Review: 30731 Animal Crossing Tom Nook and Flying Present Polybag

I found this at the same time I found last Wednesday's review.  I was going to pass on it but as it was marked down I decided to give it a try.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.15 Price per Piece.   I paid $3.49 for a $0.11 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig.

Parts.  Plate w/Rounded Corners & Feet, Plates, Antenna,

Printed Tile, Printed Round Tiles, Tiles, Round Plates w/

Petals, Apollo Studs, Double Curved Slopes, Corner

Panels, Dome, Dome Bottom, Brick, Translucent

Panels, Flower Stems, and Small Corner Panel.

  

Build.  Two 1 Hit pieces of Cover.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Cover.  (0)
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?  No.  (-5)
Score: -10 (C+).  Even on Clearance, it's not worth it.

Review: 30728 The Razor Crest Polybag

As it's May the Fourth, let's do a Star Wars review.  This is one of the "Free with Purchase" items from Lego for the event.  Hopefully it'll be more readily available once the movie drops.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.08 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Round Bricks w/Pinholes, Truncated Cones, Driving Ring Extensions,

Plates, Round Plates, Rounded Plate w/Pinhole, Brackets, Brick, Inverted

Slope, Corner Tiles, Axle Plates, Round Brick, Corner Tiles w/Cutout, Bar

Plate, Door Rail Plate, Jumpers, Inverted Slopes w/Cutout, Quarter Domes,

Ingots, Studless Slopes, Cheese Graters, Clip Tiles, Tile w/Studs on Ends,

Bar Studs, Axle, Half Pins, Friction Pins, Curved Slopes, and Offset Plate.

Build.  IO Frigate (2Ras+d8/2W).
 

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+).  Ship-in-a-Bag.  It fits IO scale and has some interesting building techniques.

Battle Report: Roadway Rumble 4

This is our second game of Rapid Attack this year.  As we had a limited amount of players, I proposed we play-test my "Doomsday Hazard" idea from four years ago.  The storyline I had in mind behind the Hazardous Terrain was that a truck has crashed releasing a "Nano Fog" which has resulted in a Grey Goo Incident.

Me (4 Frames & 15 Systems) = (7 Points per Asset) * (6 assets) = 42 points.  (Dread Squad) 

   Yellow Watchtower -- 2B/2Y/1Gd8/2W + SSR.

   Orange Watchtower -- 2B/2Y/1Gd8/2W + SSR.

   Red Watchtower -- 2B/2Y/1Gd8/2W + SSR.

   Blue Light Instigator -- 2Ra/1G/1Y/2W.

Tom (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (6 Points per Asset) * (6 assets) = 36 points.

   Pink Recon by Fire -- 2B/1Gd8/2Y/2W + SSR.

   White Recon by Fire -- 2B/1Gd8/2Y/2W.

   Green White Recon by Fire -- 2B/1Gd8/2Y/2W + SSR.

   Brown Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B1Gd8/2W + SSR.

Phungkyjams (6 Frames & 24 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (8 assets) = 24 points.  (Gundam Converge)
   White -- 2Ra/1B/2G/2W + SSR.

   Dark Blue Armored Fast Scout -- 1B/1G+d8/2Y/2W + SSR(x2).

   Grey Mobile Cannon-- 2Ra+d8/1B/1G/2W.

   Light Blue Delegator -- 2Ra/1B/2Y/2W.
   Red Binary -- 2Ra/1B/1G/1Y/2W.

   Dark Red Binary -- 2Ra/1B/1G/1Y/2W.

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

Events of Round 1 (DDC @ 11): My Yellow frame retreats South, angling off to capture Phungkyjams' Data Horse station along the way.  Tom's Green frame hits Phungkyjams' Red frame for 2, Station Dance.  Phungkyjams' Light Blue frame hits Tom's Brown frame for 3, Station Dance, then moves South.  Tom's Brown frame hits Phungkyjams' White frame for 1 with a SSR, then moves Southeast towards my squad.  My Blue frame hits Phungkyjams' Dark Red frame for 1.  Tom's Pink frame hits my Yellow frame for 3.  Tom's White frame hits Phungkyjams' White frame for 2, then moves West.  Phungkyjams' Dark Blue frame hits Tom's White frame for 2 with a SSR, then moves West.

