[NeoLemmix] Fewest different kinds of skill

[namida]

Time to bring back another classic, this time the fewest kinds of skills challenge.

The goal here is to beat each level with the least variety of skills. The quantity used of each skill does not matter. So for example, a solution that uses "30 builders, 30 bashers" is a better result than a solution that uses "5 builders, 5 bashers, 5 miners", because the former only uses two types of skills (builders + bashers) whereas the latter uses three (builders + bashers + miners). Additionally, even if you can't beat the amount, it is meaningful if you can achieve the same result with a different combination. So if a level has a result for two skills using builders + bashers, and you find a solution that uses builders + miners, that's worth mentioning.


Lemmings Redux

Gentle (click to show/hide)

1 "Just dig!" - 1 type: diggers
2 "Only floaters can survive this" - 1 type: floaters
3 "Tailor-made for blockers" - 1 type: blockers
4 "Now use miners and climbers" - 2 types: climbers+miners
5 "You need bashers this time" - 1 type: bashers
6 "A task for bombers" - 1 type: bombers
7 "Builders will help you here" - 1 type: builders
8 "Snuggle up to a Lemming" - 1 type: bombers; miners; diggers
9 "Get a little extra help" - 1 type: builders
10 "Downwardly Mobile Lemmings" - 1 type: bombers; blockers; builders; bashers; miners; diggers
11 "Keep your hair on, Mr. Lemming" - 2 types: climbers+bombers; floaters+builders; builders+bombers; builders+diggers
12 "A Block from Home" - 1 type: builders; bashers
13 "Let's go to the moon!" - 1 type: builders
14 "CindyLand" - 2 types: bombers+builders; builders+bashers; builders+miners
15 "Darkness of the royal family" - 2 types: bombers+builders; builders+bashers; builders+miners; builders+diggers
16 "A Beast of a level" - 2 types: builders+bashers; builders+miners
17 "You Live and Lem" - 1 type: bashers; miners
18 "Lemming toast" - 2 types: builders+diggers
19 "Where do you see Lemmings?" - 1 type: builders
20 "Patience" - 1 type: bashers
21 "Lemmings in the attic" - 2 types: bombers+builders; builders+bashers; builders+miners; builders+diggers
22 "Let's be careful out there" - 1 type: builders
23 "Pillar talking" - 2 types: builders+miners; builders+diggers
24 "Rainbow Island" - 1 type: miners
25 "The Crankshaft" - 2 types: climbers+miners; builders+miners
26 "Careless clicking costs lives" - 2 types: bombers+builders; builders+bashers; builders+miners; builders+diggers
27 "Quest for Kieran" - 1 type: builders
28 "Catch more floaters" - 6 types: climbers+floaters+bombers+builders+bashers+miners; climbers+floaters+builders+bashers+miners+diggers
29 "Konnichiwa Lemming-san" - 2 types: builders+miners
30 "Turn around, young lemmings!" - 1 type: bombers; builders
31 "Doomsday" - 2 types: bombers+builders; builders+bashers; builders+miners; builders+diggers
32 "Going Their Separate Ways" - 2 types: climbers+builders; floaters+builders

Quirky (click to show/hide)

