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[bluemoo]

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 (click to show/hide)

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 (click to show/hide)

Cogmind - 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


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[Kyzrati]

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing. For a new player, that was pretty fast

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.)

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

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? (were you scanning for them?)

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!)

[bluemoo]

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.)

This might explains some weirdness I ran into in  previous run where turning on a flight unit actually slowed me down significantly.

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

I accept your challenge

Did you have to avoid any stasis traps? (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?

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!

[Kyzrati]

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.

Did you have to avoid any stasis traps? (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.

Does a Chute trap totally reset the map you were on when you return to it, or do you just forget the map?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

It's a completely different map, to be thought of as a "different section of the same floor."

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:

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!

[fernsauce]

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:

Spoiler: secrets inside (click to show/hide)

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.

[bluemoo]

Ahh, brilliant Fernsauce. Thank you for the information