Player Count 3

I think I'm finally able to articulate what bothers me about the Frames per Player breakdown -- beyond the fact that I simply prefer smooth progressions -- and it was brought in to focus by this blog post about being the "Accidental Defender".  Let's look at the original table one more time just to make sure we're all on the same page.

Original

                                Frames

Players  Stations Skirmish Battle

    2           3         4 to 6 5 to 8

    3           2         3 to 5 4 to 7

    4           2         3 to 4 4 to 6

    5           1         3 to 4 3 to 5

Okay, one of the core "conceits" of Mobile Frame Zero is that there's a Defender, Attacker, and Primary Attacker.  One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is to allow people to pick a different quantity of Frames when they come to the table.  And if you allow three different levels of choice -- for example 4, 5, or 6 -- this allows space for that to happen.  

Setting aside some players' tendencies to come in "heavy" or the issue of numbers of Systems, having three levels of choice allows people more room for decisions -- and possibly might make it easier.  So if you look at the choices for 4 or 5 players at Skirmish you'll see that room doesn't exist.  And I believe that's what my issue really is with that table.

With that revelation in hand, let's make another attempt at fixing that problem.

In my earlier attempts I had a Revision 1 but I'm discarding that entirely.

Revision 2.2

                Frames

Players Stations Skirmish Battle

      2       3  5 to 7 6 to 8

      3       2  4 to 6 5 to 7

      4       2  3 to 5 4 to 6

      5       1  N/A   3 to 5

The last time I did this I added a new level of conflict and didn't really explain my reasoning behind doing so.  As with my earlier discussion of needing "room to breath", I think adding another column to the chart allows that to happen without adding too much complexity.

New 1.1

        Frames

Players Stations Clash Skirmish Battle

      2       3 4 to 6  5 to 7 6 to 8

      3       2 3 to 5  4 to 6 5 to 7

      4       2 N/A     3 to 5 4 to 6

      5       1 N/A          N/A   3 to 5

Now I know people really like the chaos of six player games but this is where the framework starts to break down -- it's always been that way -- and really it's just simpler to play two three player games.  But, since people like it so much I'll attempt to add it on.

      6       1  N/A          N/A         3 to 4

N/A = Not Applicable.

Hopefully this makes sense to everyone and you enjoy my tilting at this particular windmill.

War College: Accidental Defender

We've all had it happen, we underestimate what our opponents are bringing to the table or end up on the bad side of a die roll and get stuck playing Defender when we didn't plan for it.

So what do you do now?  I'll look at a couple of battle reports from games I've played in where it happened.

The first game is the one we played at Greenfield Games back in 2018.  We had five players and elected to play a Skirmish.  Which means we were allowed three or four Frames each.  Everyone came to the table with 4 Frames and 16 systems.  I ended up on the bad end of a die roll and had to drop a Frame from my squad -- which was configured to come in "heavy" and my strategy was built around being Primary Attacker.

After some quick thinking, and some deep breathing exercises,  I set my Station (red star) in the center of the battlefield and placed my two initial Frames (red rectangles) at the farthest points possible from  the Station.  This carved a rough oval (red oval) of empty space my opponents couldn't enter -- leaving them two roughly triangular sections on either side, and at either end, within which they could place their Frames.  Tom placed his Station inside my Perimeter during set-up -- the Rook Maneuver -- and I captured it with the placement of my final Frame (red pentagon).  The wide perimeter and extra points gave me a little breathing room at the start.

My plan was to fade inwards from the perimeter, run, and just survive as long as possible.  That didn't happen.  The balloon goes up and I get hit by three of the other players without provocation -- yes, I know I was in 1st place -- and lose two Frames.  After that it's just a scramble to keep my single Frame alive and grab whatever open Stations I can to maintain my point total.  I manage to keep my Frame alive -- even through a stupid slap fight with Joshua -- to the end of the game but I lose all the Stations I had once controlled.

