Yearly Look Back: 2023 Edition

It's time once again for another look back at the year that was.

The Central MA gaming group continued to meet this year.   We again played eight games together, which is the same as 2022.

I'm down 4 posts from last year but, still maintaining my "at least three posts per week" average for the eleventh year running.  This is the third time I've hit the posting "perfect numbers" of 13 per month and 3 per week.  I'm now estimating cracking 2,000 posts sometime around the last week of June of 2024.  March of 2024 will also be my 12th anniversary of starting this blog.

I managed 85 reviews again this year; 5 Mega Bloks, 6 Miniso, 6 Clone, 12 Make-It Bricks, 12 non-building block, 14 Block Tech, and 30 Lego.  That comes out to an average of 7.1 per month.  Which is the same as last year -- which I'm still okay with.

I did 7 War College and 20 Terrain Workshop posts this year.  Which is an increase in War College posts.  I'm hoping to do more of both, I really enjoy talking about MFZ in that way.  I even did two Rule Mod posts which is the first time in several years that I've done that.

I'm now at 1.27M views, which is roughly another 223K views since last year. I still have no idea when I'll break 2 million. Thank you to everyone for the continued readership. My Flickr stream is over 5.5 million views which I must thank everyone for as well.

I managed to attend PAX Unplugged this year again.  It was great sharing a gaming table with a person from last year, but even better finally sharing the table with someone who'd only observed in the past.  It was also great meeting all the new people that were enthusiastic about MFZ and meeting people I'd only interacted with online.  I also had a bunch of products for sale for use with MFZ and I hope to have more in the future.

Keep on gaming and I'll see you next year. :-)

Review: 60428 Space Construction Mech

I wasn't expecting to do this review -- in fact I had another one planned to finish out the year -- but I stumbled across this set, and a bunch of others, in a local Target prior to the release date so here you go.  This is actually the first Lego review in a while that I have been somewhat excited about.

Box.  MSRP is $10.99, for a $0.08 Price per Piece.

Instructions & Stickers.

Minifig.

Parts 1. 2x2 Perpendicular Pin Connector, Large Jumper, Round Jumper, Studless

Slope, Plates w/ Pin (down), Ball Joint Plates, Tile, Plates w/Pinhole, Hinge

 Plates, Bricks, Bricks w/Axle Hole, Corrugated Bricks, Double Bar Brick,

 Headlight Brick, Slope, Clip Plates, Transparent Opalscent Rock Crystals,

 Axles, Exo-Force Arms, Rim, Minifig Handlebars, and Unicorn Horns. 

Parts 2.  Plates, Tile, Inverted Slopes, Slopes, 2x2x2 Plate w/Studs on Side (Hollow Tube) -- New Elementary article on the changes. --

Plate w/Vents, Double Inverted Slope w/Cutout, Wedge

Plate, Connector Block, Truncated Cones, and Axle.

Parts 3.  Printed Tiles, Round Tiles, Round Tile w/Hole, Large Cheese Slope, Ball

Joint Plates, Half Circle Tiles, Round Plates, Plates, Ingots, Padlocks, Inkwells,

 Transparent Opalscent Round Bricks, Brick w/Axle Hole, Studless Slopes w/Cutout,

2L Bars w/Stop, Extended Weapon Hilts, Clip Plates, Printed Round Tiles,

 Transparent Round Tiles, Bar Holder Bars, Axle Connectors, Half Pins, and Axle Pin. 

Build.  Two Frames 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+).  I wasn't expecting much from this set -- it is part of the City line after all -- but it has a bunch of good parts at a decent price point.

Terrain Workshop: Container or Tire Fire?

So when pictures of the Construction Trucks and Wrecking Ball Crane set debuted I was instantly interested in the wheels that were being used for one of the vehicles.  They reminded me of older, solid plastic wheels that have been used as terrain by the community in the past.  My initial idea was for them to be some sort of container, maybe like a barrel, so I started working from there.

So this build starts with two of the Hard Plastic, Treaded Wheel 36mm D. w/4 Studs, plus a Friction Pin to hold them together.  I then placed two 2x2 Round Plates, and a Round Jumper on top to bring the parts count to six which makes it 1Hit.  The height of this creation is 12 Plates tall, 12 feet in 6P scale, which definitely makes it Cover.

When I posted them to the Discord for the first time, Shades Corvid made the comment, "Tire Fire!"  That got me thinking about how to change them to be just that.  I changed the Round Jumper to Black and then added a Transparent Neon Orange 1x1 Cone and a Transparent Neon Orange Flame Piece to keep it at six pieces/1 Hit.  The resulting combination is 22 Plates tall or 22 feet in 6P scale.

