Heroclix Overview 2018

I didn’t really buy much in the way of Heroclix last year. I bought a few of them but didn’t really keep up with all of the Fast Forces/Starter sets that came out. I didn’t really get any of the new sets again this year, but did get a few figures to use as substitutes for DC/Marvel Universe. I was going to pick up a few more older figures but the dollar did not improve, and I ended up using my figure money on Blood Bowl and DC Universe figures instead.

I did not complete any more sets this year. I do plan on continuing to complete the older WizKids sets, even if it to be able to box them up and put them away.

Having not picked up any new figures last year, I am as close now as I was last year on Ultimates (0+3), Mutant Mayhem (3+2), Legacy (0+3), Origin (4+0), Mutations & Monsters (1/3), Crisis (0/2), Hammer of Thor (3/8), Brave and Bold (8/7) and Batman Classic TV (3), and TMNT (3+3).

I still need Spectre, both green Fooms, both of the Phoenixes, and the Starro. I need the original Manhattan and Galactus but will not be pursuing them further.

NECA seems to be winding down. I only have 5 sets listed for in 2018, none of which I got figures for. I didn’t even get all of the Fast Forces sets.

Needing well over 2500 figures, it is even more apparent that I will not reach this goal. If I hit the lottery, I will give it a solid effort but even then, the storage would be a huge hurdle.
The stat numbers are now beyond calculations.
From this point, I am not even looking to keep up with starters. I will still try to complete some of these sets even if it so I can pack them away. The numbers from the old sets are more reasonable - I need 21 figures from the old WizKids sets (8 REV and 13 Uniques). I might still get a few Necas as available, especially for proxies for others games, and might pick up some of the smaller Gravity Feed sets, and the first few Neca sets.

Figure Painting Total - February 2019

I picked up a few more figures in February. I picked up some hockey figures at Dollarama to use with the Jugger game. I also got a good deal on the Big Trouble in Little China game. It was a bit crunched in one corner, like it had fallen, so it was 25% off.

Big Trouble in Little China game – 40
Hockey Champions – 24
Chronoscope - Black Mist – 1
Chronoscope – Nightslip – 2
Chronoscope – Sister Marie – 1
Chronoscope – Frank Buck – 1
Chronoscope – Jane Porter, Victorian Heroine – 1
Chronoscope – Pulp Era Female Pilot – 1
Chronoscope – Jack Ryan, Pulp Explorer – 1

Feb figures bought – 72, figures painted – 0

Running total 2019 – figures bought 100, figures painted 0

Straw Holder

With the push by many communities to ban or phase out plastic straws, a lot of people have started using glass straws. While this is great for the environment, carrying around a hollow glass rod is challenging. We have tried a few options but nothing has been the best yet.
There doesn’t seem to be a good product, already in place, that could be used as a transport case that is not too expensive, not too big, and rigid enough to prevent damage to the straws. I keep thinking that a chopstick holder might work, but I have not been able to find one yet.

The first thing that came to mind was to use a toothbrush holder but it was not long enough to fit without modification. We ended up cutting the ends off of two holders and butting them together and duct taping them to extend the holder. This works fine, but my daughter tends to hold the ends when she opens it so it slips from the tape.

While I fix that one, we found another solution to use. We found this dustpan at Dollarama.
The pan end removed easily and it was cut down to length. The grip holds well enough while still being removable. It is too long so not a perfect solution. Plus, it looks a bit like an electric cattle prod. But it is solid and does work for now.

Figure Painting Total - Jan 2019

Looking over my lists from last year I noticed that I seemed to have missed both the Firefly board game from last year, and the expansions that came in just before the end of the year.

Firefly Adventures: Brigands and Browncoats - 20
Firefly Adventures: Respectable Folks - 4
Firefly Adventures: Wanted Fugitives - 4

Jan figures bought - 28
Jan figures painted - 0

Top Ten Games - 2018

I have put together my top 10 games for 2018. Note that these are games that I have played for the first time in 2018, not necessarily games that were released in 2018. With all the games that I already have, I got another 29 games plus expansions last year. Some were gifts, some were purchased at the thrift stores, and most were new.

The new games were: Axis & Allies & Zombies, Batman Miniatures Arkham Campaign, Blitz Bowl, Broken Legions, Deathwatch: Overkill, Domination, Downforce, Downforce: Danger Circuit, Dracula’s America: Shadow of the West: Hunting Grounds, Firefly Adventures: Brigands and Browncoats, Gaslands, Get The MacGuffin, Godzilla: Kaiju World Wars, Highlander board game, Last Days: Zombie Apocalypse, Poseidon’s Warriors, Santorini: Golden Fleece, Space Marine Adventures: Labyrinth of the Necrons, The Horus Heresy: The Burning of Prospero, Through the Desert, Unspeakable Words, Zombies!!! 14: Space Bites, Zombies!!! 15: Another One Bites the Dust.

