Review: Gundam Converge MS-06FZ Zaku II FZ (263)

It's been a while since I've done any Gundam Converge reviews so let's get into it.  These are from the 22nd release, dating to November of last year.  This one has the subtitle "Fritz Helmet Type".

Box.  I paid $10.99 at Newbury Comics for this.

Parts.

Disassembled.  The head could be Defense or Spotting.  The

heat hawk could be Melee.  The rifle could be Direct Fire or

Spotting.  The arms can be removed for White die damage.

Assembled.  Unfortunately it's either the Heat Hawk or the Rifle.

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?  Two.  (0)
Does it have enough parts you can remove to represent White Dice damage?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: 0 (B).  Bad guys get a worse score?

Review: Gundam Converge GAT-X103 Buster Gundam (262)

Let's keep the Gundam vibes rolling with a Gundam Converge review to finish out the week.  These are from the 22nd release, dating to November of last year.

Box.  I paid $10.99 at Newbury Comics for this.

Parts.

Disassembled.  The head vanes could be Spotting.  The head could

be  Defense, or Spotting.  The shoulder pods could be Melee,

Defense, Movement, or Spotting.  The weapons could be Direct Fire,

or Artillery.  The arms can be removed for White die damage.

Assembled.  I actually had to look at Gundanium Gateway to see how this

went together.  I used one each of the straight and bent upper arms.

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?  Six.  (+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.  I think I like this one better than Monday's review.

Review: Gundam Converge RX-78-2 Gundam (259)

It's been a while since I've done any Gundam Converge reviews so let's get into it.  These are from the 22nd release, dating to November of last year.  This one has the subtitle "Final Battle Specifications".

Box.  I paid $10.99 at Newbury Comics for this.

Parts.

Disassembled.  The head vanes could be Spotting.  The head could be

Defense or Spotting.  The backpack could be Defense, Movement, or

Spotting.  The bazookas could be Artillery.  The shield can be Defense.

The arms can be removed to represent White die damage.  Apparently the

little block piece on the bottom right is meant to represent a damaged arm.

Assembled.  Unfortunately this one needs

the base to stand while carrying weapons. 

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?  Six.  (+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.

Stat Bars

Originally proposed by Blorf back in 2013 (yes, I know the link is broken.) Stat Bars provide a quick visual shorthand for the amount of systems on a Frame.  They are generally composed of a 1x6 Plate with up to four colored (Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow) 1x1 Tiles and two White 1x1 Tiles.  These can be useful for people who use Frames that aren't made from Lego and can't be disassembled to reflect damage.  They are also useful for people that just don't want to take apart their Frames at all.  You can see them in use in this game from 2015.  So today I'm going to show how they could be used for three different Gundam Converge units to show their Systems.

First, Gundam Barbatos.  I'll give it double Melee

for the big club and Defense for that big ol' head.

Second, Geara Doga.  One Direct Fire for the gun, double

Defense for the shields, and Spotting for the cyclops eye.

Third, Gabthley.  one Artillery for the sniper rifle, one Defense for the

backpack, and double Spotting for the head and the shoulder antenna.

As you can see, I used a Square Tile for the Melee, a Round Tile for the Direct Fire, and a Round Plate for the Artillery.  Both the pieces representing the ranged weapons are round, and the Artillery is "raised" to represent the greater range.  Another use I didn't mention at the beginning is that with these on the table you don't have to ask your opponents, "Hey, what's that one got left for Systems?"

Getting Started, One More Time

Six years ago I did a post on getting started in Mobile Frame Zero.  We've had a few people asking the same question on multiple platforms recently, so maybe it's time to revisit the issue.  But this time let's look at it in a different manner.  Instead of putting together an individual squad -- since the Demo Game Rules have been discussed recently -- we're going to look at how you get the parts for a Demo Game set-up so you and three other people can play.

1. You'll need a copy of the game.  Those can be found here.  A simpler rules only document can be found here.  There's also the Commander's Handbook.
2. Dice.  You'll need 4d6 Red, 4d8 Red, 4d6 Green, 2d8 Green, (X+1)d6 Blue, and (X+1)d6 Yellow.  X = The number of frames you are using.  This will give you enough dice to cover all your frames and enough to roll dice for at least two at a time.  You'll also need a d12 for the Doomsday Clock.  Hopefully you'll already have these.  There's also an online dice roller program for MFZ.
3. Frames.  We're going to start with eight Titanium Mini Mechs (30591) for $40, giving each player two.  They can be configured in at least three variants so each person should be able to use a different looking design.  Then add two Imperial Shuttles (30388) for $10 for Systems and extra parts.  That gives us a total of $50.
4. Station.  An Olivia's Electric Car (41443) costs $15 for a Station and extra parts, that brings the total to $65.  You should have pieces left over for Terrain too.
5. Ruler.  We're going to build a Ruler from eight of this Make-It Blocks City Construction set.  That will set you back $10 but you'll also have a ton of terrain along with that Ruler.  That brings our total to $75.

