June 2016 Level Collaboration - Backroute Testing

[Wafflem]

The collaboration has officially begun! Read from Reply #7 to see the progress of the collaboration so far!

Old Post (click to show/hide)

​I'm wondering if we should do another NeoLemmix level collaboration. The one in December 2015 went very smoothly, and the level eventually made it into the NeoLemmix Community Pack. Also, with more people creating more levels and fangames this year, I'm wondering if there will be more participation in this one.

If we do the collaboration, the rules will be the same as before. I will start with a simple layout. If a person adds to the layout, they must provide a replay to show that their addition keeps the level solvable.

If you are interested, post here. The collaboration will officially begin this Saturday, June 11, at 9AM EST. Mark your calendars!

Sign-up list:
Flopsy
Colorful Arty
Minim
IchoTolot
Nepster (not available until June 17)

[Flopsy]

I'm interested, it will be fun

[Colorful Arty]

Heck yeah I'm joining! This sounds really cool!

[Minim]

I'm going to join too.

I'm also going to invite everyone who submitted in the Level Design Contest to take part!

[IchoTolot]

I would be in for it as well

[Wafflem]

Awesome!

Alright, I will wait until this Saturday, at 9AM EST, to start off the collaboration. Anyone else is welcome to sign up before then, though they may also join during the collaboration!

[Nepster]

I would like to join as well. But please put me somewhere at the end of the list, because I will not be able to work on the collab level until next friday (June 17).

[Wafflem]

​Let the Lemmings collaboration begin!



Platform: NeoLemmix

Order list:
1. Wafflem
2. Flopsy
3. Colorful Arty
4. Minim
5. IchoTolot
6. Nepster (unavailable until June 17)

Rules:
1. The order of collaboration will follow-up the sign-up list, and will rotate from the last person to the first if the last person has not completed the level yet.
2. You may add any number of terrain pieces, objects and steel; the number is all up to you.
3. You are welcome to remove and/or alter the terrain/objects of others. You may also change the stats and the skillset. However, do not completely change the previous person's previous work. If you are unsure on what is ok to change and what is not, do not hesitate to ask the previous person(s) if it is ok to make that change.
4. If you have a title in mind for the level, suggest it in your forum post.
5. If you have a music that you would like to use, suggest it and/or post it on the forums.
6. Try to have your entry done within a week from the last time the person posted their entry. If it will take longer, inform me.
7. If you want to withdraw or want to switch places with somebody else, let me know.
8. Discuss what your goal is in your entry for the level. Also, make sure to describe what changes you have made in the entry.
9. If you add something, the level must remain solvable. Make sure you add a replay to your new version of the level.
10. You are more than welcome to use your own version of your level for anything else, like your own pack.
11. As stated before, anyone is welcome to join in during the collaboration; they will simply be added at the end of the list.

NOTE: The music is currently set to the sixth ONML Acorn track; I was just using this to test out my version of the level and simply forgot to remove it. You are welcome to come up with an alternative track.

I have created the first portion of the level. Make sure you have this style in your editor folder. To Flopsy - download the attachment below to begin.

[Flopsy]

Here is my version of the level - so onto Colorful_Arty's turn now

changes I made
- changed RR to 60
- greatly reduced skillset, no climbers, floaters or bombers
- changed save requirement to 38/40
- added an alternate route through the level with a visible trap
- added a fair amount of one way arrows and steel to the level

Haven't changed the title or music, I'll leave that up to the rest of you

[Wafflem]

Awesome! It's already a challenging level!

I've added a rule that you may use your own version of the level for your own pack or anything else (Rule #10).

Also, when I posted my level, I forgot to remove the music from the Music file name box (it uses the sixth ONML Acorn music so far). I used it just to simply test out my level. Anyone is more than welcome to change it.

[Colorful Arty]

Two things:

1. As a level name, what do people think of "Spires of mire"?

2. I found a potentially really good music track for the level. Let me know what you think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXgCtfMBQE4

[Minim]

Both are great! The level name is perfect for any castle/slime level actually. The music is also partly related. Although it doesn't have a toxic drum beat, it's still a classic castle related tune.

[Colorful Arty]

Here's my version of the level! It looks like Minim is up next.

Fun fact: there are two different solutions to this level. See if you can find them both.

Changes made:
Changed the skillset
Gave it the (tentative) name "Spires of mire" (This can be changed in future updates)
Gave it custom music (This too can be changed by others)
Made the level a bit bigger by adding more to the left
Removed the trap at the lower level
Erased part of the floor to make it easier to reach the lower path
Made it prettier (subjective)

Attached are the level, my replays, and the music used

[Minim]

I have to admit, that lower route solution I took a peak at is quite extraordinary! Using all the skills just like the upper route. Unfortunately my edit seems to have taken the best part of that solution away.

