Purity: Make-It Blocks London Bridge Review

I found this in the Dollar Tree store after going to find the Scenery polybag that had been discussed on the Facebook group.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00 for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Hunh, Pale Gold and
Light Blue pieces.  Plates,
Tiles, Bar Plates, Tile Clips,
Cones, and Headlights.

Build.  Station.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  A Station for once.  (+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?  No.  (-5)
Score: +10 (A-).  I get the feeling this set will be better in combination with others.

Battle Report: Teslaville 5

This was supposed to be a five player game that ended up being a three player one.  I broke out the Teslaville setting so a player could try it for the first time but they ended up not being able to make it.

Stevenik (3 Frames & 12 Systems) = (7 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 35 points.
   Orange Artillerist -- 2Ra+d8/2B/2W + SSR.
   Green Watchtower -- 2B/1Gd8/2Y/2W + SSR.
   Beige Tank -- 2Rd+d8/2B/2W + SSR.

Me (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (5 Points per Asset) * (6 assets) = 30 points. (Hunters)

   Red Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W + SSR.

   Green Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W.

   Blue Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W + SSR.

   Yellow Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W + SSR.

Tom (5 Frames & 19 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 21 points.
   Orange Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.
   Pink Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.
   White Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W + SSR.
   Green Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W + SSR.
   Brown Light Recon by Fire -- 2Ra/2Y/2W.

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

Events of Turn 1 (DDC @ 11): Tom's Pink frame hits my Blue frame for 4.  Tom's Orange frame hits my Red frame for 1.  My Red frame moves forward and hits Stevenik's Beige frame for 2.  Tom's Brown frame hits my Yellow frame for 2.  Stevenik's Orange frame hits my Blue frame for 4, destroying it.  Tom's Green frame moves behind a whirligig and hits Stevenik's Orange frame for 2 with a SSR.  Tom's White frame moves under the high portion of the train tracks hits Stevenik's Orange frame for 1.  My Green frame inches forward and hits Stevenik's Beige frame for 2.

Stevenik: 35 points.
Me: 25 points.

Tom: 21 points.

Events of Turn 2 (DDC @ 8): Stevenik's Beige frame skitters forward and captures my Red Station.  My Yellow frame moves closer to the train tracks, destroys a whirligig with 2 damage, and hits Tom's Green frame for 1 with a SSR.  Tom's Pink frame hits Stevenik's Orange frame for 3.  My Green frame moves down the edge of the battlefield and hits Stevenik's Orange frame for 2, destroying it.  Tom's Green frame moves away from the wreck of the whirligig and captures Stevenik's Red Station.

Stevenik: 28 points.

Tom: 24 points.

Me: 20 points.

Events of Turn 3 (DDC @ 6): Tom's Brown frame hits a short train trestle for 3, destroying it, and my Yellow frame for 1.  My Yellow frame sprints forward and hits Tom's Green frame for 4, it does the Station Dance, then my Yellow frame captures Stevenik's Red Station.  Tom's Green frame attacks my Yellow frame back for 2.  My Green frame turns back into the battlefield and hits Tom's Green frame for 1.  My Red frame moves under the high section of the train tracks and hits a tall train trestle for 2, destroying it.  Tom's Orange frame hits my Red frame for 2.  Tom's Pink frame hits my Green frame for 4.

Stevenik: 28 points.
Me: 25 points.

Tom: 21 points.

Events of Turn 4 (DDC @ 3):  Stevenik's Green frame hits Tom's White frame for 1.  Tom's White frame hits my Yellow frame for 4, destroying it, and seizes Stevenik's Red Station that was under my control.  My Red frame rolls closer to that Station and hits Tom's Green frame for 5, destroying it.  Tom's Brown frame hits the train tracks for 1 and Stevenik's Beige frame for 1.  Tom's Orange frame hits Stevenik's Beige frame for 3, destroying it.  Tom's Pink frame hits my Red frame for 1.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

Tom: 21 points.
Stevenik: 21 points.
Me: 15 points.

Here are a couple aftermath pictures.

