Knuckle Cracker

Creeper World => Chronom Mission Discussion => Topic started by: Karsten75 on August 27, 2010, 10:59:59 AM

Title: Hardest map?
Post by: Karsten75 on August 27, 2010, 10:59:59 AM
I guess if we're going to have a "quickest map" topic, we should have a hardest map topic as well. :)

November 14, 2352 (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/viewscores.php?missionGroup=chronom&month=10&day=14&year1=2&year2=3&year3=5&year4=2) is my first nomination.

I had several starts where I got overrun. Even then it was tooth and nail all the time trying to get a good foothold, since high ground is scare.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: davidp on August 27, 2010, 01:14:37 PM
I've been trying to find hard ones.  Here's one that starts out slowly, but isn't too hard once you cap most of the emitters.

June 29, 6213

--David
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Sqaz on August 28, 2010, 05:15:52 AM
Quote from: Karsten75 on August 27, 2010, 10:59:59 AM
I guess if we're going to have a "quickest map" topic, we should have a hardest map topic as well. :)

November 14, 2352 (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/viewscores.php?missionGroup=chronom&month=10&day=14&year1=2&year2=3&year3=5&year4=2) is my first nomination.

I had several starts where I got overrun. Even then it was tooth and nail all the time trying to get a good foothold, since high ground is scare.

Seriously? Beated it in half your time, only needed 3 drones and 4 blasters.

Quote from: davidp on August 27, 2010, 01:14:37 PM
I've been trying to find hard ones.  Here's one that starts out slowly, but isn't too hard once you cap most of the emitters.

June 29, 6213

--David

Beated this one in a bit more than ten minutes, once you get to the middle totem you can just set up a relay to the middle island and connect the last totem with the city, never capped any emitters.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: UpperKEES on August 28, 2010, 06:11:49 AM
Sqaz, 10 minutes for an automatically generated map is hard! Emitters can always be capped by 1 blaster and never increase in strength. How many of the original in-game maps keep you busy that long with the experience you have now?

Just consider that you and me can beat almost any custom map within 20 minutes, while these maps were manually and deliberately designed to give you a very hard time!

To me it's a pleasant surprise that the Chronom maps occasionally keep me busy for more than 10 minutes. There's really a lot of quality in their relative simplicity (and actually quality due to their simplicity). Being a map maker I can only admire that.

Having said that of course the first 10 minutes of a custom map can never be compared with the second 10 minutes because of the exponential energy growth, so between minute 10 and minute 20 you're normally a lot busier....
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Sqaz on August 28, 2010, 06:20:34 AM
The difference between these and (some of) the custom maps is more that here, you just see the terrain and you can directly find your strategy. And even if it takes ten minutes it's more 5-6minutes energy building, 3minutes fighting, and another minute to connect the last totem with the city, in all these maps I played there are none that force you to protect your starting position, if you choose it well, before you have at least 3-4 energy.

Like many people said before, hard isn't about time, it's about how hard it really is,  as I already said, you can just look at these maps, and find your strategy, cause all of them that I've encountered have or a high mountain to place your city, or a lot of depressions to protect you, and mostly both.

But of course with 3.6 million maps there has to be at least one truly hard map, maybe it's finishable in less than 10 minutes, but probably it gives you a minimal amount of starting terrain and a real creeper threat.
Maps like the ones we're now talking about are no different from the rest, and if they'd be posted in the custom maps they'd be ranked medium or even easy.

Quote from: UpperKEES on August 28, 2010, 06:11:49 AM
Sqaz, 10 minutes for an automatically generated map is hard! Emitters can always be capped by 1 blaster and never increase in strength. How many of the original in-game maps keep you busy that long with the experience you have now?

Well, I never needed to cap an emitter, and even if so, most emitters used in custom maps are cappable with one emitter, there are some really hard maps where you can easily cap all emitters with one blaster.

But you're right about the in-game maps though.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: UpperKEES on August 28, 2010, 07:48:59 AM
Quote from: Sqaz on August 28, 2010, 06:20:34 AM
in all these maps I played there are none that force you to protect your starting position, if you choose it well, before you have at least 3-4 energy.

I'm pretty sure you were firing your first weapon before you were generating 3-4 energy on this one (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/viewscores.php?missionGroup=chronom&month=7&day=17&year1=2&year2=0&year3=1&year4=0). ;)

Quote from: Sqaz on August 28, 2010, 06:20:34 AM
Maps like the ones we're now talking about are no different from the rest, and if they'd be posted in the custom maps they'd be ranked medium or even easy.

