Review: Make-It Blocks Shark

Have we jumped the shark yet?  We're still good, right?  :-)  Here's the last review from the Make-It Blocks "Animals" release.

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

Instructions.

Parts.  Plate, Wedge Plates, Inverted Slope, Slopes, Bar Plate

(open ends), Bar Plate (closed ends), Studless Slopes, Inverted

Slopes w/Cutout, Clip Plates, and Translucent Round Plates.

Build.  Yet another 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?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  As useful as this set is I feel like it's another candidate for a Double Set Challenge.  I really like all the Inverted Slopes w/Cutout this series has introduced though.

Review: Make-It Blocks Eagle

At the midpoint of the week, we have the penultimate review from the "Animals" release.

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

Instructions.

Parts.  Wedge Plates, Angled Bar Plate, Hinge Plates, Inverted

Slopes w/Cutout, Curved Slope w/Cutout, Plates, Studless Slopes,

Click Hinge Plates, Tooth Plates, Round Plates, and Clip Plates.

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?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Another thin set.  I like the new to Make-It Blocks parts though.

Review: Make-It Blocks Lion

Let's start this week's reviews with the first of the non-extinct animals from the "Animals" release.

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

Instructions.

Parts.  Slope, Plates, Bar Plate, Jumper, Curved Bricks w/Cutout,

Inverted Slopes, Tile, Studless Slopes, Cheese Slope, Round Plates,

Headlight Bricks, Round Bricks, Exo-Force Arm, and Bracket.

Build.  Frame.  It took me three tries to get something

I was okay with that wasn't just the set build. 

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+).  Another case of the scoring not being quite faithful with the results.

Review: Make-It Blocks Pterosaur

Let's finish this week's reviews with the last of the dinosaurs from the "Animals" release.

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

Instructions.

Parts.  Wedge Plates, Studless Slopes, Round Plates,

Inverted Slopes w/Cutout, Hinge Plates, Clip Plates, Cheese

Slopes, Plates, Translucent Round Plate, and Clip Tiles.

Build.   

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 like the contents of the set but it feels more like a parts pack than anything else.  This might make for a good Double Set Challenge with Wednesday's review.

Review: Make-It Blocks T-Rex

Is it dinosaur week?  I feel like it's dinosaur week.  Here's another review.

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

Instructions.

Parts.  Studless Slopes, Inverted Slopes w/Cutout, Cheese Slopes, Bricks,

Hinge Plates, Clip Plates, Transparent Round Plate, and Plates.

Build.  IO Frigate styled after the "Firefly" class. 

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+).  Not bad but, I never like when there's an odd number of any parts in a set.

Review: Make-It Blocks Triceratops

Switching from flora to fauna, let's look at another new line of Make-It Blocks sets for this week's reviews.

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

Instructions.

Parts.  Plates, Slopes, Wedge Plates, Hinge Plates, Clip Plates,

Curved Bricks w/Cutout, Travis Brick, Double Clip Plate,

Horns, Cheese Slopes, and Transparent Round Plates.

Build.  An Ijad Scorpion(!) mech.   

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'd say it needs a handful more parts to be super awesome but this set is a really good, inexpensive way to start a squad.

Review: Make-It Blocks Flower Building Blocks 4

Finishing out a week of Make-It Blocks Flower Building Blocks sets let's swing back to other end of the parts count spectrum.

Box.  MSRP is $1.25, for a $0.01 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Quarter Curved Plates, Octagonal Bar Plates, Quarter Circle

Tiles, Hexagonal Windshields, Pin/Axle Connector, Bent Pin/Axle

Connector, Minifig Shields, Macaroni Bricks, Macaroni Tiles,

Round Plates, Round Large Jumper, 2x2 Round Plates w/Rounded

Bottom, Axles, Round Plates w/3 Leaves, Clip Plates, Bar Clips,

Half Pins, Apollo Studs, Clip Bar Holders, Bar, Bricks, and Tiles.

Build.  Frame, Armored Assault archetype [2Rd

(bazooka) 2B (wing panels) 1G (rocket)].

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 set has the most different types of parts of this release, a decent color divide, and plenty of useful bits.

Review: Make-It Blocks Flower Building Blocks 3

Continuing on with a week of Make-It Blocks Flower Building Blocks sets let's take a look at the set with the smallest parts count.

