Friday, December 30, 2011

2011 Heroclix overview

I didn’t pick up much this year – Heroclix-wise. I got a few LEs at the beginning of the year and some of the Fast Forces and the Doctor Manhattan for Christmas. In between, they cranked out another three sets and my numbers only increased. Even though all three sets were Marvel based, I still didn’t pick up any of them.

Again I finished no Heroclix sets. I’m no closer than I was at the start of 2011 but rather farther back due to the new sets.

I’m still close on Ultimates (6+7), Mutant Mayhem (3+9), Legacy (6+11), Fantastic Forces (0+2), Armor Wars (11+1), Collateral Damage (8+1), Supernova (9+0), Avengers (0/3), Justice League (0/3), Mutations & Monsters (1/5), Crisis (0/11), Secret Invasion (2/6), Arkham Asylum (0/6), Hammer of Thor (3/8), Brave and Bold (8/7), and Web of Spider-Man (9/11). I’m still working away at Sinister (18+3) and Origin (23+0). I haven’t picked up any of DC 75 (33/11), Giant-Size X-Men (45/13/6), Captain America (47/11), or Incredible Hulk (36/10).

Right now, I need 413 figures – 274 REVs and 129 U/SRs. This is close to where I was at the start of 2008. Any bricks would have brought both of these much closer. I have also started counting figures needed by Wizkids or Neca – 155/258.
I did manage to get the Dr Manhattan as well as the reprints of the Apocalypse and both Sentinels from Giant-Size X-men. They look like they’re cranking out at least another three sets in 2012. I’m going to try and keep up with the sets, and pick up some of the previous sets as well as some figures to work at finishing the older sets.
I still need the Spectre, two Fooms, and the Phoenixes as well as the original Manhattan and Galactus. I also need all the new maps – from Hammer of Thor onwards. As well, I am going to try and pick up the other Fast Forces sets – which also come with maps.

I still need that one last LE from Horrorclix. I’m going to try to get that to finish that off. If I can, I’d like to get another map from the Cthulhu set.

Where did I spend all my Heroclix money? I picked up more 40K bits – more Tyranids plus a bit of Tau. I also got the entire set of FASA Crimson Skies rules, and some more Babylon 5 Call to Arms books. I picked up a bunch of Arcane Legions and a lot of Tron toy for use at Keycon. I got a bunch more Dr Who mini figures and a few other books and games.

I hope to get more 40K codices – being caught up on the rest of the fourth editions I am missing. I’m still looking for the Babylon 5 Call to Arms and Earth/Minbari War books and some of the Starship Troopers RPG books I am missing. I still want to get that final ARC-170 from the Star Wars Miniature Battles figure as well as the Power of the Force Luke’s Snowspeeder. I still might even get a bunch of Snowtroopers and Hoth Troopers. I also want to get the All Your Base set from Monsterpocalypse and maybe even a few more of Monsterpocalypse Now. I’m definitely hoping to pick up a Voltron set.
I am also hoping to work away at the Cheapass games as well as pick up a few new games.

Since I don’t have the game room I hoped I would, I don’t have the incentive to chase down the Heroclix big figures as I don’t have anywhere to display them. The storage unit does allow me to pick up some more goodies and store them away - but it's not quite the same.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Arkham City / Asylum

Arkham City just came out for the xbox 360 and the boy was pushing hard to get it. We picked it up for him right away, for Christmas. But he kept on pushing hard for it. We had to tell him that they didn’t have it at Walmart (which they didn’t) and that we have bought all the Christmas presents already (which we had). When we went out on Dec 16th, we told him that we didn’t buy it that day (which we didn’t).
We told him he could always download it if he gets xbox live points but he wailed that it’s not available on download yet – only on a disc. He was quite worked up about the possibility of not getting it.

While we were out, we saw that they now had Arkham Asylum in the discount bins. I told the wife that we should buy it, and give it to him all excited-like to see his reaction in thinking that we misunderstood him. She said that would be evil and mean. Funny, but mean.

