Alpha Challenge 2015 (September 8-22)

Happylisk · September 09, 2015, 06:14:55 PM

Second serious run, got to -4 and almost 8k points. The wheels (treads?) really came off the bus when I ran out of matter. Next time going to run 2 thermal weapons and a kinetic weapon rather than the inverse. Heat sinks are plentiful; once you're out of matter with only kinetic weapons, shit goes south.

Edit: Bah, decided to kill a Beast for fun, but it overheated right before death and I didn't get the kill.

Kyzrati · September 09, 2015, 08:45:44 PM

First leaderboard updates are now online!

I'll be updating it several times each day from here on out.

ryvn · September 09, 2015, 09:37:51 PM

Ooh, I'm leading in three mystery achievement categories. Given that last night's run mostly involved avoiding robots and moving as efficiently as possible from exit to exit, I'm not sure what I did, but I hope I keep doing it!

Kyzrati · September 09, 2015, 09:51:45 PM

The achivements recognize different play styles, so you can keep using the same style to possibly hold your spot (unless someone else does it better

), or mix it up to possibly land something else. In any case, playing more games is a good way to increase chances of leading more achievements.

I'll reveal a couple more achievement names tomorrow, and before the event ends start revealing the exact parameters of some so you can compete specifically for them if you like

zxc · September 10, 2015, 01:52:38 AM

And another combat Cogmind dead in -2 but only 15k score this time. -2 really is the killer for me...

Edit: Started another combat run but decided to switch to flight early on and won it. Curious to see if my best escape score goes up or not, which would give a hint as to what it likes.

Happylisk · September 10, 2015, 04:45:52 AM

While zxc escapes twice, I wake up early for some cogminding and put up some of the worst scores I've had in a good while. Maybe more luck tonight.

zxc · September 10, 2015, 04:49:31 AM

Quote from: Happylisk on September 10, 2015, 04:45:52 AM
While zxc escapes twice, I wake up early for some cogminding and put up some of the worst scores I've had in a good while. Maybe more luck tonight.

Oh I had a few awful scores too. I don't usually talk about those

Code Select

Cogmind - Alpha 3c

Name: zzxc

---[ CORE DESTROYED ]---

 Performance 
-------------
Evolutions (0)             0
Robots Destroyed (5)       25
Value Destroyed (90)       90
Prototype IDs (0)          0
Alien Tech Identified (0)  0
Bonus (0)                  0
              TOTAL SCORE: 115

 Cogmind 
---------
Core Integrity             0/250
Matter                     299/300
Energy                     50/50
System Corruption          0%
Temperature                Cool (0)
Location                   -10/Mines

 Parts 
-------
Power (1)
Propulsion (2)
Utility (2)
Weapon (2)

 Inventory 
-----------
Ion Engine
Medium Matter Storage Unit

 Peak State 
------------
Power
  Ion Engine
Propulsion
  Aluminum Leg
  Aluminum Leg
Utility
Weapon
  Assault Rifle
  EM Pulse Gun
[Rating: 5]

 Favorites 
-----------
Power                      Ion Engine
  Engine                   Ion Engine
Propulsion                 Aluminum Leg
  Leg                      Aluminum Leg
Utility                    None
Weapon                     Assault Rifle
  Energy Gun               EM Pulse Gun
  Ballistic Gun            Assault Rifle

