Alternate Rule: Weather Conditions

Something that struck me as I was watching some random video is while Mobile Frame Zero: Rapid Attack isn't really a "simulationist" game, beyond the Hazardous Terrain rules MFZ:RA doesn't do much to alter game states.  And right now there's a part of me that wants to mess around with that.  The easiest thing to do this with is adding weather conditions that effect things that happen during the game.

The basic idea is that you roll a die before the game, compare it to the chart, and apply that modifier or result.  Here are the ideas I've come up with.

Dust Storm -- This weather condition applies a -1 to all Spotting rolls.

Torrential Rain -- This weather condition applies a -1 to all Movement rolls.

Hurricane Winds -- Pick a direction, this weather condition applies a -1 to all Movement rolls in that direction and +1 to all Movement rolls in the opposite direction.

Hail Storm -- Roll a d4.  Whatever number comes up, on that Round all Frames will suffer a 1d6 Melee attack.

Depending on how common you want these events to be in a game I came up with a chart based on the combined roll of 2d4 that pushes the weather events to the outsides of the bell curve.

2 = Hurricane Winds.

3 = Dust Storm.

4 = Clear Skies.

5 = Clear Skies.

6 = Clear Skies.

7 = Torrential Rain.

8 = Hail Storm.

As usual, all players should agree to use these rules before the game starts.

Keep in mind that these ideas have not been play-tested.  As I've mentioned with other rule modifications, I hope this is a fun option for people.

Review: 30698 Dreamzzz Cooper's Flying Controller Polybag

Another new for 2025 polybag.  This was a "Gift with Purchase" for the beginning of June.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.09 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts. Octagonal Bar Plate, Cloud/Wind Gust/Smoke, Arch,

 Inverted Slopes, Bricks w/ Stud on Side, Plates, Round Plates,

Round Large Jumpers, Rounded Plate, Large Cheese Slopes,

 Round Tiles, Apollo Studs, Stadium Tiles, Bricks w/Studs on

Side, Studless Slopes, Clip Plates, Double Studless Slopes, Minifig Handlebar, and Angled Barb/Claw/Horn/Tooth w/Clip.

Build.  Frame (2Rd+d8/2B).

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+).  It's a Frame-In-A-Bag but I'm not sure what the general availability is like for this polybag.

Review: Blockees 85036 Herospire Version 5

I bought this because the first one I reviewed was pretty cool and I figured I'd dip my toe into the other releases.  Blokees make a number of different lines of Blind boxes.  The company calls this line "Herospire Warrior" but the primary name on the box is "Warrior Version".  This is the fifth release from this line called "General's Contest".

Box.  I paid $5.99 at Newbury Comics for this.

Contents.

We've got Instructions, Game Stat

card, Base, and display piece.

Parts. Once again laid out

in a figure-centric manner.

Build. This is "Lu Bu Battle Suit".  I think I finally got the assembly right.  The

halberd could be Melee or Spotting depending on how it's put together. The

head could be Melee, Defense, or Spotting, The shoulder pauldrons could

be Defense. The waist armor could be Defense. The shin greaves could be

Defense or Movement.  The arms could be removed for White Die damage.

 

Size Comparison. It's a little larger than a Chub.

The Questions:

Is it below, at, or above $10 per Frame?  Below.  (+5)
Is it a good size to use in a game?  Yes.  A bit bigger than a Chub.  (+5)

How many parts does it have to represent systems?  Five.  (+5)
Does it have enough parts you can remove to represent White Dice damage? Yes. (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  I really like the look of this one but it's still a blind box just like the other reviews this week.

Review: Blockees 85015 Herospire Version 1

I bought this because the first one I reviewed was pretty cool and I figured I'd dip my toe into the other releases.  Blokees make a number of different lines of Blind boxes.  The company calls this line "Herospire Warrior" but the name on the box is "Hero Infinity: Galaxy Version Turbo".  This is the first release from this line called "Hero's Journey".

Box.  I paid $5.99 at Newbury Comics for this.

We've got Instructions, Game Stat

card, Base, and display piece.

Parts.  This time I laid them out in a more figure-centric manner.  You still

have to be careful with the elbows and knees as the connection is tight and

the forearms and shins are meant to be laid out in a specific direction.

Build.  This is the "Bull Demon".  The axe could be Melee or Spotting

depending on how it was assembled.  The head could be Melee, Defense,

or Spotting, The shoulder pauldrons could be Defense.  The waist armor

could be Defense.  The arms could be removed for White Die damage.