Keep in mind that maybe a 10-20 players worldwide are very advanced players. The Chronom maps have obviously not been designed to give these players a very hard time, but aim at the average player (see average map time). Nevertheless I still have a lot of fun with them because apparently people like the concept of playing 'the map of the day' and some special dates, which creates more competition than many of the custom maps were able to do. :)
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Sqaz on August 28, 2010, 08:46:52 AM
Quote from: UpperKEES on August 28, 2010, 07:48:59 AM
I'm pretty sure you were firing your first weapon before you were generating 3-4 energy on this one (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/viewscores.php?missionGroup=chronom&month=7&day=17&year1=2&year2=0&year3=1&year4=0). ;)

Well, actually not, during that score I only build my first weapon (a drone) after 2.5 minutes. The only time I built a weapon before generating 3 energy was when I deliberatly moved my city closer to the emitters.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Karsten75 on August 28, 2010, 09:05:16 AM
@sqaz: I think I've usually employed a strategy of moving OC. I may have to rethink that since moving OC closer to the totems often involved having to fight the creeper with smaller energy reserves.  That may make the maps harder than bulking up on energy first.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Sqaz on August 28, 2010, 09:23:32 AM
Quote from: Karsten75 on August 28, 2010, 09:05:16 AM
@sqaz: I think I've usually employed a strategy of moving OC. I may have to rethink that since moving OC closer to the totems often involved having to fight the creeper with smaller energy reserves.  That may make the maps harder than bulking up on energy first.

I also move the city on most maps, but only if there is higher terrain, or a choke point so you can hold back great amounts of creeper with one blaster or such.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Sqaz on August 28, 2010, 02:11:00 PM
I think I found a really hard one, it's Februari 29 2800, almost no starting terrain, no possibility to move your city closer to the totems so you'll have to cross a whole open plain.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: knucracker on August 28, 2010, 02:59:39 PM
You can dial up the same map as Feb 29, 2800 (no trick required).  Of course there isn't supposed to be a Feb 29, 2800 since there isn't supposed to be a leap year....  but you can legitimately access this map with no slight of hand just by using the spinner controls.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: UpperKEES on September 03, 2010, 08:48:47 PM
Sep 11, 2010 (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/viewscores.php?missionGroup=chronom&month=8&day=11&year1=2&year2=0&year3=1&year4=0) also is a rather tough one.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: thepenguin on September 04, 2010, 02:07:05 PM
Quote from: virgilw on August 28, 2010, 02:59:39 PM
Of course there isn't supposed to be a Feb 29, 2800 since there isn't supposed to be a leap year....

why isn't it supposed to be a leap year?

it's divisible by 400 so it is

gregorian calendar rules (http://www.timeanddate.com/date/leapyear.html)
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: knucracker on September 04, 2010, 02:38:20 PM
Yeah, I stated that one backwards.  2800 should be a leap year, 2700, 2600, etc should not.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: ontheworld on September 05, 2010, 11:10:43 AM
the hardest so far for me: dec 31 9998

EDIT: bet you won't be bulking up before building a weapon on this one
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Karsten75 on September 05, 2010, 12:43:18 PM
Hmmm.. I don't even recall playing that map, yet I have a score?

Edit: Yet now that I am playing it, I recall that map well...   ???
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: ontheworld on September 05, 2010, 01:58:48 PM
kar, it was the january 0 9999 i were talking about in chat, seems like the map was very close by  ;)
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: IcEcAt on September 08, 2010, 01:40:36 AM
this Dec 31, 9998 map was quite fun. thank you for pointing it out.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: RandyTravis on September 12, 2010, 07:33:18 PM
So far the hardest Chronom Map I've played.

December 28th, 1908 (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/viewscores.php?missionGroup=chronom&month=11&day=28&year1=1&year2=9&year3=0&year4=8)

You're in a downright terrible position, the only high ground is overrun almost immediately, the upgrades are borderline impossible to reach in time (except 1), and there are spores. Good luck.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: RandyTravis on September 14, 2010, 06:13:28 PM
Quote from: Sqaz on August 28, 2010, 02:11:00 PM
I think I found a really hard one, it's Februari 29 2800, almost no starting terrain, no possibility to move your city closer to the totems so you'll have to cross a whole open plain.

There are no buttons to push. There are no buttons not to push. All perish here.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: 19wolf on September 23, 2010, 08:39:37 PM
For the life of me, I can't figure out what to do about May 19, 2006...
Any help?
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: UpperKEES on September 23, 2010, 09:44:57 PM
Quote from: 19wolf on September 23, 2010, 08:39:37 PM
For the life of me, I can't figure out what to do about May 19, 2006...
Any help?

