Battle Report: Road to Nowhere 2

This is the fourth game for our group this year, and the first in back-to-back months in a long while.  This was a Skirmish.  We were joined by a couple of observers interested in the game.

Occam's Spork (5 Frames & 16 Systems) = (6 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 42 points. (Blue Devils)
   Brown Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.
   Green Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.
   Red Half Tank -- 2Rd/1B/2W + SSR.
   Lime Static Soldier-- 2Rd/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Yellow Static Soldier-- 2Rd/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.

Me (5 Frames & 18 Systems) = (5 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 35 points. (Nonbinary Generics)
   Orange Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W.
   Red Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Green Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Brown Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W +SSR.
   Blue Spotter -- 1Gd8/2Y/2W.

Tom (5 Frames & 19 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 28 points.
   Red Tank -- 2Rd+d8/2B/2W.
   Green Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Orange Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W + SSR.
   White Light Brawler -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/2W + SSR.
   Yellow Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.

Phungkyjams (5 Frames & 19 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 28 points. (Strikehands)
   Red Brawler -- 2Rh+d/2B/1Gd8/2W.
   Orange Binary -- 2Ra/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Purple Binary -- 2Ra/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Pink -- 2Rh/2Ra/1B/2W + SSR.
   Yellow Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.

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

Events of Round 1 (DDC@11): My Red frame hits the tree in front of Occam's Spork's Red frame for 2, then moves East to capture Phungkyjams' Lil' Nas X station.  Phungkyjams' Yellow hits Tom's Orange frame for 1.  Phungkyjams' Pink frame hit Occam's Spork's Lime frame for 3 then moves East.  Occam's Spork's Yellow frame hits Phungkyjams' Pink frame for 1 with a SSR, then runs East to capture Phungkyjams' Data Dog station and my Light Blue station.  Phungkyjams' Purple frame hits Tom's Red frame for 1 then moves Southeast behind a large, old growth tree.  Tom's Green frame moves East and hits Phungkyjams' Pink frame for 3.  Phungkyjams' Red frame moves Northwest and captures the Neutral station then hits Tom's Red frame for 3.  Someone hits my Red frame for 1, Station Dance.

Occam's Spork: 54 points.

Me: 35 Points.
Tom: 28 points.

Phungkyjams: 24 points.

Events of Round 2 (DDC @ 8): My Orange frame punches Occam's Spork's Lime frame for 3, destroying it, then moves Northeast beside Occam's Spork's Red station.  My Red frame hits Occam's Spork's Red frame for 1, and the tree in front of it for 1, then moves Northeast towards the road.  Tom's Green frame moves East and buzzsaws Occam's Spork's Brown frame for 1, Station Dance.  Phungkyjams' Orange frame moves North and recaptures his Lil' Nas X station.  Occam's Spork's Yellow frame hits my Red frame for 1.  My Green frame hits Phungkyjams' Pink frame for 2, destroying it, then moves North.  Phungkyjams' Red frame moves Southeast and hits my Brown frame for 5.  My Brown frame then sprints North and captures the Neutral station.  Occam's Spork's Green frame hits my Brown frame for 2, destroying it.

Occam's Spork: 48 points.

Me: 30 Points.
Tom: 28 points.

Phungkyjams: 20 points.

Events of Round 3 (DDC @ 5): Occam's Spork's Red frame moves South and captures my Pink station.  Occam's Spork's Brown frame hits my Orange frame for 1.  My Orange frame punches Occam's Spork's Green frame for 2 then runs Southeast towards my Pink Station.  Occam's Spork's Green fame hits Tom's Orange for 1.  Occam's Spork's Yellow frame hits my Red frame for 2.  My Red frame hits Occam's Spork's Green frame for 1 then moves Southeast.  Phungkyjams' Purple frame hits Occam's Spork's Yellow frame for 2, Station Dance, then moves Southeast onto the road.  Phungkyjams' Yellow frame hits Tom's Green frame for 1, the tree in front of it for 1, then moves East to capture the Neutral station.  Tom's Green frame buzzsaws Occam's Spork's Brown frame for 3.  Tom's Yellow frame continues the barrage and hits Occam's Spork's Brown frame for 2.  Tom's White frame hits Occam's Spork's Brown frame for 5, destroying it, then moves South.  Tom's Green frame captures Occam's Spork's Lime station.  My Green frame hits Occam's Spork's Green frame for 2 then moves East to beside a short, old growth tree.

