Custom Map #189: Construction. By: planetfall

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This topic is for discussion of map #189: Construction


Author: planetfall
Size: 130x130

Desc:
Humanity can always prevail against the Creeper! We have a Forge and it doesn-- oh. #CRPL #CustomEnemy #Spores #Digitalis #Runners

[Helper]

Yikes!
Just. Yikes.

[musemj6]

This map doesn't seem to work correctly; the text box says Beams can take out the Missiles, but they don't seem to do anything to the missiles; is it another unit that can take them out?

[Lost in Nowhere]

Which version are you using? If it isn't 1.65 or later, the beams won't target the missiles.

[Helper]

Confirm that the Beams do take out the missiles - and make sure you have plenty of them.
It is a VERY interesting screen if you don't.

I can't figure out the purpose of the construction in the lower right quadrant. The PZ isn't usable and I couldn't tell what happened when I built the Relays around the center.

[planetfall]

Confirm that the Beams do take out the missiles - and make sure you have plenty of them.
It is a VERY interesting screen if you don't.

I can't figure out the purpose of the construction in the lower right quadrant. The PZ isn't usable and I couldn't tell what happened when I built the Relays around the center.

1. Did you put a shield in the center, or just relays?
2. The PZ is only unusable if you built it to be unusable. The placement of the relays and the location of the constructor are ultimately your doing, not mine :P
3. Did you try moving it with collectors?
4. How on earth did you beat the map without using the constructor? It shouldn't be possible to destroy the far left totem and AET without it.

[Lenori]

How are we to get version 1.65?  The update screen only shows v1.61.

Also, I've not been able to get the PZ to work. 

Spoiler

I've built a sheild in the middle and three relays, but it didn't look like it was charging up.  I'm figuring that it needs to be charged with the whole 100 packets comment.

[close]

What am I missing?

[planetfall]

How are we to get version 1.65?  The update screen only shows v1.61.

Also, I've not been able to get the PZ to work. 

Spoiler

I've built a sheild in the middle and three relays, but it didn't look like it was charging up.  I'm figuring that it needs to be charged with the whole 100 packets comment.

[close]

What am I missing?

Get new versions from here: http://knucklecracker.com/forums/index.php?topic=14505.0
I made this with 1.71 but any version other than 1.72 should work (the missiles would cause the game to glitch out when beams were shooting them)

Yes, the constructor does need to be charged with 100 packets, unless you mean the PZ generator isn't charging up. In that case, it's not meant to have a visible ammo bar. If it's not consuming packets at all... that's a problem. Can you update and tell me if the problem persists?

[Jamz]

Heya planetfall.

Just wanted to say, I've played all 3 maps of yours from start to finish and I've enjoyed them all. I think it's great how you've come up with some innovative enemy units and behaviour and I really liked the way the enemy could "upgrade" themselves in this particular map.
I'm also quite intrigued with this story and how there's always some new discovery being made.

Regarding this particular map alone, I must say I'm quite disappointed by the rather low rating on it (so far 5.5). I get the feeling this may be due to the fact that some players on lower versions may be experiencing bugs and as a result not being able to enjoy the map and therefore giving it a low score.
I guess what I really want to say is that I hope these poor scores dont discourage you from continuing what you're doing because I dont think they truly reflect what it should be for this level. There are maps not as good as this one that are getting higher scores so this one definitely deserves more. Again, the reason I think it's not getting the scores is because of the issues people on lower versions are facing.

Keep up the work and I look forward to the next installment. :)


PS. Maybe in future maps, perhaps you could leave a note in the description about what version you made it in and recommend players to also update?  ??? Just a thought
PSS. I played this in v1.73 and had no problems at all with any aspect of the map. Was able to destroy missiles and make use of the PZ constructor thingy... except that I didn't initially quite understand how it worked but it's possible it was just my poor ability to understand things.

[Helper]

Confirm that the Beams do take out the missiles - and make sure you have plenty of them.
It is a VERY interesting screen if you don't.

I can't figure out the purpose of the construction in the lower right quadrant. The PZ isn't usable and I couldn't tell what happened when I built the Relays around the center.

1. Did you put a shield in the center, or just relays?
I followed the instructions - relays + shield.
2. The PZ is only unusable if you built it to be unusable. The placement of the relays and the location of the constructor are ultimately your doing, not mine :P
The PZ has a Totem growing through the top of it. How is that MY doing?
3. Did you try moving it with collectors?
I couldn't understand your instructions.
4. How on earth did you beat the map without using the constructor? It shouldn't be possible to destroy the far left totem and AET without it.
Build a Relay in one of the upper PZ's, then another by the far left Totem. Build the Nullifier.

