Review: Zuru Max Mystery Build 1 (DG20210621F)

I found these at Ocean State Job Lot two months ago while I was out shopping for junk food for a recent game.  The display box I found them in lists eight different builds so I rooted through what was there and found what looked to be seven different packages.

Egg.  I paid $2.99 for this.  MSRP is ????, for a $0.08 Price per Piece based on the parts count on the label.  Actual parts count is 46 pieces for a PpP of $0.07.

Instructions & Stickers

 

Parts 1.  Wedge Plates, Inverted Slopes, Bricks, Round

Bricks, 2x3 Brick w/Curved End, and Studless Slopes.

Parts 2.  Bricks, Wedge Plates, and Brackets.

Parts 3.  Axle Plate, Rim, Bar Plates, Tail, Double Clip

Plates, Apollo Studs, Triple Curve Slopes, and Cones.

Build.  IO Frigate and HVA.

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?  No.  (-5)
Score: +10 (A-).  It works nicely for IO but I feel it needs more SNOT/Hinge pieces.

Review: Make-It Blocks Construction Set 3

After the news of Dollar Tree raising it's prices to $1.25, I decided to dip into my backlog to hopefully give people a head start before that happens.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00 for a $0.02 Price per Piece.

Instructions & Sticker.

Minifig.  

Parts.  Wedge 4x4x2/3 Triple Curved, Mudguard Plate, Technic Pulleys, Plates,

Corner Plates, Thin Liftarms, Minifig Seat, Bracket, Studless Slope, Cheese

Slopes, Hinge Plate, Wheels, Double Pinhole Bricks, Panels, Round Bricks,

Minifig Telescopes, 3/4 Technic Pins, Axle, Bases, Levers, and Minifig Shovel. 

Build.  Frame (1B/1G+d8/2Y).

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+).  I like this set more for the component parts than for what you can build with it.

Review: Make-It Blocks Construction Set 2

After the news of Dollar Tree raising it's prices to $1.25, I decided to dip into my backlog to hopefully give people a head start before that happens.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00 for a $0.02 Price per Piece.

 

Instructions & Sticker.

Minifig.  

Parts.  Plates, Mudguard Plates, Pin Tile, Axle Plates, Plates w/Door Rail, Ingots,

Grille Tile, Brackets, Transparent Round Plates, Tile w/Studs on Ends, Transparent

Round Tiles, Cheese Slopes, Perpendicular Axle/Pin Connector w/Extension,

 Headlight Bricks, Transparent Bricks, Tires, Ball Joint Hook, Ball Joint

Socket Hinge, Rims, Cylinder Hinge w/Pin, Bar, Perpendicular Split

Axle/Pin Connector, Minifig Wrench, and 6L Bar w/Stop Ring.

Build.  Battle Cart (2Ra/1G/2Y).

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+).  Yeah, this is more like it.  I'd have no problem putting a squad based on this build on the table for a game.

Review: Make-It Blocks Construction Set 1

After the news of Dollar Tree raising it's prices to $1.25, I decided to dip into my backlog to hopefully give people a head start before that happens.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00 for a $0.02 Price per Piece.

 Instructions & Sticker.

Minifig.  We're back to extra bits with this one.

Parts.  Propeller, 2x3 Plate w/Rounded End, Plates, Tiles, Pin Tile, 2x2 Studless

 Slope w/Lip, Ball Joint Plate, Dishes, Jumper, Large Cheese Slope, Brackets,

Ball Joint Hook, Plates w/Race Car Grille, Clip Plates, Clip Tiles, Round Tiles,

Stadium Tiles, Transparent Round Plates, Bar, Pneuma-T, and Minifig Shovel.

Build.  2Ra/2Y Frame.

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+).  While I feel it has several useful parts, it wastes 11 pieces on the minifig.

Battle Report: Cherry Blossom Forest @ Paper Asylum

After a year plus away, and a pandemic in between, we were invited back to the Paper Asylum by owner/proprietor -- and MFZ fan -- Pete.  The table setting was requested by PJ Nicht since they had built something thematic for it.  We decided on a Skirmish since Nikko was joining us for the first time.

Tom (4 Frames & 15 Systems) = (6 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 30 points.
   Blue Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Orange Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Yellow Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.

   White Light Tank -- 2Rd+d8/1B/2W.

Pete (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 20 points.  (Fuzzy Pink Bunny Slippers)
   Green Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W + SSR.

   Blue Assault -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1G/2W + SSR.

   Orange Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W + SSR.

   Red Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.

Nikko (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 20 points.  (mecha)

   Green Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W +SSR.

   Red Warrior -- 2Rh/1B/1G+d8/1Y/2W.

   Blue Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W +SSR.

   Orange Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W +SSR.

PJ Nicht (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 20 points. (mecha)

   Black (Yin) Spotting Bodyguard -- 2Rd/2Rh/1B/1Y/2W.

