Airecon 5 is an annual convention in Harrogate, Yorkshire. I’ve been able to attend 4 times in the last 4 years…
They’re all good.
AireCon is a friendly and inclusive analog gaming festival in Harrogate Convention Centre. Whether you’ve come alone or with a massive group you’ll find plenty of fun to be had and new friendly faces to meet.
There are a lot of different reasons to go because there is a bit of something for everyone.
Open Gaming
So, open gaming is not for me, not at events like Airecon 5. Sure, if a spot opens up for a ‘must play’ game and I have the time I’ll play. But I don’t go seeking these things out.
But if YOU do, you’re in luck.
There is a TONNE of open gaming space. It spreads across the left side of the main hall AND the right-hand side. Then upstairs, after walking through a ‘quiet’ open gaming area, there are 2 more large areas just for open gaming.
Not bad.
There is a system in place for ‘looking for a game’ or ‘looking for players’. If you don’t happen to have a game there is also a library you can borrow from.
So basically, if you want to play a game they got you covered.
Publishers
The best thing about conventions like this is if open gaming isn’t your thing there are still games to be played.
There are a number of publishers demoing their games. They’re mostly smaller British publishers and these are games that maybe get lost in the mix at a UK Games Expo or Essen Spiel. Here they stand out and get more attention.
Asmodee were also demoing more well-known games if that’s your thing.
You can see examples of the games available to demo in my review videos below.
Traders
There are quite a few traders where you can buy games and gaming accessories.
The game stores usually have THAT week’s releases but you need to be quick. Wingspan, the hotness for some reason, sold out VERY quickly this year. Its limited stock went in 20 minutes.
If you’re into role play there is a decent about of RPG accessories. Dice bags, cool dice, dice trays etc
There is even gaming-related jewellery, artwork and other creative art forms that use gaming references.
Like most conventions, you pretty much pay online game store prices but without postage, sweet.
Food
Ever play a game where everyone has player power and everyone is jealous of each other and what they can do?
I was eating Pizza, a GREAT pizza. I was jealous of every burger, hot dog, crepe or anything else that went by.
It was great!
There was also a tuck shop keeping you going with snacks and drinks at proper prices too, not convention prices 🙂
Airecon 5 Reviews & Interviews
These are the videos of the games I played at Airecon 5.
Comanauts
This is a game I wanted to play for a long time. Actually, I wanted to play Stuffed Fables because it looked cute. But this table was open and it was the first thing I did when the doors opened.
This is a co-op storybook game where you go into the mind of a coma patient and try and sort him out.
Home on Lagrange
I happened to be wandering by and was invited to sit down. I played half a demo, as most demos should be.
It’s a hand management, take that, set collection game.
Top Hats & Treachery
Again, the table was free and I was invited to sit down.
It’s a reverse Gloom-style game where you’re trying to get prestigious guests into your hotel while killing your opponents.
Discover: Lands Unknown
This is a semi-coop survival adventure game. It’s semi-co-op because you all work together to survive, but only you need to survive to win.
Like Robinson Crusoe combined with Eldritch Horror, kind of.
The Secret Rules of the Old Hellfire Club Interview
An interview with the designer about their upcoming Kickstarter.
Brexit: The Real Deal
A set collection and take that card game where you’re trying to make trade deals with countries around the world.
Six Gun Showdown
A quick, small card game that simulates the tension of a gunfight at high noon. Players get a deck of cards representing their fighters. The suggested starting decks are Ezekiel the Cowboy and Desperado Daisy.
Players ‘Load Bullets’ by placing any 6 of their cards face down within reach of both players. Then comes the ‘Stare Down’. Players will look at each other across the table and take turns touching and revealing one of their cards.
If the revealed card is a ‘Draw’ players will need to try and react first. The active player will have to try and touch one of their opponent’s cards before their opponent can touch one of theirs.
If the active player touches first, they get an ‘Instant Shot’ and shoot first with the Defender shooting back if they miss. This is done by adding the value of their Accuracy revealed on cards this round to a D6 roll. 6+ is a hit.
But if the defender touches first and it’s a Draw card there is a ‘Simultaneous Shot’, any other card and it’s still an ‘Instant Shot’ for the attacker.
If the shot is Simultaneous, it goes down to who has the highest speed total on the cards they revealed this round. If it’s a tie, the players shoot at exactly the same time.
A player that hits scores a point with a bonus point if you drew second. Set up for a new round and the player with the most points after 3 rounds win.
This is a very simple, very quick but tense game you really have to experience to get how it REALLY works. The lite version is only £3 so not much to lose, give it a go!
Jesta ThaRogue