You might want to consider having someone else read your instructions for clarity. I have fairly good (English) reading comprehension, but I think a lot of players will have a hard time figuring out the intent of the game. Obviously, a great deal of work went into it and you deserve all the kudos you can get.
H

[Jamz]

Confirm that the Beams do take out the missiles - and make sure you have plenty of them.
It is a VERY interesting screen if you don't.

I can't figure out the purpose of the construction in the lower right quadrant. The PZ isn't usable and I couldn't tell what happened when I built the Relays around the center.

1. Did you put a shield in the center, or just relays?
I followed the instructions - relays + shield.
2. The PZ is only unusable if you built it to be unusable. The placement of the relays and the location of the constructor are ultimately your doing, not mine :P
The PZ has a Totem growing through the top of it. How is that MY doing?
3. Did you try moving it with collectors?
I couldn't understand your instructions.
4. How on earth did you beat the map without using the constructor? It shouldn't be possible to destroy the far left totem and AET without it.
Build a Relay in one of the upper PZ's, then another by the far left Totem. Build the Nullifier.

You might want to consider having someone else read your instructions for clarity. I have fairly good (English) reading comprehension, but I think a lot of players will have a hard time figuring out the intent of the game. Obviously, a great deal of work went into it and you deserve all the kudos you can get.
H

The moving of the constructor also confused me a little bit at first. It seems what you have to do is build a collector at either of the 4 squares that are around the centre square. Then depending on where you placed the collector, the entire constructor will fit into that spot and replace the collector. You keep on doing this until you get it to where you want.

Also, for the finishing of the level, I also noticed that totem and AET to the left. Initially thought I'd have to move the constructor all the way to the left but then also noticed that spore which was around the north of the totem and AET and used a relay exactly as Helper did, thankfully saving me the effort of moving the constructor.


I guess my only criticism for this map would be that I didn't quite like the way we had to move the constructor. I guess I would have preferred if you could just select it and designate a spot for it to land on, even if it moved extremely slowly. Maybe you could've made it a requirement that you have to supply X amount of energy to move it... ??? ... dunno, just another random thought. But I just found this current method of moving the constructor with collectors quite painstaking, especially when I had to keep terping the ground so that I could place a collector exactly where I needed to. Eventually I decided to give up taking it to where I wanted to, and just build a PZ Bertha instead (which was quite helpful anyway :D)

[planetfall]

Confirm that the Beams do take out the missiles - and make sure you have plenty of them.
It is a VERY interesting screen if you don't.

I can't figure out the purpose of the construction in the lower right quadrant. The PZ isn't usable and I couldn't tell what happened when I built the Relays around the center.

1. Did you put a shield in the center, or just relays?
I followed the instructions - relays + shield.
Ah, OK, I misunderstood you then.
2. The PZ is only unusable if you built it to be unusable. The placement of the relays and the location of the constructor are ultimately your doing, not mine :P
The PZ has a Totem growing through the top of it. How is that MY doing?
You didn't move the constructor to another location or choose a different orientation for the generator.
3. Did you try moving it with collectors?
I couldn't understand your instructions.
What Jamz said. Build a collector in one of the green rings, and the constructor will move there.
4. How on earth did you beat the map without using the constructor? It shouldn't be possible to destroy the far left totem and AET without it.
Build a Relay in one of the upper PZ's, then another by the far left Totem. Build the Nullifier.
Aaaah... I didn't test if any of those enemies for proximity. The intended solution is, as Jamz said, move the constructor all the way over there and make your own PZ relay. But I suppose the fact that if you do it your way the forges get more aether and you can't put anything on the AET power zone to any useful effect makes up for the hassle cost.

You might want to consider having someone else read your instructions for clarity. I have fairly good (English) reading comprehension, but I think a lot of players will have a hard time figuring out the intent of the game. Obviously, a great deal of work went into it and you deserve all the kudos you can get.
H

Thank you ^_^
I unfortunately don't have access to people who understand much about cw game mechanics so I can't...
*realizes where he is posting this*
*facepalms*
Well, that was embarrassing of me...

Anyway I also wanted to put a bit of explanation as to why stuff works the way it does in-universe, which gets jumbled together with the explanations of how the player uses it. And of course it doesn't get stored into archived transmissions, so people who skip all conversations by force of habit no doubt end up going "what i do nao?!"

I plan to add more buildable units to the constructor for future missions, but exactly how to remind the player "how to craft a piston," so to speak, is going to be a toughie. I have some ideas, but whether they will work well I have yet to test. I may have to resort to the ultimate cop out, "read this forum thread so you can know what to do."

[TLMike]

I too had a bit of trouble with the instructions. And my degree is in English Lit. and Linguistics. While reading this forum has helped with the PZ Constructor, I'm still confused about the +-shaped towers. I can't seem to make them do anything.

