Knuckle Cracker

Creeper World 2 => Custom Map Discussion => Custom Map Comments => Topic started by: AutoPost on March 27, 2012, 03:01:04 PM

Title: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: AutoPost on March 27, 2012, 03:01:04 PM
This topic is for discussion of map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld2/viewmaps.php?mapid=989)
(http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld2/thumb.php?id=989) (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld2/viewmaps.php?mapid=989)

Author: J (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld2/viewmaps.php?author=J)

Desc:
Trapped in a ring of creeper surrounded by creeper and emitters, chances to survive: 0%
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Karsten75 on March 27, 2012, 03:28:04 PM
Would it be wise to say that apparently "thinking out of the box" is not the initial solution? :)  While, at the same time it also is?

And if that's a clue, the Pope is my Aunt.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: J on March 27, 2012, 04:43:52 PM
If you're trying to kill all the creeper in 10 minutes, you'll lose. Moving out also won't help because there's creeper there. You'll have to find another solution.

Please don't post a full walkthrough or video because I want others to find out themselves.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: SmileyCoder on March 27, 2012, 05:12:45 PM
Nicely done. Thank you.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Molay on March 27, 2012, 08:17:11 PM
I had to restart about 6 times. Then I got it, I thought. I found out at 10 minutes I didn't quite think it through, and had to restart once again :D

A thrilling map, really loved it. Maybe a bit tedious to "finish", but I guess that's part of the challenge. Actually one of the best maps I've ever played.

Really looking forward for another one :)
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: fitz on March 28, 2012, 03:39:26 AM
I could do with a hint. I can survive 20 minutes. I think I could kill off all the emitters in the square during that period but cannot work out what you do with the locked in creeper down the left. You can't get in there and after 20 minutes nothing happens to it.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: fitz on March 28, 2012, 09:28:54 AM
Quote from: fitz on March 28, 2012, 03:39:26 AM
I could do with a hint. I can survive 20 minutes. I think I could kill off all the emitters in the square during that period but cannot work out what you do with the locked in creeper down the left. You can't get in there and after 20 minutes nothing happens to it.

OK I now realise this is a silly question
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: DeaconSlim on March 29, 2012, 10:38:32 PM
Zero clue how to do this...

Nothing.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: J on March 30, 2012, 02:50:39 AM
Ask yourself these questions:
Is it possible to survive inside the ring? So what do I have to do? Where can I build weapons? So what do I have to do?
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: DeaconSlim on March 30, 2012, 05:26:03 AM
It just doesn't seem like there's enough energy to do anything....still trying though.



Edit: Ok, I can make it past 10 minutes, but 20 minutes is killing me...lol
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: J on March 30, 2012, 10:07:02 AM
You made it past 10 min? Then you should go for the emitters, 4 of them will launch a trigger that helps you by throwing in 2147M AC. Then build reactors and launchers to kill the remaining creeper.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Link327 on March 30, 2012, 02:13:01 PM
:<
I was at 20 minutes, had the big Creeper ball at 3000k everywhere and then it hit the 20 min mark....
mean :/
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: teknotiss on March 30, 2012, 03:57:52 PM
right.
i my first try was a build blasters and move. (staying is not an option)
took 3 goes to work out how to kill the bottom left emitter.
then i dig a series of tunnels and build up.
and die cos of the 10 mins surprise.
darn you J! ;)
so i reload and dig in the ls and again with the tunnels
i can then hold off the 10mins surprise! WOOOOOOO
and then even though i have a pretty efficient use of space for reactors and tech centers the 20 mins surprise gets me.
so i read the comments. (6 at that point) not much help
so i think to myself... you can kill all four corner emitters for sure
so i did.
and then i still die trying to hold off the 20 min surprise.
i feel i need to kill the 4 NSEW emitters but i can't get a nullifier close enough.
do we only have the 10mins to 20 mins "window of opportunity" to kill the 4 NSEW emitters? assuming we have killed the 4 corner emitters and secured a base area? (am i building a base to late or too early?)
basically i want to know if i'm on the right track and just need to improve my timing, or if i'm doing things totally bass ackwards.
this is a bit of a brain killer for me
love it though, even if it beats me
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Link327 on March 30, 2012, 05:15:07 PM
you should know taht the NSEW emitters ARE killable.
Build a shield right above it, so one block above, one block sideway, exactly when the creeper flows away. Then build a nullifier above this shield, the shield can protect it, the nullifier kills the emitter.
Looking e.g. so:
- C
N C
S C
T E
- - nothing
C - Creeper
N - Nullifier
E- Emitter
S - Shield
T - Terrain,
this for the southern one, the same strategy works for all. I had all emitters cleared, but the huge mass of creeper (2.5k at each point of that "ball"), killed my whole base, including weapons, reactors, and the LS.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: teknotiss on March 30, 2012, 05:19:23 PM
ah thanks for the tip dude.
and from what happened to your base i guess i should be super fast and precise.
time for another go then!
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: teknotiss on March 30, 2012, 06:43:32 PM
done it.
wow
nice one J! :D
51m something secs
i'm going to rest my brain now, that map has been bugging me since about 10 mins after dl'ing it!
9/10 for that one
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: DeaconSlim on March 31, 2012, 04:27:25 AM
I can get all the emitters, not enough room to be safe, have energy and enough weapons to destroy the final 20 minute blow up
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Link327 on March 31, 2012, 06:15:04 AM
I really like this map, even if i failed it 3 times now.
I anyway vote it up, and i hate people voting this one down just cause they aren't able to beat it.
it is fun anyway, and i don't care about if it's now beaten or not.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: DeaconSlim on April 01, 2012, 02:55:28 AM
Finally got this one...

