Battle Report: Cherry Blossom Forest @ Paper Asylum

After a year plus away, and a pandemic in between, we were invited back to the Paper Asylum by owner/proprietor -- and MFZ fan -- Pete.  The table setting was requested by PJ Nicht since they had built something thematic for it.  We decided on a Skirmish since Nikko was joining us for the first time.

Tom (4 Frames & 15 Systems) = (6 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 30 points.
   Blue Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Orange Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Yellow Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.

   White Light Tank -- 2Rd+d8/1B/2W.

Pete (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 20 points.  (Fuzzy Pink Bunny Slippers)
   Green Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W + SSR.

   Blue Assault -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1G/2W + SSR.

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

   Red Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.

Nikko (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 20 points.  (mecha)

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

   Red Warrior -- 2Rh/1B/1G+d8/1Y/2W.

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

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

PJ Nicht (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 20 points. (mecha)

   Black (Yin) Spotting Bodyguard -- 2Rd/2Rh/1B/1Y/2W.

   White (Yang) Spotting Bodyguard -- 2Rd/2Rh/1B/1Y/2W.
   Red Watchtower -- 2B/1Gd8/2Y/2W.

   Pink Swarmer -- 2Rh+d8/1B/1Gd8/1Y/2W  + SSR (x3).

Me (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 20 points  (15 Squad)
   White Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.

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

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

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

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

Events of Turn 1 (DDC @ 11): Pete's Green frame hits Tom's White frame for 1, which then retreats towards the road, and the cherry tree in front of it for 2.  Nikko's Green frame splashes across the stream and captures Pete's station.  Nikko's Orange frame attacks PJ Nicht's White frame from behind for 2, then moves towards PJ Nicht's Station, while the White frame moves towards Pete's Station.  Nikko's Blue frame moves from the large stone block to the stream and hits PJ Nicht's White frame for 1.  My Yellow frame moves from the small rock outcrop to the large stone block and hits Nikko's Red frame for 1, after it moved to the opposite side of the bridge.  Pete's Blue frame floats towards the bridge and hits Nikko's Red frame for 2.  PJ Nicht's Pink frame moves in front of their Station and hits Nikko's Green frame for 3 with a SSR, Station Dance.  Tom's Orange frame trundles beside his Station and hits my Red frame for 3, after the Red frame moved beside my Station.  PJ Nicht's Black frame hits Tom's Orange frame for 3, Station Dance.  Tom's Yellow frame trundles beside his Station and hits my Red frame for 1.

Tom: 30 points.

Nikko: 24 points.

PJ Nicht: 20 points.

Me: 20 points.

Pete: 16 points.

Events of Turn 2 (DDC @ 7): Tom's Blue frame trundles into cover between stands of cherry trees and hits my Red frame for 1.  Tom's Yellow frame trundles in front of his Station and hits my Red frame for 1, destroying it.  Nikko's Orange frame takes a couple of steps downstream and hits PJ Nicht's White frame for 1.  Pete's Blue frame floats to the base of the bridge and hits Nikko's Red frame for 2, Station Dance.  Pete's Red frame floats a little to the right and hits Nikko's Red frame for 3, destroying it.  My White frame splashes through the stream under the bridge to capture Nikko's Station, then hits Nikko's Blue frame for 3.  My Purple frame moves beside my Station then hits Tom's Orange frame for 1, Station Dance.  Tom's White frame trundles up the road and hits my Yellow frame for 3, and my Purple frame for 1 -- which was in Cover behind my Yellow frame -- with a SSR.  PJ Nicht's Pink frame splashes into the stream and smashes Nikko's Orange frame for 5.

Tom: 30 points.

PJ Nicht: 20 points.

Me: 20 points.

Nikko: 16 points.

Pete: 16 points.

Events of Turn 3 (DDC @ 4): PJ Nicht's Pink frame hits Nikko's Green frame for 3, Station Dance.  PJ Nicht's Black frame captures Pete's Station that was under Nikko's control.  Pete's Green frame hits Tom's Yellow frame for 4, Station Dance.  My Yellow frame captures Tom's Station.  Nikko's Blue frame hits my White frame for 3, Station Dance.  My White frame splashes back across the stream and hits Tom's Yellow frame for 4, destroying it.  Pete's Blue frame hits my White frame for 2.  Pete's Orange frame floats over and captures Nikko's Station.