   White (Yang) Spotting Bodyguard -- 2Rd/2Rh/1B/1Y/2W.
   Red Watchtower -- 2B/1Gd8/2Y/2W.

   Pink Swarmer -- 2Rh+d8/1B/1Gd8/1Y/2W  + SSR (x3).

Me (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 20 points  (15 Squad)
   White Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.

   Red Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W +SSR.

   Purple Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W +SSR.

   Yellow 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): Pete's Green frame hits Tom's White frame for 1, which then retreats towards the road, and the cherry tree in front of it for 2.  Nikko's Green frame splashes across the stream and captures Pete's station.  Nikko's Orange frame attacks PJ Nicht's White frame from behind for 2, then moves towards PJ Nicht's Station, while the White frame moves towards Pete's Station.  Nikko's Blue frame moves from the large stone block to the stream and hits PJ Nicht's White frame for 1.  My Yellow frame moves from the small rock outcrop to the large stone block and hits Nikko's Red frame for 1, after it moved to the opposite side of the bridge.  Pete's Blue frame floats towards the bridge and hits Nikko's Red frame for 2.  PJ Nicht's Pink frame moves in front of their Station and hits Nikko's Green frame for 3 with a SSR, Station Dance.  Tom's Orange frame trundles beside his Station and hits my Red frame for 3, after the Red frame moved beside my Station.  PJ Nicht's Black frame hits Tom's Orange frame for 3, Station Dance.  Tom's Yellow frame trundles beside his Station and hits my Red frame for 1.

Tom: 30 points.

Nikko: 24 points.

PJ Nicht: 20 points.

Me: 20 points.

Pete: 16 points.

Events of Turn 2 (DDC @ 7): Tom's Blue frame trundles into cover between stands of cherry trees and hits my Red frame for 1.  Tom's Yellow frame trundles in front of his Station and hits my Red frame for 1, destroying it.  Nikko's Orange frame takes a couple of steps downstream and hits PJ Nicht's White frame for 1.  Pete's Blue frame floats to the base of the bridge and hits Nikko's Red frame for 2, Station Dance.  Pete's Red frame floats a little to the right and hits Nikko's Red frame for 3, destroying it.  My White frame splashes through the stream under the bridge to capture Nikko's Station, then hits Nikko's Blue frame for 3.  My Purple frame moves beside my Station then hits Tom's Orange frame for 1, Station Dance.  Tom's White frame trundles up the road and hits my Yellow frame for 3, and my Purple frame for 1 -- which was in Cover behind my Yellow frame -- with a SSR.  PJ Nicht's Pink frame splashes into the stream and smashes Nikko's Orange frame for 5.

Tom: 30 points.

PJ Nicht: 20 points.

Me: 20 points.

Nikko: 16 points.

Pete: 16 points.

Events of Turn 3 (DDC @ 4): PJ Nicht's Pink frame hits Nikko's Green frame for 3, Station Dance.  PJ Nicht's Black frame captures Pete's Station that was under Nikko's control.  Pete's Green frame hits Tom's Yellow frame for 4, Station Dance.  My Yellow frame captures Tom's Station.  Nikko's Blue frame hits my White frame for 3, Station Dance.  My White frame splashes back across the stream and hits Tom's Yellow frame for 4, destroying it.  Pete's Blue frame hits my White frame for 2.  Pete's Orange frame floats over and captures Nikko's Station.

PJ Nicht: 24 points.

Me: 20 points.

Pete: 20 points.

Tom: 18 points.

Nikko: 12 points.

Events of Turn 4 (DDC @ 1): Nikko's Blue frame hits Pete's Orange frame for 4, Station Dance.  Pete's Red frame hits PJ Nicht's Pink frame for 1, which then captures Nikko's station that was under Pete's control.  Tom's White frame hits my Yellow frame for 1.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

PJ Nicht: 28 points.

Me: 20 points.

Tom: 18 points.

Pete: 16 points.

Nikko: 12 points.

Here are several during and aftermath pictures.

Start 8

Tom's new squad.

Start 6

Turn 1.3

Start 7

Turn 1.4

Turn 1.7

Turn 1.6

Turn 1.5

Turn 2.5

Turn 2.4

Turn 2.6

Turn 3.4

Turn 3.3

Turn 4.6

Turn 3.6

Turn 4.5

Turn 4.7

Turn 4.9

Turn 4.8

Turn 4.10

Turn 4.11

Turn 4.13

Turn 4.12

Thoughts & Observations:

• This is our fifth game this year.
• Point Attacker was decided by die roll.
• This was a Skirmish.
• I'm still holding to my resolution to use squads that haven't seen prior table time.
• Tom debuted a new squad.
• I sort of had an idea for a strategy or squad composition for this game.
• Never announce to the universe, "The odds on four damage dice at Direct is one hit, right?" because it will bite you in the ass.
• This was a competitive game but we all had a lot of fun.
• I took a lot more pictures than normal with my phone instead of my normal camera.
• Here are more pictures from the game.
• There is also video.