What a great map (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/viewscores.php?missionGroup=chronom&month=4&day=19&year1=2&year2=0&year3=0&year4=6)! Probably the hardest Chronom map I've played till now (at least the start is). Thanks for finding it! Still looking for the first unbeatable map....  8)

Although I think a slow build up in the bottom left corner is also possible, I've chosen for a rather aggressive start (see screenshot below).

(http://knucklecracker.com/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4497.0;attach=1505;image)

First I built a collector to the first upgrade (and of course select the -10% building costs). Then I built 3 blasters (in this case the minimum required to clear the space near the emitters and cap at least one of them). The blasters will just be finished when the creeper destroys your collector. Send the blasters to the second emitter and send Odin City a little later so it won't take too much damage and is able to collect some more energy before taking off. When the space got cleared disable one blaster. Let one other cap the emitter and use the last one to control the creeper from the left emitter (and cap it later on). Build collector by collector to the second upgrade on the left. When you've used all space available add more reactors. (I overbuilt terribly, so a time below 10 minutes is definitely possible). Build blasters to cap the last 3 emitters, which will be a piece of cake. Use Odin City to connect to the bottom totem for a fast time.

Good luck! :)

Edit: I just tried a relaxed start in the bottom left corner and this is certainly possible as well (see screenshot below).

(http://knucklecracker.com/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4497.0;attach=1507;image)

As you can see the build up is a lot slower, so in this case it pays off to be aggressive (capping blasters use less energy than blasters firing continuously).
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Colin on October 31, 2010, 09:36:20 PM
hard map = October 9, 0000    :o


first time I tried I died  ::)
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: mpl on November 28, 2010, 07:05:55 PM
July 31, 2134. I can't beat it.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: UpperKEES on November 28, 2010, 10:58:18 PM
Quote from: mpl on November 28, 2010, 07:05:55 PM
July 31, 2134 (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/viewscores.php?missionGroup=chronom&month=6&day=31&year1=2&year2=1&year3=3&year4=4). I can't beat it.

Thanks for that one! :) Very nice hard map!

Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: burguertime on December 03, 2010, 09:43:08 PM
Quote from: UpperKEES on November 28, 2010, 10:58:18 PM
Quote from: mpl on November 28, 2010, 07:05:55 PM
July 31, 2134 (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/viewscores.php?missionGroup=chronom&month=6&day=31&year1=2&year2=1&year3=3&year4=4). I can't beat it.

Thanks for that one! :) Very nice hard map!



Very hard. Had to solve this in a sky high fashion.

I tried three times to make a reactor farm and hold my ground with blasters, but I could not get enough energy to power four blasters (the amount I guessed would be needed to hold the creeper from the city).
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Colin on December 04, 2010, 01:52:34 AM
I don't have enough time to play it right now but. . . July 8th 2011 looks hard.  ;)
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Katra on December 04, 2010, 08:32:01 PM
Quote from: burguertime on December 03, 2010, 09:43:08 PM
Quote from: UpperKEES on November 28, 2010, 10:58:18 PM
Quote from: mpl on November 28, 2010, 07:05:55 PM
July 31, 2134 (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/viewscores.php?missionGroup=chronom&month=6&day=31&year1=2&year2=1&year3=3&year4=4). I can't beat it.

Thanks for that one! :) Very nice hard map!



Very hard. Had to solve this in a sky high fashion.

I tried three times to make a reactor farm and hold my ground with blasters, but I could not get enough energy to power four blasters (the amount I guessed would be needed to hold the creeper from the city).

I tried three blasters, then 2 and a drone to cut the creeper off at the pass. Still couldn't get enough energy. In the end I think I found the same solution you did.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Grauniad on December 04, 2010, 11:50:52 PM
I'm embarrassed to admit that I tried playing this map - several times. I finally managed to beat it with such a poor score that I'm not going to post it. Nor am I going to attempt improving my score, because I doubt I can take off more than maybe 5 minutes. and that won't cut it either.

I'm truly impressed with the <10 minute score on this map. Shows true dedication to the "cause."
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: UpperKEES on December 05, 2010, 01:09:41 AM
Thanks Grauniad. :)

I tried 4 times before I succeeded. I started as aggressive as possible: flying OC + 2 blasters to the emitters on the right. This wasn't enough, so I tried with 3 blasters and failed again. When 2 blasters + 1 mortar also didn't work I decided to build up my economy with OC in the air for a while. I never tried defending myself in the top left corner, because that would probably take tons of energy to defend myself.