 Stats 
-------
Classes Destroyed          2
  Swarmer                  4
  Mutant                   1
NPCs Destroyed             0
Best Kill Streak           4
  Combat Bots Only         4
Matter Collected           380
  Salvage Created          76
Parts Attached             7
  Power                    1
  Propulsion               2
  Utility                  0
  Weapon                   4
Parts Lost                 7
  Power                    1
  Propulsion               2
  Utility                  0
  Weapon                   4
Average Slot Usage (%)     63
  Naked Turns              2
Spaces Moved               119
  Fastest Speed (%)        200
  Slowest Speed (%)        100
  Overloaded Moves         0
  Propulsion Burnouts      0
  Targets Rammed           0
  Cave-ins Triggered       0
  Teleports                0
Heaviest Build             9
  Greatest Overweight (x)  2
  Average Overweight (x)   0
Largest Inventory          4
  Most Items Carried       4
  Average Items Carried    3
Core Damage Taken          268
Volleys Fired              17
  Largest                  2
  Hottest                  60
Shots Fired                32
  Gun                      32
  Cannon                   0
  Launcher                 0
  Special                  0
  Kinetic                  20
  Thermal                  0
  Explosive                0
  Electromagnetic          12
Shots Hit Robots           14
  Core Hits                10
Overload Shots             0
  Energy Bleed             0
  Heat Surge               0
  Short Circuit            0
  Meltdown                 0
Melee Attacks              0
  Impact                   0
  Slashing                 0
  Piercing                 0
Damage Inflicted           161
  Projectiles              161
  Explosions               0
  Melee                    0
  Ramming                  0
Highest Temperature        7
  Average Temperature      3
  Shutdowns                0
  Energy Bleed             0
  Interference             0
  Matter Decay             0
  Short Circuit            0
  Damage (minor)           0
  Damage (major)           0
  Damage (core)            0
Highest Corruption         0
  Message Errors           0
  Parts Rejected           0
  Data loss (map)          0
  Data loss (database)     0
  Misfires                 0
  Misdirections            0
  Targeting Errors         0
  Weapon Failures          0
Haulers Intercepted        0
Robots Corrupted           0
Robots Melted              0
Tactical Retreats          0
Communications Jammed      0
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        0
  Terminals                0
  Fabricators              0
  Repair Stations          0
  Recycling Units          0
  Scanalyzers              0
Machines Hacked            0
  Terminals                0
  Fabricators              0
  Repair Stations          0
  Recycling Units          0
  Scanalyzers              0
Total Hacks                0
  Successful               0
  Failed                   0
  Catastrophic             0
  Database Lockouts        0
  Manual                   0
  Terminals                0
  Fabricators              0
  Repair Stations          0
  Recycling Units          0
  Scanalyzers              0
Terminal Hacks             0
  Record                   0
  Part Schematic           0
  Robot Schematic          0
  Robot Analysis           0
  Prototype ID Bank        0
  Open Door                0
  Level Access Points      0
  Branch Access Points     0
  Emergency Access Points  0
  Machine Index            0
  Terminal Index           0
  Fabricator Index         0
  Repair Station Index     0
  Recycling Unit Index     0
  Scanalyzer Index         0
  Alert Level              0
  Unreport Threat          0
  Locate Traps             0
  Disarm Traps             0
  Reprogram Traps          0
  Dispatch Records         0
  Maintenance Status       0
  Security Status          0
  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         0
  Registered Components    0
  Registered Prototypes    0
  Zone Layout              0
  Sector Layout            0
  Machine Controls         0
Hacking Detections         0
  Full Trace Events        0
  Feedback Events          0
  Feedback Corruption      0
  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               2
  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        57
Maximum Alert Level        0
  Low Security (%)         100
  Level 1                  0
  Level 2                  0
  Level 3                  0
  Level 4                  0
  Level 5                  0
Squads Dispatched          0
  Investigation            0
  Extermination            0
  Reinforcement            0
  Assault                  0
Exploration Rate (%)       9
  Regions Visited          3
Turns Passed               184
  Depth 11                 45
  Depth 10                 139
  Scrapyard                45
  Materials                40
  Mines                    99

 Prototype IDs 
---------------
None

 Alien Tech Recovered 
----------------------
None

 Game 
------
Seed: 1441816441
^Manual?: 0
Play Time: 22 min
Sessions: 2
Mod: N/A
Game No.: 13
ASCII: 1
Keyboard: 0
Font: 18/Terminus
Map View: 76x50


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Happylisk · September 10, 2015, 05:01:13 AM

Ouch, that's pretty bad.

Clearly though you got stealth down. You should write up a guide

zxc · September 10, 2015, 05:21:17 AM

Quote from: Happylisk on September 10, 2015, 05:01:13 AM
Ouch, that's pretty bad.

Clearly though you got stealth down. You should write up a guide

I'll definitely be down for writing guides and stuff like that. At the moment though I am focused on playing

mendonca · September 10, 2015, 06:10:06 AM

Cool, I can see my name up there!

I've got a sneaking suspicion as to what achievement I'm leading in, as I found a large collection of some specific thing in a branch (which was really cool, by the way, and totally saved my bacon).

Would be more specific, but then I'd have NO chance of staying leader for the achievement

Kyzrati · September 10, 2015, 08:39:02 AM

I compiled some stats from our first day!

