Pack solved, so I'm posting my replays and feedback. Consider my replays a third set, in addition to Kieran's intended solutions and Armani's pre-testing ones
Also, Kieran is already aware and has watched all my videos and commented on my solutions, and I'm quite happy to hear that he enjoyed my LP very much, but in case anyone else is interested, I did an LP of QFK:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbp2m4KlFpJsCKWtecx-XJuzUUUjZC1K-. Enjoy!
General FeedbackQFK is Kieran's pack for NL. Work on the pack actually began back in 2017, back in the days of Old Formats NL and been stalled and resumed at various times. It has since been ported over to New Formats NL, and was finally officially released earlier this year. Before the most recent version, the pack had 56 levels, but it now has 60 levels, with 4 ranks of 15 levels each. Various Lemmings Forums members have done some pre-testing, including Wafflem, Akseli, Ste Woz, WillLem, and Armani. I'm quite happy that Kieran was able to finally finish the pack and release it, even if it took a long time.
A warning about this pack:
The pack already starts off quite high in the difficulty! Do not go into the pack thinking the first rank Fun levels will be your typical Fun-like L1 levels. With few exceptions, the entire pack is puzzly and will be sure to test your solving abilities. QFK is the most recently released pack that only uses the classic 8 skills and no NL features. However, don't be fooled thinking that the pack will be easy because it only uses the classic 8 skills. Though advanced tricks aren't really needed, many of the levels are small-medium in size, with a few that are huge, with solutions that tend to be very well-hidden, resulting in very deceptively difficult puzzles. There are some critically acclaimed classic 8 skills level packs that still manage to be difficult, such as Nepsterlems and Lemmings Stampede.
As a result, QFK really reminds me of these two packs due to the similar nature of using only the classic 8 skills, most levels being small-medium in size, and deceptively difficult levels. To this in perspective, with respect to L1, even in the Fun rank it already starts off around mid-late Tricky/early Taxing difficulty and it only goes up from there. With respect to Nepsterlems, it starts around Planet difficulty, which is the third rank from that pack. I'm not entirely sure if it can be said that it goes up to Black Hole difficulty, especially as I'm only on the first level of that rank and have been stuck there for almost 3 years, but most definitely some levels go up to about Sun or even Neutron Star difficulty. However, Nepsterlems is definitely far harder than QFK, and probably about the same difficulty as Lemmings Stampede.
Heck, QFK is probably just as hard or even a bit harder than Lemmings Migration, another great pack from several years ago that also just sticks to the classic 8 skills. All of this is meant to be a compliment to Kieran for managing to make a level pack that's up there in the difficulty of the other level packs I've mentioned!
It's not a problem that it's a hard pack at all, as I've told Kieran that hard levels in Lemmings are the ones I prefer, but I like levels of all difficulties in the game. Rather, I was taken by complete surprise at how high the difficulty already is from the get-go even though I've played some packs that start off similarly, such as Ryemanni's Halloween 2017 pack.
As someone once said to me, I tend to get the difficult parts of the solution down very quickly, but I seem to easily overlook the simple stuff. Even then, it goes without saying that I still suggest putting in a warning about the difficulty, as the name of the first rank of Fun is definitely very misleading and nothing like the Fun levels of L1. I've already seen that Kieran has done so and hence I'm glad to see that he has gone with my suggestion
After going through the entire pack myself, I think the classified Medium - Very Hard difficulty is super accurate
It might even be more accurate to say that the levels are comparable to ONML difficulty rather than L1's.
Needless to say, QFK does not mess around!The saving grace with many of these levels are the generous save requirements, and hence most of the challenges come from finding a/the solution.
Fun Rank FeedbackQuite honestly, I found the first two ranks harder than the last two ranks, though Kieran and I have both acknowledged that some of the later rank levels are easier than intended because of backroutes. It just goes without saying that the difficulty currently is a bit wonky and all over the place in the first two ranks, but this of course isn't unique to Kieran, as pretty much every level designer/pack author runs into this problem of misjudging the difficulty of their own content. I myself am frequently a victim of this! The reason is simple: You as the author know what's intended, but others who play your levels/pack don't.
