Robo Rally Game 3 - Turn 30 Complete - TWONKY WINS!!

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Thu May 14, 2009 3:49 pm

Final State

Damage Count

Remus West (Squash Bot) : 2
Shinjin (Twonky) : 2
srdaniel (Twitch) : 2

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Thu May 14, 2009 3:59 pm

I think I'm going to sit this one out. I'm still dizzy from all the conveyors in the last game.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Thu May 14, 2009 4:05 pm

That would drop us to a max of 6 former participants, so I'm extending a re-invite to our two members that had to drop prior to Game 1, SP4[3L0R1] and L0R-DM-0R715, er, SpaceLord and LordMortis.

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Thu May 14, 2009 4:14 pm

stessier wrote:I think I'm going to sit this one out. I'm still dizzy from all the conveyors in the last game.

Chicken.

I'm in.

SpaceLord · Post by **SpaceLord** » Thu May 14, 2009 4:40 pm

Shinjin · Post by **Shinjin** » Thu May 14, 2009 7:01 pm

You know I'm in

Woohoo!

(Too early to call dibs on Twonky?)

mipe · Post by **mipe** » Fri May 15, 2009 12:29 am

Chaosraven · Post by **Chaosraven** » Fri May 15, 2009 1:10 am

how can I resist another?

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Mon May 18, 2009 12:54 pm

No word from Grund (who's been AWOL since the day the thread started) or srdaniel (last seen on May 11th) yet.

Call your friends, call your neighbors, call your neighbor's friends. I am opening up the last two slots to a first-come, first-serve basis.

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Mon May 18, 2009 12:56 pm

Try his blog to contact Grund. No idea how to contact srdaniel.

srdaniel · Post by **srdaniel** » Mon May 18, 2009 11:34 pm

We had some people at work abuse the internet policy and I've had to watch restrict my usage to work related activities only. Plus I just sometimes forget to check the internet completely. But I'm in.

Scoop20906 · Post by **Scoop20906** » Tue May 19, 2009 8:53 am

I've played this game once before in person and thought it was pretty neat. I will give it a go if you guys are a bit patient with a noob. In please.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Tue May 19, 2009 10:07 am

Scoop20906 wrote:I've played this game once before in person and thought it was pretty neat. I will give it a go if you guys are a bit patient with a noob. In please.

I haven't played since Andy before Sandy were engaged to be married. I don't have a natural time line in my head but I think that was the late 80s. It might have been as late as 91, maybe. I meant to play at OctoCon but then I got distracted.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue May 19, 2009 10:18 am

Welcome to the party, Scoop.

We have a full complement registered. I will work on getting some info up this evening to get the rules and everything collated to one post and start throwing out board/arrangement ideas.

After Game 2, I certainly won't be looking for belt-heavy maps...

srdaniel · Post by **srdaniel** » Tue May 19, 2009 7:25 pm

Isgrimnur wrote:After Game 2, I certainly won't be looking for belt-heavy maps...

I don't think the major problem was the belts though. Flag placement caused much more of a problem than the belts. Belts to me just take a bit more double checking before submitting the move. Measure twice, fall in a pit once or something like that.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue May 19, 2009 8:33 pm

Here be the rules that I will be playing by. It's all old-school since this is what I have for quick reference. This covers the basic game. Additional rules for newer boards will be posted once we determine the course.

Here's a demo of the action. Under Examples of Play, there is a Mini Rally Training Ground on the lower right that will allow you to play a graphical demonstration of how stuff works.

I will review the first three hands of all players to ensure that processing them will not result in a directly player caused death. This does not preclude your competitors from assisting you in an unforeseen way that will result in your death anyway.

I will answer any general rules questions posted in the thread or via PM.

If asked, I will confirm or deny that the cards you submitted will result in a certain destination barring any unforeseen competitor assistance. I will provide no other assistance other than a "Yes, that should get you where you expect" or a "No, this will not get you your desired result." Again, these will not be guaranteed against any competitor "assistance". If you do not ask, I will not tell.

Turns are generally run twice a week, giving ample time for review of your hand and return of your cards. Processing has generally taken about an hour. Attention is generally required by the players once they require a weapon that would require a choice to fire over the normal laser. In those events, I gladly take pre-turn conditionals to speed the processing, but they are not required.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue May 19, 2009 8:47 pm

As much as I want to do a 5-board layout in a cross pattern, the 300px bigimg tags make it infeasible without having wrapping issues. Suggestions for boards and layouts are welcome.

I have the ability to run any of the 20 boards put on in the initial runs for Robo Rally, Armed and Dangerous, Grand Prix, Crash and Burn, and Radioactive. Board images are available under the Images section of each page.

My initial thoughts (*have been revised below)

srdaniel · Post by **srdaniel** » Tue May 19, 2009 9:38 pm

I will need some help on the expansions boards I've never seen. What are the effects/rules of the following

Canyon
- oil squares
- yellow and red teleporter looking squares
- torch with bullets square
- lightening squares

Back Strech
- Is that a phase activated pit (1245)? If so is it open or closed on phase 3?

I have armed and dangerous, so for those that don't, here are the new board elements for that expansion:
(click to enlarge)
[bigimg]http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/4717/a ... erous2.jpg[/bigimg]

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue May 19, 2009 11:20 pm

Thanks for the A&D QR sheet, srdaniel. Below is the one for Grand Prix, which are the two other boards.

Short answers:

If you stop on oil, you keep sliding in the direction of travel until you're off of it or hit a wall. Hit another bot, you both keep going.

Yellow and red teleporter looking squares are ... teleporters. Immediate effect unless the destination is occupied. No telefragging.

