This run started as part of a series in which I was trying to learn how terminal hacking works. My goal was to either find a stash of Imp Flight Units or to get the Schematic and manufacture them. I succeeded in neither, as Level 1 Terminals can't do it, and Level 2 were too hard. I decided to take it seriously after realizing I had a pretty good build at floor -7.
The main thing that was interesting about this run was the extreme movement speed I reached. For the second half the run, my 'normal' movement speed was 16, in that it took either no net energy and heat, or very little. I achieved this around Level -7. My 'emergency' movement speed was 6, or 1600%. I'm actually pretty sure that's not supposed to be possible: It took Improved VTOL Module, Experimental Cesium-ion Thruster in Overload, and any other flight unit. The reason I say it doesn't seem like you're supposed to get it, is that the Imp VTOL module and the Thruster both say your base is 30, with a maximum of -20 from other thrusters. Thus, with both of those turned on, and the latter overloaded, you have 30-20 = 10. If you then turn on another Flight Unit, your base movement goes up to 31, but your 'bonus' gets increased beyond the stated maximum, to -25, putting you at 6. This, despite the fact that the 'best speed' from the Flight Unit is supposed to b 20. Perhaps I misunderstand movement mechanics - I'd love to be corrected if anyone has thoughts on the matter. Even so, I am of the opinion that it's too fast, because the other robots don't even really react to you - you have to make a choice to sit around and get noticed, and you can escape from anything.
Floor -7 was where everything came together for me. Due to the fact that I fell through the Chute Trap 3 times on this level and my map kept getting reset, I spent as much time on it as on the remaining floors combined. By the end of it, Swarmers stopped being annoying, and started to just look like a great source of Flight Units. Incidently, even ignoring my speed shenanigans from the previous paragraph, Flight Units are pretty great. They are plentiful and with a top speed of 20, I think that you could win a stealth run with just those for propulsion. You don't really need carrying capacity, as hacking units don't require it.
I knew I was going to win when I picked up an Advanced Signal Interpreter somewhere in the middle of the Complex. Suddenly, I was able to avoid almost every enemy combat robot. Combined with my super speed, I was rarely in danger. I don't believe I was shot at at any point from level -6 until the end of -2. Only at the end of -1 did I really take any serious damage, because of my lack of familiarity with what to expect.
Spoiler
I tried to dig to the stairs with a grenade launcher, tried to cut through a door with a plasma torch, and from a different direction I even ran up to the blast wall and just kind of hoped it would open. Eventually a Sage blew a hole for me.
My strategy on the second half of the complex was to wander around until I found a Terminal, manually hack it to find stair locations, and then just head straight there. At -2 I picked up some armor to put into my spare utility slots, which probably saved me when I got shot up at the end.
I had a lot of fun being a stealthy, Katana wielding Ninja robot, and as I ignored quite a few of the game mechanics due to speed + sensors, I still have a lot to learn. Also, what I know of the story is great, and I need to go explore the Caves. In my next few runs I'll probably continue trying to figure out if hacking for Schematics is worth it. Though, I ended with a pretty low score (6999)... I wonder if it's possible to escape with exactly 6500...