Thoughts & Observations:

• Not sure I've got that much to say about this game.
• Except it's interesting how fast three players who've known each other for several years can play.
• We ended up calling this the "Game of the Excluded Middle".
• We forgot to move the train!

Review: 30460 Rex's Plantimal Ambush Polybag

This is the second of three new polybags that can be found at Walmart.

Bag.  $3.97 for a $0.12 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig.  Brick built gun.

Parts.  Leaves, Round Plate, Apollo Studs, Nipples, Dish, Cone, Pins, Printed Round Tiles, Cheese Slope, Plates, Minifig Crab, and Modified Brick.  

Build.  A two Hit piece of Cover.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Terrain gets you no points.  (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+).  Not a great polybag.  Grab it if it goes on sale and you need the parts.

Sales Alert

Target is running a 20% off Select Lego Ninjago, Friends, City and Duplo building sets sale this week.

Good hunting.

Purity: Make-It Blocks City Patrol Review

I found this in the Dollar Tree store after going to find the Scenery polybag that had been discussed on the Facebook group.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00 for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig?

Parts.  Plates, Wedge Plates, Clip Plates, Axle Plates, Round Plates, Round Plates w/Bar, Wheels, Clip Tile, Bracket, Jumper, Grille Tile, and Minifig Handlebar.

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?  No.  (-5)
Score: +10 (A-).  Some useful pieces but not much beyond that.

Purity: Make-It-Blocks Windows & Doors Polybag Review

I found this in the Dollar Tree store after going to find the Scenery polybag that had been discussed on the Facebook group.

Bag.  MSRP is $1.00 for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Window Frames, Windows, Plates, Bar Plates, and Door Rail Plates.

Build.  Three one Hit pieces of Cover.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Terrain gets you no points.  (0)
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?  No.  (-5)
Score: +5 (B+).  Not as good looking as the Scenery polybag but, it still could prove useful.

Purity: Make-It Blocks Scenery Polybag Review

I was alerted to the existence of this due to the Facebook group.

Bag.  MSRP is $1.00 for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Plates, Round Plates, Slopes, Arches, Plant Leaves, Plant Stems, and Flowers.

Build. Two one Hit pieces of Cover.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Terrain gets you no points.  (0)
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?  No.  (-5)
Score: +5 (B+).  A fairly decent score but, if you need a bunch of terrain in a hurry for cheap a few of these will do very nicely.

The Road to Armour Con

We're a little under a month away from the con.  There are a few closed events so far but, they're all small.  This is also a small, first-time con.  I know there is a fairly large group of MFZ players in the New England area.  We have a chance here to make a statement.  Let's show up with a large contingent of players and make people go "What's that game?"  We also have a chance, as a community, to meet players we only know through the internet.  A chance to build a stronger link between the players in the Greater Massachusetts area, a chance to possibly expand the player base for all of our gaming groups.

So let's have a strong turn out, eh?

We'll even have a vendor's table.  I hope to see you there.

Battle Report: Roadway Rumble 2

Continuing on with a strong year for our group, we met last weekend in an attempt to get more table time in before Armour Con 1.  I expanded and changed the terrain from the last game.

Narbey (4 Frames & 14 Systems) = (6 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 30 points.  (Skitterers)
   Yellow Spotter -- 1Gd8/2Y/2W.

   Red Soldier -- 2Rh/1B/1G/1Y/2W +SSR.

   White Soldier -- 2Rh/1B/1G/1Y/2W +SSR.

   Orange Soldier -- 2Rh/1B/1G/1Y/2W +SSR.

Tom (4 Frames & 15 Systems) = (5 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 25 points.  (Construction Crew)
   Red Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Purple Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Orange Light Brawler -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/2W + SSR.
   Yellow Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W.

Me (4 Frames & 15 Systems) = (5 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 25 points. (Cucurbita)

   Red Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.

   Green Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.

   Blue Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR..

   Yellow Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/1B/1Gd8/2W.

Chuck (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 20 points. (Invictus)
   Purple Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Orange Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Yellow Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Green Delegator -- 2Ra/1B/2Y/2W.