Torch is a Chop Shop. Replace an existing option if you have one, gain an option if you don't, or reload an existing option with ammo.

Lightning squares are repulsors. Run into the barrier and get pushed away by the number of squares on the card.

The pit is phase activated. Your example would be closed on phase 3, open on all others.

Another item of note is that the Canyon is a depressed area that is below the normal level of play. You can fall in and take damage and have to go up a ramp to exit.

srdaniel · Post by **srdaniel** » Wed May 20, 2009 6:32 pm

Is this the layout then or are you waiting for input on the number, selection, layout of the boards?

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Wed May 20, 2009 7:34 pm

Those thoughts only. Any suggestions are welcome.

srdaniel · Post by **srdaniel** » Wed May 20, 2009 8:20 pm

k,

1) I think four boards would be better than five simple because it looks neater.
2) I never played the Chasm board simply because it looks way to tough.

How many flags are you thinking of using?
Do you think you will lay them out sequentially or make the bots cross the boards back and forth to get the flags?

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Wed May 20, 2009 9:10 pm

We could go for the Game 1 setup with a 2x2 grid and crossing setup for the flags to increase interaction. While Chasm does present its own unique difficulties, I have played with it before and as long as it's far enough along that not everyone is on it at once, it's kinda fun. I certainly wouldn't expect the board to host the start or Flag 1. Flag 3 maybe or possibly as a speed bump before flag 4.

Scoop20906 · Post by **Scoop20906** » Thu May 21, 2009 12:54 pm

I'm so totally new at this that I can provide and useful suggestions on the boards. I am just going to wing it and see how much damage I can cause along the way.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Thu May 21, 2009 2:18 pm

At least you have the proper attitude.

I'll work on something to put forth as a possible setup this evening. Thoughts at the moment are 4 flags, six boards.

Code: Select all

_4
1C
32
S_

Each number represents a flagged board, C would be Chasm, and S would be the Start location.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:20 pm

Whatcha think? Again, I feel Chasm adds a certain puzzle element to it. As the gateway board to the last flag, which would be placed on Pit Row, this would slow any person with an early lead and allow the possibility of someone catching up. The lack of a flag on the board will mitigate some of the worst aspects of pushing and shoving that would lead to rampant death as seen in Game 2.

Revised.

srdaniel · Post by **srdaniel** » Thu May 21, 2009 11:15 pm

Are you going to have a 2x3 grid pattern or is it going to be offset like in your previous post?

(X = blank, B = Board)
XB
BB
BB
BX

Chasm is fine, I just have this innate fear of it. I think it would be better if you kept it to 2x3 pattern instead of an offset pattern simply for scrolling through the forums. Either way based on input I think people just want to play no matter what board/flag layout you come up with.

Any idea where you're going to have the flags, not position specific, but what flag on what board? Just curious if it's going to be linear or do you have to back travel to get to the next flag.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Thu May 21, 2009 11:22 pm

Yeah, 2*3 would screen fit better. A bit of crossing on the flags would keep anyone from getting discouraged, as you have to go back through the back part of the field if you are in the lead. Lets the back pack play spoiler for a bit.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Thu May 21, 2009 11:47 pm

This way makes it more viewable at the later stages of the game. Chasm is strictly optional, but it can reward the bold.

*Changed to links to save precious bits...

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5381/left1.jpg - http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/5072/right1.jpg
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/3871/left2t.jpg - http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/4339/adchasm.jpg
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/467/left3.jpg - http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/5592/right3.jpg

srdaniel · Post by **srdaniel** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:25 am

Looks good to me. Although I would probably go with either

14
32

or

14
BB
32

either should give you the same back peddling. However from my experience it really depends on the goals of the bots that aren't in the lead as to how much interaction there will be between the lead bot and the rest. If the bots not in the lead just try to catch up there isn't as much interaction compared to bots trying to stop the lead bot from advancing. However smaller maps are a much bigger factor in bot interaction compared to player behavior in my mind. Also from my experience bots that stay back and try to intercept the lead bot, in general are not usually as affective as desired.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Fri May 22, 2009 8:38 am

srdaniel wrote:Also from my experience bots that stay back and try to intercept the lead bot, in general are not usually as affective as desired.

I concur.

mipe · Post by **mipe** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:04 am

I'm fine with the maps isgrimnur posted, only thing I could possibly change is change the flags between 3 and 4. That way, there is greater reward for people that attemp to cross the chasm...

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue May 26, 2009 10:46 am

Been out of town. I'll work on a revision this evening. Thanks for the input, guys.

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Tue May 26, 2009 10:56 am

Isgrimnur wrote:Been out of town. I'll work on a revision this evening. Thanks for the input, guys.

Before you get started I agree with mipe. Changing the locations of those flags will reward someone for making the run across the chasm but they still have the option to avoid it.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue May 26, 2009 8:47 pm

Should we move Flag 4 to the start board?

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5381/left1.jpg - http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/5072/right1.jpg
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/9851/rrexchange.jpg - http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/4339/adchasm.jpg
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/8696/left3b.jpg - http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/5592/right3.jpg

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:28 pm

Isgrimnur wrote:Should we move Flag 4 to the start board?

Sure, that way folks coming from 2 can actually interfere with folks headed towards 4.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:51 pm

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5381/left1.jpg http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/5072/right1.jpg
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/9851/rrexchange.jpg http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/4339/adchasm.jpg
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/8696/left3b.jpg http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/5592/right3.jpg

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Tue May 26, 2009 10:08 pm

Looks good to me.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue May 26, 2009 10:09 pm

I'll let it stand for review. If there are no objections, we can move on to bot selection and get this race underway.

Chaosraven · Post by **Chaosraven** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:47 am

Looks good to Hammerbot (Mk II).