What could I have done different?  I should have activated my Frames first and retreated into the two empty areas at the corner of the battlefield and then kept running away as much as possible.  I would have lost the Stations but possibly kept more Frames.

The next game is a little more recent.  This was our last game of 2021, held at the Paper Asylum.  I think Tom was hoping for someone to come in "light" and configured his squad to fall in to the middle by dropping one System.  Instead this led to him being Defender with every other squad coming in maxed out -- which is what I mean by the term "heavy" I used earlier.

So, what does he do?  He places his Station (black star) towards the center of the battlefield to establish his Perimeter (black oval) then sets his Frames (black rectangles) towards the back end of that oval to keep them away from his opponents.  While this doesn't create as large a Perimeter, this does leave a lot of space to traverse if you don't have Artillery.  Over the course of the game Tom moves his forces out of the corner to reinforce his Station when it appears most of the conflict is going to be between Nikko, Pete, and PJ Nicht.  In the process he loses a Frame and the Station but keeps his other Frames, this gives him a third place finish.

When I asked Tom about the game, this is what he wrote.  "Being accidental defender probably means you don't have the optimal squad for the job. This puts you at a disadvantage at the start of the game, not unlike getting a poor position during setup. So you'll need to take risky moves to win. But as defender, risky moves aren't the same as when playing from behind. Losing a frame is a huge loss of points, so you need to protect them. For example, instead of over extending to grab a base and hope you hold it, you'll move your frames out of range and hope your opponents don't roll enough movement to get the base. It can be agonizing, as you probably have a squad built for attacking, but a lot of times you need to sit back and do nothing."

Hopefully this helps if you get stuck in the same position.

Review: Mega Bloks GVM30 Hot Wheels Muscle Bound

I know Mega Bloks isn't a company that has long shelf life for some of their products but it looks like this set has already been discontinued from the Hot Wheels line.

Box.  MSRP was $9.99, for a $0.10 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts 1.  Mod. Plate(3x4/5x5/3x4 w/2x5 indent).

   

Parts 2.  Wheels, Printed Double Triple-Curved Wedge, Printed

Studless Slope, Transparent Modified Plate 2x5 w/Studs

on Side, Transparent Windscreen, and Printed Panels.

Parts 3.  Axle Plates, Bricks, Plates, Triple Curve Slope,

Steering Wheel, Inverted Slopes, Inverted Slopes w/Cutout,

Studless Wedge, Clip Plates, Slope w/Cutout, Brackets, Bars

w/Panel, Corner Plates, Wedge Tile, and Double Jumpers. 

Parts 4. Wedge w/Cutouts, Mudguards,

and Modified Plate 2x5 w/Studs on Side.

Parts 5.  Plates, Jumper, Tall Cheese Slope, Tile, Transparent Corrugated Tiles, Cheese Slopes, Transparent Slope w/Cutout, Slope w/Cutout, Large Cheese Slopes, Plates w/Angled Wedge, Plates w/Wedge, and Brackets.

Build.  IO Cruiser.  This might actually fit in with my 13th Fleet.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  At.  (0)  (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: +15 (A).  The Metallic Olive Green parts are what sells this set for me.  I think the only other one with that color parts is the Aristo Rat.

Review: Mega Bloks GYG34 Hot Wheels Baja Truck

After my first review of the new Mega Bloks Hot Wheels sets, I decided to give it another try since the first set was a real treasure trove of good parts.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99, for a $0.10 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts 1. Modified Plate(3x4/5x5/3x4 w/2x5 indent).

Parts 2.  Wheels, Printed Wedge w/Cutouts, Printed Tile

w/Studs, Window Frame, Printed Studless Slope, Plate, Mod.

Plate 2x5 w/Studs on Side, Axle Plates, and a Printed Tile.

Parts 3.  Mudguards, Extra Long Cheese Slopes, Panel, Printed Tile,

 Plates, Printed Panels, and Mod. Plate 2x5 w/Studs on Side.