Even then, great levels in this rank!
Fun 1 -
Investing in Infrastucture Nice level to start off the pack. This uses building from both sides to get across the gap, which already significantly increases the difficulty and immediately told me that the pack won't be easy at all!
Fun 2 -
Trail Trial Nice 1-of-everything level. I think the level is meant to teach about compression so that you minimize losses to the trap, though I can still see this one being challenging and most definitely harder than the previous level.
Fun 3 -
The Tree of Life Another nice level. Great solution of building to get to the left side and then back to bash to get underneath the OWW to get to the exit.
Fun 4 -
Suds Law Nice short level and seems to be open-ended for the most part despite the very limited skillset. It might even be possible to keep the crowd moving at all times, though I'm not sure if it will be possible to finish the gaps on time before you lose too many this way.
Fun 5 -
Oven-Ready Lemmings Another great level. I really like how you have to go underneath in order to get around the many obstacles in your way.
Fun 6 -
That's One Group Solved... Ok, this I would consider a bit hard for its position. It's not easy to figure out how to use the builders here so that you still provide a way out for the crowds at the top. I also feel it might be easy to overlook the blockers turning the crowds to get down further.
Fun 7 -
So Close... And Yet Another level that I consider too hard for its position. Also the level that took me the longest in this rank. Before I found a working solution, I kept trying other routes that look possible but they ultimately don't work, but I spent too long trying to get them to "work."
In general, I consider it very hard to see digging and then bashing to the right at the top to allow the climbers through. I don't think interrupting a basher midstroke in my solution is needed at all, but rather you just need to find a good spot to bash so that you can build back to the left with just 1 builder.
Fun 8 -
Brolly Jolly Much easier than the previous level, especially if you're aware of the Dolly Dimple builder trick to isolate a worker lemming.
Fun 9 -
Have a Bash at This Very fast solve because I'm already aware of bombing far ahead of the basher in order to make him stop.
Fun 10 -
Wrong Tool for the Job Another level where I struggled far longer than I needed to. I kept thinking that the double miner cancel was needed, but nope, I was thinking incorrectly here. I didn't realize that digging and then mining is enough to release the crowd and that they won't get into danger and drown as a result
Definitely harder than the previous two levels. I do like how this is a builderless level!
Fun 11 -
Holes and Coals Backroute, according to Kieran's comment on my video.
Fun 12 -
On the Skew Nice builders only level, and I especially like how it's not as simple as just build over the gaps at the top to reach the exit because of the high number of lemmings. Some are used to make splatforms for the crowd, and also to get the final builder to the exit to work out timing-wise.
Fun 13 -
Just Dropping In The first X-of-everything level in the pack, this one is definitely tame compared to some of the later ones in the pack. It looks hard because of the 2-of-everything skillset, but it's open-ended, so it's just find any way that works. Any solution that's found should all be of about the same difficulty here.
Fun 14 -
Two's Company, Thirty's A Crowd A favorite of mine of the rank!
I really love how the basher at the end is used to delay the crowd sufficiently to allow the worker enough time to build to the exit before anyone arrives too soon and falls off and splats. Well done, Kieran
Fun 15 -
The Ultimate Quest The first iteration of the rank finishers (there are 4 iterations of the same level, all having different solutions to one another), this of course is the easiest one, though still not too easy because of the very limited skillset. The real saving grace here is the super lenient save requirement. This means that even if the crowd isn't very compressed you'll still be able to get by even if the traps get two each time, for example, assuming little or no losses prior to running the gauntlet through them.
The second rank of the pack, the levels are a bit harder here than the ones in the previous rank. As a matter of fact, there were two levels in here that were roadblocks for me, though in one case there was one thing I completely missed that could had made my life much easier (Armani and I even did the start the same too!
), while in the second I simply went about the level wrong. Still, great levels here that I enjoyed as well!