PJ_Nichts (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 20 points. (Branson's Raiders)
   Red Tank -- 2Rd+d8/2B/2W.
   Green Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Orange Fast Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/1B/1G+d8/2W + SSR.
   Blue Fast Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/1B/1G+d8/2W + SSR.

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

Events of Turn 1 (DDC @ 11): Narbey captures my Station before the game starts.  Narbey's Red frame moves into cover behind a police car and hits my Red frame for 1.  My Red frame moves into cover behind the wrecked dump truck.  PJ Nicht's Red frame moves towards the pond and hits my Red frame for 2.  My Blue frame destroys a solar panel, moves backwards, and seizes PJ Nicht's Station.  PJ Nicht's Orange frame jumps over a truck and slashes my Red frame for 4, destroying it.  PJ Nicht's Blue frame hits my Blue frame for 2 with a SSR, Station Dance.  Narbey's White frame moves into cover behind the tanker and hits the red minivan in front of Tom's Red frame for 1.  My Green frame moves to the edge of the road and hits Narbey's White frame for 2.  Chuck's Yellow frame hits the tanker truck for 1 -- which starts leaking a mystery fluid --and Narbey's White frame for 2.  Narbey's Orange frame hits my Green frame for 2.  My Yellow frame leaps over the frame transport and nunchucks Narbey's Red frame for 2.  Tom's Orange frame moves out of the stack and saws Chuck's Yellow frame for 2.  Tom's Purple frame moves out of the stack towards the main road and hits the second tanker for 1 along with Chuck's Purple frame for 2 with a SSR.

Narbey: 36 points.
Tom: 25 points.
Me: 20 Points

Chuck: 20 points.
PJ Nicht: 16 points.

Events of Turn 2 (DDC @ 8): Narbey's White frame hits my Green frame for 1 the jumps over the wreck of the tanker.  PJ Nicht's Red frame hits my Blue frame for 4 and captures his Station back.  My Blue frame continues to move away from PJ Nicht's forces and hits Chuck's Green frame for 1 while seizing his Station.  Chuck's Brown frame moves across the main road and hits PJ Nicht's Red frame for 3.  Tom's Purple frame moves across the main road and saws Chuck's Green frame for 1.  Tom's Orange frame saws Narbey's White frame for 2, destroying it.  Chuck's Yellow frame hits Tom's Orange frame for 2 then closes in on Narbey's (my) Station.  PJ Nicht's Orange frame slashes Chuck's Purple frame for 3.

Narbey: 30 points.

Tom: 25 points.

Me: 20 Points

PJ Nicht: 20 points.

Chuck: 16 points.

Events of Turn 3 (DDC @ 4): Narbey's Orange frame hits Tom's Orange frame for 2.  Tom's Orange frame hits Narbey's Red frame for 1 then moves into cover behind the wrecked tanker.  Narbey's Red frame hits my Green frame for 3, destroying it.  Tom's Purple frame saws my Blue frame for 3, destroying it, then seizes my (Chuck's) Station.  PJ Nicht's Green frame hits Tom's Purple frame for 1.  PJ Nicht's Orange frame hits Tom's Purple frame for 3 with a SSR.  Chuck's Brown frame hits Tom's Purple frame for 2, destroying it.  Chuck's Green frame captures his Station back and hits Narbey's Red frame for 2, destroying it.  My Yellow frame headbutts Narbey's Orange frame for 3.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

Narbey: 24 points.
Tom: 20 points.

PJ Nicht: 20 points.

Chuck: 20 points.

Me: 5 points.

Here are several during and aftermath pictures.

Turn 1

Turn 1

Turn 1

Turn 2

Turn 2

Turn 2

Turn 3

Turn 3

Turn 3

Turn 3

Turn 3

Turn 3

Turn 3

Turn 3

Turn 3

Turn 3

Turn 3

Turn 3

Thoughts & Observations:

• This table setting has been tweaked from the last time it was used.
• Tom felt there wasn't enough actual Cover.
• It was a little tight for five players.
• This was another evening game and I felt like we were all a little silly.
• Maybe a lot.
• I should have set up all of my squad where I placed my Brawler frame.
• There's actually an inadvertent storyline here with one player bringing an Ijad squad.