While taking a breather from swinging padded blades and blocking body shots with a foam shield, Austin Barth explained that Dagorhir Battle Games is a chance to experience medieval combat in a "less deadly" setting.

It's a hobby, he said, that keeps him active without forcing him to the gym. And best of all, the 22-year-old University of Toledo senior gets a chance to wage battle.

And when he's finished with that, there are other -- less active -- games that he can go explore.

"I get to fight, but it doesn't feel like exercise," said Mr. Barth of Defiance, who helped stage the Dagorhir wars at the 27th annual BASHCon weekend at the University of Toledo. "People like to play all sorts of games. At a place like this, literally everyone can find something to play."

Mr. Barth was one of an anticipated 1,200 people expected to attend this year's event, where enthusiasts could find games of every kind. Spread over three levels of the UT student union, BASHCon offers video games, board games, live action role-playing games, and vendors who sell games.

The event, which opened Friday evening, concludes Sunday.

Those returning to the annual event will notice old gaming industry favorites, including rooms dedicated to video games and anime movies as well as a sea of tables for board-game competitions.

New to this year's convention are Battletech pods, where players are enclosed in pods similar to cockpits to play a virtual-reality battle against other gamers.

"You walk in and have the entire weekend to play as many games as you want," said BASHCon coordinator Qusai Al Shidi, a UT senior. "We have a lot of regulars who come every year, but the demographic is growing. Even if you don't do this very often, the event is still welcoming."

Sarah Burgess first came to BASHCon three years ago with her boyfriend, a self-professed gamer. She said she keeps returning after finding out that she enjoyed learning new games and meeting different people.

On Saturday, she sat at a table setting up the pieces of "Hey! That's My Fish!" a Mayfair board game that she admittedly lost terribly at the day before, but returned to with the hope of regaining her gaming reputation.

"There's three things I tell people about BASHCon: There are different types of games, there are interesting people you get to meet and converse with, it's just a lot of fun," she said.

Vendor John Bowen, of BowenDragon1 in Baldwin, Mich., said he travels to dozens of gaming conventions a year with his wares, including T-shirts, books, and swords. BASHCon in Toledo, he said, is one of the best shows of its size, and it continues to grow.

"This show has a little bit of everything, where the kids can come to have fun," he said, noting that "kids" could be anyone in age ranging from 10 to 60.

"You have all kinds of role-playing games, Dungeons & Dragons, Pokemon, people who come in costumes," he said. "This is one of the few gaming shows, other than the really big ones, that continues to grow."

Located on the student union's first floor, just a bit isolated from the rest of the convention, are the blood-smeared zombies waiting for their next prey.

Using weapons with foam darts, participants travel down halls in "Eaten Alive," a live action game of "survival horror," said Chris Anselmo from Cleveland, one of several game managers.

For an additional fee, participants attempt to make their way through a team of actors dressed as zombies. And at 2 p.m. Sunday, the convention will host Zombiebash -- "one big, giant battle" where participants take on all zombies at once.

Dressed in a black kilt and combat jacket and known as "Chief," Mr. Anselmo said that an event like BASHCon brings all the aspects of the gaming culture together.

"It's a way to get together, have some fun, and nerd out," he said.

The last day of this year's BASHCon is Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The cost is $10 for a one-day general admission. UT students, staff, and faculty get in free. For more information, go to bashcon.com.

Contact Erica Blake at: eblake@theblade.com or or 419-213-2134.

First Published February 19, 2012, 5:00 a.m.