Phungkyjams' Grey frame hits my Yellow frame for 2, then moves South.

Me: 49 points.

Tom: 36 points.

Phungkyjams: 21 points.

Events of Round 2 (DDC @ 9): My Yellow frame hits Tom's Brown frame for 2, and the tree in front of it for 1 destroying the tree.  Tom's Brown frame moves South and captures Phungkyjams' Data Horse station that was under my control.  Phungkyjams' Grey frame hits Tom's Green frame for 5, Station Dance, then moves south to capture my Brown station.  Phungkyjams' Light Blue frame hits Tom's Pink frame for 2, Station Dance, then moves south.  Phungkyjams' White frame -- which had moved into position earlier -- captures one of Tom's stations.  Tom's Pink frame hits Phungkyjams' Dark Red frame for 2.  Phungkyjams' Red frame hits my Yellow frame for 5, destroying it, then moves Southwest.  My Blue frame hits Phungkyjams' Dark Red frame for 2.  Tom's White frame hits a tree for 1, destroying it, and Phungkyjams' Grey frame for 1 -- then moves East behind Phungkyjams' Light Blue frame.

Tom: 36 points.

Me: 28 points.

Phungkyjams: 27 points.

Events of Round 3 (DDC @ 7): Phungkyjams' Light Blue frame hits Tom's Green frame for 3, destroying it, then moves West.  Phungkyjams' Grey frame -- trying to target Tom's Pink frame -- hits his White frame for 4, destroying it.  My Blue frame hits Phungkyjams'  Dark Red frame for 1, destroying it, then moves West.

Tom: 36 points.

Me: 28 points.

Phungkyjams: 18 points.

Events of Round 4 (DDC @ 3): With a SSR my Red frame hits Tom's Brown frame for 5, and the tree it was hiding behind for 1, destroying both.  My Red frame then moves North to recapture Phungkyjams' Data Horse station that was under Tom's control.  My Blue frame hits Tom's Pink frame for 1, Station Dance.  Phungkyjams' Light Blue frame hits my Blue frame for 1, Station Dance.  Phungkyjams' Red frame hits my Blue frame for 3, then moves West towards the Data Horse station.

Me: 35 points.

Tom: 24 points.

Phungkyjams: 18 points.

Events of Round 5 (DDC @ 1): Tom's Pink frame hits my Blue frame for 1.  Phungkyjams' Light Blue frame hits my Red frame for 4. My Red frame Station Dances then sprints Northwest to take cover behind Tom's Pink frame.  Phungkyjams' Dark Blue frame recaptures his Data Horse station.  Tom's White frame hits my Red frame for 1.  Phungkyjams' Red frame hits Toms' Pink frame for 1 then shifts to the other side of the Data Horse station.  Phungkyjams' Grey frame hits Tom's Pink frame for 3, Station Dance.  My Red frame captures one of Tom's stations.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

Me: 35 points.

Phungkyjams: 21 points.

Tom: 18 points.

Here's several during and aftermath pictures.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Round 4.

Round 5.

Round 5.

Round 5.

Round 5.

Round 5.

Thoughts & Observations:

• This was a Skirmish.
• We forgot to use the Neutral Station rule.
• We used the "New 1.3" player count formula from my "Player Count 6" blog post.
• This was a full scale playtest of my Doomsday Hazard idea.  I'll post a write-up of the guidelines a little later.
• This was the 100th game since I started keeping records.
• There were no Direct Fire systems in any squad.
• There was only one Melee-based frame.
• Every other Weapon System was Artillery.
• I believe this is the first recorded instance of someone destroying their own Frame while trying to damage an opponent's.
• This was the first five round game since 2023.
• I forgot to build a Compass Rose for this game.
• I wanted to make a wrecked vehicle to be the epicenter of the Nano Fog but I couldn't find the pieces I wanted and I ran out of time.
• To represent the "Nano Fog" Hazardous Terrain I used cotton balls.
• I didn't take any extra pictures during Round 1 and 2 because we were deciding which Baseplates the Hazardous Terrain expanded into and mucking around with cotton balls.
• I used the Sniping Turtle Formation again.
• I was hanging on for dear life in that final round.
• Flickr page.

