Battle Report: Oasis @ Paper Asylum

We were invited back up to Paper Asylum this year.  I actually think we have a standing invitation at this point.  Only a few of the Usual Suspects managed to make it up.

Narbey (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (7 Points per Asset) * (6 assets) = 42 points. (Skitterers)
   Yellow Recon by Fire-- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.
   Red Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Orange Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   White Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.

Pete (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (5 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 35 points.  (Pink Bunny Brigade)

    Red Soldier -- 2Rd//1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
    Brown Soldier -- 2Rd//1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Yellow Soldier -- 2Rd//1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
    Blue Soldier -- 2Rd//1B/1G/1Y/2W.
    Green Soldier -- 2Rd//1B/1G/1Y/2W.

Me (7 Frames & 28 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (9 assets) = 27 points. (Serpentus)
   Black Charger -- 2Rh/2Rd/1B/1G/2W + SSR.

   Red Charger -- 2Rh/2Rd/1B/1G/2W + SSR.
   White Charger -- 2Rh/2Rd/1B/1G/2W + SSR.
   Blue Charger-- 2Rh/2Rd/1B/1G/2W.

   Green Charger-- 2Rh/2Rd/1B/1G/2W.

   Orange Charger-- 2Rh/2Rd/1B/1G/2W.

   Yellow Charger-- 2Rh/2Rd/1B/1G/2W.

This is what the table looked like at the start of the game.

Events of Turn 1 (DDC @ 11): Pete's Yellow frame hits a Moai for 6, destroying it.  My Orange frame takes 1 Falling damage.  Pete's Red frame hits my Orange frame for 3.  Narbey's Orange frame hits my Red frame for 2.  My Red frame hits Narbey's Orange frame for 1 with a SSR.  Narbey's Yellow frame hits my Red frame for 3.  Pete's Brown frame hits my Blue frame for 3 and destroys the column it was hiding behind with 2.  My Blue frame moves closer to the oasis and hits Narbey's Red frame for 1.  Narbey's Red frame hits back for 1.  Narbey's White frame hits my Orange frame for 1 and the small trees it was hiding behind for 1.  My White frame hits Narbey's Red frame for 4 with a SSR.  My Black frame moves forward and hits Narbey's Red frame for 1 destroying it, and destroys the trees it was hiding behind with 1.

Narbey: 35 points.
Pete: 35 points.
Me: 27 points.

Events of Turn 2 (DDC @ 8): Pete's Red frame moves forward and hits my Blue frame for 2, destroying it.  Pete's Brown frame moves up to the abandoned temple and hits my Red frame for 3, destroying it.  My White frame moves up to the oasis and destroys the cover in front of Narbey's White frame with 1 damage.  My Yellow frame shifts cover and hits Narbey's White frame for 1.  My Green frame moves closer to the oasis and hits Narbey's White frame for 1.

Narbey: 35 points.
Pete: 35 points.
Me: 18 points.

Events of Turn 3 (DDC @ 5): Narbey's White frame hits my Black frame for 5.  My Yellow hits Narbey's White frame for 1 and moves closer to Narbey's second Station.  Pete's Blue frame moves around the abandoned temple and hits my Black for 5, destroying it.  Pete's Red frame moves up to the remains of the Moai and hits my White frame for 2.  Pete's Yellow frame moves closer to the oasis and hits Narbey's Orange frame for 4.

Narbey: 35 points.
Pete: 35 points.
Me: 15 points.

Events of Turn 4 (DDC @ 3): Narbey's White frame hits my White frame for 1.  Narbey's Yellow frame captures one of my Stations, then hits Pete's Orange frame for 1.  Pete's Yellow frame hits Narbey's White frame for 4, destroying it.  My White frame captures Narbey's main Station.  Pete's Yellow frame moves up beside Narbey's main Station.  Pete's Red frame hits my White frame for 3, destroying it.  Pete's Yellow frame captures Narbey's main Station.  My Yellow frame hits Narbey's Orange frame for 2, destroying it, and Pete's Yellow frame -- which was acting as cover -- for 1.  My Yellow frame then moves over and captures Narbey's second Station.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

Pete: 40 points.

Narbey: 14 points.
Me: 12 points.

Here's a bunch of during/aftermath pictures.

Thoughts & Observations:

• After the claustrophobia of six players in the last game, this one felt almost relaxed.
• I made mistakes in placement during the Set-up phase.
• I used the backup camera for pictures, so they're a little grainy.

Good Sets for Parts 16

I picked up a catalog recently, and it's been a year since I've done one of these, so let's look at what's new in Lego.