So this should hopefully get you -- and three of your friends -- started playing Mobile Frame Zero: Rapid Attack.  It also gives you a starting point to build from if you want to move up to playing full size games.  All the sets I mentioned should be currently available.

Random Mechs 30

Let's go back to searching Flickr for cool stuff.

Heuschrecke Maschinen Krieger by Wiseman_Lego.  The

legs look kinda spindly but it's otherwise pretty neat.

LEGO Star Wars Minifigur - Praetorian Training Droid building by Jürgen Gartinger.  This would make a great drone System for a Frame.

Number 4 by rougebantha.  Construction mecha are always neat.

flatbread & deepdish by lord_dane.  While both of these are too large

there are design elements and building techniques we can copy.

Strahl Demokratische Republik "Sumpfente" unmanned reconnaissance walker by DonutsftW.  Another MaK creation to finish out the post.  The

body might be a little large but those legs are definitely worth stealing.

Review: Make-It Blocks City Construction Set 3

I bought these after the changeover to $1.25 by Dollar Tree, I think.  People have said some of the sets from this line are copies of Lego sets.  I bought the entire release because I think we have some good terrain selections.

Box.  MSRP is $1.25 for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Cone, Round Brick w/Pinholes, Plate w/Cutout, Slope, Bar Tiles, Bracket, Axle Plates, Hinge Brick Top, Hinge Brick Base, Large Cheese Slope, Clip Plates, Round Tile, Minifig Neck Brackets, Plates, Lampholder, Pneuma-Ts, Clip Bar Holders, Wheel, Minifig Shovel, Minifig Revolver, Minifig Telescopes, and Bar.

Build.  Battlecart.

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-).  This set isn't great for making a Frame but it has good parts and it's only the second Make-It Block set to have Pneuma-Ts that I've seen.

Review: Make-It Blocks City Construction Set 2

I bought these after the changeover to $1.25 by Dollar Tree, I think.  People have said some of the sets from this line are copies of Lego sets.  I bought the entire release because I think we have some good terrain selections.

Box.  MSRP is $1.25 for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Rock Panel, Axle Plates, Plates, Tiles, Bars 1x4x2 w/Studs, Brick, Slope, Bar Plate,

Grille Tile, Wheels, Panel, Bracket, Lampholders, Clip Plates, Transparent Cheese Slopes,

Transparent Round Plates, Skeleton Arms, (and a Minifig Shovel I cut out of the picture).

Build.  Battlecar with plenty of mounting points

and a LURP (Little Ugly Rock Piece) for 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?  No.  (-5)

Score: +10 (A-).  Not quite as good as yesterday's set but it has some good parts.

Review: Make-It Blocks City Construction Set 1

I bought these after the changeover to $1.25 by Dollar Tree, I think.  People have said some of the sets from this line are copies of Lego sets.  I bought the entire release because I think we have some good terrain selections.

Box.  MSRP is $1.25 for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Plates, Wedge Plates, Turntable Base, Round Plates, Ladder

w/Clips, Rock Top, Rock Bottom, Girder Bricks, Hinge Bricks, Slopes,

Facet Bricks, Bar Plate, Bar Tiles, Hinge Plate, Grass/Plant Pieces,

Translucent Cone, Minifig Seat, Minifig Shovel, Ball Joint Socket

Hinge, Tile w/Lifting Ring, Levers & Bases, and Ball Joint Hook.

Build.  A three Hit piece of Cover and a one Hit piece of

Cover.  I know it's close to what the set is supposed to build but

a few of these and you have the start of a construction site.

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-).  I think I need a few more of these.

Sales Alert

Target is running a "Buy One Get One 40% Off" sale on select Lego sets this week.  It look like it's a selection from the Speed Champions, Friends, Harry Potter, and Classic lines.  This is a chance to get those $10 sets that have less than 100 pieces at a better Parts per Price ratio than normal.

Good hunting.

Battle Report: Teslaville 5

We managed to get together again on the last weekend in March for another game of MFZ:Rapid Attack.  I hadn't planned on using this table-setting but, when I pulled out the "Roadway Rumble" I was short a couple of Baseplates.  C'est la vie.  So we returned to Teslaville to do battle.

Tom (4 Frames & 15 Systems) = (5 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 25 points.
   Blue Hammer -- 2Rd/2B/1Y/2W.

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

   White Medium Tank -- 2Rd+d8/1B/2W + SSR.

Me (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 15 points.  (Veyman Revelations)

   Yellow Delegator -- 2Ra/1B/2Y/2W + SSR.

   Red Delegator -- 2Ra/1B/2Y/2W + SSR.

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

   Blue Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W.

Chuck (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 15 points.  (Old School Squad)

   Yellow Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.

