Review: Block Tech US101-1167 Block Bouquet Black Dahlia

Just in time for Halloween we have this special "Block Bouquet" release.  My receipt lists them as "Goth Flowers".  These are a limited edition release and will probably have disappeared off shelves by the time this is published.  Sorry.  It took 'til the second week of October for there to be a page for them on the Five Below website.

Box.  MSRP is $3.25, for a $0.06 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Wing, Swordleaves, Large Barb/Claw/Horn/Tooth,

Octagonal Bar Plates, Gears, Axles, Round Plates, Clip Plates, Bent

Axle Connector w/Pinhole, Axle Connector w/Pinhole, Axle Connector,

Bar, Bar Clip, Half Pin, Clip Bar Holders, and Tiles w/Pinhole.

Build 1.  Frame (2W) and station.

Build 2.  Three Frames (2W), and a Station.

Cannot be built at the same time as Build 1.

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+).  Build 2 is a good start to a squad.  Hopefully people can find this in stock somewhere.

Review: Block Tech US101-1168 Block Bouquet Black Lily

Just in time for Halloween we have this special "Block Bouquet" release.  My receipt lists them as "Goth Flowers".  These are a limited edition release and will probably have disappeared off shelves by the time this is published.  Sorry.  It took 'til the second week of October for there to be a page for them on the Five Below website.

Box.  MSRP is $3.25, for a $0.05 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  4x4x11 Curved Tapered Panels w/Clip at Each End, 1x8

Hinge Plates w/Angled Side Extensions, Angled Axle Connector

w/Pinhole, Axles, Helicopter Blades, Round Plate, Steering

Wheel, Double Sided Round Plate, and Octagonal Bar Plate.

Parts 2.  Lamp Post Base (?), Round Plate w/Axle Hole, Round Plate

 w/Pinhole, Hinge Plates, Ball Joint Plates, Axle/Pin Connectors, Axle

 Connectors, Axles, Clip Tiles, Bushings, Ball Joint Pins, Apollo Stud,

 Double-Sided Round Plates, Grass Stems, Bar, and Bar Connector. 

Build.  Frame (2W).

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've always been a fan of Balloon Panels.  Also, this set is interesting because some of the parts are Charcoal/Flat Black colored rather than the Glossy Black that we're used to seeing in most building block sets.

Terrain Workshop: Trees 26

When you have trees on a battlefield in MFZ: Rapid Attack one of the things that is hard to simulate is the overhang and canopy coverage of tree branches.  One of the reasons behind this is it's hard to move your Frames around on the table if you have to reach under things a lot.  Also the general size of RA playing pieces would mean that trees would have to be built pretty tall to achieve this effect.  But recently, after purchasing the Friends Adventure Camp Treehouse set, I had a bit of a brainstorm.

Starting with two Arched Door Frame 1x6x7 w/Notches and Rounded Pillars

placed back to back to represent the trunks and intertwined branches of the

trees, we add four 1x2 Round Plant Plate w/Layered Leaves to represent,

well, leaves.  This is 22' tall, 30' long, and 15' wide -- from leaftip to leaftip --

 in 6P scale.  As it's only six pieces it would be 1 Hit in MFZ: RA.

You can place two of these together on the same 6x6 Plate as long as the leaf pieces are aligned in the same direction.  This also creates a makeshift tunnel between the trees.

It's a somewhat tight fit but a

Classic can fit in the tunnel.

Size comparison with the usual suspects.

I hope this gives people ideas or techniques to use in their terrain builds. 

Flickr Page.

Review: Block Tech US24-2333 Succulents Stonecrop

5 Below had a new release of Botanical sets but, instead of flowers it's succulents.  The box coloring and packaging is similar to the first release of Block Botanical.  This was the first release, there are way more sets in the second.  You may still be able to find the first release in a few stores.

Box.  MSRP is $3.25, for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Flowers, Octagonal Bar Plate, Round Tile, Slopes, Double-Sided

Round Plate, Door Rail Plates, Wedge Plates, Round Large Jumper,

Eggshell Crowns, Plant Stem w/Stud and 3 Large Leaves, and Round Plate.

Parts 2.  Round Plate w/3 Leaves, Round Bricks, Apollo Studs, Round

Flower Plates, Inkwells, Double Cheese Slopes, Clip Bar Holders, Bar Bar

Holders, Clip Bars, Bars, and 0L Bar Connectors (These things are tiny!).