1 "PoP YoR ToP!!!" - 1 type: bombers
2 "It's Lemmingentry, Watson" - 3 types: floaters+bombers+diggers; floaters+builders+diggers; bombers+builders+diggers
3 "Vacation in Gemland" - 2 types: builders+bashers
4 "Go for it!" - 2 types: builders+bashers; builders+miners
5 "Keep all enemies out." - 3 types: climbers+builders+diggers
6 "Just a Quicky" - 2 types: builders+bashers; builders+miners
7 "The runaround" - 3 types: climbers+builders+bashers
8 "A Spot of Bother" - 2 types: floaters+builders; bombers+builders; builders+bashers; builders+miners; builders+diggers
9 "Exodus!" - 4 types: climbers+floaters+builders+bashers
10 "The Needs of the Many..." - 3 types: climbers+bombers+bashers
11 "DON'T PANIC" - 3 types: bombers+builders+bashers; blockers+builders+bashers; builders+bashers+diggers
12 "Over the wall" - 2 types: bombers+bashers; blockers+bashers; builders+bashers
13 "Haunted botanical garden" - 2 types: builders+miners
14 "Meeting Adjourned" - 2 types: builders+bashers
15 "Plethora of Presents" - 2 types: builders+bashers
16 "MENACING !!" - 1 type: builders
17 "Mr Lemmy Lives Next Door" - 3 types: blockers+builders+bashers
18 "One way or another" - 1 type: builders
19 "Tunnel vision" - 3 types: climbers+builders+miners; builders+bashers+miners
20 "Perseverance" - 2 types: blockers+diggers; builders+diggers; miners+diggers
21 "The Long Way Around" - 3 types: floaters+builders+bashers; blockers+builders+bashers; bombers+builders+bashers
22 "The Far Side" - 3 types: builders+bashers+miners; builders+bashers+diggers; builders+miners+diggers
23 "Emmings! (No L)" - 3 types: builders+miners+diggers
24 "Lunch time" - 5 types: climbers+blockers+builders+bashers+diggers
25 "No choice but to follow them" - 2 types: builders+bashers
26 "Take care, Sweetie" - 2 types: climbers+builders
27 "The Island of the Wicker people" - 3 types: climbers+builders+miners; bombers+blockers+builders; blockers+builders+bashers
28 "Speed Trap" - 2 types: builders+diggers
29 "Tension Sheet, Good Idea" - 6 types: climbers+floaters+builders+bashers+miners+diggers
30 "Izzie Wizzie lemmings get busy" - 2 types: builders+bashers; builders+miners; builders+diggers
31 "Cascade" - 3 types: floaters+builders+bashers; floaters+builders+miners; bombers+builders+bashers; bombers+builders+miners; builders+bashers+diggers; builders+miners+diggers
32 "And then there were four..." - 1 type: builders

Zany (click to show/hide)

1 "The bridge is breaking down." - 2 types: builders+bashers
2 "Temporary peace" - 2 types: builders+bashers
3 "Last one out is a rotten egg!" - 2 types: builders+diggers
4 "LEMTRIS" - 3 types: climbers+bashers+miners
5 "Watch out, there's traps about" - 2 types: bombers+builders; blockers+builders; builders+miners; builders+diggers
6 "Compression Method 1" - 2 types: bombers+bashers
7 "No time for a detour" - 1 type: diggers
8 "Lemmy in the cold, cold ground" - 2 types: builders+bashers; builders+miners
9 "No justice for the hero" - 3 types: builders+miners+diggers
10 "Flow Control" - 1 type: builders
11 "LeMming ToMato KetchUp fAcilitY" - 2 types: climbers+bombers
12 "Twins" - 1 type: builders
13 "Don't leave any Lemmings" - 2 types: bombers+builders
14 "Pitfall" - 3 types: builders+bashers+diggers
15 "With a little help from my Lem" - 3 types: climbers+bashers+diggers
16 "What an AWESOME level" - 1 type: builders
17 "Lemming Lament" - 3 types: climbers+bombers+builders
18 "KEEP ON TRUCKING" - 2 types: builders+bashers
19 "Postcard from Lemmingland" - 4 types: climbers+builders+bashers+diggers
20 "Dolly Dimple" - 2 types: builders+diggers
21 "Mutiny on the Bounty" - 4 types: climbers+floaters+bombers+builders; climbers+floaters+builders+bashers; climbers+floaters+builders+miners
22 "SNOW JOKE" - 3 types: blockers+builders+bashers
23 "ONWARD AND UPWARD" - 5 types: climbers+bombers+builders+bashers+miners
24 "I have a cunning plan" - 1 type: builders
25 "Have a nice day!" - 1 type: builders
26 "Across the Gap" - 2 types: builders+bashers
27 "Jump down!" - 3 types: builders+bashers+miners
28 "Worra load of old blocks!" - 2 types: builders+diggers
29 "Four Play" - 4 types: builders+bashers+miners+diggers
30 "Got anything... Lemmingy???" - 2 types: bombers+builders; builders+diggers
31 "ROCKY ROAD" - 3 types: builders+bashers+miners
32 "The North Poles" - 3 types: climbers+builders+diggers

Manic (click to show/hide)