Because it's rather tedious to keep OC flying I wanted to make sure it would work out immediately and this is why I overbuilt terribly; I could have done with at least 6 reactors and 2 blasters less, so probably a time around 7:30 should be possible.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Colin on December 05, 2010, 09:06:01 PM
October 12th 0071   :o

As you can see, I'm building up.  ;D
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Blaze on December 06, 2010, 12:40:06 AM
Quote from: Colin on December 05, 2010, 09:06:01 PM
October 12th 0071   :o

As you can see, I'm building up.  ;D

Looks like a sweet map, I'm going to try this one.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Colin on December 06, 2010, 12:52:36 AM
Yeah, I ended up just capping all of the Emitters. It was a fun fight!  :P
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Blaze on December 07, 2010, 12:57:57 AM
Quote from: Colin on December 06, 2010, 12:52:36 AM
Yeah, I ended up just capping all of the Emitters. It was a fun fight!  :P

Sure was.
I'd like to find more like that one.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Zakath on January 06, 2011, 10:52:24 AM
Quote from: Jeremiah88 on December 11, 2010, 12:19:31 PM
Top of my list is November 14, 2352...
That one's not too painful. Just move OC early...
Title: Re: Hardest map? November 8 2010?
Post by: JimyLee on January 19, 2011, 10:18:12 AM
From the lack of posts about this map I guess the rest of you managed to beat it with no problem.  I play all maps with Double Down on for the extra challenge, and I couldn't seem to beat this date.  I turned DD off and I STILL can't seem to beat it.  Anyone care to share their strategy on the November 8 2010 map with this newbie?
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Grauniad on January 19, 2011, 11:44:54 AM
Quote from: JimyLee on January 19, 2011, 10:18:12 AM
From the lack of posts about this map I guess the rest of you managed to beat it with no problem.  I play all maps with Double Down on for the extra challenge, and I couldn't seem to beat this date.  I turned DD off and I STILL can't seem to beat it.  Anyone care to share their strategy on the November 8 2010 map with this newbie?

I don't play DD mode, but have managed to win on normal. Not the fastest time on record, but a sure win. I think there are more rewarding options, but I'm not able to find it.

I started by moving OC to the top right corner, and building a few reactors on the high ground. Then I expanded onto the low land, towards the first island and then on to the creeper.

HTH
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: JimyLee on January 19, 2011, 12:04:33 PM
Huh.  I finally managed to beat it.  Similar shape to yours, but I used less reactors and relied on three drones to secure space in the lower plane.  Hardest map I've played yet.  I'm gonna have to go try some of the others listed in this thread.  Thanks for the help!
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Blaze on February 17, 2011, 08:06:02 PM
I got one, Try July 20th 0129 I have yet to even get a foothold.

I have not tried bridging.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Katra on February 20, 2011, 12:21:28 AM
I was able to establish a position where I think I could have survived indefinitely (at the lower right) but was unable to advance. (While I took damage from the spores it was survivable.)
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Blaze on February 20, 2011, 01:08:59 AM
Quote from: Katra on February 20, 2011, 12:21:28 AM
I was able to establish a position where I think I could have survived indefinitely (at the lower right) but was unable to advance. (While I took damage from the spores it was survivable.)

Please, do share you're strategy.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: mthw2vc on February 20, 2011, 08:44:00 AM
Played on DD mode, I have a foothold now... I'll post a video when I'm done.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: mthw2vc on February 20, 2011, 09:22:17 AM
Video up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW-FhhWQ0hI
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Blaze on February 20, 2011, 10:12:30 AM
Dang mthw2vc, I didn't even last 4 minutes without DD.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Katra on February 20, 2011, 06:03:52 PM
Quote from: Blaze on February 20, 2011, 01:08:59 AM
Quote from: Katra on February 20, 2011, 12:21:28 AM
I was able to establish a position where I think I could have survived indefinitely (at the lower right) but was unable to advance. (While I took damage from the spores it was survivable.)

Please, do share you're strategy.

I'm still playing with various strategies. Lower left failed (I could hold the high ground - a mortar and 2 blasters; one just for spore defense - and while waiting for spores I parked four loaded, disarmed blasters on the center bottom island, but I couldn't generate enough power to both clear a space on the flat and build anything there. Quit when my blasters got destroyed.) My first try (similar to mthw2vcs) was gaining a foothold - only I spaced the spores and got wiped out.

Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Katra on February 20, 2011, 07:56:00 PM
Okay; I beat it. One of the rare Chronom maps where moving the city isn't advantageous.