 

Size Comparison.  It's a little larger than a Chub.

The Questions:

Is it below, at, or above $10 per Frame?  Below.  (+5)
Is it a good size to use in a game?  Yes.  A bit bigger than a Chub.  (+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+).  This has the same problem as Monday's review, the fact that it's a blind box.  Other than that it seems like it would be pretty cool to have this on the table in a game.

Review: Blokees 85023 Herospire Version 2

I bought this because I was curious and it was the last one left on the shelf for this particular release.  Blokees make a number of different lines of Blind boxes.  The company calls this line "Herospire Warrior" but the name on the box is "Hero Infinity: Galaxy Version Turbo".  This is the second release from this line called "Fearless Demon Child".

Box.  I paid $5.99 at Newbury Comics for this.

Contents.

We've got a Game Stat card, Instructions,

Base, Parts bag, and display piece.

Parts.  You have to be careful when putting this together.  I put the shins

of this model facing the wrong way and I'm not sure I can fix the problem

without breaking it.  The ball joints pop apart easy enough, the other

joints don't.  The handle section of the sword seems to be a little bigger

than a standard Lego Bar so it probably won't fit a Clip without wrecking it.

Build.  This is "Xiahou Dun Battle Suit".  The "monocle" could be

Spotting.  The head could be Defense or Spotting.  The shoulder pauldrons

could be Defense.  The waist armor could be Defense.  The sword

could be Melee.  The arms could be removed for White Die damage.

Size Comparison.  It's a little larger than a Chub.

The Questions:

Is it below, at, or above $10 per Frame?  Below.  (+5)
Is it a good size to use in a game?  Yes.  A bit bigger than a Chub.  (+5)

How many parts does it have to represent systems?  Five.  (+5)
Does it have enough parts you can remove to represent White Dice damage? Yes. (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Let's be honest, the fact that this is a blind box really kills the utility of this a source of Frames for MFZ:RA.  Which realistically kills the score.  On the other hand it looks cool, and it's a reasonable size and price.

Review: Tonka TK3521-03 Backhoe Loader

I found these recently in 5 Below.  They aren't on the website.  Yet?  These are made by Hasbro, who used to make Kre-O.  So maybe this is them dipping their toe back into the building block market again.  There are more sets featured on the back of the box some of which seem to be medium sized and one that looks pretty large.

Box.  MSRP is $3.25 for a $0.07 Price per Piece.

Instructions & Stickers.

Minifig.

These are a pain to assemble, btw.

Parts 1.  Curved Slope, Brick, Tile,

Plates, Corner Plate, Panel, Bar Plate,

and 1x1x2/3 Brick w/Stud on Side.  

Parts 2.  Rubber Tracks, Digger Bucket, Plate, Digger Bucket Arms,

Brick, Rims, Axle Plates, Tiles, Brackets, Bricks w/Pinhole, Cone,

Round Clip Tile, 1x2x2/3 Bricks w/Studs on Side, and Grille Tiles.

Build.  Battlecart (2Rh+d8 [digger] 2Rd [stinger]).

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+).  The clutch on the parts in this set is inconsistent.  While it does have some interesting parts -- 1x3 Bricks w/Pinhole, Round Tile Clip, and the Bar Plate -- overall the quality and selection is disappointing.  As these reviews are now done, I'm going to dump all of these sets into a container and stick them in the attic somewhere.

Review: Tonka TK3521-02 Steam Roller

I found these recently in 5 Below.  They aren't on the website.  Yet?  These are made by Hasbro, who used to make Kre-O.  So maybe this is them dipping their toe back into the building block market again.  There are more sets featured on the back of the box some of which seem to be medium sized and one that looks pretty large.

Box.  MSRP is $3.25 for a $0.07 Price per Piece.

Instructions & Stickers.

Minifig.

Still ridiculous.

Parts 1.  Plates, Axle Plates, Corner Plates,

Slope, Round Bricks, and Panel.
 

Parts 2.  Plates, Round Plates w/Pinhole, Round Bricks, Slopes,

Octagonal Plates, Lever Base, Lever, Octagonal Cones, Bricks w/

Stud on Side, 1x1x2/3 Bricks w/Stud on Side, Inverted Slopes, Wheels.

Build.  Battlecart (2B/1Gd8/1Y).

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+).  More flashing, enough to block the Pinhole in one of the Round Plates, and a kind of boring parts selection.  It has the top score but I'm not sure it's actually worth it.