1 "Let's get together." - 3 types: builders+bashers+diggers
2 "The Lemming Funhouse" - 2 types: blockers+builders
3 "If at first you don't succeed..." - 4 types: climbers+builders+bashers+miners
4 "No world without you" - 4 types: climbers+builders+bashers+diggers
5 "Synchronised Lemming" - 4 types: climbers+builders+bashers+diggers
6 "Chill out!" - 3 types: builders+bashers+diggers
7 "Down the tube" - 1 type: builders
8 "Is this a circus?" - 2 types: builders+bashers
9 "AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!" - 3 types: climbers+builders+miners
10 "ROCKY VI" - 6 types: climbers+floaters+bombers+blockers+builders+bashers
11 "With a twist of lemming, please" - 4 types: floaters+builders+bashers+diggers
12 "Steel Block Party" - 3 types: builders+bashers+diggers
13 "Upside-down World" - 4 types: blockers+builders+bashers+miners
14 "Come on over to my place" - 2 types: builders+diggers
15 "THE SILENCE OF THE LEMMINGS" - 3 types: bombers+builders+bashers
16 "A BeastII of a level" - 2 types: bombers+builders, builders+bashers, builders+miners
17 "Just a Minute..." - 2 types: bashers+diggers
18 "The gate trap Lemmings." - 3 types: builders+bashers+diggers
19 "Poles Apart" - 3 types: climbers+builders+bashers, builders+bashers+diggers
20 "Fall and no life." - 4 types: floaters+builders+bashers+miners
21 "Electric circuit" - 3 types: builders+bashers+diggers
22 "It's not over till it's over" - 3 types: builders+miners+diggers
23 "Old MacDonald Had a Farm..." - 3 types: floaters+blockers+builders, bombers+blockers+builders
24 "The race against cliches" - 3 types: builders+bashers+diggers
25 "Acrophobia" - 3 types: builders+bashers+miners, builders+bashers+diggers
26 "Triple Trouble" - 2 types: builders+miners
27 "Watch your fingertip!" - 3 types: builders+bashers+miners
28 "Out, away from the tune" - 3 types: bombers+builders+bashers
29 "Just a Minute (Part Two)" - 2 types: bashers+diggers
30 "POOR WEE CREATURES!" - 3 types: climbers+floaters+builders, floaters+builders+bashers
31 "Where Lemmings Dare" - 2 types: blockers+builders, builders+bashers, builders+miners, builders+diggers
32 "Temple of Love" - 4 types: floaters+blockers+builders+diggers

Lunatic (click to show/hide)

1 "It's hero time!" - 4 types: builders+bashers+miners+diggers
2 "The Boiler Room" - 2 types: builders+bombers
3. "Anxiety" - 2 types: builders+miners
4 "No added colours or Lemmings" - 4 types: blockers+builders+bashers+miners
5 "There's madness in the method" - 4 types: climbers+blockers+bashers+miners, climbers+builders+bashers+miners
6 "Which one are you trying to get?" - 3 types: builders+miners+diggers
7 "Down, along, up, in that order" - 3 types: bombers+blockers+builders, blockers+builders+diggers
8 "Lemming about town" - 3 types: climbers+builders+miners
9 "Evacuating a coal mine" - 4 types: climbers+builders+bashers+miners
10 "Be more than just a number" - 3 types: floaters+builders+diggers
11 "Fix the road, quick!" - 1 type: builders
12 "Water processing plant" - 3 types: builders+bashers+miners, floaters+builders+miners
13 "This Corrosion" - 3 types: climbers+builders+bashers, climbers+builders+diggers
14 "Move on in two separate groups" - 2 types: builders+bashers
15 "Evil whisper" - 4 types: builders+bashers+miners+diggers
16 "SEGA Four" - 4 types: climbers+builders+bashers+diggers
17 "Creature Discomforts" - 4 types: climbers+bombers+builders+bashers
18 "Scaling the Heights" - 2 types: blockers+builders
19 "Private room available" - 3 types: builders+bashers+diggers
20 "No hurry, relax." - 4 types: climbers+floaters+builders+bashers
21 "The Steel Mines of Kessel" - 2 types: bombers+builders
22 "Hello John! Got a New Lemming?" - 4 types: climbers+floaters+builders+bashers
23 "The Great Lemming Caper" - 4 types: climbers+floaters+builders+bashers, climbers+blockers+builders+miners, climbers+builders+miners+diggers, blockers+builders+miners+diggers
24 "Everyone's a hard nut." - 3 types: climbers+builders+bashers, builders+bashers+diggers
25 "Watch right or left (Part Two)" - 3 types: bombers+builders+bashers, builders+bashers+diggers
26 "Final impediment" - 2 types: builders+diggers
27 "Let's go camping." - 3 types: blockers+builders+bashers
28 "Lemmings in a situation" - 3 types: builders+bashers+diggers
29 "Save Me" - 3 types: blockers+builders+diggers
30 "Lemmings' Ark" - 4 types: climbers+builders+miners+diggers
31 "I am A.T." - 1 type: diggers
32 "Fall and no life (Part Two)" - 4 types: floaters+builders+bashers+miners