70823 Emmet's Thricycle -- 174 pieces for $14.99, Lotsa onesies in this set, but some cool parts in new colors.

70827 Ultrakitty & Warrior Lucy -- 348 pieces for $29.99.  Tons of Brackets in different colors, Ball Joints, Padlocks, and Triple Tooth Plates in Dark Bley that I've been looking for for a while.

76115 Spider Mech vs. Venom -- 604 pieces for $49.99.  A little bigger than my usual selections, it has a ton of useful parts.

70680 Monastery Training -- 122 pieces for $9.99.  Ninjago is usually a safe bet for a good parts selection.  This one has Pneuma-Ts and a new part for 2019.

70667 Kai's Blade Cycle & Zane's Snowmobile -- 374 pieces for $29.99.  Plenty of Technic parts -- we all know how I like those -- and another new part.

70665 The Samurai Mech -- 154 pieces for $14.99.  I already reviewed this.

31088 Deep Sea Creatures -- 230 for $14.99.  Tons of Dark Blue, a good selection of Ball Joints and other fiddly bits.  Also comes in at $0.07 Price per Piece.

31089 Sunset Track Racer -- 221 pieces for $19.99.  Dark Blue, Orange, and Pneuma-Ts.

31091 Shuttle Transporter -- 341 pieces for $24.99.  Not quite as wide a selection of pieces as others on this list, it still has Bar Studs, Taps, and a $0.07 Price per Piece.

75892 McLaren Senna -- 219 pieces foe $14.99.  A good selection of parts for  $0.07 Price per Piece.

Let's finish up with the Friends Heart Boxes.  They range from 83 to 85 pieces at $7.99.  They all have a decent selection of parts in fun colors.

Post Game Interview 4

For the first game of the year, I broke out the questionnaire again.  Although this one had a few questions that were suggested by Tom, so technically it's a new questionnaire.

1.) Why did you choose the squad composition and size that you brought to today's game?
Chuck: I like specialized units, as opposed to standard Soldier outfit.  Aside from that, I wanted to maximize the number of units/systems I had.
Pete: I AM LANDSHARK!  (It's the only unit I have to play.)
PJ Nicht: I wanted to try out new units I built and try out a different strategy.  Mostly wanted to try out the new units.
Occam's Spork: Small enough in number not to be starting in last place.  Three units to adapt to damage.  One unit for artillery support.
Narbey: More the merrier.
Me: I wanted to try something slightly different, so I added a Brawler to my usual Soldiers.

2.) Did you have a strategy for today's game?
Chuck: Yes.
Pete: Yes.
PJ Nicht: Yes!
Occam's Spork: Yes.
Narbey: Yes.
Me: Sort of?

2a.) If so, what was it?
Chuck: I'm not telling you.  J/K  I have two units set up to bunker in and protect my Station and drop Yellow dice on opponents.  Two other units are hopefully going to score some points.
Pete: Kill Narbey!
PJ Nicht: My two Spots defend and spot enemy mechs to either entice other people to attack those guys .  I want to try and indirectly influence the flow of battle.
Occam's Spork: Defend base with artillery, use two units to take a base.
Narbey: Get there on time.
Me: I was aiming for first or second position and I managed second.

3.) Why did you place your squad on the table the way you did at the start of the game?
Chuck: I wanted two units to go on the offensive and two to hang back and place Spots.
Pete: I don't know ... Mantisking?
PJ Nicht: I wanted to control as much of the table as possible and get everyone in close proximity to each other.
Narbey: No reason.  But -- put double artillery and Station at corner as usual -- Used trees as cover -- Units were spread.
Me: I wanted to attack PJ Nicht because he was Defender.

4.) Did your strategy for today's game change at any point while we were playing?
Chuck: Doesn't it always?
Pete: Yes.
PJ Nicht: Yes, at the very beginning.
Narbey: No.
Me: Yes.

4a.) If so, how?
Chuck: I got bum rushed at my Station by Chris and chose to give it up.  My other forces still kept up the offensive.
Pete: When Occam's Spork moved off his Station, I pounced.
PJ Nicht: My strategy turned into staying alive and having my base out in the open to try and use it as bait and capture someone else's base.
Me: I thought I could attack Occam's Spork and remove him as a threat.  Which turned out to be a mistake.

5.) After setup, how did you predict the game would go?

Chuck: I had no idea except that there would be mayhem.
Pete: I always look for where the pile-up is going to be and move away from it.  Half the table was too dense with mechs, and I wasn't a threat on that side, so I sat out (at first).
PJ Nicht: Not as I hoped.  My two Spotters were too far out to do anything but Spot.
Narbey: Pete!
Me: I'm usually too busy running through the "Start of Game" checklist to think about this.

5a.) Who did you think would win?
Chuck: Chris or Pete.
Pete: Me!
PJ Nicht: No idea.  I thought Mantisking might have it , moving in to protect his base and capture my base.
Narbey: Pete!
Me: See my answer to question five.