Score sheet:
Spoiler
QuoteCogmind - Alpha 3c
Name: bluemoo
---[ ESCAPED! ]---
Performance
-------------
Evolutions (9) 4500
Robots Destroyed (19) 95
Value Destroyed (304) 304
Prototype IDs (5) 100
Alien Tech Identified (0) 0
Bonus (2000) 2000
TOTAL SCORE: 6999
Cogmind
---------
Core Integrity 1529/1600
Matter 28/300
Energy 304/365
System Corruption 6%
Temperature Cool (20)
Location Surface
Parts
-------
Power (3)
Deuterium Engine
Micro Fission Core
Micro Fission Core
Propulsion (5)
Flight Unit
Improved VTOL Module
Experimental Cesium-ion Thruster
Medium Treads
Field Propulsion Drive
Utility (15)
Advanced Signal Interpreter
Hacking Suite
Hacking Suite
Long-range Sensor Array
Advanced Weight Redist. System
Improved Transmission Jammer
Improved Deep Network Scanner
Improved Hacking Suite
Weapon (2)
Improved Plasma Cutter
Katana
Inventory
-----------
Micro Nuclear Core
Xenon Bombardment Thruster
Enhanced Optical Array
Peak State
------------
Power
Deuterium Engine
Micro Fission Core
Micro Fission Core
Propulsion
Flight Unit
Improved VTOL Module
Experimental Cesium-ion Thruster
Medium Treads
Field Propulsion Drive
Utility
Improved Cooling System
Advanced Signal Interpreter
Hacking Suite
Hacking Suite
Long-range Sensor Array
Advanced Weight Redist. System
Improved Connection Mask
Improved Transmission Jammer
Power Amplifier
Improved Deep Network Scanner
Improved Hacking Suite
Reactive Heavy Armor
Improved Deep Network Scanner
Weapon
Katana
[Rating: 106]
Favorites
-----------
Power Deuterium Engine
Engine Deuterium Engine
Power Core Micro Fission Core
Reactor Cold Fusion Reactor
Propulsion Flight Unit
Treads Medium Treads
Leg Aluminum Leg
Flight Unit Flight Unit
Utility Hacking Suite
Device Improved Cooling System
Processor Advanced Signal Interpreter
Hackware Hacking Suite
Protection Reactive Heavy Armor
Weapon Katana
Energy Gun EM Pulse Gun
Ballistic Gun Assault Rifle
Launcher Improved Grenade Launcher
Special Weapon Improved Plasma Cutter
Slashing Weapon Katana
Special Melee Weapon Datajack
Stats
-------
Classes Destroyed 8
Worker 8
Builder 1
Tunneler 1
Hauler 1
Recycler 1
Watcher 1
Swarmer 3
Grunt 3
NPCs Destroyed 0
Best Kill Streak 3
Combat Bots Only 3
Matter Collected 864
Salvage Created 515
Parts Attached 76
Power 17
Propulsion 14
Utility 30
Weapon 15
Parts Lost 10
Power 3
Propulsion 0
Utility 5
Weapon 2
Average Slot Usage (%) 86
Naked Turns 1
Spaces Moved 5426
Fastest Speed (%) 1666
Slowest Speed (%) 20
Overloaded Moves 365
Propulsion Burnouts 0
Targets Rammed 0
Cave-ins Triggered 0
Teleports 0
Heaviest Build 44
Greatest Overweight (x) 13
Average Overweight (x) 0
Largest Inventory 4
Most Items Carried 4
Average Items Carried 3
Core Damage Taken 218
Volleys Fired 40
Largest 2
Hottest 60
Shots Fired 54
Gun 30
Cannon 0
Launcher 14
Special 10
Kinetic 17
Thermal 13
Explosive 14
Electromagnetic 10
Shots Hit Robots 38
Core Hits 22
Overload Shots 0
Energy Bleed 0
Heat Surge 0
Short Circuit 0
Meltdown 0
Melee Attacks 37
Impact 0
Slashing 37
Piercing 0
Damage Inflicted 1217
Projectiles 237
Explosions 223
Melee 757
Ramming 0
Highest Temperature 293
Average Temperature 61
Shutdowns 0
Energy Bleed 1
Interference 0
Matter Decay 0
Short Circuit 0
Damage (minor) 0
Damage (major) 0
Damage (core) 0
Highest Corruption 6
Message Errors 2
Parts Rejected 0
Data loss (map) 1
Data loss (database) 0
Misfires 1
Misdirections 1
Targeting Errors 1
Weapon Failures 0
Haulers Intercepted 1
Robots Corrupted 0
Robots Melted 0
Tactical Retreats 15
Communications Jammed 116
Parts Field Recycled 0
Retrieved Matter 0
Parts Merge Repaired 0
Drone Launches 0
Drone Recoveries 0
Derelicts Assembled 0
Traps Triggered 0
Indirectly 0
Trap Hack Attempts 0
Triggered 0
Disarmed 0
Reprogrammed 0
Reused 0
Machine Familiarity 30
Terminals 29