After the first round of spore I flew most of my SAMs to the lower left highland - a tactic largely intended to save critical space. (Mostly it worked; though I took a couple hits once when the spores mostly came in out of SAM range of the lower left highland.)
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Blaze on February 20, 2011, 11:01:32 PM
Dang, I've tried both of your guys strategy and I still can't beat it!
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: DethbyIT on February 25, 2011, 07:37:14 PM
Quote from: Blaze on February 20, 2011, 11:01:32 PM
Dang, I've tried both of your guys strategy and I still can't beat it!

I'm attaching a phony picture of my first couple of minutes of play.
Start with the Collectors, then build up the Reactors counter-clockwise.
You will probably need to start that Blaster after the 4th reactor, then move him out between the top and next Collector.

As soon as you have the 5th Reactor built, start on another Blaster.
From there it is building energy and Blasters as you move across the bottom and up to the center.


One Drone, one Mortar, the rest Blasters did it for me.
dbit
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Mantzikert on March 06, 2011, 03:54:36 AM
I haven't had the chance to try some of the others on this list, but I found June 6th 3339 a little challenging.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Karsten75 on March 06, 2011, 09:15:36 AM
Quote from: Mantzikert on March 06, 2011, 03:54:36 AM
I haven't had the chance to try some of the others on this list, but I found June 6th 3339 a little challenging.

Interesting map, but not too hard compared to some of the other maps in this thread.  Fly up to the north-east high ground near the totem and then go from there. Pretty straight-forward.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Katra on March 06, 2011, 11:54:10 PM
Also can be beaten by flying to the high ground directly south of OC. (You'll have to build the first collector while airborne to pick up the upgrade for landing space.)

I did get a better time moving to the Northeast corner.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Karsten75 on March 07, 2011, 12:29:00 AM
Nice time. :)
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Herr Vorragend on May 08, 2011, 05:36:42 PM
November 26, Year 7502

first and only cw-map i didn't manage to beat. there are no scores online for that map either. would like to know if it is actually possible to beat that one.
if anyone manages to beat that map, please record and upload a vid.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: mthw2vc on May 08, 2011, 05:50:26 PM
Hmmm, I'd do it right now, but I have to beat the first leg of the story mode first :P
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: mthw2vc on May 08, 2011, 06:47:39 PM
Ok, I just had a go at it. Not taking your word of it being a difficult map, I took the obvious solution and claimed the high ground. As soon as you get the drone up and running, there is nothing that can stop you.
Spoiler
(http://i.imgur.com/B9ed8.jpg)
[close]
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Katra on May 08, 2011, 10:42:28 PM
Tricky but possible. (I recommend not trying to build  SAMs before the first spore wave. Just build a couple extra blasters (disarmed) to cover your collectors/reactors/drone base. Pause and arm them a second or so before the spores land. (and disarm after the last spore falls.)
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: pasqualz on May 24, 2011, 12:29:09 PM
Nobody has any new hard chronom maps??? I'm curious if its possible that there's one out there that is unbeatable, but I guess nobody has found it yet! Keep searching!
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Ebon Heart on May 24, 2011, 09:26:39 PM
I think the chronom maps were tested beyond having impossible missions.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: fractalman on July 21, 2011, 04:28:52 AM
Quote from: Ebon_Heart on May 24, 2011, 09:26:39 PM
I think the chronom maps were tested beyond having impossible missions.
...there are far, far too many chronom maps for them all to have been thoroughly tested. 
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Ebon Heart on July 21, 2011, 07:48:04 AM
But the cw2 code map system is far more complicated than the chronom map system. The chronom maps can't have undigable terrain walls, or way too many drones to make them impossible. Emitter strength and spores are preset. Plus the terrain is layer out in enough of a basic pattern to make all totems accessible. All or nearly all of the chronom missions are relatively easy if you know what you're doing.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: fractalman on July 21, 2011, 07:47:34 PM
i'm not saying they're hard!...
i'm just saying there's certainly a chance that one of them happens to be impossible. finding said hypothetical map, and proving it impossible, is another story. 
actually, untill i read this topic, I thought all the chromon maps were pretty easy.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Ebon Heart on July 21, 2011, 08:01:45 PM
there's a few hard ones, but none yet that are impossible. There's some really tough ones though...
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Colin on August 03, 2011, 03:37:35 PM
Don't forget about this one:

July 31, 2134

:P
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Mantzikert on February 13, 2012, 01:46:24 AM
I have just found this one and struggled a little bit.

May 18th, 6648
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: DethbyIT on February 14, 2012, 08:57:35 AM
Quote from: Mantzikert on February 13, 2012, 01:46:24 AM
I have just found this one and struggled a little bit.

