Level Design Contest #22 - Playing Phase (Discussion Topic)

[IchoTolot]

Solved and uploaded the rest today.

There is a little bit of edited/dumbed down sound in part 6 as 1 level used a copyrighted track from Steven Universe that YouTube really did not like. As a result it got blocked in some countries and I needed to resort to the "automated track removal" function. I think it was "Immortal" that had the problematic track.

Please make sure in the future that your tracks are not copyrighted - or give a warning that I can turn off the music.

EDIT:

Regarding that music track - It could be less of an copyright issue and more a "these countries don't like that show" issue
because the block was for countries like "Iran, North Korea,..... "

and I know that that show has homosexual characters and those countries are not that open for it
So maybe they just block everything from that show.

EDIT 2: Reuploaded part 6 with the mute.

Here are the parts:

Rule 2

4.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WifNm3_dpvs
5.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0G32jlK2z0

Rule 3

6.) https://youtu.be/PoylKC5KGb0
7.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hILZX_Ps8c
8.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjkkdsx6K-M

My own levels

9.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQQe9_z_-Mg

The replays are also attached.

[ericderkovits]

perfectly fine solutions to my rule 2 and rule 3 levels

Rule 2 open-ended(many possible solutions, so ok with Icho's)
Rule 3 again good solution(although Icho took around 15 mins, had 3 skills left)
          actually Kaywhyn's solution was the most efficient of the solutions-saving 5 skills and around 9 and a half minutes)
                      Armani's solution was the least efficient(saved only 1 skill and around 10min)
          my solution saved 2 skills and like Kaywhyn took about 9 and a half minutes

[kaywhyn]

@IchoTolot Slight backroute to my R2, but very easy fix. Your solution to my R3 is intended. I'm still in disbelief and amused that I managed to stump the great IchoTolot with one of my levels Whoa, happened a lot sooner than I thought. All it took was just 3 levels of mine Great job on getting all of my contest levels solved, though, even if I was chuckling at your overthinking and overcomplicating of my R3

[ericderkovits]

ok, Resolved your Rule 2 (Kaywhyn)  level since my last version replay broke.

Resolved it the same way though

[Armani]

@Ichotolot

Placing blocker right next to exit trigger area and bashing him out later is not intended. But that's a clever trick! I like that. I smoothen the terrain near the exit so you cannot bash out the blocker anymore.

Your solutions to my other levels are 100% intended  well done

@erciderkovits

Similar to Ichotolot's backroute. Now I smoothen the terrain near the exit

[ericderkovits]

hey kaywhyn, your Rule 1 level needs another update. I backrouted it again.

I was just trying out things with your level and found this one.

[ericderkovits]

ok, resolved Armani's rule 1 version 3, back to the original intended solution

[kaywhyn]

@eric Nice find and great use of one of the main intended tricks to help you bypass my R1 in an unintended way. Easy enough to fix. Some terrain changes and added a block of steel

[ericderkovits]

ok, I managed to get a 100% solution to Dullstar's Rule 3 level (chamber of mummies)

[kaywhyn]

Back with replays of some resolved levels.

Levels I needed to resolve:

Armani's "Childhood Dreams" R1V3 and "The Good, The Bad, and The Weird" R3V7 - I had the intended solution for the former already, but unfortunately the update broke my replay, so I had to do it again.

Your R3 needs fixing again, as I totally backrouted it

Crane's "Immortal" R3V12 - I think this might be a backroute as well Just slightly harder, although I must say that was super close before the regular lemming got infected It really looked like he should be, though.

I still need to resolve your R1. It has me stumped. I will try again later.

eric's "Come Home Lemmings" R1V5 - It's definitely more challenging now, though I admit I was very annoyed at the tight timing needed for the end part. Kind of doesn't help that I was resolving contest levels on my birthday Not your fault at all. I'm guessing RR changes would had made my life easier.

Niesch's "Take A Hike" R1V2 - Apparently even a slight shift in the terrain was enough to break my replay. I think this time my solution is only slightly different than the one I found in the first version. In any case, not that much harder than before.

Shmolem's "Climb the Water Tower" R1V2 - I attached two replays. First one I save everyone, while the second one it is possible to completely ignore one entrance. In any case, both should be backroutes, as you mentioned that going underneath is not intended

Flopsy's "Let's play some games" R2V3 - Slightly harder now. Maybe still a backroute, though?