 

Parts 4.  Bricks, Plates, Steering Wheel, 1x5 Plates, Slopes w/Cutout,

Clip Plates, Tile, Wedges w/Cutout, Wedge Panels, Brackets,

Axle Plate, Inverted Slopes, Bars w/Panel, Panels, and Triple Slope.

Parts 5.  Bar Plates, Grille Tiles, Plates, Jumper, and Cheese Slopes.

Build.  Intercept Orbit Cruiser and Rapid Attack Walker.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  At.  (0)  (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: +15 (A).  Not quite as awesome as the Bone Shaker but I managed two builds out of this set.

First Hints from the Second Edition

Joshua has posted a short background blurb for MFZ2E on his blog, Xenoglyph.

You're welcome.

Battle Report: The Henge 3

Our first game of 2022 was a battle between three players.  We used the "Henge" setting because it hadn't seen use for almost a year.

Occam's Spork (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (7 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 49 points.
   Orange Fast Stalker -- 2Ra+d8/2G/2W.
   Green Fast Stalker -- 2Ra+d8/2G/2W.
   White Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W + SSR.

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

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

Tom (6 Frames & 24 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (8 assets) = 24 points.  
   Yellow Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W.

   Orange Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W.

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

   White Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W + SSR.

   Red Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W + SSR.

   Grey Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W + SSR.

Me (6 Frames & 24 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (8 assets) = 24 points  (Chunkies)
   Tan Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.

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

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

   Red Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.

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

   Blue 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): Occam's Spork's Blue frame attacks my Yellow frame with a SSR and it just impacts on the surface, it then retreats towards the medium standing ring.  My Brown frame sprints forward and captures one of Occam's Spork's Stations.  Tom's Grey frame hits my Blue frame for 1 with a SSR and moves around the trilithon towards the small standing ring.  My Blue frame then hits Occam's Spork's Blue frame for 2 with a SSR and moves towards my second Station.  Tom's Yellow frame hits my Blue frame for 1 and moves around the trilithon towards the small standing ring.  My Tan frame retreats a step then hits the lintel and a megalith of the trilithon in front of Tom's Red frame for 2 damage.  Tom's Red frame hammers Occam's Spork's White frame for 5 with a SSR, Station Dance.  Replying to that attack, Occam's Spork's White frame moves towards Tom's Stations and hits Tom's White frame for 1.  Occam's Spork's Red Frame hits Tom's Red frame for 1 with a SSR and also moves towards Tom's Stations.  Tom's Orange frame hits Occam's Spork's White frame for 1 and moves forward to interdict it.  Tom's Blue frame shells Occam's Spork's Green frame for 3 and the menhir in front of it for 1.  Tom's ?? hits my Blue frame for 3, Station Dance.  My Purple frame hits Tom's Grey frame for 1 and moves towards the center of the battlefield.  My Red frame hits Tom's Grey frame for 2 and follows my Purple frame.

Occam's Spork: 42 points.

Me: 27 points.

Tom: 24 points.

Events of Turn 2 (DDC @ 8): Occam's Spork's White Frame hops forwards and captures Tom's Station.  Tom's Blue frame shells my Blue Frame for 3, inflicting terminal damage.  Occam's Spork's Red frame rips into Tom's Red frame for 4, destroying it.  Tom's Orange frame hits Occam's Spork's Orange frame 3 then moves deeper into the battlefield towards a trilithon.  Tom's Yellow frame hits Occam's Spork's White frame for 3, destroying it, then moves towards Tom's Stations.  Tom's White frame moves back towards his Stations and buzzsaws Occam's Spork's Orange frame for 1.  My Tan frame hits Occam's Spork's Blue frame for 1, Station Dance.  My Yellow frame moves forward to maintain control of Occam's Spork's Station and hits Occam's Spork's Blue frame for 2.  My Purple frame runs over and captures Occam's Spork's second Station.  My Red frame moves towards the small standing ring and hits Tom's Yellow frame for 1.