Thanks Tekno for a hint.

Still took me a few times, but finally got it.

GREAT MAP!
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Ebon Heart on April 02, 2012, 03:22:11 AM
I figured out the trick pretty easily, and it took me 2 or 3 times to get it right. After that I rage quit after the emitters erupted at 10 minutes and I hadn't saved. I may give this one another go.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: fitz on April 02, 2012, 03:52:29 AM
Quote from: Ebon Heart on April 02, 2012, 03:22:11 AM
I figured out the trick pretty easily, and it took me 2 or 3 times to get it right. After that I rage quit after the emitters erupted at 10 minutes and I hadn't saved. I may give this one another go.

Rage quit - I'm glad others do this. There is a behaviour I have when a map is hard which is to hate it, quit and decide to never play it again. A few hours later I come back to it with a few new ideas and beat it. These become my favourite maps.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: J on April 02, 2012, 08:48:24 AM
I like to see the downloads going over 900 with tons of negative votes and only positive comments :P
Every time I have a new challenging idea I play it to find out the easiest way of doing and adjust the difficulty to medium-hard. Creating maps this way gives puzzle maps like this.

Another way to beat this map is digging a small hole and defend it for 10-60 minutes. But you still have to solve the puzzle to do it this way ;)

To kill the emitters you can go for an easy nullify:
- - C
- T E
- S D
T N T

T: terrain
-: nothing
C: creeper
N: nothing/nullifier
E: emitter
S: shield
D: dig this and build the nullifier
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: teknotiss on April 02, 2012, 05:00:14 PM
Quote from: fitz on April 02, 2012, 03:52:29 AM
Quote from: Ebon Heart on April 02, 2012, 03:22:11 AM
I figured out the trick pretty easily, and it took me 2 or 3 times to get it right. After that I rage quit after the emitters erupted at 10 minutes and I hadn't saved. I may give this one another go.

Rage quit - I'm glad others do this. There is a behaviour I have when a map is hard which is to hate it, quit and decide to never play it again. A few hours later I come back to it with a few new ideas and beat it. These become my favourite maps.

lol me too!
sometimes i leave a rage inducing map for a few days or a week.
others i ask for help! ;)
this is a new fav of mine
and i'm going to retry and see if i can get a better score/time.
thanks J. a great map and really puzzling.
thanks link. i would have given up if you hadn't helped, and i wouldn't have been able to help deacon either.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: hadaly on May 13, 2012, 10:34:44 AM
Incredible map! I thought it was impossible... but I got it! I have bad score but at least I have it! great map!
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: teknotiss on May 13, 2012, 11:18:34 AM
Quote from: hadaly on May 13, 2012, 10:34:44 AM
Incredible map! I thought it was impossible... but I got it! I have bad score but at least I have it! great map!
that's the attitude dude!  ;)
keep at it!
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: ctuna on June 20, 2012, 08:38:02 PM
 Finally got a few clues from here, got all the emitters before 10 minutes, so missed the "surprise". I don't get how anyone can defeat it in 6+ minutes. Even 12 seems a miracle to me, but I'm not very efficient with energy, even after playing this and CW1 from almost the beginning. Guess some of us have it and some don't. Still, a really good time playing it, J. Keep it up!
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Kithros on June 21, 2012, 02:28:29 AM
The 7 minute time is 100% definitely hacked, considering there's creeper on the left side of the map that's unreachable and won't die until 9:56. The other times should be possible if you build up reactors quickly and such, but don't take the 7 minute time seriously.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Katra on June 28, 2012, 06:21:38 PM
Killed all the emitters; then the whole ball of creeper blew up at 20 min. I won't be wasting any more time on this.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: J on June 29, 2012, 02:53:54 AM
Does that mean another downvote? Will get me to 80 then :D
Try to build as many reactors as fast as possible, nullify the emitters quickly and build some launchers in meantime. You shouldn't use blasters to kill that ball if you have some energy left, build another launcher instead. Turn double speed on and you should have enough time to kill it.
Quote from: Kithros on June 21, 2012, 02:28:29 AM
The 7 minute time is 100% definitely hacked, considering there's creeper on the left side of the map that's unreachable and won't die until 9:56. The other times should be possible if you build up reactors quickly and such, but don't take the 7 minute time seriously.
The creeper at the left is killed when you kill the emitters, and you can do that before 9:56 (haven't tested if it is possible to kill them that fast)
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: fitz on June 29, 2012, 04:23:48 AM
Quote from: J on June 29, 2012, 02:53:54 AM
Does that mean another downvote? Will get me to 80 then :D

