Custom Map #1895: Spiral Takeback. By: stdout

[D0m0nik]

Sorry to wade into the debate uninvited but I think it is worth pointing out one thing about PAC maps.

Unlike traditional maps, PAC maps need some skill and expertise to make, I have been trying lately and cannot work it out/ cannot be bothered. Traditional maps can be made by anyone and so result in a lot of awful maps (0.45 seconds to complete etc). There is a small number of people making PAC maps and you know that every map is gong to be well thought and well made by a more than competent map designer and so I am always excited to see a new map just as I am excited to see a new map by Pastor H, I know what I am going to get!

Basically what I am saying is it is not just PAC maps that get well received in them self selves but the small number of talented map makers that create these maps that are well received/ voted high. If the same makers gave up and concentrated on traditional maps they would no doubt make very high scoring maps.

[stdout]

Good points, both of you.

[jac1998]

So.....I don't know how to start this map. I honestly don't. That spoiler solution isn't helping me any, and I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to be doing here. I'm starting to consider that this is actually unwinnable or just made to deliberately piss people off, which is a silly reason to make a map.

Just....WHAT am I supposed to do here!?

[GoodMorning]

Having read that, I played it to check.

Yes, it's one of the hardest PaCs I've played. Yes, it is also winnable.

Spoiler

The "let a spore spread to destroy a key Relay" works for the first Spore, but it's the next one along that I could keep suppressed (meaning no Beams further inward were built). After that, I kept the one Spore firing, but mostly used Emitters to get a few more PZs.

I think I switched to three Spores, then, then back to Emitters, and was pretty much stable.

From there, I gradually puzzled out where to go next - back and forth, picking up a PZ here and there. Don't be afraid to push coordinated Spores into Beam-range a bit, only one has to land to take out a Relay.

It was rather satisfying to punch a hole in the bottom-ring that one Spore could keep open, allowing the main storm to cut it in a second place, meaning a whole segment was unpowered and ripe for Digi-spread. After that, I only used a few Emitters, and just added Spores at (almost) every opportunity.

[close]

Don't try to go rightward or upward until you have considerable firepower, would be my advice.