PAX East 2016 Pictures

The post you've all been waiting for.

These first five are courtesy of Dan Alphonso.

The next four are from Marvin4095.

These are the few I took.

Here's one last picture that I didn't get permission to post..

PAX East Observations 2016

My thoughts and observations from the con this year.
1.) I only managed to attend for two days this year.
2.) It seemed like the space for tabletop gaming was a little smaller this year.
3.) I only gave out a handful of business cards this year. I have to get better about that.
4.) I didn't notice that many cool cosplay costumes this year.
5.) Problems with my voice was an on and off thing. I had access to throat lozenges but the air was still fairly dry due to the AC.
6.) We managed to get in another full game of MFZ on Sunday this year.
7.) I didn't do any demoing of Intercept Orbit this year.
8.) I'm definitely going to change the contents of my demo bag. Lugging that much plastic to and from the con is taxing.
    8.1) My demo bag next year will be teams of canon Frames, walls, a Station, felt drop-cloths, and dice.
    8.2 ) I'm going to need a new set of dice for MFZ for the new demo bag.
9.) Coming down from the con was tough this year. I didn't take the day after off from work and felt like I had bee run over by a truck for most of the day.
10.) I managed to have dinner with a friend of mine after the con on Sunday, but not with any of my booth-mates. I also didn't have my traditional end-of-con dinner at No Name Seafood with my wife. :( Next year!
11.) Last year my friend Ron came up with a great idea for little "care packages". Anyone who plays a demo gets a little baggie with a business card, Lego brick, and a six-sided die. I'll try and implement that next year.
12.) I'm still thinking about having Friday be my "me" day next year. The crowds are slightly less and there's less impetus to "get it all in" before the con closes.
13.) I need a bunch of business cards from Mike Raichelson for his website Mobilfra.me to hand out as I spend a lot of time talking about his site.
14.) I still want a MFZ hockey jersey.
15.) I totally forgot to get my badge signed by all my booth-mates this year. Bummer.
16.) As always, it was great to see everyone, all the friends I've made because of the con and my friends from outside the con.

PAX East 2016 Report

Once more I have returned from PAX East.  I only attended Saturday and Sunday this year due to life getting in the way.

On Saturday I got there a little late but cruised through the line in record time.  I helped to set up and then started running demos.  All told I ran seven demos, several of them involving kids which is always cool.  I met Xenovorous from the Hangar and he sat in on a demo.  I talked to a fair amount of people and the Gundam models seemed to be a big hit.

Sunday I actually arrived on time as the doors were opening.  It only took a minute more to get through this time so ingress speeds were consistent.  I got down to the booth and helped set up the demo tables.  It was supposed to be my "day off" but I ran a demo for someone.  I then went off to explore the con.  I purchased a few things for friends that I said I would then wandered around the hall.  I made it back to the booth before our scheduled game was supposed to start.  While I was waiting for the group to show up I ran two more demos.  Jay Biquadrate from the Hangar was there for the game and helped with the demos.  Then Stevenik showed up and we got to playing the full game.  Details will follow soon.  After the game finished I ran one last demo for a gentleman that had waited patiently to try it.  After that we broke down the tables, I did some last minute shopping, and Stevenik and I left to go grab some dinner.

Review: Gundam Converge LM314V23 V2 Buster Gundam (117)

This is the second of the Gundam Converge "model" kits I bought recently.

Box.  I paid $5.95 for this at Barnes & Noble.

Parts.  It didn't come with instructions and none were needed.

A shot of it fully assembled.

And disassembled.  I can see four Attachments and you can lose the arms to represent losing a White die.

Here's what it looks like in comparison to a Chub and a Classic.

The gun can only be held in the left hand.  It's another fun model.  It's made of a nice rubbery plastic so it will stand up to rough handling.   A single model costs less than a Chub from Mobilefra.me.  My usual rating system doesn't really work here so make of this what you will.

Review: Gundam Converge GH-001 Grimoire (116)

Once again, I bought a few Gundam Converge "model" kits on a whim.

Box.  I paid $5.95 for this at Barnes & Noble.

Parts.  There were no instructions in the box and none were needed.

A shot of it fully assembled.  Only the arms and the head are poseable.

And disassembled.  I discovered, after monkeying with it for a bit, the backpack also comes off.  So that will give you four Attachments -- head, gun, shield, and backpack -- and you can lose the arms to represent losing a White die.

Here's what it looks like in comparison to a Chub and a Classic.

Only the right arm can hold the gun and the only the left will mount the shield.  Other than that it's a fun model.  It's made of a nice rubbery plastic so it will stand up to rough handling.   A single model costs less than a Chub from Mobilefra.me.  My usual rating system doesn't really work here so make of this what you will.

