselling novel series, working with such authors as Tom Clancy, Charlaine Harris, Dale Brown, Mercedes Lackey, Stephen Coonts, and many others, as well producing hundreds of anthologies and novels.

Currently, he’s the Executive Editor at Catalyst Game Labs, where he oversees the fiction lines for BattleTech, Shadowrun and Leviathans, publishing more than 1.5 million words of original fiction every year. He lives and works in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Michael Ciaravella

Michael J. Ciaravella is the author of three BattleTech novels (Grey Watch Protocol, Paid in Blood, and The Damocles Sanction) a half-dozen short stories, sourcebooks, and the occasional witty remark. Constantly shocked that he has been playing BattleTech for nearly thirty years, Michael is honored to be allowed to indulge in his passion for writing in a universe that has been close to his heart for as long as he can remember, and working with the team that has done so much to reinvigorate the game we all love. In his remaining free time, Michael is the Chief Executive Officer of Clarion Game Studios, and is a Game Designer known for his work in the Hull Breach, Henchman, and Four Horsemen gaming IPs.

More

And there may be others, from additional BattleTech luminaries to reviewers, industry professionals, and more, all sharing what BattleTech has meant to them.

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Launch Parties

Venues around the world have been selected to host the official BattleTech: Mercenaries Kickstarter Launch Parties! The games and plans at each venue vary, so be sure to check in to find out what they have planned.

California: Gamelandia, 290 California Ave, Ste A, Palo Alto, CA 94306

New York: Legendary Realms Games,  294 E Montauk Hwy, Lindenhurst, NY 11757

North Carolina: Hangar 18 Hobbies, 112 Kilmayne Drive, Cary, NC 27511

Texas: The Forge Hobbies and Games, 14520 Memorial Drive, Suite 28 Houston TX 77079

Washington: Zulu’s Board Game Cafe, 10234 Main St Bothell, Washington 98011

Canada: Ogre’s Den Gaming Club, # 23, 3220 5th Avenue NE, Canada.

Germany: UniPlay e.V., Heckerdamm 210, 13627 Berlin, Germany

UK: Travelling Man/Leeds Wargames Club – Hicks Hall, 60 Bankfield Terrace, Leeds, LS4 2RE, United Kingdom

Ireland: The Gathering, 43 Lower Gerald Griffin St, Limerick, V94 Y1F7, Ireland 

Many BattleTech communities are planning their own unofficial events this weekend to celebrate the launch of the Mercenaries Kickstarter – be sure to check in with your Catalyst Demo Team agent, or ask your local game store, to find out what’s happening near you!

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Gaming at Adepticon

The Catalyst Demo Team will be out in full force at Adepticon, offering the following games (all times CDT):

Introductory (Learn to Play)

BattleTech Bootcamp
Alpha Strike Academy
Leviathans Shakedown Cruise
Thursday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (1 hour session starting on the hour, last session starts at 9 p.m.)
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ((1 hour session starting on the hour, last session starts at 3 p.m.)

Intermediate

BattleTech Grinder
Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Leviathans: Play with the Developer!
Saturday: 4 p.m.

Narrative Based

BattleTech: Gates of the Palace
Thursday: 10 a.m.

Alpha Strike: Case White in Riga
Friday: 10 a.m.

BattleTech: Devil’s Tower
Saturday: 10 a.m.

Alpha Strike: Superheavies on Terra
Sunday: 10 a.m.

Tournaments

BattleTech Championship Circuit: Alpha Strike Edition
Thursday: 10 a.m.

Alpha Strike 350
Friday: 10 a.m.

BattleTech Championship Circuit: Classic Edition
Saturday: 10 a.m.

BattleTech Open
Sunday: 10 a.m.

Painting Sessions

BattleTech
Thursday-Sunday: 10 a.m.