Terrain Workshop: Tree 30

Let's finish out the week with a callback to a two year old design with a couple of parts changes and some color changes.

It begins with two 2x2 Round Brick 45 Deg. Elbow, and a Dragon Tail/Curved Neck, all of which are connected with 2L Notched Axles -- including one that goes into the base. Then an Friction Pin connects a Travis Brick to the top of the Tail/Neck, and four 6x5 Plant Leaves are connected to that. That is a total of twelve pieces which is 2 Hits. In 6P Scale -- and this layout -- it's 5 feet thick, 40 feet long, 30 feet tall, and 27.5 feet wide (at the end).

I've got two of the Dragon Tail/Curved Neck pieces so that's all

I have assembled at the moment.  I hope I've given people ideas

or techniques to use in their terrain builds.  Flickr page.

Terrain Workshop: (Clone) Trees 29

I'll be honest, this build is really only 1/3 Clone bricks.  This design came about due to digging through parts to find something similar to the 8x3 Leaf w/Bar from the Miniso Toys Lily.  I found eight pieces in the 2025 Brickcraft Poinsettia set that fit the profile.  A 6x4 Leaf w/Bar in Green and Red.

We start with four of those leaves attached to a Technic Pin Connector w/4 Clips.  Then you add four 1x1 Round Plates and three 1x1 Round Bricks.

I place the Round Plates on the top and bottom of the Pin Connector and

in between the Round Bricks.  That's a total of twelve pieces, which is 2

Hits.  It's 15 feet tall and up to 37.5 feet across -- depending on the angle

of the leaves -- in 6P Scale.

Having two sets of identical leaves in different colors allows you

to build Summer and Fall versions of these trees.  Or you could

just put them all on the table at the same time, Green on one side
and Red on the other to denote some sort of demarcation line.

There are also Dark Green versions of the 6x4 Leaf w/Bar if you

want a third color.  It's up to you how you want your table to look.

I hope this gives people ideas or techniques to use in their terrain builds.

Flickr page.

Terrain Workshop: Clone Plants 2

After my post two Mondays ago I started looking at my first build again and some possibly better ways to utilize the The 8x3 Leaf w/Bar while increasing the amount of Lego parts in the build.

Once again starting with parts sourced from this set.  The 8x3 Leaf w/Bar is connected 

to a Tile Clip and that is mounted on a 1x1 Round Brick.  This is repeated three

more times for a total of twelve pieces.  This build is 2 Hits and roughly 24 feet

tall by 7.5 feet wide in 6P scale.  I recommend using a color other than Dark

Red as the edges of the Round Bricks in that color can be a little fragile.

You could also mount the 8x3 Leaf w/Bar on a 1x2 Plate w/Open O Clip on Top

along with a 1x1 Round Tile.  This is repeated three more times for a total of

twelve pieces, you then mount them on a + Plate.  This build is 2 Hits and roughly

22 feet tall by 7.5 feet wide in 6P scale.  I'd fill in under the Clip Plates with 1x1

Plates to neaten it up a bit and cut down on the amount of possible rotation.

Changing over to the other build from Monday's post, let's also switch to parts from another manufacturer.  The 2025 Brickcraft Poinsettia set has parts similar to the 4x4 Leaf w/Clip pieces in the Miniso Lily set.  Starting with the 5x4 Leaf w/Clip, we attach one to a Padlock, then mounting that on a 1x1 Round Plate.  This is repeated three more times for a total of twelve pieces.  This build is 2 Hits and roughly 14 feet tall by 15 feet wide in 6P scale.  The 4x4 Clip Leaf and 5x4 Clip Leaf are both $1.24 per Piece, Yellow Padlocks are $0.10 per Piece, and Bright Green 1x1 Round Plates are $0.01 per Piece for a total of $5.40 per build for either version.  Which is kinda steep but I feel like the Brickcraft sets have a better availability than the Miniso ones.

The 2025 Brickcraft Amaryllis set also has a part similar to the 4x4 Leaf w/Clip piece.

Starting with the 7x4 Leaf w/Clip, we attach one to a Padlock, then mounting that on a 1x1 Round Plate.  This is repeated three more times for a total of twelve pieces.  This build is 2 Hits and roughly 20 feet tall by 15 feet wide in 6P scale.  The 7x4 Clip Leaf is $0.83 per Piece, Reddish Brown Padlocks are $0.02 per Piece, and Reddish Brown 1x1 Round Plates are $0.01 per Piece for a total of $3.44 per build.  That's a bit better.

I hope this gives people ideas or techniques

to use in their terrain builds.  Flickr page.

Battle Report: Stone Garden 6

Last weekend our group played its first game for 2026.  We had planned on getting together in January but New England weather changed that.  This was a War.

Phungkyjams (5 Frames & 19 Systems) = (7 Points per Asset) * (6 assets) = 42 points.  (Farmhands)

   Red Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W + SSR (x2).