Also Fun 1 -
Ancient Ruins Another nice rank starter. Something tells me that you can get by without using the trick of assigning a blocker to a basher midstroke and releasing it by bombing a nearby lemming, as this one seems to be open-ended. The main difficulty here is figuring out the most efficient route through the level.
Also Fun 2 -
The Tree of Death Wow, I really overcomplicated this one and was very lucky the timing worked out on the far right side. I can't believe I missed the much easier way of blocking to turn the other floater to make the splatform
I'm even aware of this, as I believe Armani requires this in one of his Uncharted levels.
Also Fun 3 -
Frozen Arches Another level where I overcomplicated the solution with very heavy timing and precision with diggers and bombers. Even then, you might had learned some new things from watching me solve this
Also Fun 4 -
Pillar Pairs The first level of the pack to stump me, and it's all from failing to realize a ceiling that can be taken to get across with just one builder
I'm very amazed that Armani and I did the same overcomplication by doing the start the exact same, but the way we did the end differs completely. Definitely far harder than the previous 2-of-everything level and maybe way too hard for its position.
Also Fun 5 -
Blockers Go To Heaven Easier than the previous level, though it was very frustrating trying to get the timing to work out with the final gap before the exit in the end. The timing is very tight. Knowing myself, I likely overcomplicated the solution, so I'll make sure to watch the intended solution.
Also Fun 6 -
Most Valuable Lemming One of my favorites of the rank! Another builderless level, a type that I love a lot. I especially like how you need to bomb a non-climber in two different places, as you actually need the climbers to do the work here to make the route for the others. Well done, Kieran
Also Fun 7 -
The Burrowers Looks hard but it really isn't. I love the climbing the middle area to bomb and then use the hole with the other climber to build and bash through the top to then dig down. Then repeatedly digging to widen the shaft to be able to build up to the exit with the limited builder supply.
Also Fun 8 -
Snow Plows Another great level. I really love the stalling tactics needed in order to give the worker enough time to build over the gaps. Once again, another level that got me into trouble because I was trying so hard to try and save everyone when in fact you can lose up to two
Also Fun 9 -
Health and Safety Gone Mad Very quick solve due to how I'm well aware of building immediately upon landing and then blocking after just a single builder step. This allows you to release the blocker with a digger who turned around to the right upon landing. Then it's a matter of building and then mining into steel to turn the released blocker back to the right. Nice level!
Also Fun 10 -
Rescue Rodents Another favorite of mine! I really love how the solution all comes together when it's all figured out. I especially like how you must realize to dig, build, and then bash to the right to release the middle entrance, where you can then use a lemming from that group to bash to the left to release the left entrance who will all go to the right and get contained in the pit. Then it's a simple miner to release the right entrance and a builder to release everyone. Excellent work!
Also Fun 11 -
Crystal Cavern The next and final level of the pack to stump me during my LP. Deceptively hard level where there seems to be multiple ways to go about the level but ultimately there's only one solution and if you don't find it you will be stuck here. I mistakenly thought to build to turn and then build after the digger gets through all the terrain to make a splatform. However, this will get the climber into trouble later, as you won't have a builder to turn him back towards the exit. Needless to say, it's not obvious whether you contain the crowd or keep it moving, and I completely overlook the simple fact of using a builder to turn a lemming around at the bottom on the other side of the water pit
For some reason, I didn't think the others would survive the fall. I even kept thinking to make the splatform from the right side at the bottom rather than from the left. In any case, another great level!
Also Fun 12 -
Humble Bundle Another great level. Once again, great use of skills to stall and turn lemmings around and to give the worker enough time to build over the gaps. The icing on the cake is realizing that you must make sure everyone makes it past the worker coming back to the left before bombing, as you cannot afford to have everyone go back to the left due to how the gaps aren't completely covered and hence they will be lost to the bottomless pit. Even if they aren't, eventually you'll lose them to the level side border.