Build.  Frame (2W).

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+).  While I think my Frame design is fun, this might work better as a terrain pack.

Review: Block Tech US24-2332 Succulents Hen & Chick

5 Below had a new release of Botanical sets but, instead of flowers it's succulents.  The box coloring and packaging is similar to the first release of Block Botanical.  This was the first release, there are way more sets in the second.  You may still be able to find the first release in a few stores.

Box.  MSRP is $3.25, for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Octagonal Bar Plate, Round Plate, Round Plate w/Cutout, 2x2x2/3

Double Female Brick, Double Sided Plate, Quarter Domes, Leaves w/Small

Pins, Eggshell Crowns, Corner Plates, Tail Ends/Horns, and Round Plate.

Parts 2.  Round Large Jumper, Half Circle Tiles, Round Brick, Double Sided Plates, Tooth

Plates, Clip Plates, Round Plates w/Flower Petals, Inverted Tiles, and Apollo Studs.

 

Build.  Frame (2W) and 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+).  Those Leaves are weird but there's some useful bits in here.  I like the Pink pieces.

Battle Report: Teslaville 7

This is our ninth game of Rapid Attack, as a group, this year.  It's been a couple of years since this table-setting has seen use.  We played earlier in the month than usual due to being up in Beverly at Paper Asylum this time around and it being a holiday weekend.

Phungkyjams (5 Frames & 18 Systems) = (6 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 42 points.  (Strikehands)
   Red Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W + SSR.
   Yellow Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.
   Orange -- 2Ra/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Pink -- 2Ra/1B/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Purple Delegator -- 2Ra/1B/2Y/2W.

Stevenik (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 28 points.

   Blue Tank -- 2Rd+d8/2B/2W + SSR.
   Orange Tank -- 2Rd+d8/2B/2W.
   Yellow Watchtower -- 2B/2Y/2W + SSR.
   Green Artillerist -- 2Ra+d8/2B/2W + SSR.

   Gold Armored Guardian -- 2Rd/2Ra/2B/2W.

Me (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 28 points.  (Super Goblins)
   Red Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W + SSR.
   White Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W + SSR.
   Yellow Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.
   Blue Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W.
   Lime Squad Leader -- 2Rd/1B/2Y/2W + SSR.

Pete (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (7 assets) = 28 points. (Fuzzy Pink Bunny Slippers)
   Blue Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W.
   Yellow Anvil -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1Y/2W.
   Black Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Lime Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.
   Red Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W + SSR (x2).

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

Events of Round 1 (DDC @ 11): Phungkyjams' Yellow frame captures my Yellow station before the game starts.

Phungkyjams' Red frame hits Pete's Black frame for 2, then runs in an arc to capture Pete's Orange station.

Phungkyjams' Yellow frame hits my Lime frame for 2.  My Lime frame moves East and hits a Short Support for 2, destroying it.  Pete's Lime frame hits Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 4.  Phungkyjams' Orange frame hits my Blue frame for 2 then steps North.  Pete's Red frame hits Stevenik's Blue frame for 1.  Pete's Yellow frame hits Stevenik's Orange frame for 3.  My White frame moves East and hits Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 1 with a SSR, Station Dance.  My Yellow frame lumbers East and hits the ascending Track Section in front of Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 1, destroying it.  My Red frame stomps East and hits Phungkyjams' Orange frame for 2 with a SSR, destroying it.

Phungkyjams' Pink frame hits Pete's Red frame for 3, then leaps East to the top of the tracks to capture my Magenta station.

Phungkyjams: 54 points.

Stevenik: 28 points.

Pete: 24 points.

Me: 20 points.

Events of Round 2 (DDC @ 8): Phungkyjams' Yellow frame hits my Yellow frame for 2.  Phungkyjams' Pink frame targets my Blue frame but hits the Lightpost in front of it for 1 instead.  My Blue frame hits a Tall Support near the broken section of track in the East side of the loop for 1, destroying it, then takes a couple of steps forward.  Stevenik's Blue frame moves East and captures Pete's Orange station that was under Phungkyjams' control.  Pete's Lime frame hits Phungkyjams' Red frame for 3.  Pete's Blue frame hits a Short Support for 4, destroying it.  My Lime frame hits an ascending Track Section on the West side of the loop for 1 with a SSR, destroying it, then moves North.  Stevenik's Orange frame hits a Tall Support by that break in the track for 4, destroying it.  Stevenik's Gold frame hits Phungkyjams' Yellow frame for 3 then scuttles East.  Phungkyjams' Yellow frame Station Dances East  and captures Pete's Yellow station.  Unable to stop, the Train falls off the wrecked track and Stevenik's Gold frame captures the now grounded Neutral station.