May 18th, 6648

It's been so long since I played CW1 that I forgot that you don't have to take out the Emitters.
I was able to get established pretty quickly by moving the OC down and to the left. Stay very compact with only 3-4 Collectors and a Reactor. Monitor Creeper flow and build one Blaster, more reactors, then a second Blaster.
You should be able to stay safe enough to build SAM's - 2 for sure, 3 to be safe.
After you have 3 SAM's, start maxing out on Reactors and expand your base.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Mantzikert on February 14, 2012, 04:08:23 PM
I went for the charge.  I built out to pick up the booster in the SW, then used the energy to build 3 blasters and 1 mortar.  Then I move the base to the highest point (right next to an emitter).  It was touch and go, but I held on.  Two mistakes.  I tried to expand right from there, left was far easier.  And I left a blaster too close to the first emitter so just as I had capped all the emitters, that blaster died and I lost most of my original base on the hill.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: DesertDog on February 26, 2012, 08:04:07 PM
Feb 28 2012 is looking pretty tough. I tried about 4 times and was losing. Hard to protect enough ground to build energy enough to break out. Not saying it's impossible but it's difficult.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: ryk421 on November 10, 2012, 03:21:00 AM
I find November 10, 2012 impossible.  There is no high ground except a small patch to the left of where you start. And, spores come before you can get a proper defense built against the creeper,  If any anyone can beat this one, please tell me how, thanks
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: ryk421 on November 10, 2012, 05:10:20 AM
O.K. I did it, and i'll explain how. so SPOILER ALERT.... There's really only one spot to move to, which is just below the small hill on the top of the map to the left of the ship.  You need a few collectors, ofc ,to start out.  As soon as you think you have the resources build a mortar due south of the ship, that will hold off the creeper long enough for you to build 2 or 3 sams.  During the second sam countdown period, you'll want to build a blaster just next to the mortar to hold off encroaching creeper from the south that the mortar wont target, because it is thin.  You should be in deficit by now, so if you have the time build a few more sams, to spread out the fire drain. Now comes the tricky part, during the third sam countdown, the creeper is really building  up to each side of platuea that the ship sits on. But, you reallly don't have the resources to run a second mortar, along with the blaster and the first mortar.  So what you have to do is, alternate the position of the single mortar so that it clears out the left for a bit, then move to fire at the right and go back and forth with it.  Then you should be able to build enough sams to cover your position, and another mortar so that both sides are covered.  After that, it progressed like a normal chronom.  Just the opening part that seems impossible, I'd like to hear other strategies if anybody has one for this mission, thanks a lot
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Mantzikert on November 11, 2012, 05:34:58 AM
My time on that map is legit.

SPOILER ALERT.

Similar to you, move to the left.  Filled it out with collectors.  I started with a blaster.  I can't remember exactly when, but I probably one had one or two reactors.  The blaster held it off until I was collecting 5-6 energy per second and then I built the mortar.  The mortar did one trip down the left while I built my blasters and I started to advance down the highground.  I think I had just about capped the left two emitters when the first spore attack came.

One trick with this map is that I didn't connect to the left token straight away.  After capping the left two emitters, I moved from my HQ straight right and linked to the high ground.  2 blasters stayed there to hold off the creeper, 3 went right to capture the last token and the 4 went back to capture the left token.

Done.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Grauniad on November 11, 2012, 11:08:50 AM
Oh man... nostalgia... Now I need to find my CW1 key code....
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: thearchduke on December 07, 2012, 06:05:05 PM
March 19, 5091 (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/viewscores.php?missionGroup=chronom&month=2&day=19&year1=5&year2=0&year3=9&year4=1) is pretty difficult - limited starting ground and a gap that can't be bridged by relays.  Somebody figure out what I'm missing and tell me how to do it faster.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Mantzikert on December 10, 2012, 07:15:19 AM
I moved up to the left.  Collectors took me up to 2.3 production.

Reactors then took me up to 8.3.  This is a little higher than I normally go, time will tell if it was a waste.

Mortar went in a little late, just as the reactors were finishing. Then 3 storages and 1 speed.

As this was finishing off, I started on blasters.  Time was 4:30.

The advance was towards the top left to cap that emitter first.  I didn't bother trying to stay to the high ground, as I figured I'd have to fight my way through all the low level creeper sooner or later.  Attack was lead by the mortar.

First emitter was capped at 5:43.  Then the attack started to move right.  At this stage I had 12 blasters, 1 mortar, 2 blasters building.  I also had 2 speeds built, and another two building.  i also had a major energy shortage, which is rare for me, so I turned off the building of the two new blasters.

Second emitter was capped at 6:10 as I started the climb.  I had solved my energy problems and had started building the two other blasters and another speed.