Also Fun 13 -
Iron Awe Another level where I failed to see an easier way than the hackish one I found. It's fortunate the gap at the bottom on the right side can be done with just two builders.
Also Fun 14 -
Jacob's Ladder I believe there's a Mobilems level with this exact title. Looks hard but it's not that bad. I wasn't sure if the miner at the top splatting was intended, but I saw this in the official replay, so nice to know
Even then, it's possible to time other parts of the level so that he doesn't have to splat, I'm sure.
Also Fun 15 -
The Ultimate Quest, Take 2 Repeat of Fun 15. Definitely harder than the original. It's evil that the fall is just splat height, but after realizing the solution I understand why it's the case and therefore it's completely intentional. I like the solution a lot! One catch is that you mine to the left but you must bash to the right, as I mistakenly did both from the right but then the climber gets into danger and leaves you short of the requirement. Another great level to finish off the rank.
Hard But Still Fun Rank FeedbackIn the first six levels, the pack felt easy in contrast to the first two ranks being brutally difficult in several places. There's still the odd level or two that are hard in the rank, but for the most part the rank felt easy. Once again, some true gems!
Hard But Still Fun 1 -
Lemming BBQ Nice 1-of-everything level to start off the rank. I've seen the trick of bombing a faller to allow only a climber out plenty of times, so the level wasn't hard for me.
Hard But Still Fun 2 -
Master Exploder Looks hard but it wasn't too bad. Somewhat overcomplicated the solution, although I'm just realizing that the end is pretty much my Fun 9 solution except it's all down to release the crowd at the right time to overtake the basher before they cannot exit anymore.
Hard But Still Fun 3 -
Once You Pop You Can't Stop I know what the intended solution is here, but I kind of said "screw it, I'm not going to bother with the whole timing stuff."
It nearly doesn't work because of the terrain where the exit is with getting the builder to be done in such a way to be able to mine to the left.
Hard But Still Fun 4 -
Rock-A-Bye Lemmy Another favorite of mine! Very clever use of builders to get as close as possible to the green emerald to bomb and make a hole for the climber to get into to bash the left entrance free and be contained in the pit on the right. The rest of the solution follows easily afterwards. Excellent work!
Hard But Still Fun 5 -
Uphill Struggle Not easy to figure out how to get to the exit given the skillset, but it's possible. The timing can be a bit hard. I took advantage of building on top of the steel block in a way to raise the wall high enough to block the others from following him so that he is free to build over the ketchup wheel trap and then it's a simple builder to release the crowd. Nice level still.
Hard But Still Fun 6 -
Recession-Proof Close to another favorite of mine, though I think this is the very first time I've seen a level where you need to widen the miner tunnel in order to build back up to extend a basher to get through two walls.
Hard But Still Fun 7 -
Star Trek Very hard level. In particular, I ran into the most difficulty figuring out how to get another lemming to go through the top. My earlier attempts had me lose too many to the ghostbuster traps. Like the previous level, I believe this is the very first time I've seen a level where you need a 99RR crowd to go on ahead as a delay while having the tail end of the 99RR go through the ghost buster traps at the same time. This is the most difficult part to achieve but is very clever! Other than this being very hard to figure out, I also had trouble figuring out the starting area. Builders are definitely a big problem here. Overall, great level even if it's somewhat fiddly to do.
Hard But Still Fun 8 -
My First Crush Another level that looks hard but it really wasn't that bad. As I suspected, the other diggers I didn't use were to keep the staircase steppable for the others while the diggers can simply climb out later.
Hard But Still Fun 9 -
Pillars of the Community Another level that I brute forced with maxing out the RR so that the timing works out with the first gap before I lose too many to the bottomless pit while the builder is busy. I was confused about the spare digger until I watched the intended solution. Then I understood that it was to avoid any timing needed.