Box.  MSRP is $1.25, for a $0.01 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Quarter Curved Plates, Large Steering Wheel, Octagonal Bar Plate,

Bricks, Hexagonal Windshields, 2x2 Leaves w/4 Petals and Axle Hole, Bent

Pin/Axle Connector, Pin/Axle Connector, Macaroni Bricks, Macaroni Tiles,

Round Large Jumpers, Round Plates, Tiles, Clip Plates, Apollo Studs,

Half Pins, Axles, Flower, Bar Clips, Round Plates w/3 Leaves, and Bar

Build.  Frame. 

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+).  It might have the least amount of parts but I think this has the best combination of parts so far.

Review: Make-It Blocks Flower Building Blocks 2

It's a new week but we still have more Make-It Blocks Flower Building Blocks sets to review.  This set falls in the middle of the parts count spectrum of this release.

Box.  MSRP is $1.25, for a $0.01 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Quarter Curved Plates, Macaroni Bricks, Round Plates w/3

Leaves, Hexagonal Windshields, Macaroni Tiles, Tiles, Round

Plates, Bricks, Pin/Axle Connectors, Bar, Travis Bricks, Padlocks,

Clip Tiles, Half Pins, Apollo Studs, Bar Stud, Bar Clips, and Axles.

Build.  Frame.
  

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+).   That's a ton of Padlocks and Clip Tiles.  The Pink color is a slightly lighter shade than the one Lego uses.

Review: Make-It Blocks Flower Building Blocks 1

A ton of new Make-It Blocks sets were just released so, hold on tight, we're diving right in.  With this series we now have five(?) companies making Botanical building blocks kits.  These are by far the least expensive of all the ones I've reviewed.  Let's see how the stack up.

Box.  MSRP is $1.25, for a $0.01 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Quarter Curved Plates, Octagonal Bar Plate, Bar Clips,

Round Plates w/3 Leaves, Hexagonal Windshields, Round Plates,

Macaroni Bricks, Round Large Jumper, Bent Pin/Axle Connector,

Pin/Axle Connector, Macaroni Tiles, Travis Bricks, Bricks, Half

Pins, Apollo Studs, Axles, Tiles, and Round Plates w/4 Knobs.

Build.  Frame, 2B or possible 2Rh+d8.
 

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+).  That is a lot of Lime and Pink.  Tons of useful parts too.

Review: 30668 Easter Bunny w/Colorful Eggs Polybag

I found this in the Seasonal section of my local Target.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99, for a $0.07 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Round Plates,  Plates, Studless Slopes, Round Large Jumpers, Printed

Round Tiles, Domes, Inverted Domes, Wedge Plates, Ball Joint Plates, Double

Curve Wedge Slopes, Round Tiles, Clip Plates, Bar Plates, Curved Bricks w/Cutout,

Inverted Double Slope, Slope, Round Plates w/3 Leaves, Curved Slope, Double

Curved Slopes, Brackets, Round Plates w/Curved Upright Leaf, and Cones.

Build.  Frame, Station, 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?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  I like it, but I want more.  Two more of the 1x2 Clip Plates and I could have made longer legs for the Frame.  A second 2x4 Plate and I could have had the Cover piece on a solid base.  I know it's a little "gimme, gimme, gimme" but, yaknow, gimme.

Review: Mechanical Robots "Bomb Soldier"

I stumbled across the blind bag item while food shopping the other day.  Discovering, by feel, that is was made from a few parts I decided to review it and see if it could be a cheap entry point for MFZ: Rapid Attack.  The company that made this is ORBtoys.

Package. I paid $1.99 at Wegman's.

Inner package.

 Disassembled.  The gun could be Direct Fire, Artillery or

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

Assembled. According to the picture on
the back of the package, this thing is

missing a head. It also can't stand unsupported while carrying the gun.

Size Comparison.  This one is a little larger than a Chub.

The Questions:
Is it below, at, or above $10 per Frame? Below. (+5)
Is it a good size to use in a game? Yes. About the same size as a Chub. (+5)
How many parts does it have to represent systems? One. (-5)
Does it have enough parts you can remove to represent White Dice damage? Yes. (+5)
Score: +10 (A-).  Yeeaah.  Despite the decent score this thing ain't even close to worth it.

EDIT: As if the downsides weren't enough, this may be an unlicensed copy of a Warmachine miniature.