Third emitter was 6:34. 14 blasters, 1 more being built.  4 speeds, 2 more being built.  At this stage I was using 3 blasters to hold the low ground from the creeper in the south east.

Capped the fourth emitter at 7:10.  This was an interesting call as I was splitting my attack forces.  But I wanted the 20%faster upgrade.  (The first one was a 10% energy).

Finishing time 7:45.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Mantzikert on May 24, 2013, 12:55:26 AM
3rd Feb 8579.

Nice challenge.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Mantzikert on February 12, 2014, 11:29:02 PM
Dec 2nd, 6686.

Not that hard, but since there was no high ground for ODIN city, there was a nice challenge of balancing defense versus construction at one stage.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: James on August 10, 2015, 06:25:17 AM
February 22 2016 is pretty hard but I managed to complete it.  Good luck trying to hold the high ground.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Darklurker on September 15, 2015, 03:52:39 PM
Yesterday's map (Sept 14 2015) is proving to be a bit difficult (I'm a day behind).  There's no safe high ground to land Odin City (which starts in the valley), the emitters are on hills 3 or 4 units high, and the creeper keeps coming down those hills too fast to even build 3 or 4 collectors and two blasters.  Oh, and there's a 7-minute spore attack (not that I've lasted long enough for the first wave yet). 
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: romulusnr on September 17, 2015, 12:29:45 AM
Quote from: Darklurker on September 15, 2015, 03:52:39 PM
Yesterday's map (Sept 14 2015) is proving to be a bit difficult (I'm a day behind).  There's no safe high ground to land Odin City (which starts in the valley), the emitters are on hills 3 or 4 units high, and the creeper keeps coming down those hills too fast to even build 3 or 4 collectors and two blasters.  Oh, and there's a 7-minute spore attack (not that I've lasted long enough for the first wave yet).

I've never seen a Chronom that had the Odin start square on the bottom level before. That hill at the top right really should not have that center pinnacle.

I've tried "air bridging" using the ridge along the top left, but power feeding is too slow using that method, and before you know it the spores are coming. AND THERE'S EIGHT OF THEM. No way you can defend that. I was able to get up one SAM, one Mortar, and was working on a drone (how else will you be able to stop the flood up ahead?). Toasted the whole ridge, and that was it. I got to about the 8 minute mark. Now I'm just floating with no hope...

Edit: Made it to 15:30 airbridging using the mound to the right. Managed to survive the first round of spores, but that one took out my two SAMs, and I couldn't survive the second one.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Darklurker on September 17, 2015, 01:38:40 PM
I tried air bridging on the right side, but that didn't work as the angle is too awkward so collectors have to stay on that bottom step.

So I may pass on this map.  I'll be in good company though, as the High Score list for this map only has 10 scores in the All-Time score list, not 20 or 30 like most maps, and even then, OldSlugLicker took 9:19 to beat it.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Anonymeus on September 20, 2015, 06:42:13 PM
There's a few custom maps that deploy a similar gambit. Want you want to do is
Spoiler
cut its head off with three blasters - before doing anything else..
[close]
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Darklurker on September 23, 2015, 11:46:56 AM
I played around on the map over the weekend (I can't leave it alone...).  I did manage to survive for 84 minutes (about 4 hours in real time) by air-bridging that top left ridge.  But I finally quit as I couldn't find a way to advance off of the ridge.

The trick I found is to park OC between the upgrade and the bump in the ridge.  Grab the upgrade and start building collectors, reactors, and mortars on the ridge.  Sit there as long as you can, until the creeper starts injuring OC, then start the tedious air-bridging.  Reactors seem to add more "oomph" when air-bridging - at least to me it seemed like they "added" proportionally more to the meager power collection than the collectors.  I mean, I know a reactor adds more than a collector when OC is on the ground, but when air-bridging, the collectors seem to barely add anything, but a reactor adds a good bit.

I couldn't figure out a strategy to take out enough creeper to get a blaster on the valley floor.  Even using a drone on the left side and "flying in" two mortars on the right side didn't reduce the creeper enough to where a blaster could clear out an area for itself on the floor.  It's just too much creeper, not enough energy, and the emitters are so high that gravity is pulling the creeper down under pressure (that's how I refer to it).

my guess is that the guys who did manage to beat the map (and in 9 minutes) must have air-bridged up that left-central ridge somehow and gotten a foothold on top and capped off that 2nd emitter.  I've tried a few times, but haven't had any success yet.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Darklurker on September 23, 2015, 11:48:11 AM
Here's a cap of the start of the game.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Anonymeus on September 23, 2015, 03:06:07 PM
 :)