Occam's Spork: 42 points.

Tom: 32 points.

Phungkyjams: 24 points.

Me: 20 Points.

Events of Round 4 (DDC @ 2): Occam's Spork's Yellow frame hits my Red frame for 2.  My Red frame punches Occam's Spork's Green frame for 4, destroying it, captures Occam's Spork's Red station, then runs Southeast to beside my Pink station.  Phungkyjams' Purple frame moves East and captures my Light Blue station -- that was under Occam's Spork's control -- then hits Tom's Yellow frame for 1.  Tom's Yellow frame hits my Red frame for 1, destroying it.  Phungkyjams' Yellow frame hits Tom's Red frame for 3, destroying it.  My Green frame moves West to beside a tall, old growth tree and hits Phungkyjams' Yellow frame for 2.  Phungkyjams' Orange frame hits Tom's White frame for 4.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

Tom: 28 points.

Phungkyjams: 28 points.

Occam's Spork: 24 points.

Me: 20 Points.

Here are several during and aftermath pictures.

Round 1.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Thoughts & Observations:

• This was a Skirmish.
• We used the Neutral Station rule.
• It was placed by one of our observers.
• We used the "New 1.3" player count formula from my "Player Count 6" blog post.
• Occam's Spork borrowed one of my squads for this game.
• As with other table-settings, this needs a Compass Rose.
• It's a good thing I made one before putting it all back into storage.
• The battle field felt a little cramped.
• This is not the first time that everyone showed up with the same amount of Frames.
• But there was variation in the number of Systems so all we had to do was roll off for Primary Attacker.
• I think I did pretty well in placing my Frames.  I screwed up placing my Stations though.
• And in a bout of Monday Morning Quarterbacking, I figured I should have placed one of them on top of one of the 5 Hit "old growth" trees.
• For such a crowded battlefield, I expected at least one destroyed Frame in the first Round.
• Flickr page.

Review: Brickcraft 72695BFS Succulents Crassula

Brickcraft has expanded their Botanical line to include succulents, like some of the other companies.  These are their first two offerings, new for 2026.

Box.  MSRP is $5.99, for a $0.08 Price per Piece.

I paid $4.99 at Walmart, for a $0.07 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Plates, Triple Curve Wedges, Minifig Epaulettes, Bricks

w/Studs on Corners, Double Studless Slopes, Rounded Plates,

6L Bar w/Stop, 3L Bar, Apollo Studs, Brackets, Flowers w/

Thin Bar, Minifig Banana Peels, Bar Clips, Bar Bar Holders,

Inverted Round Tiles, and Plant Stems w/Leaves.

Build.  2 Hit and 1 Hit pieces of Cover,

along with a "Flowerpot" Frame

(2Rd+d8 {guns} 1Y {antenna}). 

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+).  Like Monday's review, there are some nice pieces and colors -- I really like those Mint Triple Curved parts and I need to find a build for those Inverted Round Tiles -- but this is more useful for building Cover than anything else.

Review: Brickcraft 72696BFS Succulents Cactus Garden

Brickcraft has expanded their Botanical line to include succulents, like some of the other companies.  These are their first two offerings, new for 2026.

Box.  MSRP is $5.99, for a $0.08 Price per Piece.

I paid $4.99 at Walmart, for a $0.07 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Plates w/Cutout, Plates, 2x2x2 Round Brick, Bricks w/Studs

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

Printed Round Bricks w/Pinholes, Corner Studless Slopes, Double

Studless Slopes, Rounded Plates, Round Plates w/Flower Edge, Apollo

Studs, Flowers w/Bar, Plant Stems, Bar, Macaroni Tubes, Gears,

Minifig Pumpkin, Axle/Pins, Half Pins, Plug Pins, and Printed Dome.