...exactly how to remind the player "how to craft a piston," so to speak, is going to be a toughie....

As far as this goes, perhaps you can add one of those Message Disks that has the instructions inside. Or use CRPL to create a dialogue box when the game is paused and you hit certain key combinations. So, when the game pauses, you can place a small floating text box that says "For instructions on use, hit CTRL+F" or whatever, and when the player does that, the instructions dialogue comes up.

[planetfall]

Heya planetfall.

Just wanted to say, I've played all 3 maps of yours from start to finish and I've enjoyed them all. I think it's great how you've come up with some innovative enemy units and behaviour and I really liked the way the enemy could "upgrade" themselves in this particular map.
I'm also quite intrigued with this story and how there's always some new discovery being made.

Regarding this particular map alone, I must say I'm quite disappointed by the rather low rating on it (so far 5.5). I get the feeling this may be due to the fact that some players on lower versions may be experiencing bugs and as a result not being able to enjoy the map and therefore giving it a low score.
I guess what I really want to say is that I hope these poor scores dont discourage you from continuing what you're doing because I dont think they truly reflect what it should be for this level. There are maps not as good as this one that are getting higher scores so this one definitely deserves more. Again, the reason I think it's not getting the scores is because of the issues people on lower versions are facing.

Keep up the work and I look forward to the next installment. :)


PS. Maybe in future maps, perhaps you could leave a note in the description about what version you made it in and recommend players to also update?  ??? Just a thought
PSS. I played this in v1.73 and had no problems at all with any aspect of the map. Was able to destroy missiles and make use of the PZ constructor thingy... except that I didn't initially quite understand how it worked but it's possible it was just my poor ability to understand things.

*insert giant neon "THANKS" sign here*

Not only bugs that I had no hand in, but people are probably voting them down because of the difficulty, the confusing instructions, my relatively harsh of balancing... personal vendetta against me, perhaps... map 2 is my least favorite but has the highest rating :-\

I guess my only criticism for this map would be that I didn't quite like the way we had to move the constructor. I guess I would have preferred if you could just select it and designate a spot for it to land on, even if it moved extremely slowly. Maybe you could've made it a requirement that you have to supply X amount of energy to move it... ??? ... dunno, just another random thought. But I just found this current method of moving the constructor with collectors quite painstaking, especially when I had to keep terping the ground so that I could place a collector exactly where I needed to. Eventually I decided to give up taking it to where I wanted to, and just build a PZ Bertha instead (which was quite helpful anyway :D)

I intended the constructor to be annoying to use. The energy consumption to build the generator itself didn't feel like it was enough, and also I wanted extra constraints on how it could move (specifically, not across void or into creeper). Especially once the player has several levels of Energy Efficiency and a good collector net across the main landmass, the raw packet cost to use the thing was not enough to make it more than an annoyance. So early in the game, moving the constructor just means a little terraforming and collector-ing. Later it may mean demolishing infrastructure. Also, I wanted it to not be possible to put a PZgen so that it can upgrade an ore mine, because they don't get anything from PZs. I tried to make it spawn extra mines on the spot and increase production but that opened a can of worms and I couldn't get it to work, so I just made the ore deposits not aligned with the constructor's grid locations.

TL;DR I'm an aspiring game dev and I think about all these things.

[planetfall]

I too had a bit of trouble with the instructions. And my degree is in English Lit. and Linguistics. While reading this forum has helped with the PZ Constructor, I'm still confused about the +-shaped towers. I can't seem to make them do anything.

...exactly how to remind the player "how to craft a piston," so to speak, is going to be a toughie....

As far as this goes, perhaps you can add one of those Message Disks that has the instructions inside. Or use CRPL to create a dialogue box when the game is paused and you hit certain key combinations. So, when the game pauses, you can place a small floating text box that says "For instructions on use, hit CTRL+F" or whatever, and when the player does that, the instructions dialogue comes up.

...that's genius, actually. I'd thought of using a message artifact, but there's currently no way to respawn them containing actual messgaes if the player needs to check again. Only I'll probably do something like "Press CTRL-F for information about the structure under your cursor" so that the conversation doesn't get enormous and force the player to sift through it for the relevant information.

Regarding the plus-towers, (I am assuming you mean the gray ones with blue pipes on the side, not the small purple ones you build) those are Beam Stations. Place a Beam on the central square and it will consume less ammo and produce AC while firing. Build a PZ generator facing the station for maximum awesome!

Spoiler

[close]

They were introduced in my previous map, Beam Me Up. I guess it's not fair to assume people will play my maps in order, considering there's next to no indication they're supposed to be played that way, but on the other hand if I explained everything at the start of each map it would take the player longer to read the intro than to play.