[SPOILER ALERT!]
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Darklurker on September 25, 2015, 01:35:00 PM
Anonymeus: ah, yes, that works.  It's way more aggressive than I usually play, but I'm always glad to learn new strategies.  Thanks.  Now I can put this one behind me. :)
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Karsten75 on September 25, 2015, 01:36:01 PM
Quote from: Darklurker on September 25, 2015, 01:35:00 PM
Anonymeus: ah, yes, that works.  It's way more aggressive than I usually play, but I'm always glad to learn new strategies.  Thanks.  Now I can put this one behind me. :)

Anonymeus is a synonym for "aggressive" as far as game play is concerned. :)
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Darklurker on March 09, 2016, 05:25:29 PM
Today's map (Mar 9 2016) is looking tough.  I'm still trying to figure out how Anonymeus would do it.   ;)

Only 6 scores in the all-time list, so it's obviously a challenge.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Anonymeus on March 14, 2016, 06:20:30 AM
More or less same story as last time...

Spoiler
You have all the time in the world to build at least 4 blasters... then fly over to the top right corner, cap the emitter and build from there
[close]
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Drakalian on February 16, 2017, 02:33:34 PM
Well, if there are anyone still here, I would like some help with this one, June 24 1993
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Anonymeus on February 16, 2017, 08:58:04 PM
This one is a real pain.  :o
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Oiskapunk on March 30, 2018, 01:59:57 PM
Found a hard one. I wasn' able to beat it yet, but i am still trying. It doesn't look hard at the first view. But the creeper is coming close very fast. You don't have enough time to build up a defense against creeper and also spores. Even moving the city to a safe spot is impossible.

February 1, 4254

Tell me how you doing on this map.

(https://preview.ibb.co/fPkWun/Unbenannt.png) (https://ibb.co/hwM4En)

Edit: I made it. It was complicated.

Edit2: Aggressive strategy I learned from this thread made me won again with a much better time.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Oiskapunk on March 30, 2018, 04:08:39 PM
June 24, 1993. Wow, what a bitchy level. I'd call it: floating city.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Oiskapunk on April 01, 2018, 08:25:03 AM
August 18, 1664. A nice hard map.

(Btw.: A historical date for New York City. A ship arrived at the habour of New Amsterdam. On board there were british people. The Dutch surrendered. A few days later the City was renamed to New York.)
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Oiskapunk on April 16, 2018, 10:02:41 PM
Also nice: June 15, 8976
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Oiskapunk on May 01, 2018, 01:16:36 PM
Another one: October 29, 3844
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: ajbastuck on June 20, 2018, 09:53:48 PM
march 25, 4771.  Anyone able to beat this?  I've been building 3 blasters, letting them fully charge at the starting position then moving them and the base to the elevated part.  Can't quite beat it.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Anonymeus on July 24, 2018, 04:47:53 PM
I couldn't manage a "head chop" here either, but with a little patience (and a lot of fiddle) you can get a small economy running on the ridge in the north east corner...

This was a fun one - thanks for finding it :D

Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: Bog on November 19, 2022, 03:07:25 AM
January 5th 2023 is a doozy.

I can see a couple of people have managed to complete it (16 minutes and 90+ minutes)

I haven't managed it yet. I came very close to breaking out of the top left corner once, before some spores messed up the run.

I think the trick is to move the city to the west hill and get enough energy production, plus a mortar shooting south and another east of the hill shooting into the deepest valley.

That way some blasters could in theory keep the creeper at bay, but without them the creeper pretty quickly builds up to a level where it overwhelms the blasters.

If anyone has any hints or tips, let me know.
Title: Re: Hardest map?
Post by: pel on November 20, 2022, 06:14:47 PM
Hey, I see you've successfully finished the level by now but still. I think best start is to move the city to the south platform since it's larger. Start building a collector network on the higher level, then add a few reactors to get to about 6 energy/s. Use the upgrades for lower cost and more energy generation. Then you can build 2-3 drones to bomb the large creeper areas and 1, maybe 2 blasters to keep the lower platform clear. This should allow you to bridge accross the gap with relays.

Build a path all the way to the left, to the point just above the left emitter. While you're building that path, you can start also building about 3 packet speed buildings and some blasters. You'll need 4-5 of them at the end, but you should probably also use them to clear some creeper from the elevation 1 on the left. Once you're ready and are generating around 8+ energy/s, bomb the creeper to the right and below that emitter. At the same time move those 4-5 blasters to the bottom level next to the emitter. With some luck you'll be able to clear enough space to build the final collector to reach the last totem.