Beating maps in under 2-3 minutes.

[Blackstripe]

So, since I've gotten involved in making maps, I noticed some stuff that has me scratching my head and trying to figure it out...  How are people beating maps in under 2-3 minutes, with totems on the other side of the map???  Is there some meta or some mechanic that I am not aware of?  I tried my hardest to replicate those insane times on maps I made, and have played repeatedly to difficulty-balance.  And even with building just enough collectors to produce relays without power-stalling, for the longest reach per build, I can't even reach the totems within those times, even without creeper in the way.  So when it's a map that I know at least one or two of the totems will be flooded by the creeper, how are these people able to beat the maps so fast? 

One of the maps I made recently, "Exponential Growth", I designed to be an attrition battle, trying to slug it out with incredibly  limited space, and two of the towers being in the low-ground where the creeper will flood and stay flooded.  And somehow, they managed to even clear that map in a handful of minutes...  It's kinda disheartening to not understand how they're able to finish maps that should be a significant challenge so quickly, how am I supposed to balance the difficulty of the games?

Am I just missing something here?

[Karsten75]

There are cheaters. Reconcile yourself to that.

Unless there are clear exploits, in which casse someone is bound to comment on the map.

[Blackstripe]

There are cheaters. Reconcile yourself to that.

Unless there are clear exploits, in which case someone is bound to comment on the map.

I know there will be.  But I am hoping that the same handful of people playing the maps aren't all cheaters.  I would like to have that bit of faith in them.  Either way, it's not going to stop me from trying to continue creating interesting maps.

[Anonymeus]

1) Thanks for making new maps for us Blackstripe! You have no idea how much it is appreciated..

2) I don't think any of the scores on "Exponential Growth" (or your other maps for that matter) are cheats. Some of the folks here have been playing CW1 for about a decade now and have become kind of sharp over the years :D One of the tricks on that map to knock some off some time is to realise that

Spoiler

you only need to attack the creeper in 1 particular place, all the other totems can be connected without firing a single shot..

[close]

..

3) Thanks again for the maps!!! Please make more!  :).

[GoodMorning]

Some of the speedrunners are ludicrously good, and spend hours playing to get a time of a few minutes.

Many have been flagged as probable-cheats at one time or another, and a few have responded by showing a how-to video of exactly what they did.

[Blackstripe]

1) Thanks for making new maps for us Blackstripe! You have no idea how much it is appreciated..

2) I don't think any of the scores on "Exponential Growth" (or your other maps for that matter) are cheats. Some of the folks here have been playing CW1 for about a decade now and have become kind of sharp over the years :D One of the tricks on that map to knock some off some time is to realise that

Spoiler

you only need to attack the creeper in 1 particular place, all the other totems can be connected without firing a single shot..

[close]

..

3) Thanks again for the maps!!! Please make more!  :).

You're quite welcome, I've got another batch coming that I should be starting to submit this weekend!  Thanks for playing them!

[Blackstripe]

Some of the speedrunners are ludicrously good, and spend hours playing to get a time of a few minutes.

Many have been flagged as probable-cheats at one time or another, and a few have responded by showing a how-to video of exactly what they did.

Yeah, the times are like, close to theoretical limit.  So it's mind-boggling that they're able to do it.  I would love to see the step-by-step of how they're tackling my maps.  That way perhaps I could gear a map specifically towards challenging those players to make them employ all their tricks to win.

[Anonymeus]

Hi Blackstripe.. here are a few classic maps (some are quite difficult). Might help you find your way around the possibilities that the game offers... There are literally thousands more (though not all of this quality). There is also a ton of stuff to be found on the old forums if you dig about a bit..

http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/mapcomments.php?id=2586&page=

http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/mapcomments.php?id=909&page=

http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/mapcomments.php?id=6135&page=

http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld/mapcomments.php?id=557&page=