Anyway here's my version of the level.
* Added Platformers, Swimmers and Cloners to the level.
* Increased the requirement to 42, meaning both Cloners must be saved.
* Erased the platform above the water. Now you must find a way to create a bridge!
* Widened the level size and added steel on the left instead of one way arrows.
* A few more terrain cleanups, including a blob to the right of the exit.

[Wafflem]

Wow, that was FAST!

Minim's version is looking EXCELLENT! You've really added a lot of challenge right there!

[IchoTolot]

Alright, I am done with my part

As this was already a finished level in my opinion after Minim's turn and could easily be on it's own, I allowed myself to totally "rework" the second part of the solution with the main goal to fuse the upper and lower part and set up some timing for the new ending part I created.

As for the skillset:

- removed the digger for a blocker which will be collected via a pick-up
- builders:   2 ---> 6
- bashers:   3 ---> 5
- platformers: 2 -> 3
- miners: 3 --> 2 (+ 1 via pick up)
- cloners: 2 --> 3 (+ 1 via pick up)

I removed that slime trap from the top part, which I think needs some redrawing or so as my first reaction was simply: "Wait, this is a trap! It looks EXACTLY like the other slime!"
At least a little indicator would be nice there.

The title + music is fine with me. I was considering  to throw another tack into the discussion to have a little choice there, but I think I will keep most of my tracks mostly secret for now for Reunion 2

Hope you like my changes    This version could also use some testing for backroutes! + I think this would make a nice challenging level by now

[Wafflem]

Whoa! This is definitely a Lemmings Reunion-style level!

After Nepster's contribution, I think we're pretty much done with this collaboration.

We'll add this to the NeoLemmix Community Pack after Nepster contributes, perhaps once we clean the level of major backroutes.

[Nepster]

This version could also use some testing for backroutes! + I think this would make a nice challenging level by now

Due to several backroutes, the level wasn't too challenging yet . So I tried my hand at backroute-fixing the level, though (if NepsterLems is any indication) I probably ended up with more backroutes than before . Unfortunately I could not preserve IchoTolot's solution (especially the fusing of the upper and lower part), but only a similar one.

Main changes:
- Removed most of the steel.
- Removed most of the traps.
- Changed the skill set to 1 climber and 3 of each of swimmer, blocker, platformer, builder, basher, miner and cloner.
- Only two pickup-skills now and both of them are builders.
- Lots of small terrain movements to remove backroutes.

I strongly recommend trying to solve the level yourself before watching the replay. (Replay for V1.43, but solvable in the experimental version as well.)

[Wafflem]

Awesome job, everyone!

Alright, now we'll have to test this level for backroutes. We will use Nepster's replay as the intended solution (but I haven't seen it yet).

[IchoTolot]

I've got a backroute       1 cloner was used just for the save req.

I would change sth with the intended way:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The timing in the middle/last part seems quite a bit too random for me + it resulted in my backroute. I suggest find a way around this.

Remove 2 blockers + swimmers from the skillset as they aren't used.

+ maybe 1 cloner if my backroute cannot be removed.

[Nepster]

Here is a backroute-fix and an improved intended solution. The changes were discussed yesterday in IRC.

Regarding IchoTolot's spoiler:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

What is the reason why you want to remove two swimmers and two blockers? Does removing skills, just because they are not used in the intended solution, really improve a level?

[IchoTolot]

Answer to Spoiler:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

They "might" be used unintentionally. Leaving them in doesn't bring an advantage either. If you are going for sth like 3 of everything except for climbers, I am not convinced that this is desirable.
After Reunion I slowly went away from giving extra skills in levels that arent just "work your way through", also leaving away trolling bombers. I would not call this level "work your way through" either ---> trying to enforce the intended solution with all tools that are at our disposal and cutting skills falls in there

[Wafflem]

New question to all:

Shall we have this level submitted to roundthewheel for streaming?

[Colorful Arty]

Sure! I'm sure he'll love it!

[mobius]

I"d like to see that [since I missed this entirely ]

[Flopsy]

It was sent to him 2 days ago by me.

I sent him all the details of who worked on it and in what order and how the level was worked on and what the guidelines were.

I already know he has 2 of Gigalem's submissions left over from the last stream so hopefully this is the 3rd level he has for next level submission stream unless anyone else has sent him a level.

[Wafflem]

It looks like there has been a major lack of forum activity and IRC activity lately these past three days, so I thought I'd bring this up again.

If there are no more plans to have this level changed, I will have this submitted to the NeoLemmix Community Pack. I will wait until July 23 at 12:25PM EST for more discussion of this level such as backroute finding. If all is good or there is no more discussion until this time, the level will be submitted, and there will be no more changes to it.

Extra special thanks to Flopsy, Colorful Arty, Minim, IchoTolot and Nepster for their participation in this collaboration! Also extra special thanks to Gronkling for the Slime Castle tileset, and roundthewheel for playing this level as part of his Lemmings Stream.