Build.  IO "Flowerpot" Frigate (2Ras {torpedo

launcher} 1B {armor panels}[Systems are

Brown.]), and 2 Hit piece of RA Cover.  

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+).  Not bad, I like the Sand Green bits and the Plug Pins but, there's not a lot here for mech building.

Review: Brix 64171-03 Blue Transforming Robot

This is a new for 2026 set.  I came across them a few weeks ago in Five Below.  It looks like it may be a decent starting point for MFZ: Rapid Attack.

Box.  MSRP is $4.00, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions & Stickers.

Parts 1.  Open Wedge w/Cutout, Technic Plates, Plates, Inverted Studless

Slopes, Round Plates, Bar Plate (open ends), Mudguard Plate, Corner

Plates, Bar Plate (closed ends), Ball Joint Plates, Axle Plates, Inverted

Rounded Tile, Wedge Studless Slope, Hinge Plates, Translucent Triple

Slope, Tooth Tiles, Brackets, Travis Bricks, Studless Slope, Slopes

w/Cutout, Tooth/Rock Plate, Pinhole Claws, Clip Wings, Minifig

Megaphones, Large Flame Pieces, Rims, and Minifig Steering Wheel Base.

Parts 2.  Round Tile w/Pinhole, Clip Plates, Tooth Plates, Ingots, Rounded Plates,

Stadium Studless Slopes, Grille Tiles, Brackets, Padlocks, Jumpers, Cheese

Slopes, Quarter Circle Tiles, Plates, Round Plates, Wedge Studless Slope, Clip

Tiles, Pyramid Tiles, Round Ball Joint Plates, Translucent Tile, Translucent Round

Tiles, Translucent Stadium Tiles, Bar Studs, Flexible Spike, Bar Clips, Clip Bar

Holders, Barbs, Bar, Minifig Katanas, Bar Connector, and Minifig Steering Wheel.

Parts 3.  Tires.

Build.  Two Frames (2Rh+d8),

 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+).  Blue is my favorite color and more Round Ball Joint Plates just makes me happier.

Review: Brix 64171-02 Green Transforming Robot

This is a new for 2026 set.  I came across them a few weeks ago in Five Below.  It looks like it may be a decent starting point for MFZ: Rapid Attack.

Box.  MSRP is $4.00, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions & Stickers.

Parts 1.  Rims, Plates, Double Jumpers, Bar Plates, Clip Plate, Ball Joint Plates,

Wedge Plate, Brackets, Round Tile w/Pinhole, Wedge Studless Slope, Cheese

Graters, Large Cheese Slope, Bricks w/Stud on Side, Travis Bricks, Studless

Slopes w/Cutout, Triple Slope, Flexible Spikes, Minifig Megaphones, Angled

Axle Connectors w/Pinhole, Clip Wings, Minifig Shield, Plus Plate, Feathered

Minifig Wings, Minifig Handlebar, Inverted Rounded Tile, and Minifig Hand Armor.

Parts 2.  Tooth Plates, Stadium Studless Slopes, Translucent Tooth

Plates, Padlocks, Clip Plates, Rounded Plate, Translucent Stadium

Studless Slope, Wedge Studless Slope, Grille Tiles, Ball Joint Plates,

Axle/Ball Joints, Bar Connectors, Bar, Clip Bars, Clip Bar Holders,

Translucent Pyramid Tiles, Pyramid Tiles, Inkwells, Clip Tiles, Round

Plates w/Flower Edge, Cheese Slopes, Plates, Pins, Barbs, Brackets,

Wedge Plate, Taps, Minifig Serrated Blades w/Bar, and Flame Pieces.

Parts 3.  Tires.

Build.  Frame (2Rh+d8 [blade tonfas]), Station,

and Frame (2Rd+d8 [hand blasters]).

  

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 third party Round Plate Ball Joints make this a winner for me.