Phungkyjams: 54 points.

Stevenik: 36 points.

Pete: 20 points.

Me: 20 points.

Events of Round 3 (DDC @ 5): Pete's Lime frame hits Phungkyjams' Red frame for 1, Station Dance.  Pete's Black frame hits Phungkyjams' Purple frame for 2.  Phungkyjams' Purple frame then hits my Blue frame for 1.  My Blue frame returns fire but hits the Whirligig for 2, destroying it.  Pete's Red frame hits Stevenik's Gold frame for 3, Station Dance.  Stevenik's Gold frame hits Phungkyjams' Pink frame for 1.  Stevenik's Orange frame hits a Short Support for 2, destroying it.  Stevenik's Green frame hits Phungkyjams' Red frame for 2, Station Dance.  Pete's Blue frame hits Stevenik's Orange frame for 2, Station Dance.  My Lime frame hops westward over the tracks and captures Stevenik's Black station.  My Yellow frame hits Stevenik's Blue frame for 1, then jumps over the tracks.  My Red frame moves East, under the tracks, and captures Phungkyjams' Data station.  My White frame hits Stevenik's Blue frame for 2, Station Dance, then moves North next to the intact Whirligig.  My Yellow frame captures Pete's Orange station that was under Stevenik's control.  Phungkyjams' Yellow frame hits my Yellow frame for 1, Station Dance.

Phungkyjams: 48 points.

Me: 32 points.

Stevenik: 28 points.

Pete: 20 points.

Events of Round 4 (DDC @ 1):  Stevenik's Blue frame steps West and recaptures Pete's Orange station that was under my control.  Pete's Lime frame targets Phungkyjams' Red frame, hits Phungkyjams' Yellow and Red frames for 1 each, Station Dances.  Pete's Black frame hits Phungkyjams' Purple frame for 1.  Pete's Blue frame hits my Lime frame for 2, Station Dance.  My Lime frame takes that momentum and sprints East to punch Stevenik's Blue frame for 3, destroying it, and recaptures Pete's Orange station that was under Stevenik's control.  Stevenik's Orange frame scuttles North and recaptures his Black station, then hits my Lime frame for 1, Station Dance.  Stevenik's Gold frame hits Phungkyjams' Purple frame for 1.  Pete's Red frame hits Stevenik's Orange frame for 1.  Stevenik's Lime frame hits Phungkyjams' Yellow frame for 2.  Phungkyjams' Pink frame hits my Yellow frame for 2.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

Phungkyjams: 48 points.

Me: 28 points.

Stevenik: 28 points.

Pete: 20 points.

Here's several during and aftermath pictures.

Round 1.

Round 1.

Round 1.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 2.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Round 3.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Round 4.

Thoughts & Observations:

• This was a Skirmish.
• We used the Neutral Station rule.
• We used the "New 1.3" player count formula from my "Player Count 6" blog post.
• While there are Elevated sections at either end of the tracks, we didn't use the Elevation rules.
• I forgot to bring my usual camera, and my coffee, so I had to use one of my backups.
• The focal length on it is horrible.
• There were a lot of "Oh, cool!" and "Is that Lego?" comments from passers-by.
• We also had a fair amount of questions about the game itself.
• This game had the highest amount of Damage to Cover at 18 points.
• It also had the most pieces of Cover destroyed, with eight.
• Speaking of Cover, after the last time we used this table-setting I had an idea for new a new piece -- the Lightpost -- and it was used in this game.
• I thought I placed my squad pretty well during Set Up but, thinking about it afterwards I see how it could have been better.
• I was sloppy with the placement of my Stations.  I was trying to be cute and it cost me.
• I really got hamstrung by some awful Movement rolls during the latter half of the game.
• And on a long, thin battlefield like this -- with so much blocked off by the Defender -- Movement is key.
• Flickr page.