So I picked it up on the 20th at Future Shop. The clerk had one in the back room. He agreed that it was mean – but in a funny way. While wrapping it we showed my daughter who, not understanding the difference, felt that he will be excited to get it.
- - -

Usually, on Christmas day, the kids don’t wake up super-early. Usually, they drag themselves downstairs by 8 or 9 in the morning. This year the boy was up by 6am and all excited to open gifts.

After opening the stockings and Santa gifts, we started handing out the presents. To his credit, when he opened Arkham Asylum, he didn’t look disappointed. He did tell us that it wasn’t the right one though. Then we opened the soft gifts – clothes and such. That’s when he said he was starting to get tired and looked a bit like he had lost some energy.

So we let him open the other one. He was much happier with that one. He started playing the Arkham City first. As of yesterday, he had finished the basic game – he still has additional missions he can play. He has started playing the Arkham Asylum.

He does appreciate the humor in the way it was done but he thinks it would have been more fun if we had done it to Gee instead.

Friday, December 23, 2011

40% off your next free game

I’m not sure how I missed it but sometime this year Cheapass games has finally updated their website. They are giving away the pdfs of their games and you can donate back to them.

I had made up a list last year of all the Cheapass games and had made another list of the ones I had when we moved around the basement this summer. I haven’t had time to cross reference the two lists yet to find what holes I needed to fill.

I came across the new version of Give Me The Brain now being made by Steve Jackson Games so I decided to check out the Cheapass site to find out what was up. And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but most of the missing games on free pdfs.

I pass it along to you out there, as my Christmas gift to the world.
Also, a small donation has been made in your name to the Human Fund – Money for People.

Monday, December 19, 2011

More cycles found

While out and about on Friday, doing some almost-last-minute shopping, I was able to find a few more Tron cycles at Toys R Us. I picked up two more Kevin Flynn retro cycles. They were even on an unmarked sale so ended up being about $3 each. At that price, I also picked up another Clu Sentry cycle and another Sam Flynn cycle. So I should be in a good position for a light cycle game.

I was also able to get another Sam Flynn at London Drugs for about $4. While I would be happier with a few more figures, that should give me a good half dozen to use.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Happy Holidays 2011


Merry Christmas (as applicable) to you and yours from me and mine.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Tron Grid Games - Disc Battle - advanced rules

GRID GAMES – DISC BATTLE - ADVANCED

This version requires a bit more record keeping as well as at least two dice. Use the Basic rules with the following changes:

Programs now have Levels. Basic Programs start at Level 1. A Program’s Level will have an effect on the number of Action Cards it has as well as how many Actions Card can be held. High level Programs also have the option of being able to use two Discs in battle. The following chart shows the points required for each Program Level and the number of Action Cards they get, as well as how many Action Cards they can hold during the game and how many they may start the game holding.

Points Level Action Cards May hold May start held Other
Start at 0 Level 1 - 4 - 1 - 1 - 1 Disc
8 points Level 2 - 5 - 1 - 1 - 1 Disc
16 points Level 3 - 5 - 2 - 1 - 1 Disc
32 points Level 4 - 5 - 2 - (1 - 2) - 1 Disc
64 points Level 5 - 6 - 2 - (1 - 2) - 1 Disc
128 points Level 6 - 6 - 3 - (1 - 2*) - 2 Discs*
256 points Level 7 - 6 - 3 - (1 - 3*) - 2 Discs*
512 points Level 8 - 7 - 3 - (1 - 3*) - 2 Discs*
1024 points Level 9 - 7 - 4 - (1 - 3*) - 2 Discs*
2048 points Level 10 - 7 - 4 - (1 - 4*) - 2 Discs*

* A Program may use two Discs. If a Program chooses to use two Discs, they remove one of their Action Cards from the battle and start the game with 1 less Action Card held instead.
[Example - A Level 7 Program using 1 Disc has 6 Action Cards and can start the game with up to 3 of them held. A Level 7 Program using 2 Discs has 5 Action Cards and can start the game with up to 2 of them held.]