   Blue Artillerist -- 2Ra+d8/2B/2W.

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

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

Occam's Spork (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (6 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 42 points. 
   Brown Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.

   Grey Scout Bodyguard -- 2Rd/2Rh/1B/1Y/2W.

   Orange Scout Bodyguard -- 2Rd/2Rh/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.

   White Scout Bodyguard -- 2Rd/2Rh/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.

   Blue Scout Bodyguard -- 2Rd/2Rh/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.

Stevenik (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (6 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 42 points. 
   Yellow Watchtower -- 2B/1Gd8/2Y/2W + SSR.

   Green Artillerist -- 2Ra+d8/2B/2W + SSR.

   Orange Tank -- 2Rd+d8/2B/2W.

   Blue Artillerist -- 2Ra+d8/2B/2W + SSR.

   Gold Armored Binary -- 2Ra/2B/1Y/2W.

Me (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (6 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 42 points.  (Facehugger Force)

   Red Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Green Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Orange Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Blue Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.
   White Watchtower -- 2B/1Gd8/2Y/2W.

Tom (6 Frames & 23 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 21 points.

   Yellow Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W.

   Orange Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.

   Green Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.

   White Medium Tank -- 2Rd+d8/1B/2W.

   Blue Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W + SSR.

   Black 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): Phungkyjams Red frame captures my Station before the game starts. Phungkyjams' Pink frame hits my Blue frame for 1. My Blue frame hits the boulder in front of Phungkyjams' Pink frame for 1, destroying it, then hops over a small monolith.  Tom's Green frame hits a small monolith for 1, destroying it, and Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 1. Phungkyjams' Orange frame then shifts North and hits Occam's Spork's Blue frame for 1. Occam's Spork's Blue frame hits Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 2. Tom's Orange frame hits Occam's Spork's White frame for 3. Tom's White frame hits a medium monolith for 2, destroying it, and Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 2.  My Orange frame shuffles South and hits Phungkyjams' Red frame for 1. Stevenik's Gold frame hits a boulder for 1, destroying it, and Phungkyjams' Red frame for 1.  Stevenik's Blue frame hits Phungkyjams' Pink frame for 2. Phungkyjams' Blue frame hits my Green frame for 2 and the large monolith for 1. Occam's Spork's Brown frame hits Phungkyjams' Purple frame for 2, and the Observatory for 3. Occam's Spork's Grey frame hits Phungkyjams' Purple frame for 2, destroying it.

Phungkyjams: 42 points.
Occam's Spork: 36 points.
Stevenik: 36 points.
Me: 30 points.
Tom: 21 points.

Events of Round 2 (DDC @ 7): Phungkyjams' Red frame moves South abandoning my Station.  My Red frame recaptures my Station.  Occam's Spork's White frame hits Tom's Yellow frame for 1.  Stevenik's Green frame hits my Red frame for 3.  Occam's Spork's Brown frame hits my Red frame for 2.  Occam's Spork's Blue frame hits a medium monolith for 2, destroying it.  Tom's Black frame hits Occam's Spork's Brown frame for 1.  Tom's Green frame hits Occam's Spork's Blue frame for 4.  Tom's White frame hits Steve's Orange frame for 4.  Stevenik's Orange frame hits Tom's Yellow frame for 2.   Tom's Orange frame hits Occam's Spork's Blue frame for 1, destroying it.  My Blue frame scuttles Southwest and rips at Stevenik's Blue frame for 3, destroying it.  My Orange frame steps West and hits Occam's Spork's Orange frame for 1.  Occam's Spork's Grey frame was the target.  Stevenik's Blue frame hits my Red frame for 4, destroying it.  Stevenik's Gold frame hits Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 1, destroying it.

Stevenik: 30 points.
Me: 30 points.
Occam's Spork: 30 points.
Phungkyjams: 28 points.
Tom: 21 points.

Events of Round 3 (DDC @ 3): Occam's Spork's Orange frame runs East and captures my Station.  Stevenik's Gold frame hits Tom's Yellow frame for 1.  Occam's Spork's White frame hits Stevenik's Gold frame for 2 then moves East past the Observatory.  Tom's Black frame hits Occam's Spork's Brown frame for 3.  Tom's White frame hits Occam's Spork's White frame for 3, destroying it.  Phungkyjams' Red frame moves onto the extra large monolith and captures Occam's Spork's Station.  Phungkyjams' Pink frame hits Occam's Spork's Orange frame for 1.  Tom's Green frame hits Phungkyjams' Pink frame for 1.  My Blue frame scuttles East and rips at Occam's Spork's Orange frame for 3.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

Phungkyjams: 30 points.

Stevenik: 30 points.

Occam's Spork: 24 points.

Me: 24 points.

Tom: 21 points.

Here are several during and aftermath pictures.

Round 1.

Round 1.

Round 1.