PJ Nicht: 24 points.

Me: 20 points.

Pete: 20 points.

Tom: 18 points.

Nikko: 12 points.

Events of Turn 4 (DDC @ 1): Nikko's Blue frame hits Pete's Orange frame for 4, Station Dance.  Pete's Red frame hits PJ Nicht's Pink frame for 1, which then captures Nikko's station that was under Pete's control.  Tom's White frame hits my Yellow frame for 1.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

PJ Nicht: 28 points.

Me: 20 points.

Tom: 18 points.

Pete: 16 points.

Nikko: 12 points.

Here are several during and aftermath pictures.

Start 8

Tom's new squad.

Start 6

Turn 1.3

Start 7

Turn 1.4

Turn 1.7

Turn 1.6

Turn 1.5

Turn 2.5

Turn 2.4

Turn 2.6

Turn 3.4

Turn 3.3

Turn 4.6

Turn 3.6

Turn 4.5

Turn 4.7

Turn 4.9

Turn 4.8

Turn 4.10

Turn 4.11

Turn 4.13

Turn 4.12

Thoughts & Observations:

• This is our fifth game this year.
• Point Attacker was decided by die roll.
• This was a Skirmish.
• I'm still holding to my resolution to use squads that haven't seen prior table time.
• Tom debuted a new squad.
• I sort of had an idea for a strategy or squad composition for this game.
• Never announce to the universe, "The odds on four damage dice at Direct is one hit, right?" because it will bite you in the ass.
• This was a competitive game but we all had a lot of fun.
• I took a lot more pictures than normal with my phone instead of my normal camera.
• Here are more pictures from the game.
• There is also video.

Review: 30392 Hermione's Study Desk Polybag

I found this in Target on a sidekick in the Toy section with other polybags.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99, for a $0.16 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig.  

Parts.  Double Large Jumper, Plates, Dish, Cross Plate, Double

Inverted Slope, Tiles, Printed Tiles, Minifig Book, Minifig

Book Cover, Bar Handle Round Plates (in Black!), Round

Plates, Inkwells, Clip Tiles, Minifig Wands, and Minifig Plumes.

Build.  Station or 3 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?  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-).  Unless you're a Harry Potter fan the only reason to buy this is the Bar Handle Round Plates.

Sales Alert: Black Friday

Target has some sets at 40% off.  Along with more at 30% off -- which are on sale right now, online.  And the giant Mega Construx Pokeball is half off, too.

Instead of listing all the others I'm just going to link you to Toys'n'Bricks breakdown.

Good hunting.

Review: 30391 Rapunzel's Lantern Boat Polybag

This should be available in Target for Christmas if I read the shelf tags right.  I found this one on a sidekick in the Toy section with other polybags.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99, for a $0.13 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifig.  

Parts.  Inverted Triple Wedges, Plates, Brackets, Inverted Double Slope w/Cutout, Tile, Large Jumper, Studless Slopes, Plate w/Arm Up, Panel, Jumper, Clip Plates, Round Flower Plate, Minifig Hairbrush, Tile Clip, Clip Barholder, Transparent Round Brick, Plant Stem w/3 Leaves, Plant Stem, Minifig Lantern, and Flowers.

Build.  IO Sensor Frigate (1Y) with open hard points.

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?  No.  (-5)
Score: -5 (B-).  There's not a lot here to work with, a smattering of interesting colors and parts that should probably be bought in pairs to really be useful.

Review: Gundam Converge RX-93 V Gundam Double Fin Funnel Type (247)

Let's keep the Gundam vibes rolling with a Gundam Converge review to finish out the week.

Box.  I paid $11.99 at Newbury Comics for this.

Parts.

Disassembled.  The funnel fins could be Direct Fire, Defense, Movement, or Spotting.  The head vanes could be Spotting.  The gun could be Direct fire or Spotting.  The shield could be Defense or Movement.  The arms could be removed for White Die damage.

Assembled.  

Size Comparison.

The Questions:
Is it below, at, or above $10 per Frame?  Above.  (-10)
Is it a good size to use in a game?  Yes.  In between a Chub and a Classic.  (+5)
How many parts does it have to represent systems?  Five.  (+5)
Does it have enough parts you can remove to represent White Dice damage?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +5 (B+).  A good looking model that'd score better if the price was cheaper.