The ones I picked up not new were: Bommerz over da Sulphur River, Forbidden Island, Lawmen of the Old West, Take the Train, Tetris Dual, Tetris Link.


A lot of these did not hit the table this year. Some games from previous years were finally played.

Games that I played for the first time that did not make my list were:


14 – Dutch Blitz – seems very reminiscent to G’Nertz or Nertz. I like the idea that it can play 4 people but it seems like a bit more confusing compared to the original.

13 - Iron Man 2: Game of War - really doesn’t seem like there is much to this one. I didn’t pay much so didn’t expect much but it only seems a little bit better albeit much quicker than classic War.

12 – Patchwork – This plays okay but is only for two players. I wasn’t impressed with my first play of it. I may need another play to see if I’m missing something.

11 – Tetris Dual – it is basically an electronic version of two-player Tetris Link with a modified scoring. Tetris Link does it better. It also loses a few points as the sound effects cannot be turned off.


10 – Sleeping Princesses – A simple game for kids. There is a bit more to it to keep adults somewhat entertained.

9 – Monopoly Hotels – Not a great game but kind of a neat little filler. The hotels are a bit overproduced but they do look nice. Only for two players.

8 – Queendomino – A bit fiddly to pick up for the first play. The scoring is a bit involved. But once you get the hang of it, it plays pretty well.

7 – Neopets – Adventures in Neopia – a simple kid’s game with a bunch of minigames, some random, some dexterity.

6 – KUUDUK – a deceptively simple card game. It looks like it comes from the 70s but there is something there. It can play with a larger number of players.

5 – Battleship Express – a nice variation which does away with the grids and pegs and uses dice. It allows to up to 4 players and has two levels of play.

4 – Veritas – It seems pretty simple enough once you get a few rounds in. But once the monasteries start burning, a runaway leader can easily occur.

3 – Super Mario Bros. Power Up Card Game – nice in that it can handle up to 8 players. We tried it with 3 but found that there was not a lot of gameplay. We tried again with 5 players and found that it really sings with the extra people. One of them mentioned that it is similar to Chase the Ace but with added powers.

2 – Tetris Link – A vertical linking game. It is quick and scales well from 2 to 4 players. Easy to pick up and explain.

1 – Downforce – It’s has the extra complexity of betting layered on to Daytona 500. It also has rules for a more streamlined version without the auction or betting that plays well with new or younger players.

Books read September to December 2018

Sept
Ty’s Tricks: Home repair secrets plus cheap and easy projects to transform any room by Ty Pennington
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
The Mighty Aztecs by Gene S Stuart
The Incredible Incas and Their Timeless Land by Loren McIntyre
Robotech Art 1: The Official Guide to the Robotech Universe by Kay Reynolds and Ardith Carlton

Oct
40K: Crusade of Fire by Andrew Kenrick
Crimson Slaughter (6th edition) by The Games Workshop Design Studio
Blood Bowl – Death Zone Season One! By Games Workshop LTD
40K: Shield of Baal: Exterminatus by The Games Workshop Design Studio

Nov
Blood Bowl – The Inaugural Blood Bowl Almanac by Games Workshop Ltd
Disney-Pixar: The Art of Cars 2 by Ben Queen with Karen Paik

Dec
The Greatest Comeback by Patrick J Buchanan
Inside the Magic Kingdom: Seven Keys to Disney’s Success by Tom Connellan
The Antiques Roadshow – A Celebration of the first 21 years by Fiona Malcolm
Ship Modeling from Stem to Stern by Milton Roth
Based on a True Story (A Memoir) by Norm Macdonald
Lady Parts by Andrea Martin
Wildflower by Drew Barrymore

Figure Painting Total December and 2018

I did get more figures in December especially at Christmas. Even though I had made a good start on my Blood Bowl team, I was not able to find time to finish any. With things calming down, I hope to get back to it.

Elfheim Eagles – 12
Highlander board game – 7
Highlander board game expansion – 7
Space Marine Adventures – 5
Blitz Bowl – 12
40K First Strike – 15

Dec figures bought – 58, figures painted – 0

Running total 2018 – figures bought 238, figures painted 0