Occam's Spork: 35 points.

Me: 27 points.

Tom: 18 points.

Events of Turn 3 (DDC @ 5): Occam's Spork's Green frame shells Tom's Blue frame for 2, Station Dance.  My Purple frame moves to the other side of Occam's Spork's Station and destroys the megalith in front of Tom's White frame with 1 damage, also hitting the Frame for 1.  Tom's White frame buzzsaws Occam's Spork's Red frame for 1.  Occam's Spork's Red frame retaliates, hitting Tom's White frame for 1, Station Dance.  Occam's Spork's Red frame captures Tom's Station.  My Red frame moves to the other side of the small standing ring and hits Tom's Yellow frame for 2.  Tom's Orange frame moves to the destroyed menhir and hits Occam's Spork's Red frame for 2.  My Yellow frame moves to the medium standing ring and hits Occam's Spork's Blue frame for 1.

Occam's Spork: 42 points.

Me: 27 points.

Tom: 15 points.

Events of Turn 4 (DDC @ 2): My Tan frame shells Tom's Grey frame for 2, in an attempt to hit Occam's Spork's Orange frame.  My Red frame hits Tom's Grey frame for 1, destroying it, in an attempt to hit Occam's Spork's Orange frame.  My Purple frame hits Occam's Spork's Green frame for 2 and the menhir in front of it for 1.  Tom's Blue frame shells my Red frame for 2.  Tom's White frame buzzsaws Occam's Spork's Orange frame for 5, destroying it, and recapturing one of his Stations in the process.  Tom's Orange hits Occam's Spork's Red frame for 1, and destroys the menhir in front of it with 1 damage.  Tom's Yellow frame hits Occam's Spork's Red frame for 1.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

Occam's Spork: 28 points.

Me: 27 points.

Tom: 15 points.

Here are several during and aftermath pictures.

Start 5

Start 7

Turn 1.3

Turn 1.4

Turn 2.3

Turn 4.5

Turn 4.7

Turn 4.6

Turn 4.9

Turn 4.8

Turn 4.11

Turn 4.10

Thoughts & Observations:

• Primary Attacker was decided by a die roll.
• There was lots of color pairing attacks during this game.
• Everyone managed to fire off all of their SSRs during the first turn.
• Somewhere in that first turn my notes about who did what got a little screwy.
• Each player had one Frame destroyed during Turn 2.
• There were so many wasted "4"s in damage rolls.
• We played this game in 3 hours and 15 minutes.  That's from set-up to teardown.

Review: 43186 Frozen II Bruni the Salamander

One of the old-ish Frozen sets that I picked up in a BOGO50% sale at J.C. Penny recently.

Box.  MSRP was $12.99, for a Price per Piece of $0.14.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Clamshell, Round Plates, Printed Vehicle Mudguard, Printed

Studless Wedge Slope, Round Bricks, Curved Slope w/Cutout, Tail, Inverted 

Studless Slope, Wedge Plate, Printed Tile, Tile, Plates, Hinge Plates 

w/Pinholes, Plate w/Bar Down, Flame Piece, Double Studless Slopes,

Bar Plates, Brackets, Axle/Pin Connectors #3, and Axle Connectors.

Parts 2.  Wedge Plate, Round Tile w/Hole, Boat Studs, Round Jumpers, Printed 

Boat Studs, Travis Brick, Leaves, Plates, Studless Slopes, Cheese Slopes,

 Quarter Circle Tiles, Clip Tiles, Printed Round Tiles, Axles, Friction Pins, Half

Pins, Clip Plates, Twigs, Studless Slopes w/Cutout, and Slopes w/Cutout.

Build.  Frame and Station.

The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Above.  (-10) (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: +5 (B+).  I had a negative opinion of this set due to the PpP even though it has some useful parts and nice colors.