Review: 30733 Sonic Badnik Skorp Polybag

I found this set earlier this week at one of my local Targets.  I was really surprised because they had it on Clearance and this is the first time I've seen this set.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.06 Price per Piece.  I paid $3.49 for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Rounded Plates, Rings w/Stud Holder, Double Sided Studless Slopes, Brackets, Plate 2x2x2/3 w/Studs on Side, Inverted Tile, Dishes, Double

Wedge Studless Slope, Curved Slope w/Wing End, Tiles w/Studs on Ends,

Plates, Half Circle Jumpers, Jumpers, Half Circle Tiles, Apollo Studs, Padlock,

Pyramid Tiles, Translucent Dishes, Round Tiles, Printed Round Tiles, Bars

w/Angled Stud, Bar Clips, Bricks w/Studs on Side, Bar Bar Holders, Unicorn

Horns, Truncated Cones, Cones, Bricks w/Stud on Side, and a Travis Brick.

Build.  Light Swarmer frame (2Rh+d8 [arm drills] 1Y [tail scanner] 2W). 

 

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+).  Frame-in-a-Bag.  There are plenty of useful parts in here so I think this is worth tracking down.

Review: Brickcraft 72001BFS Bricktanicals Tulip Polybag

I went back to Ocean State Job Lots to get more of the Bluebonnet polybag.  To my delight I discovered more of the Bricktanical polybags.  Let's take a look and see what they're like.

Bag.  MSRP was $5.99, for a $0.08 Price per Piece.  I paid $1.99, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Loose in bag.  Axle.

Parts 2.  Curved Triple Wedges, 1x2 Plates w/Angular Extension w/

Molded Flexible Rubber Tip, Curved Slopes w/2 studs and Wing

End, Plates, Curved Slopes w/2 Studs, Axle, Round Plates, Notched

Axles, Corner Plates, Bar Plates, Studless Slopes, Brackets, Wedge

Studless Slopes, Cheese Slopes, Round Plates w/5 Petals, Axle

Connectors, Axle Connector w/Clips, and Barrel Hinges.

Build.  Frame (2Rh+d8), 1 Hit Piece of Cover 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+).  This set is full of useful parts but if it had one more Corner Plate and two more 1x4 Plates I could have made a second Frame.  So, keep that in mind.

Review: Brickcraft 72066BFS Bricktanicals Dahlia Polybag

I went back to Ocean State Job Lots to get more of the Bluebonnet polybag.  To my delight I discovered more Bricktanical polybags.  Let's take a look and see what they're like.

Bag.  MSRP was $5.99, for a $0.06 Price per Piece.  I paid $1.99, for a $0.02 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Loose in bag.  Axle.

Parts 2.  Octagonal Bar Plates, Hexagonal Windscreens, Tiles, Tooth

Plates, Round Plate w/5 Petals, Round Plates w/4 Petals, Clip Tiles, Clip

Plates, Plates, Notched Axles, Axle, Bar, Axle Connector w/Clips, Barrel

Hinges, Axle Connectors, Round Large Jumpers, and a Travis Brick.

Build.  Frame (2Rh/2W) and 1 Hit piece of 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+).  I like it.  Octagonal Bar Plates, Clip Plates, Clip Tiles, and Hot Pink pieces are all a plus for me.

Review: 30734 Mini F1 Academy Car Polybag

This was a "Gift with Purchase" with certain F1 Lego sets at the Lego Store for a limited time.  Let's hope it gets released in different distribution channels at some point.

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

Instructions & Stickers.

Parts.  Plates, Wedge Plates, Tile w/Studs in Center, Rims, Axle Plates,

Brick w/Pinhole & Plate, Slope, Studless Slope, Double Studless Slopes,

Tires, Tiles, Ingot, Jumpers, Half Round Tiles w/Stud, Wedge Studless

Slopes, Brackets, Tile Clip, Printed Tiles, Transparent Plates, Dome

Tops, Quarter Circle Tiles, Half Pins, and Minifig Crescent Blades.

Build.  IO Frigate. 
 

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+).  I like the colors, I like the parts, I just wish it was more available.