The second version should fit perfectly in the new Funderdome game and I hope to use the first version at some point as well.  Unfortunately these wheels are only available -- in Black -- in two 4+ sets at the moment.  Which means they're going to be on the expensive side if you're interested in them too.

The wheel combination by themselves is 10 Plates tall -- which means it can still act as cover -- and 11 Plates in diameter.  If you put two of them side by side they form a low, wide wall.  And we've talked in the past about stringing smaller items together and turning them into a longer, segmented wall section.

I hope I've given people ideas or techniques to use in their terrain builds.  Flickr page.

Review: Block Tech 24-2363 Bee Animal Blocks

I found these at 5 Below recently.  I'd seen them online but I didn't realize how compact the boxes actually are.  These sets can be found either in the Toy section with the rest of the building block sets, or on a rack by the entrance, or in the aisle to the checkout with other sub $5 items.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  2x3 Plate w/Pinhole, Double Sided Plate, Plates, Tile, Dome,

Round Plates, Brackets, Double Slope, Padlocks, Clip Plates, Bar Plates,

Printed Round Tiles, Quarter Circle Tiles, Barb, Levers and Bases.

Build.  Watchtower frame (2B/2Y).

 

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'd say this is the second most interesting set, to me, of the six in the "Animal Blocks" line.  Padlocks, Levers & Bases, and Bar Plates are all very useful parts.  I'm curious if there will be another release of this line like they did with their "Block Bouquet" line.

Review: Block Tech 24-2364 Crocodile Animal Blocks

I found these at 5 Below recently.  I'd seen them online but I didn't realize how compact the boxes actually are.  These sets can be found either in the Toy section with the rest of the building block sets, or on a rack by the entrance, or in the aisle to the checkout with other sub $5 items.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Plates, Slopes, Bricks, Bricks w/Stud on Side, Large Cheese

Slope, Cheese Slopes, Ingot, Round Plates, and Printed Round Tiles.

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-).  This is probably the least interesting of all the Animal Blocks sets.  That Green Ingot is neat though.

Review: Block Tech 24-2362 Flamingo Animal Blocks

I found these at 5 Below recently.  I'd seen them online but I didn't realize how compact the boxes actually are.  These sets can be found either in the Toy section with the rest of the building block sets, or on a rack by the entrance, or in the aisle to the checkout with other sub $5 items.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Quarter Circle Plates, Plates, Jumpers, Bars w/Stop, Studless

Slopes, Double Slopes, Wedge Studless Slopes, Slope, Inverted Slope,

Large Cheese Slopes, Bricks w/Studs on Side, Bricks w/Stud on Side

(These are interesting in that the TOP stud is hollow rather then the side

one.), Printed Round Tiles, Quarter Circle Tiles, Barb, and Clip Tile.

Build.  IO Frigate (2Rs+d8/1B). 

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-).  All those Pink parts are compatible with the Bunny set, as it is this is a decent enough set.

Review: Block Tech 24-2366 Elephant Animal Blocks

I found these at 5 Below recently.  I'd seen them online but I didn't realize how compact the boxes actually are.  These sets can be found either in the Toy section with the rest of the building block sets, or on a rack by the entrance, or in the aisle to the checkout with other sub $5 items.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Bricks, Curved Brick, Inverted Slopes, Slopes, Bricks w/ Stud on

Side, Bracket, Plates, Clip Plates, 2L Bars, and Printed Round Tiles.

Build.  Animorph Frame (2Rh)

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?  No.  (-5)
Score: +10 (A-).  Not as interesting as the set from Monday -- honestly, I don't think any of them will be -- but those 2L Bars are intriguing.

Review: Block Tech 24-2361 Clownfish Animal Blocks

I found these at 5 Below recently.  I'd seen them online but I didn't realize how compact the boxes actually are.  These sets can be found either in the Toy section with the rest of the building block sets, or on a rack by the entrance, or in the aisle to the checkout with other sub $5 items.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00, for a $0.03 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Plates, Jumpers, Bricks, Slopes, Inverted Slopes, Bricks

w/Stud on Side, Brick w/Studs on Side, Studless Slopes, Large

Cheese Slopes, Round Tile, Printed Round Tiles, and Panel Bricks.

Build.  Frame (Gossamer).

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-).  It has some useful pieces in Orange but not a lot of must have bits.

Review: Block Tech 24-2365 Bunny Animal Blocks

I found these at 5 Below recently.  I'd seen them online but I didn't realize how compact the boxes actually are.  These sets can be found either in the Toy section with the rest of the building block sets, or on a rack by the entrance, or in the aisle to the checkout with other sub $5 items.

