Knuckle Cracker

Creeper World => Custom Map Discussion => Custom Map Comments => Topic started by: AutoPost on May 20, 2010, 12:33:20 AM

Title: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: AutoPost on May 20, 2010, 12:33:20 AM
This topic is for discussion of map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/mapcomments.php?id=1957)
(http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/thumb.php?id=1957) (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/mapcomments.php?id=1957)

Author: UpperKEES (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/viewmaps.php?author=UpperKEES)

Desc:
This time the start will be easier as you only need 2 blasters to defend the teacher's desk. All emitters can be capped by placing blasters on the heads of the children. Believe me, they deserve it.... Have fun!
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: UpperKEES on May 20, 2010, 12:55:53 AM
Title:
Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Difficulty:
Hard
Creeper type:
Land only
Remarks:
This time the start will be easier as you only need 2 blasters to defend the teacher's desk. All emitters can be capped by placing blasters on the heads of the children. Believe me, they deserve it.... Have fun!
Description:

Although you rather elaborate on Einstein's theories (see blackboard), good jobs are hard to get, so you are a teacher at an elementary school today.

Please make sure these children are learning something instead of annoying you.

Although the kids can be a real pain, never forget that each child has something special to offer!
Download page:
Nice Job 10: The Teacher (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/mapcomments.php?id=1957)
Full size screen shot:
(http://knucklecracker.com/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=978.0;attach=585;image)
More maps:
Apply here for another job ;) (http://knucklecracker.com/forums/index.php?topic=978.0)
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: NNR_Alex on May 20, 2010, 12:58:56 AM
XD it's south park, i can't stop laughing, oh man I'll make another post after i beat this.
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: UpperKEES on May 20, 2010, 01:05:55 AM
Yeah, I couldn't think of more annoying kids.... ;D
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: NNR_Alex on May 20, 2010, 02:22:10 AM
hahah my score is terrible compared to yours, i'm too carefull i guess, i had a few of the caps come undone on me so that slowed me down just a bit, figures cartman would be the one that starts the whole mess.  I had to restart once because i tried to be greedy and grab the blasters and reactors together and i only have time for one.  that was really cool what you did with the learn more message, it made me jump though when it showed up, how often are those emiters for the message suppose to fire? i only recall each set going off once.
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: UpperKEES on May 20, 2010, 02:32:55 AM
Quote from: NNR_Alex on May 20, 2010, 02:22:10 AM
hahah my score is terrible compared to yours, i'm too carefull i guess

I don't know, maybe you're not greedy enough.... ;)

Quote from: NNR_Alex on May 20, 2010, 02:22:10 AM
i had a few of the caps come undone on me so that slowed me down just a bit, figures cartman would be the one that starts the whole mess.

Spoiler
Yes, that's possible if the blaster gets distracted by the table behind it. When you move more blasters to the back it won't happen.
[close]

Quote from: NNR_Alex on May 20, 2010, 02:22:10 AM
I had to restart once because i tried to be greedy and grab the blasters and reactors together and i only have time for one.

Spoiler
If you build without deficit you should be able to get them both. It must have been rather tough to get the reactor tech with so little energy! :o
[close]

Quote from: NNR_Alex on May 20, 2010, 02:22:10 AM
that was really cool what you did with the learn more message, it made me jump though when it showed up, how often are those emiters for the message suppose to fire? i only recall each set going off once.

Thanks! Yeah, it's supposed to go off only once. The message should stay intact, but it might suffer a bit from 'through the wall damage'.
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: NNR_Alex on May 20, 2010, 02:44:17 AM
Quote from: UpperKEES on May 20, 2010, 02:32:55 AM
If you build without deficit you should be able to get them both. It must have been rather tough to get the reactor tech with so little energy! :o

well i just thought about trying one collector on each table and floating the city, i'll have to see if that can be done later.  as for getting the reactor, yeah it was a little tough, i had two blasters playing defense and used all the back space to slowly build collectors and a few blasters, then i just rushed Ike for the reactor,  one collector on the very edge of mr garrison's desk was able to power the blasters.  I can't remember if i lose the blasters after that or not but it didn't matter i had reactors the real battle could start.