[WillLem]

Nice! Can't wait to get stuck in to this one. Which packs shall we start with?

[namida]

By convention, Redux generally tends to be the first pack for NL challenges, so let's start there. But as usual - we'll discuss / "compete" on Discord. Both myself and Proxima have indicated we'd be up for this a bit later today (hence why I prepared the topic).

[namida]

My replays up to Gentle 24.

Gentle 8 "Snuggle Up To A Lemming" - Diggers
Gentle 11 "Keep Your Hair On Mr Lemming" - Climbers + Bombers
Gentle 12 "A Block From Home" - Builders
Gentle 14 "CindyLand" - Bombers + Builders
Gentle 16 "A Beast Of A Level" - Builders + Miners
Gentle 17 "You Live And Lem" - Miners
Gentle 20 "Patience" - Bashers
Gentle 24 "Rainbow Island" - Miners

[namida]

The only other improvement I found in the remainder of Gentle was Builders + Miners on The Crankshaft, which I'm assuming was an oversight as it was very simple.

Here's my replays for Quirky:
06 "Just A Quicky" - Builders + Miners
08 "A Spot Of Bother" - Floaters + Builders; Bombers + Builders; Builders + Bashers; Builders + Miners; Builders + Diggers
11 "Don't Panic" - Blockers + Builders + Bashers; Builders + Bashers + Diggers
12 "Over The Wall" - Bombers + Bashers; Blockers + Bashers
14 "Meeting Adjourned" - Builders + Bashers
17 "Mr Lemmy Lives Next Door" - Blockers + Builders + Bashers
20 "Perserverance" - Miners + Diggers
21 "The Long Way Around" - Floaters + Builders + Bashers; Blockers + Builders + Bashers
22 "The Far Side" - Builders + Miners + Diggers

[namida]

Only one particularly interesting replay from me in the rest of Quirky. It can trivially be changed to use a miner instead of a basher.

[Proxima]

My interesting replays from yesterday/today's session:

Quirky 20 "Perseverance" blockers + diggers
Quirky 27 "Island of the Wicker People" bombers + blockers + builders
Quirky 31 "Cascade" builders + bashers + diggers (as with namida's replay, the basher can trivially be switched for a miner)

[namida]

Not as many interesting ones from me this time.

Zany 5 builders/miners should be easily adaptable to builders+diggers, though I have not confirmed this.

Zany 18 is theoretically possible on DOS (with different RR adjustments), but I'm not going to try and actually pull it off.

[namida]

Manic replays. Not as many of interest here, though Manic 16 Bombers + Builders is a very nice one.

[Minim]

Like some people go forwards when they see a new challenge, I went the other way and focused on the Lunatic levels. Here are my full set of results so far, with replays highlighted in bold. Any errors please mention. I'm trying not to confuse the Climber with the Floater or the digger with the miner.

1. Builders+Bashers+Miners+Diggers (Same as Proxima's 4 skill solution)
2. Builders+Bombers
3. Builders+Miners
4. Climbers+Blockers+Builders+Bashers+Miners
5. Climbers+Blockers+Bashers+Miners, Climbers+Builders+Bashers+Miners
6. Builders+Miners+Diggers
7. Blockers+Builders+Diggers
8. Climbers+Builders+Miners (Same as my minimum skills solution)
9. Climbers+Builders+Bashers+Miners
10. Floaters+Builders+Diggers
11. Builders
12. Builders+Bashers+Miners, Floaters+Builders+Miners
13. Climbers+Builders+Bashers, Climbers+Builders+Diggers
14. Builders+Bashers
15. Builders+Bashers+Miners+Diggers
16. Climbers+Builders+Bashers+Diggers
17. Climbers+Bombers+Builders+Bashers
18. Blockers+Builders
19. Builders+Bashers+Diggers
20. Climbers+Floaters+Builders+Bashers
21. Bombers+Builders
22. Climbers+Floaters+Builders+Bashers
23. Climbers+Floaters+Builders+Bashers
24. Builders+Bashers+Diggers
25. Builders+Bashers+Diggers
26. Builders+Diggers
27. Blockers+Builders+Bashers
28. Blockers+Builders+Bashers+Diggers
29. Blockers+Builders+Diggers
30. Climbers+Builders+Miners+Diggers
31. Diggers
32. Floaters+Builders+Bashers+Miners