Hard But Still Fun 10 -
Drifting Away Another very hard level of the rank. Unlike the previous 2-of-everything levels in each of the two ranks before, this one only has 6 skill types, therefore increasing the difficulty significantly on top of a very restricted skillset. Even if there were floaters and bombers, I don't think they would had made the level any easier and would just be complete distractions most likely. In any case, this one is still a bit open-ended but it's not easy to find any solution. Plenty of my attempts had me running up short on skills! My solution is very different from the intended, and I used a part of the terrain to bash and turn the other climber around to mine the crowd out. The save requirement kind of distracted me as well, as I thought there needed to be some timing at the start to turn everyone around before losing too many, as I was trying hard to preserve my blocker
Hard But Still Fun 11 -
Boxed In Second very hard level in a row. I really overcomplicated the solution here with some very precise bomber assignments. Some of my earlier attempts could had worked but I ran out of lemmings to do more work
I did see the intended solution and it's definitely far easier than mine. It never occurred to me to bomb to avoid the trap and then you can do the building on both sides on the far left at the same time
Very likely another case of a really hard to see solution no matter how you do the level
Hard But Still Fun 12 -
Spiral Staircase Easy one, with the catch that you must place the right blocker in such a way so that after bombing you can place another one to the right of the bomber hole in order to bash him free later.
Hard But Still Fun 13 -
How's It Hanging? Harder than the previous level but another great one. I love how the level requires getting a lemming through the two rope traps and you need to use one of the final lemmings in the tail end of the train to isolate another worker to do the route for the others. The end was fiddly because of how I didn't isolate the worker correctly for the bottom left
Solution is definitely well-hidden here.
Hard But Still Fun 14 -
The Bridge Is Out Another hard one but a great one too. I really love the way the blocker is used as double duty here of turning the left entrance to the pit further closer to the left exit and to turn fallers in midair. I've mentioned this trick isn't new to me, as I've learned it from a United level and I've played some other custom levels that requires it. One of my levels uses it too! Until you realize this trick, it will pretty much seem impossible. I did try to brute force and backroute the level before that, but I was not successful
Hard But Still Fun 15 -
Quest For Kieran, Take 3 Third repeat of Fun 15. As Kieran noted, I solved this quite quickly compared to Armani and even Akseli, who might not had solved it. I agree that maxing out the RR in order to contain the crowd on time is something that tends to be overlooked. It's definitely hard to see going underneath the starting platform as the intended route. It's possible to save a builder as my solution shows, but it requires very good timing.
Being the final rank, these are supposed to be the hardest levels of the pack, though honestly they weren't too bad
That's because I ended up backrouting plenty of the levels and hence some are easier than intended as a result. Even then, the first two ranks still are harder than the last two IMO, though up until the last several in the second half of this rank, where they were definitely quite challenging.
Not Fun 1 -
The Temple of Doom Hard level to start off the rank but a great one. It's hard to see to build over the exit and then the remaining builders to make a landing platform for the others above and then to bomb the final lemming going to the left to release the others. Before this, I kept thinking to make a splatform for the others in the middle area before the exit on the right side. The builder/miner combo wasn't the most difficult part, it's somewhat obvious.
Not Fun 2 -
Tough Mudder Another nice builderless levels with only bashers and miners. Didn't take too long here. Probably the hardest was having two bashers ahead of the miner going to the right so that you can temporarily contain everyone in the pit and then be able to mine them free. The rest after that isn't that bad, although the timing can be somewhat tight, but luckily it's not frustrating to execute.
Not Fun 3 -
Increasing Productivity Hard one, and my solution is very different from the intended. I took advantage of leaving the RR untouched and finding the right blocker placement to get everyone all clumped up to get by the ketchup wheel trap with just one loss. This allowed me to have the necessary skills for the end to mine to turn around and mine the crowd out. Still a nice level
Not Fun 4 -
The Great Firewall Great medium difficulty level. My solution is pretty much intended, with me swapping some skills in different places. I overlooked bashing underneath the trap for some time here
Not Fun 5 -
Rising Condensation Not a hard level but one which I struggled much longer than expected. Turns out I simply used one of the builders wrong and there's absolutely no difficult timing of the climbers due to the digger and canceling with a builder. Solution doesn't have to be fiddly. Great level, though!