Setup
During Setup, a Program always starts the game with at least 1 Action Card held. They may hold additional Action Cards at the start depending on their Level. After Level 6, a Program may use a second Disc in a battle. If they do use a second Disc then they must remove one of their Action Cards from the battle and start the game with 1 less Action Card held instead – but they must always start with at least 1 Action Card held.

Skill Test
In the Advanced game, some actions now require a Skill Test. Some tests will give you a number and some Actions, like Block and Dodge, require an opposed Skill Test and will be made against another Program.

To make a Skill Test against a number you roll a die and add the Program’s Level. If the result is equal to or higher than the number needed then the test is passed. If the result is less than the number needed that the test is failed.
To make an opposed Skill Test against another Program you both roll a die and each Program adds their Level to their roll. The Program with the higher total succeeds.


Actions

Block – If you have your Disc and another Disc Marker or Disc Movement Base crosses your Action Base you may spend an action to attempt to Block it. Make an opposed Skill Test against the Disc’s owning Program.
If you succeed or tie then you are successful - Roll the Direction Die and place the small end of the Disc Marker against your Action Base in the direction shown on the die.
If you fail the Skill Test then you are struck by the Disc.

Dodge - If another Disc Marker or Disc Movement Base crosses your Action Base you may spend an action to attempt to Dodge it. Make an opposed Skill Test against the Disc’s owning Program.
If you succeed or tie then you are successful - Roll the Direction Die and place the small end of the Disc Marker against your Action Base in the direction shown on the die.
If you fail the Skill Test then you are struck by the Disc.

If you have no actions and want to Dodge then make an opposed Skill Test as above. If you fail then you are stuck by the Disc. If you succeed then you become Prone. If you are already Prone you may not Dodge.


Disc Movement
When moving a thrown Disc, you now can arc it instead of throwing it in a straight line. Instead of placing the Disc Movement Base flush with the end of the Disc Marker by the arrow you may choose to place it at an angle. Place the Disc Movement Base at the angle you wish and make a Skill Test. If the angle is up to 45 degrees you need to make a Skill Test of 6. If the angle is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees you need to make a Skill Test of 10.
If the Skill Test is passed then move the Disc Marker to the other end of the Disc Movement Base. If the Skill Test is failed then move the Disc Movement Base back to be flush with the end of the Disc Marker and then move the Disc marker as normal instead.

A Disc that belongs to a De-Rezzed Program may only move in a straight line – it may not be arced.

Recalling a Thrown Disc – The owning Program may choose to recall their Disc at any time it would normally move. To Recall the Disc you would need to make a Skill Test of 6. If the Disc Marker is more than 4 Action Bases away from the Action Base of the owning Program, then the Skill Test required is 5 instead of 6.


Levels
Programs start at Level 1 with 0 points. They gain points as below by competing in matches. Programs may increase their Level between matches if they have gained enough points. During a match, at the end of every turn, when the Action Cards are shuffled, the scores are saved. If a Program is De-Rezzed, any points they have earned from the last save are lost.
Points are gained for the following:
De-Rezzing a Program – their Program level

In addition, Programs gain the following bonuses for winning:
Winning a solo match – your Program Level x 3
Being part of a winning team – your Program Level x 2

Any Programs that do not gain any points gain their Program Level in points just for being in a match.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Greetings programs!

While out and about yesterday I popped in to the Dollarama on Taylor. I was able to pick up two more Tron figures - a Clu and a Black Guard.
With the two Clu Sentries I had found earlier, as well as the other figures I had snapped up when they first hit Dollarama, I should be okay for the Tron - Grid Games - Disc Battle. I will need to repaint the energy lines on these so that it is more clear that they are different than the regular Clu and Guard.

If I could get a few more Kevins, Sentries, or Clus I would be a in better place.