Quote from: UpperKEES on May 20, 2010, 02:32:55 AM
Thanks! Yeah, it's supposed to go off only once. The message should stay intact, but it might suffer a bit from 'through the wall damage'.
ok cool, yeah it stayed there for the most part, the part of the M started to fade but other than that it stayed.
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: UpperKEES on May 20, 2010, 02:52:15 AM
Quote from: NNR_Alex on May 20, 2010, 02:44:17 AM
well i just thought about trying one collector on each table and floating the city, i'll have to see if that can be done later.  

Spoiler
You can indeed move the city and just build 4 collectors, but you can also do it without moving OC and building 7 collectors (that's what I did, as I need the collectors anyway).
[close]
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: F0R on May 20, 2010, 03:10:23 AM
nice map how do u make background like this
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: UpperKEES on May 20, 2010, 07:17:25 AM
First I create the map itself, so I know where all objects/elevations will come. Then I start off with a 700x480 background and cut & paste parts of textures onto it with a paint program, counting every pixel (groups of 10 correspond with 1 block in the map editor).
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: UpperKEES on May 21, 2010, 07:03:34 AM
I forgot to mention who inspired me to create a message like that, written by the Creeper. Now I see mpl also played my map I got reminded. It's the bonus map of his (very nice) Artha map series (http://knucklecracker.com/forums/index.php?topic=857.msg8477#msg8477) that gave me this idea, so thanks for that! :)
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: SPIFFEN on May 21, 2010, 08:30:29 AM
Heres an link to mpl 's maps :
http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/viewmaps.php?author=mpl

Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher (floating the city)
Post by: ctuna on May 23, 2010, 09:13:25 PM
Regarding NNR_A's comment about floating the city: I can't find a destination other than the large desk - how can I float without a landing spot in line with my destination? I've been watching and playing for several weeks, but apparently haven't learned much.

Also, I've been able to capture both blaster and reactor techs, but even after loading up with reactors and stuffing a blaster on a face or two, I get overwhelmed every time. I can't help feel there are simple concepts to the process I don't understand. Is there a more advanced tutorial or an example from which I can learn?

Don't get me wrong - I don't want the answer, just a place to learn better techniqies.
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: UpperKEES on May 24, 2010, 06:12:18 PM
Spoiler
The teacher's desk is indeed the only place to land (after picking up the artifact).
[close]

Spoiler
I always advance with 6-8 blasters besides the ones I put on each head. This means you'll need at least 8-10 units of energy per second (mostly by reactors as you have little space).
[close]

The best tutorial is playing a lot, so you'll be able to make an estimate of what you'll need to finish the map.
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: Weesplat on June 02, 2010, 03:52:43 PM
Hey just (re)came across this map and noticed that your teaching Einstein's theory to elementary school kids.

Oh, and if you put 2 blasters at the top and bottom of Odin city, you can prevent the creeper from going behind you, so you can then use that land.
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: UpperKEES on June 02, 2010, 04:01:26 PM
Yeah, that's exactly what the description says:

Quote from: Weesplat on June 02, 2010, 03:52:43 PM
Hey just (re)came across this map and noticed that your teaching Einstein's theory to elementary school kids.

Quote from: UpperKEES on May 20, 2010, 12:55:53 AM
Although you rather elaborate on Einstein's theories (see blackboard), good jobs are hard to get, so you are a teacher at an elementary school today.

;)

Quote from: Weesplat on June 02, 2010, 03:52:43 PM
Oh, and if you put 2 blasters at the top and bottom of Odin city, you can prevent the creeper from going behind you, so you can then use that land.

Quote from: UpperKEES on May 20, 2010, 12:55:53 AM
This time the start will be easier as you only need 2 blasters to defend the teacher's desk.

Only after a couple of minutes you need to add a third blaster to the desk, because the creeper level has gone up to 4. I guess most people play it like that (add use all remaining energy to build more reactors). Once I start fighting I don't build a single reactor, just speed nodes, blasters and collectors.

Edit: so where's your score?
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: ctuna on August 12, 2010, 10:02:10 PM
UK: Thanks for the advice and the encouragement. I finally finished it, embarrassingly at 40 minutes, but at least finished. I'll beat that, with practice, as you suggest. I'm finding it tough to be patient enough to bank the energy necessary, but that's part of the learning, I guess (school was hard, as I recall, 50 years ago).

Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: UpperKEES on August 13, 2010, 03:47:04 AM
Quote from: ctuna on August 12, 2010, 10:02:10 PM
UK: Thanks for the advice and the encouragement. I finally finished it, embarrassingly at 40 minutes, but at least finished.

