This topic is for discussion of map #5094: Jumbotron
(http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld3/queryMaps.php?query=thumbnailid&id=5094)
Author: Sorrontis
Size: 256x256
Desc:
I did it! I finally finished Jumbotron. This map was supposed to be my map for position 5000, but glitches and bad mapping caused delays. It hard. Like, insanely hard. Plus, its big, and can nuke a slow computer. Please go to the forums for some hints. Unless you want to experience it blindly. (That's a bad idea). #Sorrontiphobia #CRPL (that's no joke)
This is no joke. Do not take this map lightly. It will destroy your soul...
And now, for some happy hints!
Enemy waves
In the top right corner, there's a faint counter. It's your "friend". It doesn't count down time though. It counts:
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Waves.... The number of waves of spores left.
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The first wave hits at 15 minutes. Better hurry!
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And there's a lot of spores. And they have multi-strength hitpoints,
and they have massive loads.
Energy, it's your friend
Did you know you have a lot of energy to start with? Those little caches of power can be used for a lot of reactors, or terps.
No need for weapons just yet.
Custom Spore towers at the south
Those four custom spore towers that attract spores? You can't null them. But, snipers will whack'em hard! They do fight back.
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Also, those towers? I would advise not using AC until all four are gone... Just a heads up.
Yellow Custom Core at the right
See that dude? He eats your energy if you connect to it and then sends out creeper!
Custom Emitters
They create rings... Ring of a lot of creeper.
Runners by your base?
See those special runner bases? They create many different types of runners.
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One type in particular carries a 2000 load. But they are rather rare... I think.
That missile silo at the top near the inhibitor?
You'll figure it out :)
- - - - - - - - - -
Oh, I forgot the most important hint
Last wave
There is only last wave that occurs at 1h04 on the dot. It's really bad for your health.
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You gotta prepare for it, for it is not spores. It is worse.
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Have AC covering every imaginable corner. You will lose a lot of buildings. Have combat units within your base, a lot of units, you will encounter the enemy in familiar places within unfamiliar strength.
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Having conquered all small surrounding islands will help ... plus, you know, berthas.
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Having a cache of extra energy in the form of guppiers, 2-6 k worth of energy will help alot.
Alter Old, or ea3401 ... can either of you get to the inhibitor in any moderate amount of thyme?
Can't wait to play this but may have to wait a few days. In part need an evening free and in part need to mentally prepare! I have had a quick look.
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You know that the top special unit is vulnerable to an early attack right?
QuoteIn the top right corner, there's a faint counter.
I read this as 'feint counter' at first, I thought it was keeping track of your evil tricks!
Quote from: D0m0nik on December 05, 2017, 02:38:02 PM
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You know that the top special unit is vulnerable to an early attack right?
Yep. Go attack it! Go. you can do it!
:-\
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I did and have a good foot hold, supplied by guppies. I am now not so confident though!! I wish I hadn't had a sneaky go now as it will bug me until I get a chance to resume the fight!
I was able to do so too, but I lost it quickly.
I took out the inhibitor in 19 mins.
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All hell broke loose.
Time for bed. And nightmares :o
Quote from: D0m0nik on December 05, 2017, 05:08:25 PM
I took out the inhibitor in 19 mins.
Spoiler
All hell broke loose.
Time for bed. And nightmares :o
Let me know if you're able to survive that :D
Not without a complete restart! One for the weekend.
Just out of interest is it any different if you don't go straight for the inhibitor?
Nope. The inhibitor sets it off early. The difference is that you're "ready" for it.
Quote from: Sorrontis on December 04, 2017, 10:26:44 PM
Enemy waves
In the top right corner, there's a faint counter. It's your "friend". It doesn't count down time though. It counts:
Spoiler
Waves.... The number of waves of spores left.
Spoiler
The first wave hits at 15 minutes. Better hurry!
Spoiler
And there's a lot of spores. And they have multi-strength hitpoints,
and they have massive loads.
are the waves based on your power or a static value?
Static - the health of the spores are random within a range that increases over wave #. The amount of creeper in each spore also increases in a similar way. :D
Excellent map Sorrontis. 10/10 for strategy and surprises. This map kept me awake for too long last night! Tough going right to the end but I'll sleep better tonight.
Thank you.
Hi POMie, thanks for the praise.
I thought I had finaly done it and this remains, won't shoot or nullify? (blue core in the middle)
interesting... show me the full map :)
I don't have it in me to start again :(
Can you send me the map?
That should not have happened.
I think this is the one?
Check (with a nullifier) the bertha's on the island on the right. There's a nest there that appears after the nullifier.
Yep that's got it, thanks! An epic battle this, not high on the replayability though! I fully restarted 4 times before I settled on the right approach, was an impressive challenge.
No, I don't think its a replayable map either. Too long. It should give you a steam achievement :P
Also, I just realized... that means you took the center right island before the last wave? Wow, I'm impressed!
This was a rare map that truly tested me and I nearly gave up twice (this is a good thing!). I suspected I had the stategy wrong every time I played including my final one as I was building at my fastest for one hour and could only just prepare for the 1.04 event.
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My first two attempts I tried to move my base to the very top left around the inhibitor but as soon as I destroyed the forge it became too difficult. I then decided that I needed to concentrate on collecting the techs and then moving to the top right. I got there with 20 minutes left to build and flood the area with AC in time for the event. Managed to get the forge up and two power upgrades in. The key was having PZs free for the beams and a getting a quick PZ reactor up. I also fired a nullifier on the inhibitor with seconds to spare to kill emitters that cross over otherwise.
From the start of the game I heavily developed the top of the map to have as many reactors and beams as possible. When the waves of spores came it helped to pause and stop resupply to all beams unles on a PZ and then slowly recharge them once the danger had passed.
This was all incredibly tricky. How did you do it, was your approach a lot different than mine?
I know I am not ranting and raving about this map but take it as a stunned silence rather than a rebuke. I'm a little shell shocked!
Hi Sorrontis
While replaying this map, I found that everything had been nullified except
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the blue object that spawns emitters. I could not reach the last emitter even with a nullifier on the nearest PZ so
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I had to wait until the land grew to give me a foundation for a nullifier.
Is that what you would expect or did I miss something? It may be nigh on impossible to improve a score if this is the case.
Hi POMie,
The blue object that spawns emitters cannot be nullified or destroyed - however, you do need to collect all the tech, and if you're too slow after nullifying the inhibitor, a new emitter could have spawned. You likely missed something.
It is technically possible to beat the map with almost no land growth, but I doubt anyone is that impressive.
Hi Sorrontis
Sorry I didn't explain more clearly. I understand the the blue object cannot be destroyed and it did spawn an emitter after I nullified the inhibitor. My question is... do I have to wait for the land growth in order to be able to get to that emitter? It sounds like the problem is that I had not collected the tech before nullifying the inhibitor and so now I must wait...
Oh, very much so, unfortunately. You might be able to get it with a PZ nullifier?
No PZ in range of it. I just did it again but this time made sure I had collected the tech before nullifying the inhibitor.
This has been the most challenging strategic map - very well balanced. Please make more. Thanks for all your effort.
Thank's POMie. Of course I'll make more! Glad you liked it!
oomgz! how come i missed that map earlier??! It's perfect! No rage-quits but still challenging to the end!
well, maybe the last part was a bit boring, when you have to wait for the land do grow to get the last emitters.
Gievf more random spores!!1
Glad you liked it. I haven't made a good map in a while. Quite busy unfortunately.