   Purple Swarmer -- 2Rh+d8/1B/1Gd8/1Y/2W + SSR.

   Green Swarmer -- 2Rh+d8/1B/1Gd8/1Y/2W + SSR (x2).

   Orange Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W.

Narbey (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 15 points.  (Skitterers)

   Yellow Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.

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

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

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

PJ Nicht (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 15 points. (mecha)

   Black Watchtower -- 2B/1Gd8/2Y/2W + SSR (x3).

   Red Heavy Assault -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1G/2W.

   Green Armored Assault -- 2Rd/2B/1G/2W.

   Blue Fast Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/1B/1G+d8/2W.

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

Events of Turn 1 (DDC @ 11): Chuck's Green frame clubs Narbey's Red frame for 1 then moves towards the train tracks.  In response, Narbey's Red frame hits Chuck's Purple frame for 2.  Chuck's Yellow Frame moves a few steps forward and hits my Blue frame for 2.  My Blue frame hurdles the train tracks and gets in to cover behind a cowcatcher.  PJ Nicht's Black frame moves next to a low support and hits Tom's Blue frame for 3 with a SSR.  My White frame moves closer to the train tracks and hits Tom's Blue frame for 3 with a SSR, destroying it.  Narbey's Yellow frame hits Chuck's Green frame for 4.  My Red frame hits the high support in front of Tom's Yellow frame for 1, destroying the support.  PJ Nicht's Red frame hits the high support beside my Red frame for 2, destroying the support.

Tom: 20 points.

Me: 15 points.

Chuck: 15 points.

Narbey: 15 points.

PJ Nicht: 15 points.

Events of Turn 2 (DDC @ 8): My Blue frame leaps over the cowcatcher and captures Tom's Station.  My Yellow frame hits the elevated track by Chuck's Station for 4, destroying that section of the track, causing Chuck's Station to fall.  Chuck's Purple frame clubs Narbey's Red frame for 4, destroying it, then jumps over the cowcatcher.  Chuck's Orange frame moves closer to Narbey's Station and hits Narbey's Yellow frame for 2, Station Dance.  Narbey's Yellow frame -- in return -- hits Chuck's Yellow frame for 1.  Chuck's Green frame moves to across the tracks from my Yellow frame and hits it with a SSR for 1, also the train car it was using for Cover for 3 -- basically destroying the train car.  Narbey's White frame hits Chuck's Purple frame for 2.  My Red frame hits the high support in front of Tom's White frame for 1, destroying the support.  PJ Nicht's Blue frame moves behind Chuck's Yellow frame and hits it for 3.  PJ Nicht's Black frame moves next to a whirligig and hits Tom's Yellow frame for 5 with a SSR.  Tom's Yellow frame hits my Blue frame for 2, Station Dance.  Narbey's Orange frame skuttles from behind a whirligig and captures Chuck's Station.

Me: 18 points.

Tom: 15 points.

Narbey: 15 points.

PJ Nicht: 15 points.

Chuck: 12 points.

Events of Turn 3 (DDC @ 3): Tom's Yellow frame moves out from underneath the train tracks and recaptures his station.  Tom's White frame hits my Blue frame for 2 then moves to the edge of the battlefield.  Narbey's Yellow frame hits the cowcatcher for 1, destroying it.  My Red frame hits Narbey's Orange frame for 5 with a SSR.  Narbey's Orange frame retaliates with a 4 damage hit to my Red frame.  PJ Nicht's Black frame hits Tom's Yellow frame for 1, it does the Station Dance, and the Black frame captures Tom's Station.  PJ Nicht's Red frame hits Narbey's Orange frame for 1, it does the Station Dance, and the Red frame captures Chuck's Station that was under Narbey's control.  PJ Nicht's Blue frame hits my Blue frame for 3, destroying it.  Chuck's Purple frame lurches in and headbutts Tom's Yellow frame for 6, destroying it.  The Doomsday clock is ticked to zero.

PJ Nicht: 21 points.

Me: 12 points.

Narbey: 12 points.

Chuck: 12 points.

Tom: 10 points.

Here are several during and aftermath pictures.

Turn 1.4

Start 7

Turn 1.3

Turn 2.3

Turn 2.5

Turn 2.4

Turn 3.6

Turn 3.5

Turn 3.7

Turn 3.8

Thoughts & Observations:

• This was a Skirmish.
• I made a mistake during Set-up and it probably cost me the game.
• Chuck's Frames dealt a total of 20 points of damage from 6 attacks.
• We dealt 12 points of damage to Cover in this game.
• We inflicted at total of 69 points of damage this game.
• We had several rolls of ten dice or more for damage during the game.
• We've been having really good games this year, I'm hoping we can continue to do that.
• Of course I came up with ideas for new terrain for this table-setting after the game was over.
• More pictures can be found here.