Battle Report: Sci-Fi Outpost 8 @ Paper Asylum

After seven months away, and the shift to a new calendar year, we returned to the Paper Asylum, for our second game of the year.  This was a Skirmish.  We had enough players to have two tables running at the same time.

Phungkyjams (5 Frames & 19 Systems) = (5 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 35 points. (Strikehands)
   Green Fast Sniper -- 2Ra/1B/2G/2W.

   Red Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W.
   Blue Watchtower -- 2B/1Gd8/2Y/2W + SSR (x2).
   Orange Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.
   Yellow -- 2Rd/2Y/2W + SSR.

Pete (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 21 points. (Fuzzy Pink Bunny Slippers)
   Blue Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Yellow Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Black Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.
   Lime Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.
   Red Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W + SSR.

Me (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 21 points. (Hurrball Squad)
   Blue Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.
   Green Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W.
   Tan Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Yellow Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Red Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W + SSR.

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

Events of Round 1 (DDC@11): Phunkyjams captures both of Pete's Stations before the game starts.  My Yellow frame runs forward and captures Phungkyjams' Carrot Patch Station.  Pete's Black frame glides forward and hits Phungkyjams' Green frame for 1.  My Blue frame hits the White alien plants for 2 -- destroying them -- and Phungkyjams' Green frame for 1, Station Dance.  Pete's Yellow frame glides towards Quonset Hut 2 and hits Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 1.  Pete's Blue frame also glides towards Quonset Hut 2 and hits Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 3.  My Orange frame jumps forward and hits Phungkyjams' Green frame for 2 with a SSR.  Phungkyjams' Blue frame hits my Yellow frame for 1, Station Dance.  Phungkyjams' Red frame runs forward and captures his Carrot Patch Station back.  Phungkyjams' ?? captures my Red Station.

Phungkyjams: 50 points.

Me: 18 points.

Pete: 15 points.

Events of Round 2 (DDC @ 9): Pete's Lime frame hits Phungkyjams' Green frame for 2.  Phungkyjams' Green frame hits my Blue frame for 1, Station Dance.  My Yellow frame jumps over Phungkyjams' Red frame and captures Pete's Blue Station that was under Phungkyjams' control, then hits Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 1 with a SSR.  Pete's Yellow frame  hits my Yellow frame for 2, Station Dance.  Pete's Blue frame hits my Yellow frame for 1.  Pete's Black frame hits Phungkyjams' Green frame for 3, destroying it.

Phungkyjams: 40 points.

Me: 21 points.

Pete: 15 points.

Events of Round 3 (DDC @ 7): Phungkyjams' Blue frame captures Pete's Blue Station that was under my control.  My Yellow frame captures Phungkyjams' Little Nas Station.  Pete's Blue frame hits Phungkyjams' Blue frame for 5, Station Dance.  My Tan frame hits Phungkyjams' Blue frame for 1, then captures Pete's Blue Station that was under Phungkyjams' control.  Pete's Yellow frame hits Phungkyjams'Orange frame for 2, destroying it, and recaptures his Yellow Station.  My Orange frame recaptures my Red Station from Phungkyjams.  Pete's Blue frame hits my Tan frame for 1, Station Dance.  Pete's Red frame recaptures his Blue Station from me.  Pete's Black frame hits my Yellow frame for 2.  Phungkyjams' Yellow frame hits my Yellow frame for 2.

Me: 24 points.

Pete: 21 points.

Phungkyjams: 20 points.

Events of Round 4 (DDC @ 4): My Orange frame steps away from my Red Station and cuts Pete's Red frame for 2.  Pete's Lime frame hits my Green frame for 1.  Pete's Blue frame hits my Green frame for 2.  Pete's Black frame hits my Green frame for 1.  Phungkyjams' heavily damaged Blue frame lurches towards the shuttle and punches my Tan frame for 5, destroying it.  Phungkyjams' Yellow frame hits Pete's Red frame for 1.  Phungkyjams' Red frame hits my Green frame for 4, destroying it.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

Pete: 21 points.

Phungkyjams: 20 points.

Me: 18 points.

Here are several during and aftermath pictures.

Round 1.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 3.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Here's a couple of pictures from the other game being played at the same time.

Start.

Start.

Start.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Thoughts & Observations:

• This was a Skirmish.
• I copied one of Tom's squads for this game.
• I feel like I need more practice with it.
• Flickr page.