Fabricators 0
Repair Stations 0
Recycling Units 0
Scanalyzers 1
Machines Hacked 28
Terminals 27
Fabricators 0
Repair Stations 0
Recycling Units 0
Scanalyzers 1
Total Hacks 74
Successful 25
Failed 49
Catastrophic 12
Database Lockouts 0
Manual 37
Terminals 73
Fabricators 0
Repair Stations 0
Recycling Units 0
Scanalyzers 1
Terminal Hacks 24
Record 0
Part Schematic 0
Robot Schematic 0
Robot Analysis 0
Prototype ID Bank 2
Open Door 0
Level Access Points 5
Branch Access Points 0
Emergency Access Points 1
Machine Index 0
Terminal Index 0
Fabricator Index 0
Repair Station Index 0
Recycling Unit Index 0
Scanalyzer Index 0
Alert Level 2
Unreport Threat 2
Locate Traps 2
Disarm Traps 0
Reprogram Traps 0
Dispatch Records 1
Maintenance Status 0
Security Status 1
Surveillance Status 0
Patrol Status 0
Transport Status 0
Investigation Status 0
Extermination Status 0
Reinforcement Status 0
Assault Status 0
Recall Investigation 0
Recall Extermination 0
Recall Reinforcements 0
Recall Assault 0
Hauler Manifests 1
Registered Components 3
Registered Prototypes 1
Zone Layout 1
Sector Layout 0
Machine Controls 2
Hacking Detections 27
Full Trace Events 9
Feedback Events 1
Feedback Corruption 1
Feedback Part Disabled 0
Feedback Blocked 0
Robot Schematics Acquired 0
Robots Built 0
Total Robot Build Rating 0
Robot Fabrication Matter 0
Robot Fabrication Time 0
Part Schematics Acquired 0
Parts Built 0
Total Part Build Rating 0
Part Fabrication Matter 0
Part Fabrication Time 0
Parts Repaired 0
Part Repair Time 0
Parts Recycled 0
Recycled Matter 0
Retrieved Matter 0
Parts Scanalyzed 0
Part Schematics Acquired 0
Parts Damaged 0
Robot Analysis Total 0
Robots Rewired 0
Robots Hacked 0
Non-combat 0
Combat 0
Parse 0
Link 0
Rebooted 0
Overloaded 0
Assimilated 0
Manual 0
Secondary 0
Robot Hack Failures 0
Allies Hacked 0
Hacks Repelled 0
Total Allies 14
Largest Group 0
Highest-Rated Group 0
Highest-Rated Ally 0
Total Orders 0
STAY 0
GOTO 0
ROAM 0
FOLLOW 0
GUARD 0
AID 0
BUILD 0
TUNNEL 0
DROP 0
PICKUP 0
COLLECT 0
EXPLORE 0
RETURN 0
Terraforming Orders 0
Walls Built 0
Walls Tunneled 0
Ally Attacks 0
Total Damage 0
Kills 0
Allies Corrupted 0
Allies Melted 0
Peak Influence 140
Average Influence 12
Maximum Alert Level 0
Low Security (%) 100
Level 1 0
Level 2 0
Level 3 0
Level 4 0
Level 5 0
Squads Dispatched 13
Investigation 6
Extermination 0
Reinforcement 7
Assault 0
Exploration Rate (%) 20
Regions Visited 15
Turns Passed 2942
Depth 11 38
Depth 10 260
Depth 9 22
Depth 8 162
Depth 7 1059
Depth 6 177
Depth 5 274
Depth 4 251
Depth 3 122
Depth 2 205
Depth 1 372
Scrapyard 38
Materials 444
Factory 1653
Research 327
Access 372
Waste 108
Prototype IDs
---------------
Heavy Ion Engine
Heavy Deuterium Engine
Cold Fusion Reactor
Improved Flight Unit
Improved VTOL Module
Experimental Cesium-ion Thruster
Heavy Particle Gun
Improved EM Shotgun
Precision Grenade Launcher
Impact Mace
Improved Footprint Analyzer
Alien Tech Recovered
----------------------
None
Game
------
Seed: 1444154044
^Manual?: 0
Play Time: 235 min
Sessions: 4
Mod: N/A
Game No.: 18
ASCII: 0
Keyboard: 1
Font: 18/Cogmind
Map View: 76x50
X=9770850950339651900335032188
522521322230387080788193212087
083157778383122207100798153079
307755975308387288135750598351
325857535535725235555555553555
555555555355285555555535555555
555553555555575555333807753383
535555555553583577755555535957
555527355520015738217207555070
735558858555575555535593313553
537353579555575753988750108780
870373508502575557708532783035
323558295975253782252322555519
857099397213957138953135823039
013129088588378330095371312579
198258558875598871388805557555
755557125825813835312886
Congratulations! Thanks for sharing. For a new player, that was pretty fast :)
Quote from: bluemoo on October 08, 2015, 02:58:04 PM