Nothing to be embarrassed about; you finished! :) I like your perseverance (I noticed you played The Chemist (http://knucklecracker.com/forums/index.php?topic=3604) 8 times and ended up at place 7.)  8)

Quote from: ctuna on August 12, 2010, 10:02:10 PM
I'll beat that, with practice, as you suggest. I'm finding it tough to be patient enough to bank the energy necessary, but that's part of the learning, I guess (school was hard, as I recall, 50 years ago).

See it like this: when you have a little patience at the start, you won't need that much patience during the rest of the map! ;)

Thanks for playing and keep learning. :)
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: ctuna on August 16, 2010, 06:08:47 PM
Yep, as I see progress, I'm encouraged. And as I receive encouragement, I make progress. Is that irony or simply life?
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: UpperKEES on August 16, 2010, 06:24:37 PM
It's a positive spiral; I experience the same thing (for many things in life). When I like something I want to know everything and get better. When I improve and know more, I like it even better. That's why I believe you should never have a job you don't like. ;)

It's also the reason I rather encourage people and emphasize positive aspects than only mention negative remarks. I have much more pleasure making maps when people appreciate them, so I try to do the same myself and keep everybody happy. :)
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: ctuna on August 16, 2010, 08:31:47 PM
Well, it's taken a while for me to appreciate some of your maps from the strategy standpoint, since I've had such a hard time with them. I have always admired the look, and especially the concepts, of the NJ series (although I'm just starting to get comfortable with playing the easier ones). I am starting to listen for the subtleties in the remarks and tips. I especially enjoyed the AWACS radar indicator in The Squad Leader. I never noticed a blaster doing that before; is it built-in, or something you added?

A side note: in the USAF, if you're flying as the leader of this bunch, you would be probably be called either a squadron commander or a flight leader, depending on the size of your force.
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: UpperKEES on August 16, 2010, 10:05:01 PM
Quote from: ctuna on August 16, 2010, 08:31:47 PM
Well, it's taken a while for me to appreciate some of your maps from the strategy standpoint, since I've had such a hard time with them. I have always admired the look, and especially the concepts, of the NJ series (although I'm just starting to get comfortable with playing the easier ones). I am starting to listen for the subtleties in the remarks and tips.

I think that goes for quite some players. People who just finished the in-game CW maps and think they can beat any custom map without a problem now might get disappointed or even frustrated. That's why I started giving those tips, so they can improve gradually (without giving it all away I hope). Until today I'm still surprised with the number of players that finished NJ-1, because that map isn't that easy. I think most people just feel relaxed because it's almost impossible to kill yourself, so you can take as much time as you like. When I would have published NJ-3 (The Farmer) first (that was the first map I created) no-one would probably have continued playing my maps, because it turned out a lot harder than I imagined.

Regarding the concepts: I've indeed tried some 'new' things (and still do that), but the drawback is that some experiments aren't always appreciated, because it's not what people expect, so they give up (and I can't expect others to spend as much time on CW as I do myself). Some other maps apparently were a bit CPU intensive for players with a somewhat slower computer.

Quote from: ctuna on August 16, 2010, 08:31:47 PM
I especially enjoyed the AWACS radar indicator in The Squad Leader. I never noticed a blaster doing that before; is it built-in, or something you added?

Thanks. I created it myself (when you would open the map in the map editor you would find 4 very weak emitters underneath Odin City ;)). NJ-5: The Clockmaker is actually the first map that uses it.

Quote from: ctuna on August 16, 2010, 08:31:47 PM
A side note: in the USAF, if you're flying as the leader of this bunch, you would be probably be called either a squadron commander or a flight leader, depending on the size of your force.

The title of the map refers to the task of the player (not the squadron commander) and I didn't know a better name for the leader of an anti-terrorist squad (who often operates on the ground I guess). Maybe I should have asked my dad, as he has been with the Dutch Air Force for more than 40 years. :)
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: eudrick on December 07, 2010, 07:20:11 PM
Now that was interesting.   Gonna have to dissect this one with the map editor.... lots of things to learn here.  Ta!
Title: Re: Custom Map: Nice Job 10: The Teacher
Post by: UpperKEES on December 07, 2010, 07:33:29 PM
Quote from: eudrick on December 07, 2010, 07:20:11 PM
Now that was interesting.   Gonna have to dissect this one with the map editor.... lots of things to learn here.  Ta!

Glad you liked that effect! :)

I know you're creating some maps yourself at the moment, so just let me know if you have some questions....