Happylisk · September 10, 2015, 08:59:14 AM

Looks like if you get over the -9 hump, you have a decent shot at making progress in Factory.

zxc · September 10, 2015, 09:14:14 AM

Scores just updated, and it seems the Best Escapes algorithm likes my second win more than my first. Interesting... 0.89 -> 1.08. That means higher numbers are better. Going to compare the two runs and see what exactly differed.

Kyzrati · September 10, 2015, 09:20:36 AM

Quote from: Happylisk on September 10, 2015, 08:59:14 AM
Looks like if you get over the -9 hump, you have a decent shot at making progress in Factory.

I'm thinking it's mostly beginners who can flee their way through to -9, probably in pretty bad shape, where they end up dying for lack of strategy. Once players can reach the Factory a floor or two is usually manageable, but attrition seems to get the better of most players in those huge floors.

I'm sure this will start to look a bit different once we add some Factory branches, not to mention once the average player starts to get better.

Adraius · September 10, 2015, 11:00:39 AM

So, uh, I just encountered Revision 17 on a normal run - it's my third or so run of the competition, the seed is random, and I'm not in the tutorial starting area. I've just never seen this before - intended or bug?

boomblip · September 10, 2015, 05:07:34 PM

Quote from: Adraius on September 10, 2015, 11:00:39 AM
So, uh, I just encountered Revision 17 on a normal run - it's my third or so run of the competition, the seed is random, and I'm not in the tutorial starting area. I've just never seen this before - intended or bug?

Intended, he has a chance to randomly spawn after the tutorial.

Happylisk · September 10, 2015, 05:46:52 PM

My best run so far with a 10k score. I'm a bit salty cause I found 3 locked branches in -4 and died stumbling around for the exit, but I definitely feel like I'm getting the hang of it.

Spoiler

Cogmind - Alpha 3c

Name: Happylisk

---[ CORE DESTROYED ]---

Performance
-------------
Evolutions (6) 3000
Robots Destroyed (170) 850
Value Destroyed (6403) 6403
Prototype IDs (

160
Alien Tech Identified (0) 0
Bonus (0) 0
TOTAL SCORE: 10413

Cogmind
---------
Core Integrity 0/1150
Matter 300/300
Energy 80/150
System Corruption 21%
Temperature Cool (0)
Location -4/Factory

Parts
-------
Power (3)
Micro Fission Core
Mini Fusion Reactor
Propulsion (2)
Utility (11)
Improved Heat Sink
Improved Target Analyzer
Advanced Heat Sink
Advanced Heat Sink
Advanced Heat Sink
Remote Shield Generator
Improved Heat Sink
Weapon (3)

Inventory
-----------
Compact Heavy Treads
Light Quantum Reactor

Peak State
------------
Power
Micro Fission Core
Micro Fission Core
Light Anti-Matter Reactor
Propulsion
Heavy Treads
Utility
Advanced Cooling System
Advanced Heat Sink
Advanced Energy Well
Medium Storage Unit
Point Defense Array
Improved Thermal Shield
Improved Heat Sink
Reflective Medium Armor
Improved Medium Armor Plating
Advanced Heat Sink
Advanced Heat Sink
Weapon
Enhanced Coil Gun
Railgun
Railgun
[Rating: 106]

Favorites
-----------
Power Micro Fission Core
Engine Ion Engine
Power Core Micro Fission Core
Reactor Light Anti-Matter Reactor
Propulsion Light Treads
Treads Light Treads
Leg Flexi-carbon Leg
Hover Unit Anti-Grav System
Utility Improved Heat Sink
Device Improved Heat Sink
Storage Medium Storage Unit
Processor Advanced Targeting Computer
Protection Improved Medium Armor Plating
Weapon Minigun
Energy Gun Variable Charge Gun
Energy Cannon Improved EM Pulse Cannon
Ballistic Gun Minigun
Ballistic Cannon Improved Light Cannon
Launcher Tesla Bomb Launcher
Impact Weapon Heavy Mace