I achieved this around Level -7. My 'emergency' movement speed was 6, or 1600%. I'm actually pretty sure that's not supposed to be possible: It took Improved VTOL Module, Experimental Cesium-ion Thruster in Overload, and any other flight unit. The reason I say it doesn't seem like you're supposed to get it, is that the Imp VTOL module and the Thruster both say your base is 30, with a maximum of -20 from other thrusters. Thus, with both of those turned on, and the latter overloaded, you have 30-20 = 10. If you then turn on another Flight Unit, your base movement goes up to 31, but your 'bonus' gets increased beyond the stated maximum, to -25, putting you at 6. This, despite the fact that the 'best speed' from the Flight Unit is supposed to b 20. Perhaps I misunderstand movement mechanics - I'd love to be corrected if anyone has thoughts on the matter.
The bonus limit on a standard flight unit is 3, rather than 2 for the others, so while the base speed averages out to 31, it allows the standard flight unit to apply its own -5 modifier after the other two, so 31-20-5 = 6. (However, the system's calculations are not perfect in that regard, because I believe that in order to be applied the Flight Unit with the higher limit must be stored
after the other(s) within the internal representation of your inventory contents, which doesn't make a lot of sense and is something I'd like to fix as we work on the Great Propulsion Rebalancing (http://www.gridsagegames.com/forums/index.php?topic=274.0).)
You've achieved the fastest recorded speed in the game. In theory it's possible to get even faster (the game's cap doesn't kick in until 3), but I don't think anyone can successfully support the number of required overloaded propulsion to pull that off. Which is probably a good thing :P
Quote from: bluemoo on October 08, 2015, 02:58:04 PM
Even so, I am of the opinion that it's too fast, because the other robots don't even really react to you - you have to make a choice to sit around and get noticed, and you can escape from anything.
Did you have to avoid any stasis traps? :P (were you scanning for them?)
Quote from: bluemoo on October 08, 2015, 02:58:04 PM
Though, I ended with a pretty low score (6999)... I wonder if it's possible to escape with exactly 6500...
That would be an impressive feat. I
think it might be possible theoretically, but don't quote me on that... (Come to think of it, "lowest scoring win" would be a good Achievement!)
Quote from: Kyzrati on October 08, 2015, 06:50:27 PM
The bonus limit on a standard flight unit is 3, rather than 2 for the others, so while the base speed averages out to 31, it allows the standard flight unit to apply its own -5 modifier after the other two, so 31-20-5 = 6. (However, the system's calculations are not perfect in that regard, because I believe that in order to be applied the Flight Unit with the higher limit must be stored after the other(s) within the internal representation of your inventory contents, which doesn't make a lot of sense and is something I'd like to fix as we work on the Great Propulsion Rebalancing (http://www.gridsagegames.com/forums/index.php?topic=274.0).)
This might explains some weirdness I ran into in previous run where turning on a flight unit actually slowed me down significantly.
Quote from: Kyzrati on October 08, 2015, 06:50:27 PM
You've achieved the fastest recorded speed in the game. In theory it's possible to get even faster (the game's cap doesn't kick in until 3), but I don't think anyone can successfully support the number of required overloaded propulsion to pull that off. Which is probably a good thing :P
I accept your challenge :)
Quote from: Kyzrati on October 08, 2015, 06:50:27 PM
Did you have to avoid any stasis traps? :P (were you scanning for them?)