PAX East 2016

On Saturday (4/23) I will be helping Joshua and company demo Mobile Frame Zero.  On Sunday (4/24) I will be walking the exhibit hall with a friend.  The usual suspects will once again be having a game, probably at Noon.  It looks like we've got six players right now.  If you want to meet up, here's the topic on the Hangar discussing it.  We may also use the MF0 channel on Discord to organize meet-ups while at the con.

Random Starships 2

With the recent delivery of MFZ: Intercept Orbit it's time to take a look at a few ship designs for some inspiration.

Kalakeyan Corvettes by VA-Nugget.  These look like
they're IO Cruiser size, except for the blue one.

Oblivion bubbleship and folding motorcycle. Micro size. Multi angle view by Irwan Prabowo.  I think this would make a really neat starship.  The motorcycle might work as some sort of HVA.

Close Support Ship by Ska2d2.  Another one from
Ska2d2, this time more in scale with MFZ:IO.

GARC - The Arch by wray2064.  Render.  This

looks like it would be in scale for a Cruiser.

"Triton" 7th Fleet Support Carrier by Shamisenfred.  Three studs too long
for the Cruiser limit, it still looks good and could be adapted to fit.

Review: 30371 Knight's Cycle Polybag

Here's a new polybag available at Toys'R'Us.  It's part of a "free" giveaway this week.  Also, all Nexo Knights sets are 20% off in an unmarked sale.

Bag.  MSRP is $3.99 for a $0.10 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig.  The Lance could be useful.

Parts.  That 3x2x1-1/3 Bracket jumps out at me

right away.  As do the Stud Shooters and the

Ice Cream Cones.  I can use those 1x2 Thin

Technic Liftarms, and the other Technic bits.

Build.  A quick 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?  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?  No.  (-5)
Score: +5 (B+).  Not a bad set, it just needed a few more parts to get a better score.

Non-Human 23

I'm feeling lazy this morning, so have some Lego mecha to ogle.

Cauldron Crab Droid by Colin.  Nice use of color here.

Killbot (Anti-Mecha Drone) by Darkspawn.  Those leg pieces are pretty rare.

Rhino Beetle Mech by the masked-builder.  This one is outstanding.

Generic Droid by Maelven.  This is tight.  It may be a little

flimsy  though as I've found the ends of those

Minifig Handlebars to be unreliable connection points.

Orange Crab by ~J6Crash~.  My heart fills with joy
at seeing this.  Technic part use like this is fantastic.

Review: 30205 Pop Star Red Carpet Polybag

This was available at Target in the Christmas section last year.

Bag.  A MSRP of $3.99 gives us a  $0.12 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minidoll.

Parts.  Some Plates, a couple of Trans-Clear Bricks, a 4x1 Brick w/Studs on side, a Radar Dish, A Minifig Space Gun, a couple of Minifig Spyglasses, a Couple of Minifig Skeleton Legs, A couple of Minifig Microphones -- which somewhat work inthe Mixel female all joints, interestingly enough.

Build.  A horrible IO Frigate (2Ra/2Rpd/1Y/2W/1G).


The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Barely.  (+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?  No.  (-5)
Score: -5 (B-).  I think that's a better score than this set deserves.  It has some interesting pieces but is not worth the cost.

Review: 41092 Stephanie's Pizzaria

I'll admit, I found a bunch of these marked down at Toys'R'Us and I grabbed them for the Magenta studless slopes.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99 for a $0.12 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minidoll.

Parts 1.  Plenty of Bricks and Plates.  The 2x1
Brick w/Clip (vert.) is nice but, that scooter
body is going to be difficult to work with.

Parts 2.  There's a little more diversity in this parts bag.  Slopes, Inverted Tiles, Tiles, Modified Tiles, Minifig Accessories, Rims, Tires, a 1x1 Mod. Brick w/Clip, a 1x1 Cone, and a 1x1 Round Brick.  Oh, and that new Minifig Handlebar I've been wanting to experiment with.

Build.  A Station and a 1 Hit
wall.  Darksyntax could probably
get a better build out of this one
if he took a crack at it.

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+).  Not a great score but it does have some interesting parts.

Review: 41088 Friends Puppy Training

Let's start out a week of Friends reviews.

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

Instructions.

"Minifig."

Parts 1.  The 1x2 Brick w/Pin is always useful, and I really like using the 4x4 Round Plate as a base for Stations.

Parts 2.  a number of pieces in Magenta, there's a 1x2 Mod. Plate w./Vert. Bar, plenty of Slopes, Jumpers, Bricks, Tiles and Plates.

Build.  A 4P Frame, Station,

and small Terrain piece.

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+).  If you're looking for a minimalist starter set, I think this may be the one.