Not Fun 6 -
Crag David Another hard one but a great one as well. I especially love how the first floater can be recycled to do the work by bombing him free with a non-floater. My solution is pretty much intended here, just that I timed it right so that a lemming is far ahead to build to the exit on time so that the blocker to turn everyone around in case he doesn't wasn't needed.
Not Fun 7 -
Brickin' 'eck Easy one, though the hardest was figuring out how to get two lemmings down to the bottom right, when in fact it was as simple as using a builder as a delay. See what I mean? I tend to overlook easy stuff like that! The rest of the solution is easy afterwards.
Not Fun 8 -
Down the Tubes Hard one but one I really enjoyed, even if my solution isn't intended. The hardest part was figuring out how to get the bottom entrance up the level. I only use the blocker to make the execution easier of sending the climber on ahead and then another is isolated enough to get the building done before anyone else arrives.
Not Fun 9 -
Joint Construction Another hard one, though I ended up backrouting it after a while. As mentioned, building over the pole isn't intended and a complete oversight. One of my earlier attempts could had worked except the climber would splat after climbing the digger pit. After seeing the intended solution, once again I missed the simple digging and then simply using another builder over the broken staircase. That definitely would had helped a lot, but then there's also the tricky timing at the end of keeping everything a safe drop. So, it looks like it's a difficult level no matter how you approach the level, as the solution is not easy to find. The only thing that is somewhat obvious is building over the pit from both sides at the same time.
Not Fun 10 -
Offshore Rig Yet another hard one where the one basher especially made it confusing for me in figuring out how to get everyone to the exit later. I kept thinking the basher/builder combo is needed when in fact there's no way to set it up with the amount of skills given. In any case, the solution is quite hard to find no matter how you do it.
Not Fun 11 -
Toil Probably a bit easier than some of the previous few levels, but still challenging. What I really like about this level is how the floater does work on the far right side first before coming back to the far left side to build over the gap to rescue the left entrance. I did think to use the miners on either side of the area in the middle after the chain, but I ultimately found a way to avoid that
I had a harder time figuring out how to do the area before the chain so that no one else gets into danger. Great level!
Not Fun 12 -
Lemming Sorting Factory I really feel as if I've seen and played this level before. If not this one, then the level I'm thinking of is also in this tileset but maybe by a different author. Looks overwhelming and hard, but it's really not that bad. The hardest part to figure out here was how to get a second lemming to go in each direction at the bottom in the middle area. The solution is otherwise pretty obvious for the most part.
Not Fun 13 -
The High Ground Another level I backrouted, as my solution is very different from the intended and avoids going over the top completely. I still enjoyed this level even if it was a quick solve
Not Fun 14 -
Rock Climbers I agree with Armani that this is quite possibly the hardest level in the entire pack. As Kieran has confirmed to me, the solution is very fiddly to do. I had the most trouble trying to do the part to turn the miner around with the blocker. I also did the building to get back up different after bashing the blocker free, but that seemed far easier to do than repairing the staircase. The other difficulty can come from keeping the climbers safe.
Not Fun 15 -
Quest For Kieran, Take 4 The final repeat of Fun 15. This one was the quickest solve of all the rank finishers. Once again, my solution is very different from the intended one, but I was lucky to have the timing work out for the crowd to sync up with the final basher to get through the icicle traps with minimal losses, as my other sacrifice was the blocker at the very start.
Thanks for QFK Kieran, I absolutely enjoyed playing through it and solving the challenges within. Like Armani, I too can recommend this pack to play, with the warning I already described on the high difficulty, as this is most definitely not a pack for beginners or for the faint of heart. The pack will definitely test you in ways you didn't expect it to!
I look forward to picking up your L2 pack again sometime and also trying out your L3 pack as well in the future, after I go through the base L2 and L3 games myself. I will for sure let you know when I have started playing through them, though you'll know due to the YT bell
Glad to hear you're doing well!