No, I ignored traps entirely. I suppose the wrong trap would have ruined my run, so I got lucky in that regard. I remember one EM trap that startled me when it went off, but didn't really cause any problems. There were the 3 seperate Chute Traps that I hit on -7, but those ended up being a good thing overall, due to the equipment I subsequently found. Does a Chute trap totally reset the map you were on when you return to it, or do you just forget the map?
Quote from: Kyzrati on October 08, 2015, 06:50:27 PM
That would be an impressive feat. I think it might be possible theoretically, but don't quote me on that... (Come to think of it, "lowest scoring win" would be a good Achievement!)
You'd definitely need to get lucky in the early game to escape the swarmers, but I can only think of one part of the game where you actually need to do damage (or at least I did). Maybe even harder would be that you can't use any prototype flight units?
Keep up the fun work!
Quote from: bluemoo on October 09, 2015, 02:54:59 AM
This might explains some weirdness I ran into in previous run where turning on a flight unit actually slowed me down significantly.
There's another situation where being more overweight and activating extra propulsion that doesn't result in being less overweight actually slows you down, too. That's something else to fix soon.
Quote from: bluemoo on October 09, 2015, 02:54:59 AM
Quote from: Kyzrati on October 08, 2015, 06:50:27 PM
Did you have to avoid any stasis traps? :P (were you scanning for them?)
No, I ignored traps entirely. I suppose the wrong trap would have ruined my run, so I got lucky in that regard.
Yeah, an unseen stasis trap could spell the end of a run, more so than other traps which aren't so bad (and are unlikely to trigger on a flying bot anyway), so it can make sense for fast runs to be on the lookout for those.
Quote from: bluemoo on October 09, 2015, 02:54:59 AM
Does a Chute trap totally reset the map you were on when you return to it, or do you just forget the map?
Spoiler
It's a completely different map, to be thought of as a "different section of the same floor."
Quote from: bluemoo on October 09, 2015, 02:54:59 AM
Quote from: Kyzrati on October 08, 2015, 06:50:27 PM
That would be an impressive feat. I think it might be possible theoretically, but don't quote me on that... (Come to think of it, "lowest scoring win" would be a good Achievement!)
You'd definitely need to get lucky in the early game to escape the swarmers, but I can only think of one part of the game where you actually need to do damage (or at least I did). Maybe even harder would be that you can't use any prototype flight units?
That's right, no prototypes, either!
I was thinking about this comment from earlier:
Quote from: bluemoo on October 08, 2015, 02:58:04 PM
Even so, I am of the opinion that it's too fast, because the other robots don't even really react to you - you have to make a choice to sit around and get noticed, and you can escape from anything.
I believe the original Alpha was better balanced for the right amount of difficulty for speed runs (harder than it is now, but not impossible), while since then changes to squads to increase the feasibility of late-game combat runs have made it easier to speed run. I'm not too worried about the particular balance there yet, since we still have to add new features and branches; also, it's true that once you're moving at the fastest flight speeds you're nigh uncatchable, but without that speed you could get picked apart pretty quickly. At the extreme it becomes a game of using your wits and parts to avoid all contact with the enemy. (The last floor is also bugged so you're not seeing the same amount of resistance you should be.)
If necessary, there are several options for increasing the difficulty solely for speed runs. We'll see what happens!
If you wanted to hit 6500 exactly, you wouldn't be able to even identify any prototypes, because you get points for those.
I tried such a pacifist run for about 10 minutes, upon which point I ran into Swarmers, which wouldn't have been so bad except I blew one of them up via ramming to try and get past them. It's definitely pretty difficult, but probably doable if you can get through Materials.
With regards to stasis traps:
secrets inside
carry an extra weight redistributor and swap it out with one of your heaviest utilities. You break out of them faster based on how much excess mass support you have. It took me a while to figure that out but it is an absolute lifesaver because you go from like 20 turns stuck in it to breaking out in 5.
Ahh, brilliant Fernsauce. Thank you for the information :)