6.) Any personal comments you'd like to add?
Chuck: It is now late and I am tired, but this was a fun game.
Pete: Great game!!
PJ Nicht: Had a blast.  Wished I passed more and moved my mechs more.
Narbey: Pete!
Me: A really fun game, I just have to do something about getting things started on time.

Battle Report: Cherry Blossom Forest

The Usual Suspects got together to share a gaming table for the first time in 2019 and this one was a doozy.  Six players, a late night start, and more smack talk than a middle school playground led to some interesting hijinks.

PJ_Nichts (4 Frames & 14 Systems) = (5 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 25 points. (mechs)

   Yellow Armored Fast Spotter -- 1B/1G+d8/2Y/2W + SSR (x3).
   Magenta Spotter -- 2Y/1Gd8/2W.
   Purple Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.
   Light Blue Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.

Me (4 Frames & 15 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 20 points. (Hogsheads)
   Blue Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Orange Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Yellow Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Green Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/1B/1Gd8/2W.

Chuck (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 15 points.
   Red Swarmer -- 2Rh+d8/1B/1Y/1Gd8/2W + SSR.
   Purple Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.
   Orange Watchtower -- 2B/2Y/1Gd8/2W + SSR (x2).
   Yellow Shoot & Scoot -- 2Rd+d8/2G/2W.

Pete (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 15 points. (Landsharks)

   Red -- 2Rd+d8/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Yellow -- 2Ra+d8/1G/1Y/2W.
   Blue Soldier -- 2Rd//1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Orange Fast Swarmer -- 2Rh+d8/1G+d8/1Y/2W + SSR.

Occam's Spork (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 15 points.
   Grey Spotting Bodyguard -- 2Rd/2Rh/1B/1Y/2W +SSR.
   Green Spotting Bodyguard -- 2Rd/2Rh/1B/1Y/2W +SSR.

   Blue Spotting Bodyguard -- 2Rd/2Rh/1B/1Y/2W +SSR.

   Orange Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.

Narbey (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 15 points. (Skitterers)
   Yellow Recon by Fire-- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.
   Red Soldier -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Orange Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   White Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.

This is what the table looked like at the start of the game.

Events of Turn 1 (DDC @ 11): PJ_Nichts' Yellow frame captures my station before the game starts.  My Green frame attacks PJ_Nichts' Yellow frame with no effect.  It moves off my Station and attacks Pete's Red frame for 1.  Pete's Red frame attacks Narbey's Orange frame with no effect, then moves to the other side of the stand of trees it was hiding behind.   Narbey's Orange frame hits Pete's Blue frame for 1.  Narbey's Yellow frame hits one side of the bridge's base for 1 damage and my Green frame for 1.  Pete's Orange frame burns Narbey's Orange frame for 5.  Pete's Yellow frame hammers Narbey's Yellow frame for 3.  Narbey's White frame hits Pete's Yellow frame for 2 in response.  Chuck's Orange frame hits Narbey's White frame for 1 and destroys the plateau it was on with 3 damage.  Narbey's White frame takes 1 falling damage after it hits the ground in the collapse of the plateau.  Occam's Spork's Grey frame hits Chuck's Orange frame for 2 and the plateau it was hiding behind for 1.  Occam's Spork's Orange frame hammers Chuck's Purple frame for 3.  My Blue frame hits Occam's Spork's Blue frame for 1 then moves towards the bridge.

PJ_Nichts: 25 points.

Me: 20 points.

Chuck: 15 points.

Pete: 15 points.

Occam's Spork: 15 points.

Narbey: 15 points.

Events of Turn 2 (DDC @ 5): Occam's Spork's Grey frame captures Chuck's Station and hits Chuck's Orange frame for 1.  Chuck's Purple frame hits my Orange frame for 4, destroying it.  Occam's Spork's Orange frame hits the bridge base for 2 and my Green frame for 1.  My Green frame hits PJ_Nichts Yellow frame for 1 and it does the Station Dance.  PJ_Nichts' Yellow frame returns fire on my Green frame with a SSR for 1.  My Yellow frame moves up the battlefield and hits Occam's Spork's Orange frame for 2 and it does the Station Dance.  PJ_Nichts' Purple frame hits my Green frame for 2 and it does the Station Dance.  Occam's Spork's Blue frame moves over the remains of the bridge base and captures my Station.  Chuck's Red frame smashes Occam's Spork's Blue frame for 5 and it does the Station Dance.  Narbey's Yellow frame hits Occam's Spork's Green frame for 2.  Narbey's White frame hits Occam's Spork's Green frame for 1, and it does the Station Dance.  Narbey's Orange frame captures Pete's Station.  Pete's Yellow frame hits Narbey's Yellow frame for 1 then moves down off the plateau and and captures Occam's Spork's Station.  Pete's Orange frame moves towards the corner of the battlefield and burns Narbey's Yellow frame for 3, destroying it, and captures Narbey's Station.  Pete's Red frame hammers Narbey's Orange frame for 3, destroying it, and captures his Station back.