Round 1.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Thoughts & Observations:

• This was a War.
• Frame counts are taken from this post.
• I forgot to put a compass rose on the table during set up.
• Out of 26 Frames, only six had Movement systems.
• There was no Station Dancing in this game.  It's only the eighth time it's happened in ten years of records.
• We had two implementations of the Rook Maneuver, one of them successful.
• Tom delivered 26 points of Damage this game.  Which is 37% of all the Damage done this game.
• There was a fair amount of Cover destroyed during this game.  The second most amount in any recorded game.
• We all tried our best to dislodge Phungkyjams from the lead position in the waning moments of the last Round.
• Flickr page.

Space Monkey Mafia

I don't talk about lore or fiction in Mobile Frame Zero that much because I generally come at this game from the Lego side.  But this idea is too fun not to talk about.  So I was driving home the other night and Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire" came on the radio.  In the sixth verse there's this couplet "Space Monkey, Mafia" but my ears heard it without the comma, "Space Monkey Mafia".  Then my brain went into overdrive.

So the name "Space Monkey Mafia" definitely has an Ijad vibe to it for me.  I see a clan, or at least the core of the clan, of Ijad bonded with creatures that resemble terrestrial monkeys but may not be actual monkeys.  I'm still trying to process this element.

Now I'm not saying this is a criminal group, just that the word "mafia" has expanded in use as slang to denote a group of people joined in a semi-secret manner.  Even though we generally don't discuss criminal elements in MFZ.  Crime is a result of failing economic policies and since the Solar Union is a failing empire there would be criminal events happening.  Also, this name doesn't have to be the real name of the group.  It could be a derogatory nick-name an outsider used to refer to the group and it stuck.  "We just got screwed again by that +@#$%&* Space Monkey Mafia!"  I'm sure we've all had experiences with stupid nick-names that wouldn't go away.

I see this moniker as a callback to old school science fiction and the early days of the space race.  Now all I have to do is build some Frames for this faction.  I hope you enjoyed this little interlude, they don't come along too often.  I guess you could see this as a reason to be open to moments of creativity and to try and make the most of them.

Third Time's the Charm

In light of Discord's recent decision to turn the place into a dumpster fire, a few people from the Mobile Frame Zero community have opened a new version of the Hangar forums.  It's early days but we're hoping to build a community that will last.  It will take a while to get all the sub-forums populated but the more people participate, the sooner that will happen.

Sign up, share your thoughts, and stay a while.  Let's create the future together.

Terrain Workshop: Bendy Trees

I bought the Japanese Maple Tree set a few weeks ago and strip-mined it for parts.  The creations in this post were inspired by those parts.  This build owes a lot to my Twisting Trees which I didn't realize until a few days after I put them together.

The simplest incarnation of this design, which I built last, starts with a Corrugated 2x2 Round Brick, three 2L Axles, four Smooth 2L Axle Connectors, topped off with a 2L Bar w/Stop Ring and two 6x5 Swordleaves w/Clip.  This is twelve pieces which is 2 Hits.  It's 26 feet tall and 27.5 feet from edge to edge.

Tree 2.  The next incarnation of this design, which I built first, starts with

a Corrugated 2x2 Round Brick, a 2L Axle, a Smooth 2L Axle Connector,

another 2L Axle, two 90 Deg. Macaroni Tubes, two more 2L Axles, a

45 Deg. Macaroni Tube, topped off with a 2L Bar w/Stop Ring

and two 6x5 Swordleaves w/Clip.  This is twelve pieces which is 2

Hits. The taller one is 34 feet tall and 27.5 feet from edge to edge.

Tree 3.  I think this is where things start getting interesting.  As always it starts with a Corrugated 2x2 Round Brick, three 2L Axles, and two Smooth 2L Axle Connectors.  Then we add in a Triple Angled Axle/Pin Connector.  This is only available, in Tan, in the Japanese Maple Tree set -- and there's only two of them.  You top it all off with two 2L Bars w/Stop Ring, two 6x5 Swordleaves w/Clip, and a 1x1 Round Plate w/3 Thin Leaves.  This is twelve pieces which is 2 Hits.  The left one is 23 feet tall and 27.5 feet from edge to edge.  The one on the right subs in a 45 Deg. Macaroni Tube for a Smooth 2L Axle Connector.

Tree 4.  This is a simpler version of Tree 2, or a more complex version of Tree 

1.  It starts with a Corrugated 2x2 Round Brick, three 2L Axles, three

Smooth 2L Axle Connectors, a 45 Deg. Macaroni Tube, topped off with

a 2L Bar w/Stop Ring and two 6x5 Swordleaves w/Clip.  This is twelve

pieces which is 2 Hits.  It's 27 feet tall and 27.5 feet from edge to edge.

Size comparisons with the usual suspects. I'm not sure where I'm going to use these but I look forward to getting them on the table at some point.  I hope I've given people ideas or techniques

to use in their terrain builds.  Flickr page.