I also did Manic 25 with Builders, Bashers & Miners and Manic 30 with Floaters, Bombers, Builders & Bashers.

Edit: Replays updated!

[Proxima]

Excellent! I've looked through the Lunatic results and don't see any errors, although you missed two that we already did in SYCLW: 24 "Everyone's a hard nut" with climbers+builders+bashers and 25 "Watch right or left (Part Two)" with bombers+builders+bashers.

We have results for Manic 1-30 on Discord, so that means there are only two levels left to do, though I will definitely also look over Lunatic myself and see if I can improve any of your results (and I expect namida will want to do so, too). However:

I also did Manic 25 with Builders, Bashers & Miners and Manic 30 with Floaters, Builders, Miners, Diggers.

I can believe the former, but Manic 30 "POOR WEE CREATURES" doesn't provide any diggers.

[Minim]

I also did Manic 25 with Builders, Bashers & Miners and Manic 30 with Floaters, Builders, Miners, Diggers.

I can believe the former, but Manic 30 "POOR WEE CREATURES" doesn't provide any diggers.

Whoops! I mindlessly copied Lunatic 30's result and swapped Climbers with Floaters. I was meant to say Floaters, Bombers, Builders & Bashers

[namida]

Several 2-skill-type solutions for Manic 31.

It's probably also possible, with some RR fiddling, to do Builders+Diggers in the same way I did Builders+Bashers and Builders+Miners.

[namida]

Some alternates for Lunatic 23, and an improvement for Lunatic 28.

Lunatic 7 can also be done bombers+blockers+builders; this is just "do the normal solution but use bombers in place of diggers" so not worthy of a replay.

[namida]

Manic 30 "POOR WEE CREATURES!" improved to 3 types (Floaters, Builders, Bashers).

EDIT: And an alternate 3 types with Climbers, Floaters, Builders.

[Proxima]

I've filled in all the results we have so far. Some trivia regarding this challenge:

* Of the levels possible with 1 skill type, Gentle 10 "Downwardly Mobile Lemmings" has the greatest variety of solutions, with six 1-type solutions (everything except climbers and floaters).
* Six is also the greatest variety of equally good solutions among levels needing more than 1 type, with Quirky 31 "Cascade" having six 3-type solutions.
* And since six is the magic number for this challenge, it's also the highest number of skill types required by any one level, with three levels needing 6 types: Gentle 28 "Catch more floaters", Quirky 29 "Tension Sheet, Good Idea" and Manic 10 "ROCKY VI". (Of these, Gentle 28 is the only level in Gentle requiring more than 2!)
* Levels solvable with 2 types nearly all require builders and a destructive skill. Roughly half have builders+bashers as either the only 2-type solution or one possible solution.
* Builders+bashers+diggers seems to be the most commonly occuring 3-skill combination.

Looking beyond Redux, I know of at least two levels, in packs restricted to the classic 8 skills, that require 7 skill types: "Academy of Eight" in DoveLems and "Playground" in Lemmings Migration. Both of these are 1-of-each levels. I don't know of any levels that require all eight skill types, but there are a lot of packs out there, and 1-of-each levels are popular, so I wouldn't be surprised if we find one!

EDIT: How could I have forgotten? My own level "Rhapsody in Blue" is a 2-of-each and requires all eight types. It's a Cheapo level that has also been remade in Lemmix and Lix, and is part of Revenge of the Lemmings, so it should be coming to NeoLemmix at some point....

In packs not restricted to the classic 8 skills, "POOR WEE CREATURETTES" in Lemminas requires 10 skill types.