Pete: 21 points.

PJ_Nichts: 20 points.

Occam's Spork: 15 points.

Me: 16 points.

Chuck: 12 points.

Narbey: 6 points.

Events of Turn 3 (DDC @ 2): PJ_Nichts' Yellow frame runs over and captures my Station that was under Occam's Spork's control.  My Green frame moves beside my Station.  Occam's Spork's Blue frame hammers my Green frame for 3, destroying it.  PJ_Nichts' Light Blue frame blasts Occam's Spork's Blue frame for 7, destroying it.  PJ_Nichts' Purple frame hits Pete's Yellow frame for 1.  Occam's Spork's Grey frame hits Pete's Yellow frame for 2.  Pete's Orange frame moves away from Narbey's Station and hits Occam's Spork's Orange frame for 1 with a SSR.  Pete's Red frame hovers on top of some trees to capture PJ Nichts' Station that was under Occam's Spork's control and then hits PJ Nichts' Yellow frame for 2.  Chuck's Red frame hammers PJ Nichts' Yellow frame for 3, and captures my Station that was under PJ Nicht's control.  Chuck's Yellow frame hits PJ Nichts' Yellow frame for 1, Station Dance.  Narbey's White frame smacks Occam's Spork's Grey frame for 4.  Narbey's Red frame moves towards the center of the battlefield and hammers PJ Nichts' Yellow frame for 3, destroying it.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

Pete: 21 points.

PJ_Nichts: 15 points.

Occam's Spork: 15 points.

Chuck: 15 points.

Me: 8 points.

Narbey: 6 points.

Here's a bunch of during/aftermath pictures.

Thoughts & Observations:

• A die roll decided the Primary Attacker position.
• There was a lot of smack talk during this game.
• The best line of the night went to Chuck with, "He's slightly neutered."  Which was in reference to Narbey's Orange frame after Pete's Orange frame dealt five damage to it.
• We started kinda late so, per our usual modus operandi, we hammered the clock at the end of the first round.
• I ended up modifying the Hogsheads after the game because the foot design I initially used was unstable.

Purity: Mega Bloks 05662 Power Rangers Red Lion Zord Review

I found this in Ocean State Job Lots back before Christmas along with a few other sets.

Can.  I paid $5.00 for this which yields a $0.05 Price per Piece.  I can't
find any sources for the original price so make of this what you will.

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts 1.  The piece in the upper left is
the Head.  The Printed Slopes are neat.

Parts 2.  The Mega Bloks version of the Mod. Brick w/Pin is slightly odd in that they are only two Plates tall.  The piece in the lower right is the Jaw for the Zord head.

Parts 3.  Bar Plates, Clip Plates, Slopes, Bricks, Plates, Mod Bricks w/Pin Hole,
and that 10 Stud long Mod. Plate.

Build.  Frame.  I should have tried this set a long time ago.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  A perfect score but on a secondary retailer price.

Purity: Mega Bloks 05661 Power Rangers Super Mega Jet Zord Review

I found this in Ocean State Job Lots back before Christmas along with a few other sets.

Can.  I paid $5.00 for this which yields a $0.06 Price per Piece.  I can't
find any sources for the original price so make of this what you will.

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts 1.  Those Angled tiles are nice, as

are the Antenna, and the Printed Tile.

Parts 2.  The variety of Modified Plates is Nice.  I really like the Modified 2x2 Round in the lower left.

Parts 3.  More Angled Tiles. 

 Wings and Tails are nice too.

Build.  An IO Frigate.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  A perfect score but on a secondary retailer price.

Review: Gundam Converge PMX-002 Bolinoak-Sammahn (141)

I wandered into Barnes & Noble the other day and found a few Gundam Converge kits I haven't reviewed yet.  There may be a few GC weeks upcoming.  :-)  This kit is part of Wave 04 from 2016.

Box.  MSRP was $7.99 at Barnes & Noble.

Parts.

Disassembled.  The head can be Defense or Spotting.  The "jets"
can be Defense, Movement, or Spotting.  The shield can
be Defense.  The shield blades can be Melee or Spotting.

Assembled.

Size Comparison.

The Questions:
Is it below, at, or above $10 per Frame?  Below.  (+5)
Is it a good size to use in a game?  Yes.  Slightly larger than a Classic.  (+5)
How many parts does it have to represent systems?  Four.  (+5)
Does it have enough parts you can remove to represent White Dice damage?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Another Gundam Converge winner.