Battle Report: Crossroads

This is our fifth game of Rapid Attack, as a group, this year.  This is the first time this table-setting has seen use.  We returned to Paper Asylum last weekend after a two year gap.

Narbey (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (7 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 49 points.
   Red Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Yellow Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Orange Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.
   Black Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Green Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.

Me (6 Frames & 23 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (8 assets) = 32 points.  (Seraph)
   Yellow Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W.
   Tan Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Green Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Brown Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Red Static Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1Y/2W.

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

Pete (6 Frames & 24 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (8 assets) = 24 points. (Fuzzy Pink Bunny Slippers)
   Orange Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W.
   Blue Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Black Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.

   Yellow Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Lime Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.
   Red Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W + SSR.

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

Events of Round 1 (DDC @ 11): Narbey's Black frame hits the tree in front of my Brown frame for 1, destroying it, then rolls Northwest towards my Lime station.  Narbey's Orange frame hits the tree in front of my Green frame for 1, destroying it, then rolls West towards my Lime station.  My Green frame flows South to my Lime Station and hits Narbey's Yellow frame for 2.  Narbey's Green frame hits the tree in front of my Brown frame for 1, destroying it, then rolls South towards the gazebo.  Pete's Lime frame hits my Tan frame for 3.  My Tan frame flows North towards the gazebo and hits Narbey's Yellow frame for 1.  Pete's Orange frame hits Narbey's Red frame for 2 and the tree it was using for Cover for 1, destroying the tree, then slides South across the marble road.  Pete's Yellow frame hits Narbey's Red frame for 2, then slides South towards the marble road.  My Yellow frame flows Southwest and captures the Neutral station.

Narbey: 49 points.

Me: 36 points.

Pete: 24 points.

Events of Round 2 (DDC @ 9): My Green frame hits Narbey's Yellow frame for 2, Station Dance.  Then my Green frame flows South across the marble road and captures Narbey's First Station.  Narbey's Orange captures my Lime station.  Narbey's Green frame hits my Tan frame for 1 then rolls North.  My Tan hits Narbey's Yellow frame for 2, destroying it, then flows North to Narbey's First station.  Narbey's Black frame rolls South and hits my Brown frame for 1.  Pete's Lime frame hits my Yellow frame for 1.  Pete's Yellow frame slides East-Southeast and captures Narbey's Second station, then hits Narbey's Green frame for 1.  Pete's Blue frame slides East and hits Narbey's Green frame for 1.  Pete's Orange frame slides East and hits Narbey's Green frame for 2.

Narbey: 49 points.

Me: 36 points.

Pete: 24 points.

Events of Round 3 (DDC @ 6): My Yellow frame zaps Narbey's Orange frame for 2.  My Tan frame hits Narbey's Red frame for 1, destroying it.  My Red frame hits the tree in front of Pete's Red frame for 1, destroying it.  Pete's Lime frame hits my Red frame for 3, Station Dance.  Pete's Blue frame slides North, captures the Neutral station, and hits my Red frame for 1.  Pete's Orange frame slides North across the marble road and hits my Red frame for 1.  Pete's Black frame slides East and captures my Red station.

Me: 36 points.

Narbey: 35 points.

Pete: 27 points.

Events of Round 4 (DDC @ 2): Narbey's Green frame hits my Yellow frame for 1 then moves North.  Pete's Red frame slides East and flame blasts my Red frame for 7, destroying it.  Pete's Orange frame hits Narbey's Green frame for 1, destroying it, then continues sliding North.  Pete's Yellow frame slides East-Southeast and hits my Tan frame for 4, destroying it.  My Orange frame flows East and hits Narbey's Orange frame for 3.  Narbey's Orange frame hits my Yellow frame for 1.  Narbey's Black frame hits my Yellow frame for 1.  My Green frame flows West to the Neutral station to get a clear sightline and hits Narbey's Orange frame for 1, destroying it.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

Pete: 33 points.

Me: 20 points.

Narbey: 14 points.

Here's several during and aftermath pictures.

Round 1.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Thoughts & Observations:

• This was a Battle.
• This was Narbey's first game in over two years.
• The same for Pete.
• Narbey debuted a new squad.
• We used the Neutral Station rule.
• This was the Neutral station.
• We used the "New 1.3" player count formula from my "Player Count 6" blog post.
• I made some bad choices about camera angles for taking pictures at the start of the game.
• I tried to set up a pincer movement by splitting my squad to either side of Narbey's defensive perimeter.
• I also attempted the Rook Maneuver with my Lime Station.
• Pete, on the other hand, put both of his Stations in the corners of the battlefield.
• Then his forces slid over the battlefield hitting just about everything in their path.
• Flickr page.

Review: Block Tech US101-2785 Block Bouquet Black Rose

We've got another reissue of an old Block Tech Halloween Botanical set.  This time though, I purchased it at Target.  Which shouldn't be a surprise since I've found them at Marshalls in the past.

Box.  MSRP is $5.00, for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Notched Round Plate, Steering Wheels, Axles, Double Curved

Wedges, Inverted Tiles, Plates, Double Studless Slopes, 3L Axle

Connectors, Bent Axle Connector w/Pinhole, and Clip Claws.

Parts 2.  Quarter Circle Studless Slopes, Double Curved Wedges, Corner

Tiles, Curved Slopes w/Wing, Round Plates, Studless Slopes, Plates, 

Travis Brick, Brackets, Wedge Studless Slopes, and Axle/Pin Connectors.

Parts 3.  Clip Plates, Ball Joint Plates, Inverted Tiles, Ball

Joint Pins, Horn, Tiles, Large Cheese Slopes w/Studs, Tooth

Plates, Wedge Studless Slopes, Studless Slopes, Bushings,

Brackets, Half Pin, Gear, and Round Large Jumper.

