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.

Battle Report: Ice 9 (Expedition 5)

Our gaming group had to skip September since we fell victim to the most common ailment of adult life -- conflicting schedules.  Since it had been almost two years since this table setting had been used and over three years since it had been used in a home game, I broke out Ice 9 instead of trying to use one of the newer table settings.  We had five players in a Battle situation for this game.

Me (4 Frames & 16 Systems) = (7 Points per Asset) * (5 assets) = 35 points  (Serpent Legion)
   Yellow Delegator -- 2Ra/1B/2Y/2W + SSR.

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

   Orange Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W.
   Green Soldier -- 2Rd/1B/1G/1Y/2W + SSR.

PJ Nicht (5 Frames & 19 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (6 assets) = 24 points. (mecha)

   Purple Light Brawler -- 2Rh/2B/1G+d8/2W.

   Yellow Fast Brawler -- 2Rh+d8/1B/1G+d8/2W + SSR.
   Teal Heavy Assault -- 2Rd+d8/1B/1G/2W.

   Blue Armored Assault -- 2Rd/2B/1G/2W.
   Pink Fast Spotter -- 1G+d8/2Y/2W  + SSR (x2).

Tom (5 Frames & 19 Systems) = (4 Points per Asset) * (6 assets) = 24 points.
   Grey Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W + SSR.
   Green Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W + SSR.

   White Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/1Y/2W + SSR.

   Yellow Armored Swarmer -- 2Rh/2B/1Gd8/2W.

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

Occam's Spork (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (6 assets) = 18 points.
   Orange Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.

   Green Fast Stalker -- 2Ra+d8/2G/2W.

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

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

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

Narbey (5 Frames & 20 Systems) = (3 Points per Asset) * (6 assets) = 18 points.  (Skitterers)
   Yellow Recon by Fire -- 2Ra+d8/2Y/2W.

   Green Brawler -- Rh+d8/2B/1Gd8/2W.

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

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

   Orange 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): My Orange frame captures PJ Nicht's Station before the game starts.  My Green frame captures Toms' Station before the game starts.  PJ Nicht's Yellow frame hits Narbey's Green frame for 2 then jumps into the fountain.  My Green frame hits Occam's Spork's Blue frame for 2 with a SSR and retreats to the large pumping tube and cylinder section.  Occam's Spork's White frame seizes Tom's Station that was under my control after moving forward from the small pumping tube and cylinder section.  Tom's Blue frame hits my Green frame for 1.  Tom's Green frame breaks out of the stack and buzzsaws Occam's Spork's Blue frame for 1.  Narbey's White frame skitters towards PJ Nicht's Station and hits my Orange frame for 2, Station Dance.  My Orange frame steps over and hammers Narbey's Yellow frame for 3, Station Dance.  My Orange frame captures Narbey's Station.  PJ Nicht's Teal frame runs over from the flag and captures their Station back.  Narbey's Red frame skitters to the end of the long building and hits Occam's Spork's Red frame for 1, Station Dance.  PJ Nicht's Blue frame turns and hits my Orange frame for 1, Station Dance.  PJ Nicht's Blue frame then lumbers forward and captures Narbey's station.  PJ Nicht's Pink frame hits Narbey's Yellow frame for 4 with a SSR, destroying it.  Tom's Grey frame moves towards an ice formation and hits Occam's Spork's White frame for 1, Station Dance.  PJ Nicht's Purple frame claws Narbey's Green frame for 4, destroying it, them moves away from the long building and closer to one of the domes.

Me: 35 points.

PJ Nicht: 28 points.

Occam's Spork: 21 points.

Tom: 20 points.

Narbey: 9 points.

Events of Turn 2 (DDC @ 6): Occam's Spork's Red frame moves towards the large pumping tube and cylinde section and claws my Green frame for 1 which forces my Green frame to retreat to my Station.  My Blue frame hits Occam's Spork's White frame for 1 with a SSR after it moves next to my Station.  My Yellow frame hits Occam's Spork's White frame for 1 with a SSR.  Occam's Spork's Orange frame hits my Green frame for 2, Station Dance.  Occam's Spork's White frame captures my Station.  Occam's Spork's Green frame hits my Green frame for 3, destroying it.  Tom's Blue frame hits Occam's Spork's White frame for 2, Station Dance.  Narbey's Orange frame hits PJ Nicht's Purple frame for 1.  PJ Nicht's Purple frame retaliates by hitting Narbey's White frame for 1, which then skitters to the end of the row of ice spires.  PJ Nicht's Pink frame hits my Orange frame for 1 with a SSR.  My Orange frame leaps over the fray and hammers PJ Nicht's Purple frame in the back for 3 damage.  Narbey's Red frame skitters away from the long building and attacks -- attempting to hit PJ Nicht's Blue frame -- hitting an ice spire for 1.  Tom's White frame hits Occam's Spork's Blue frame for 1, Station Dance.  Tom's Grey frame buzzsaws Occam's Spork's Red frame for 3.  PJ Nicht's Teal frame hits my Orange frame for 4.  PJ Nicht's Yellow frame leaves the fountain -- moving towards one of the domes -- and hits my Orange frame for 4 with a SSR, destroying it.

PJ Nicht: 28 points.

Occam's Spork: 24 points.

Tom: 20 points.

Me: 14 points.

Narbey: 9 points.

Events of Turn 3 (DDC @ 2): Occam's Spork's Orange frame hits PJ Nicht's Blue frame for 2.  Narbey's White frame hits PJ Nicht's Pink frame for 1, Station Dance.  PJ Nicht's Pink frame retaliates by hitting Narbey's White frame for 2.  Narbey's Orange frame hits PJ Nicht's Blue frame for 3, Station Dance.  Tom's Blue frame hits the Ice Spire in front of PJ Nicht's Blue frame for 2, and the frame for 2, destroying it.  Occam's Spork's Green frame hits PJ Nicht's Purple frame for 1, Station Dance.  Tom's Green frame buzzsaws Occam's Spork's Red frame for 2, Station Dance.  Occam's Spork's Red frame claws Tom's Grey frame for 2.  Tom's Grey frame buzzsaws Occam's Spork's Red frame for 1 then moves beside my Station.  Tom's White frame hits Occam's Spork's Red frame for 2, destroying it.  My Yellow frame hits Occam's Spork's White frame for 2.  PJ Nicht's Teal frame hits Occam's Spork's Orange frame for 1, Station Dance.  The Doomsday Clock is ticked to zero.

PJ Nicht: 24 points.

Occam's Spork: 21 points.

Tom: 20 points.

Me: 14 points.

Narbey: 9 points.

Here are a few aftermath pictures.

Thoughts & Observations:

• This is our fourth game this year.
• Point Attacker was decided by die roll.
• As was Attacker position.
• This was a Battle.
• I'm still holding to my resolution to use squads that haven't seen prior table time.
• But of course the night before the game I had to remake some of the Systems for the squad I chose.
• I didn't have a clear idea for a strategy or squad composition for this game.
• I know I also made tactical mistakes during the game.
• We really hammered the Doomsday Clock at the end of the first round and I have no idea why.
• This was another tense, highly competitive game.
• Here are more pictures from the game.