Box.  MSRP is $1.00, for a $0.02 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Plates, Round Plate, Double Slope, Jumper, Brick, Curved Slope w/Cutout,

Bricks w/Stud on Side, Bar Plates, Padlock, Ball Joint Stud, Double Sided Plate,

Studless Slopes, Large Cheese Slopes, Tiles, Brackets, Clip Tiles, Round Tiles,

Printed Round Tiles, Apollo Studs, 1x1x0.6 Curved Slope, Corner Plate, 1x1x1

Curved Sloped, Angled Curved Slopes, 1x2x1 Curved Slope, and Cones.

Build.  Frame.

 

Size Comparison?  As you can

see, the box is fairly tiny.

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 has a few really useful parts at a dirt cheap price but, what sets it apart for me is the Maxifig Hand that we haven't seen from Lego since the resurgence of small Ball Joints after the debut of the Mixels line.

Battle Report: Road to Nowhere @ PAX Unplugged

Once again, a few people gathered at PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia to wage battle in miniature.  I wasn't sure it was going to happen so when Ed and Fuzzpacho showed up at the Glyphpress booth on Saturday I was happy and a little surprised.  This game was a Skirmish.

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

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

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

   Blue Soldier -- 2B/1Gd8/2Y/2W + SSR.

   White Armored Spotter -- 1B/1d8/2Y/2W.

Ed (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (6 Points per Asset) * (6 assets) = 36 points.
   Sniper (Red Anvil) -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W.
   Thumper (White Artillerist) -- 2Ra+d8/2B/2W.
   Chopper (Blue Swarmer) -- 2Rh+d8/1B/1Gd8/1Y/2W +SSR(x2).
   Scope (Grey Squad Leader) -- 2Rd/1B/2Y/2W + SSR.

Me (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 21 points.  (Invictus)
   Purple Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W +SSR.

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

   Brown Soldier -- 2B/1Gd8/2Y/2W + SSR.
   Orange Delegator -- 2Ra/1B/2Y/2W.

   Blue Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W.

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

Events of Round 1 (DDC@11):  Fuzzpacho's Tan frame captures Ed's Sand Green Station before the game starts.  Fuzzpacho's Blue frame hits the tree in front of my Purple frame for 1.  My Brown frame hits Fuzzpacho's Tan frame for 2.  (I got distracted and forgot to take pictures at the end of this round.)

Fuzzpacho: 49 Points.

Ed: 30 points.

Me: 21 points.

Events of Round 2 (DDC @ 8): Fuzzpacho's Tan frame hits my Blue frame for 2.  My Blue frame then captures one of Fuzzpacho's Stations.  Ed's Grey frame recaptures his Sand Green Station, then hits the tree in front of my Blue frame for 1, and my Blue frame for 1, Station Dance.  My Yellow frame hits the tree in front of Ed's Grey frame for 1.  Ed's White frame hits my Blue frame for 4, destroying it.  My Purple frame hits Fuzzpacho's Blue frame for 1.  Ed's Blue frame hits the tree in front of Fuzzpacho's Tan frame for 1 with a SSR.  Fuzzpacho's Grey frame hits Ed's Grey frame for 2, and Ed's Blue frame for 2 -- Ed's Grey frame was the Target.  Ed's Red frame hits Fuzzpacho's Grey frame for 1.  My Brown frame hits the tree in front of Ed's Grey frame for 1, destroying it, and Ed's Grey frame for 3.

Ed: 36 points.

Fuzzpacho: 35 Points.

Me: 21 points.

Events of Round 3 (DDC @ 4): My Yellow frame runs across the road and captures Ed's Sand Green Station.  Ed's White frame moves down the road and hits Fuzzpacho's Grey frame for 2.  Fuzzpacho's Tan frame hits Ed's Blue frame for 3.  My Purple frame moves across the road, next to Fuzzpacho's Station, and hits Ed's Blue frame for 2, destroying it.  My Orange frame moves next to my Station and hits Ed's White frame for 1.  Ed's Red frame moves into cover behind a medium size tree and hits Fuzzpacho's Grey frame for 3, destroying it.  My Brown frame moves off the road and towards Fuzzpacho's second Station then hits the tree Fuzzpacho's White frame is in for 1.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

Fuzzpacho: 28 Points.

Me: 24 points.

Ed: 18 points.

Here are several aftermath pictures.

Thoughts & Observations:

• This was a Skirmish.
• This was Fuzzpacho's first game.
• We had another case of Accidental Defender.
• I think that's the quietest first round I can recall.
• Although the second round seems to make up for it.
• We had a fair amount of people asking questions about the game.
• If my math is right, this was my 81st game of MFZ: Rapid Attack.
• If you look at the last picture on the lower left and the picture I used for the Flickr page you can see how things moved from start to finish.
• Flickr page.