Author: Simulacrum  <nub>    99.67.112.42 Use this link if you want to link to this message and its entire thread of discussion. Post a Msg
Date: 8/25/2021 5:23:46 PM
Subject: ILA - about the next endless map

The next one is Switchbacks, so named because of the S-bends in the west room's paths. There are three entrances, only connected at the rift. This seems to be developer double secret probation code for "You have to set up at the rift."

I managed to 5-skull it on my second try. On my first attempt, I was almost done with wave 25 when I got attacked by gnoll grenadiers (or maybe dynamite archers) who killed me and destroyed a barricade. The orcs went in too fast for me to replace it. On the second try, I quit after wave 27, but I could have gone on.

I think the best way to make this work is going to sound rather strange.

1. We both need to play as Cygnus. This is vital because of his "play dead" ability. This is really the only way to get the bomb guys to pass into the rift without targeting us or the barricades. It will be tempting to shoot at ogres when they get confused and cluster together, but we should not do this if we see yellow dots on the map. As you may know, yellow dots signify enemies with explosives. Just play dead and let them pass first.

2. More strangeness (and I hope not too much inconvenience). We both need to use the same traps. This loadout works well:

weapon - whatever you like; I used the crossbow and ice amulet; you may prefer the stone staff.

trinkets - whatever you like as long as at least one of us brings a trap reset trinket with the faster regen passive; at most, however, we should have no more than two bling items; I got along fine without mana rage or the healing doodad.

traps we both need to bring:

- tar with extra slow
- arcane brimstone
- smaller reinforced barricades
- wall charger - not sure the passive matters
- saw blades with bleed
- butterfly window - preferably with arcane damage
- auto ballistas - passive doesn't matter

This setup so utterly destroyed the orcs that they cheated and blew me up, as I mentioned. But they can't do that if we use the Cygnus play-dead thing.

If you like this plan, I'll go over the finer points during breaks. The points are fine, very fine, so fine that they're like nano-needles, so fine that they're re-fined.