Yes, congratulations. If it helps this map would certainly make my top 3 list of all time.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Kithros on June 29, 2012, 09:31:21 AM
Quote from: J on June 29, 2012, 02:53:54 AM
Does that mean another downvote? Will get me to 80 then :D
Try to build as many reactors as fast as possible, nullify the emitters quickly and build some launchers in meantime. You shouldn't use blasters to kill that ball if you have some energy left, build another launcher instead. Turn double speed on and you should have enough time to kill it.
Quote from: Kithros on June 21, 2012, 02:28:29 AM
The 7 minute time is 100% definitely hacked, considering there's creeper on the left side of the map that's unreachable and won't die until 9:56. The other times should be possible if you build up reactors quickly and such, but don't take the 7 minute time seriously.
The creeper at the left is killed when you kill the emitters, and you can do that before 9:56 (haven't tested if it is possible to kill them that fast)

Well, for me it definitely didn't die when the emitters died - I killed the emitters well before that (I didn't actually play through killing all the creeper in the dense ball though).
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Helper on July 01, 2012, 07:38:22 AM
This one is beating my brains out (what little there are).

I can get all of the Emitters before the 10 minute mark, dig tunnels and build Reactors/Tech Domes and all the Blasters in the world, but still can't beat the "20 minute" surprise.

This is a fun game and I voted it 'up', but would sure like to know the trick to finishing off (or preventing) that mass at 20 minutes.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: ea3401 on July 01, 2012, 07:43:21 AM
Quote from: Helper on July 01, 2012, 07:38:22 AM
... all the Blasters in the world...
Try launchers.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Helper on July 01, 2012, 07:44:50 AM
Sorry - dumb typing mistake on my part.
I meant to type "Launchers". I think I ended up with about 30 of them beating on that giant ball of blue goo.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: teknotiss on July 01, 2012, 07:51:42 AM
well it's been a while but i think i went for repulsors and shields in on two sides with as many launchers as i could fit into the "caves" i had carved out. LS on one side and a bunch of weapons on the other. it took a few goes to get right but i was looking to kill the lower emitter and start the base building fast, while killing the other 3 perimeter emitters.
i had a 1 square entrance for the weapons and a 2 square entrance for the ls. covered by a few blasters and repulsors backed up by launchers you can ride out the creeper explosion. not the fastest method, i know, but it worked.
good luck and hope it helps  8)
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Helper on July 01, 2012, 07:55:36 AM
Hmmm...
Do you leave the 4 main Emitters intact?
I saw a reference up above about some "AC" being created if certain conditions are met, but I've been taking out all 8 Emitters - so that doesn't happen.

Thank you both for posting. I know it's an oldie, but I've been working my way back through them while I'm waiting for new maps to get published.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Helper on July 13, 2012, 07:46:53 AM
Ping.
Anyone?
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: J on July 13, 2012, 08:10:09 AM
When you take out one of the strongest emitters (not those on the corners) an AC emitter will start teleporting its AC to the center, and a little burst of AC will also come in then.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Helper on July 13, 2012, 08:17:12 AM
J - thank you for posting.

Are you saying to take out just one of the strong Emitters?
I've been getting all 8 of them (4 strong, 4 weak) before the 10 minute mark, but still unable to overcome the 20 minute surge.

My fleet of Launchers will substantially reduce the mass of Creeper, but it eventually overwhelms me. I've been playing from a saved game, but might restart from scratch and build more secure tunnels for protection.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: J on July 13, 2012, 08:28:19 AM
Try to build reactors as soon as you get some dry land (best is to move to the bottom left or right I think). Keep building your reactors as fast as possible and when you have energy left slowly start building launchers while building more reactors. After building some reactors this should be your priorities:
1. taking out all emitters
2. building reactors
3. supplying launchers
4. building launchers
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Helper on July 13, 2012, 08:33:47 AM
I'll give that a try.
I've been burying the LS in a tunnel and trying to protect my Reactors & Techs.
Maybe just need to be more aggressive and go into full assault mode.

More later - thanks.
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: ea3401 on July 13, 2012, 09:22:31 AM
Quote from: Helper on July 13, 2012, 08:33:47 AM
I'll give that a try.
I've been burying the LS in a tunnel and trying to protect my Reactors & Techs.
Maybe just need to be more aggressive and go into full assault mode.

More later - thanks.

It's important, not to waste any valuable terrain here. Should look like this after 10 minutes:
Title: Re: Custom Map #989: Challenges: Ring of Death
Post by: Helper on July 13, 2012, 10:17:28 AM
Aha!
I was doing all tunnels to prevent the Creeper from accessing the Reactors/Techs.
Very excellent and will give that a try.