[ericderkovits]

RE: Kaywhyn
perfect solution to my rule 1 contest level. Yeah and you got all the tricks I wanted to see with the blockers (you also used all the skills). I noticed though the top builders should have been placed a
tiny bit lower though as it seemed the basher barely was able to bash the top builder steps.
Yes this level is harder now because of the timing needed. But in the previous versions, people just found this level way too easy especially with saving so many skills.

That's why I said I believe my Rule 2 level was the easiest, especially because it has many solutions.

[kaywhyn]

And, Crane's R1 finally solved. Replay attached. Wow, that's quite a clever solution. Not super precise and unfair at all.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I have used this trick of overlapping builders in my solutions plenty of times, yet it managed to escape me here for a while once again. This was what did me in regarding a specific Rapture level in SEB Lems and I was stuck there for a long time. Looks like I haven't learned my lesson at all

All rightie, will wait for possibly future updates to some levels before I record the final videos showing off the solutions to these levels, as well as the intended solutions to my contest levels in about a week or so. I know there's still a few that need fixing.

Regarding which level I think is the hardest, despite how Crane's R1 was the last contest level I solved, I will also have to say that Armani's are by far much harder. Yes, Crane's R1 is hard, but that's because it has the appearance of an extremely deceptive small and simple level where a lot of things I tried all don't work because you will always end up a skill short. In contrast, Armani's R2 and R3 both gave me far more problems. I unfortunately backrouted his R3V7

RE: Kaywhyn
I noticed though the top builders should have been placed a
tiny bit lower though

Indeed, it can sometimes be difficult to judge when to place the top builders for the ceiling check, particularly since the basher checks work differently depending on what engine you're playing on. In my solution, there was only one possible position for it to work, whereas if they were lower there would had been far more leeway. However, that wasn't my main gripe. The timing just before dropping off the final wall and walking to the exit was the bigger annoyance, since I ended up restarting and having to adjust it so many times. Again, I think I could had made it easier on myself had I done some RR changes.   

[Crane]

And that's completely intended - well done.

[ericderkovits]

congrats, Kaywhyn on finally solving Cranes rule 1 level.

Yes, also it's a shame that Armani's Rule 3 level is still not fixed, as I saw you backroute of it, because the intended solution is a special one. It took me 7 versions though to get the intended solution. Icho actually loved his rule 3 level. Of course he solved it quickly as usual and also as intended.


Also spoiler for my Rule 1 level

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Actually, Kaywhyn what I meant by the timing was not the builders but when to send the 3rd athlete so he will be there close to the 1st lemming who digs and must be turned around by the blocker near the end of the level. The placement of the builders are still not difficult in this version. When using the diggers just make sure they are as far left as possible before digging. When I updated the level I not only reduced the number of builders to the exact amount needed, but also I slightly moved the tall OWW closer together, as to make sure the builder steps will touch in each gap to help the basher out. Also I didn't need to play around with the release rate. i Will eventually post my replay after the playing session is over to show you what I mean.

[kaywhyn]

Also spoiler for my Rule 1 level

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Actually, Kaywhyn what I meant by the timing was not the builders but when to send the 3rd athlete so he will be there close to the 1st lemming who digs and must be turned around by the blocker near the end of the level. The placement of the builders are still not difficult in this version. When using the diggers just make sure they are as far left as possible before digging. When I updated the level I not only reduced the number of builders to the exact amount needed, but also I slightly moved the tall OWW closer together, as to make sure the builder steps will touch in each gap to help the basher out. Also I didn't need to play around with the release rate. i Will eventually post my replay after the playing session is over to show you what I mean.

As usual, you misunderstood what I meant by "timing." I wasn't referring to the builders, nor has it ever referred to that whenever I solved this level, as they are not what makes the level difficult. It's referring to the two skills you mentioned in the spoiler Check carefully what I quoted. That's the hardest part of the level and comes at the end. My remark is on the placement of the builders to help with the basher checks. Also to avoid any doubt, by the final wall I'm referring to the OWW platform area just before falling onto the steel platform where the exit is.

Anyway, I realized a really easy way to do the timing, but I'm not going to bother at this point to submit more replays/solutions for your R1 since you said it's intended. I simply made it harder on myself than I needed to.