Lemmings Challenges

[ccexplore]

Now that you reminded me of that other way of builder-free crowd control, I need to review Mayhem 17 to see whether I can lower the number of builders while maintaining 100% and glitch-free, now that I can use one of the blockers elsewhere......

After lengthy investigation, it looks like the 4-builder 100% glitch-free solution is probably not going to work out the way I wanted.  In short, there are some troubles involving the blockers (both).

However, I think I can downgrade it to a challenge that's still interesting, if strangely specified:

Save 100%, glitch-free, using no more than 6 builders laying out a total of no more than 41 build bricks.

This is not yet confirmed, but I'm definitely planning to confirm it sooner or later.

Note that the build-brick count counts any bricks that has been laid down at some point in the solution, even if the pixels of the brick is later removed.

In case the challenge specification inadvertently includes "backroutes" to the challenge I intended, please PM me your solution to this challenge.

[ccexplore]

Now let's see what it can accomplish on Taxing 4......

Well, this is a start:

Taxing 4: save 90% (36/40), no more than 6 builders

This is not optimal in a number of ways, although it would be incredibly tedious to find the optimal solution.  5 builders is definitely possible, it just so happens that on my successful try, I needed to use the 6th builder in order to get the correct distance between certain lemmings.  The minimum # of builders possible with this method would probably be around 4, and minimum # lost would probably be around 2 or 3.

I'll try to release a CustLemm level featuring the glitch (the same one previously used in the 1-builder Mayhem 17 solution) sometime next week, along with some hints on how to get it to occur.  Note again that it is an interaction between actions of 2 lemmings.

[ccexplore]

However, I think I can downgrade it to a challenge that's still interesting, if strangely specified:

Save 100%, glitch-free, using no more than 6 builders laying out a total of no more than 41 build bricks.

This is not yet confirmed, but I'm definitely planning to confirm it sooner or later.

I've now confirmed it, so it's official:

Mayhem 17: save 100% using no glitches, no more than 6 builders laying out a total of no more than 41 build bricks

It should be possible to refine the challenge to 5 builders and 41 bricks.  I'll confirm that later in the future.

Although there is no way to enforce the number of build bricks used in a level, the terrain can be changed to enforce the solution.

[ccexplore]

After lengthy investigation, it looks like the 4-builder 100% glitch-free solution is probably not going to work out the way I wanted. &#A0;In short, there are some troubles involving the blockers (both).

Actually, I take that back for now.  It occurs to me with simple modification of how the crowd is trapped, I can trap them so that they don't mill around all over the place while certain key players are at work.  Not only does this makes certain moves much easier to deal with, but it also potentially alleviates one of the blocker issues.  I'm still unsure about the other blocker issue though, but overall it's looking more hopeful than before.

[LemSteven]

I think I've figured out what ccexplore's latest Mayhem 17 challenge involves doing, though I'm very surprised that 41 bricks is enough to complete it. &#A0;I didn't think it would be possible with anything less than 50. &#A0;I'll have to test it out next weekend.

Meanwhile, I have another challenge:

Crazy 8: &#A0;Save 100% using 6 builders (the level gives you 7). &#A0;Hint: &#A0;Contrary to what I previously believed, the "swamp" water area near the middle of the level is clearable with only 2 bridges.

[ccexplore]

Crazy 8: &#A0;Save 100% using 7 builders [the level gives you 8].

:: My copy of ONML only has 7 builders on Crazy 8, and the screenshot at home.wanadoo.nl/lemmings-solution also listed only 7 builders available.  Did you mean 6?

[ccexplore]

Meanwhile, I have another challenge:

Crazy 8: &#A0;Save 100% using 7 builders (the level gives you 8).

Well, be it 6 or 7, the challenge has now been superceded:

Crazy 8:  Save 100% using 4 builders (the level gives you 7)

This is a glitch-free solution.

The key saving comes from the following fact, which sounds rather unbelievable but is absolutely true:  after you get past the "swamp" LemSteven alluded to, there exist a position reachable via just 2 builders, which allows you to bash thru the "cactus" left of the exit without over-bashing past the exit.  You would not expect the basher to stop bashing at where it stops, but it does.

Naturally, that position needs to be pixel-precise both horizontally and vertically.  It will turn out you don't need to start bashing off from a build brick (in fact, you shouldn't).  That should help limit the number of places to try, for those who want to discover it themselves.

Screenshots are available, although again, it might be hard to believe without seeing it in action yourself.

=======================

Aside:  the screenshot in the Lemmings Solution pages for Crazy 8 is inaccurate near the exit area.  The screenshot has a very narrow and somewhat deep pit left of the exit which doesn't exist in the actual level.

[ccexplore]

after you get past the "swamp" LemSteven alluded to, there exist a position reachable via just 2 builders

Clarify:  what I really meant was "reachable without using more than 2 builders".  You may use whatever non-builder skills you feel necessary to get to the exact horizontal and vertical "magic spot".

[LemSteven]

:: My copy of ONML only has 7 builders on Crazy 8, and the screenshot at home.wanadoo.nl/lemmings-solution also listed only 7 builders available. &#A0;Did you mean 6?

Oops.  I did mean 6 -- the level gives you 7.  I just knew that my solution required one less builder than the level gives you.  I mistakenly assumed that the level gives you 8 builders instead of 7.

I'll edit my earlier post and check out the 4-builder soution.  My previous solution used 1 builder to hold the crowd, 2 to clear the swamp, 2 to build up to the cactus, and 1 to stop the final basher.

[ccexplore]

I'll edit my earlier post and check out the 4-builder soution. &#A0;My previous solution used 1 builder to hold the crowd, 2 to clear the swamp, 2 to build up to the cactus, and 1 to stop the final basher.

So yes, here's a hint for getting rid of the builder you used to hold the crowd:

A single well-placed mining stroke

[ccexplore]

In the wake of the recent challenges, here's another one:

Wicked 5:  save 100% using only the following skills:  2 diggers, 1 basher, 1 builder.

[ccexplore]

Wicked 5: &#A0;save 100% using only the following skills: &#A0;2 diggers, 1 basher, 1 builder.

(This is glitch-free)

[ccexplore]

Another challenge from ONML:

Wicked 3:  save 100% using only 3 builders and 2 diggers, nothing else.  So no climbers and not even bashers.

This is obviously not glitch-free, although the glitch used is quite well-known well before I ever posted here.

Screenshots are available.

[ccexplore]

More ONML challenges:

Wild 19:  save 100% using no more than 7 builders in under 2 minutes

Not glitch-free, but one look at the level and you should know what the solution will be, given earlier challenges on this thread.

[ccexplore]

Two possible challenges [though rather easy when it comes to "challenges"] for Wicked 14:

Wicked 14: save 100% with no builders
Wicked 14: save 100% with only 1 builder and only 5 other skills.

The first challenge is glitch-free, the second one isn't (but not new glitches).