Build.  Two Frames (2W) and a 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?  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+).  There's a fair amount of useful parts here.  I'm just annoyed that some of them are Charcoal Grey instead of Black.  I understand needing contrast for the build but I would have preferred all Black pieces.

Review: Brickcraft 72740BRK Woof or Treet

Once again, Brickcraft is releasing a number of Seasonal sets.  This time for Fall/Halloween.  I mainly grabbed this one for the Purple parts but, there was a surprise inside.

Box.  MSRP is $14.99, for a $0.10 Price per Piece.
I paid $11.99 at Wegmans, for a $0.08 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Octagonal Bar Plate, Plates, Technic Plates, Brick, Brackets, String w/Studs, Axle, Rounded Tiles w/Pinhole, Rounded Plates w/Pinhole, Corrugated Brick w/Axle Hole, Tiles, Large Stadium Tiles, Quarter Circle Plates, Corner Curved Slopes w/Cutout, Studless Slopes, Slopes w/Cutout, Brick w/Studs on Sides & Axle Hole, Round Plates, Macaroni Tube, Bones, Quarter Circle Studless Slopes, Wedge Tiles, Wedge Plate, Curved Slopes, Clip Plates, Double-Sided Plates, Ball Joint Plates, Curved Cheese Slopes, Inverted Studless Slopes, Bricks w/Stud on Side, and Wedge Studless Slope.

Parts 2.  Printed Oval Dome, Wedge Plate, Wedge Tiles, Round Tiles w/

Pinhole, Inverted Studless Slopes, Plates, Rounded Plates, Clip Plates,

Jumper, Printed Oval Tiles, Tile, Axle, Bar Ball Joints, Axle Ball Joint,

Ball Joint Plates, Cheese Slopes, Cheese Slopes w/Stud, Round Tile,

Quarter Circle Tiles, Half Circle Tile, Wedge Studless Slope, Brackets,

Double Curved Slopes, Apollo Studs, Bent Cone, and Macaroni Tiles.

Build.  Two Frames (2W) and a 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?  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).  Despite the neat parts and cool colors -- that Light Purple is really nice -- I feel like there's not a lot of there there.  Too many onesies and odd quantities.  I might grab another one if they go on clearance though.  The score for the price I paid is +20 (A+).

Review: Block Tech US101-3038 Creepy Cages Silk Web Spider

This is another new line of Block Tech sets for Halloween 2026.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00, for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Loose in box.  Cage?

Parts 2.  Loose in box.  Base.

Parts 3.  Dome w/Bar, Plates w/4 Petals, 5x4 Leaves, Half Circle Plate,

Technic Plate, Plates, Inverted Slopes, Corner Plates, Bar Plates, Axle/

Ball Joints, Quarter Domes w/Cutout, Flower Petal Tiles, Rounded Flower,

Log Bricks, Bracket Curved Bricks w/Cutout, Round Plates w/3 Leaves,

Transparent Axle Connector w/Pinhole, and Pin w/Curved Bars.

Parts 4.  Round Large Jumpers, Round Plates, Round Tile, Inverted

Tile, Corner Tiles, Ball Joint Plates, Macaroni Tiles, Plate, Jumpers,

Tiles, Double-Sided Plates, Padlocks, Brackets, Axle/Pin Connectors,

Bar Bar Holders, Axle/Pin, Barrel Hinges, Transparent Bar

w/Stop, Exo-Force Arms, and Curved Cheese Slopes.

Parts 5.  Friction Pins, Clip Tiles, Half Bushings, Stadium Tiles,

Round Plates w/Flower Edge, Transparent Bar Stud, Flowers w/Bar,

Barraki Eyes, Bar Connectors, Barbs, Bar Clips, and Bar Bars.

Build.  Two Scorp-Beetle Frames

(2W) and a 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?  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+).  There's a ton of neat stuff in this one.  All of this week's sets have interesting parts but don't include enough basic parts to form the core of a build.  I think if you took one of today's review and used it to accessorize two of last Friday's review, you'd have some pretty robust Frames.

Review: Block Tech US101-3039 Creepy Cages Shadow Bat

This is another new line of Block Tech sets for Halloween 2026.

Box.  MSRP is $6.00, for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Loose in box.  Cage?

Parts 2.  Loose in box.  Base.

Parts 3.  Wings w/Axle, Plate, 5x4 Leaves, Studless Slopes, Corner

Plates, Axle Plate, Rounded Flowers, Translucent Bar w/Stop, Round

Plates w/3 Leaves, Curved Slopes w/Cutout, Plates w/Pinhole, Curved

Cheese Slopes, Bricks w/Pinhole, Bricks, Double Jumpers, Exo-Force

Arms, Double-Sided Plates, Pin w/Curved Bars, and Axle/Pin Connectors.

Parts 4.  Jumpers, Tooth Plates, Heart Tiles, Half Pins, Friction Pins, Studless Slopes,

Padlocks, Plates, Stadium Tiles, Clip Plates, Bar Studs, Round Plates w/Flower Edge,

Round Tiles, Wedge Studless Slopes, Axle Connectors, Brackets, Clip Bar Holders, Bar

Clips, Bar Bars, Cheese Slopes w/Stud, Double Sided Plates, Plant Stems, Headlight

Bricks, Corner Curved Cheese Slopes, Minifig Ice Creams, and Flowers w/Bar.

Build.  Two IO Frigates (2W) and a 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?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  This set has the same problem as Monday's, not enough filler material to form the backbone of any possible creations.