Stats
-------
Classes Destroyed 14
Worker 13
Builder 14
Hauler 9
Recycler 12
Operator 1
Watcher 3
Swarmer 26
Saboteur 1
Grunt 40
Brawler 4
Duelist 1
Sentry 16
Hunter 11
Programmer 19
NPCs Destroyed 0
Best Kill Streak 10
Combat Bots Only 8
Matter Collected 4301
Salvage Created 6900
Parts Attached 252
Power 33
Propulsion 21
Utility 93
Weapon 105
Parts Lost 95
Power 9
Propulsion 7
Utility 50
Weapon 29
Average Slot Usage (%) 91
Naked Turns 4
Spaces Moved 4353
Fastest Speed (%) 222
Slowest Speed (%) 9
Overloaded Moves 0
Propulsion Burnouts 0
Targets Rammed 14
Cave-ins Triggered 0
Teleports 0
Heaviest Build 86
Greatest Overweight (x) 20
Average Overweight (x) 0
Largest Inventory 12
Most Items Carried 12
Average Items Carried 7
Core Damage Taken 1565
Volleys Fired 305
Largest 3
Hottest 313
Shots Fired 695
Gun 350
Cannon 260
Launcher 85
Special 0
Kinetic 264
Thermal 264
Explosive 56
Electromagnetic 111
Shots Hit Robots 464
Core Hits 315
Overload Shots 0
Energy Bleed 0
Heat Surge 0
Short Circuit 0
Meltdown 0
Melee Attacks 11
Impact 11
Slashing 0
Piercing 0
Damage Inflicted 20124
Projectiles 10590
Explosions 9255
Melee 245
Ramming 34
Highest Temperature 435
Average Temperature 98
Shutdowns 1
Energy Bleed 1
Interference 0
Matter Decay 0
Short Circuit 3
Damage (minor) 0
Damage (major) 0
Damage (core) 0
Highest Corruption 21
Message Errors 43
Parts Rejected 24
Data loss (map) 48
Data loss (database) 30
Misfires 11
Misdirections 17
Targeting Errors 49
Weapon Failures 10
Haulers Intercepted 9
Robots Corrupted 6
Robots Melted 7
Tactical Retreats 18
Communications Jammed 0
Parts Field Recycled 0
Retrieved Matter 0
Parts Merge Repaired 0
Drone Launches 2
Drone Recoveries 0
Derelicts Assembled 0
Traps Triggered 2
Indirectly 2
Trap Hack Attempts 0
Triggered 0
Disarmed 0
Reprogrammed 0
Reused 0
Machine Familiarity 17
Terminals 16
Fabricators 0
Repair Stations 1
Recycling Units 0
Scanalyzers 0
Machines Hacked 17
Terminals 16
Fabricators 0
Repair Stations 1
Recycling Units 0
Scanalyzers 0
Total Hacks 56
Successful 8
Failed 48
Catastrophic 16
Database Lockouts 0
Manual 29
Terminals 54
Fabricators 0
Repair Stations 2
Recycling Units 0
Scanalyzers 0
Terminal Hacks 6
Record 0
Part Schematic 0
Robot Schematic 0
Robot Analysis 0
Prototype ID Bank 1
Open Door 0
Level Access Points 0
Branch Access Points 0
Emergency Access Points 0
Machine Index 0
Terminal Index 0
Fabricator Index 0
Repair Station Index 0
Recycling Unit Index 0
Scanalyzer Index 0
Alert Level 0
Unreport Threat 1
Locate Traps 1
Disarm Traps 0
Reprogram Traps 0
Dispatch Records 0
Maintenance Status 0
Security Status 0
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 0
Registered Components 0
Registered Prototypes 0
Zone Layout 1
Sector Layout 0
Machine Controls 2
Hacking Detections 16
Full Trace Events 15
Feedback Events 0
Feedback Corruption 0
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 30
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 9
Largest Group 2
Highest-Rated Group 10
Highest-Rated Ally 5
Total Orders 2
STAY 0
GOTO 0
ROAM 0
FOLLOW 0
GUARD 0
AID 0
BUILD 0
TUNNEL 0
DROP 0
PICKUP 0
COLLECT 0
EXPLORE 2
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 767
Average Influence 230
Maximum Alert Level 2
Low Security (%) 43
Level 1 38
Level 2 17
Level 3 0
Level 4 0
Level 5 0
Squads Dispatched 31
Investigation 15
Extermination 10
Reinforcement 5
Assault 1
Exploration Rate (%) 21
Regions Visited 8
Turns Passed 9200
Depth 11 119
Depth 10 325
Depth 9 1357
Depth 8 701
Depth 7 1464
Depth 6 493
Depth 5 1801
Depth 4 2940
Scrapyard 119
Materials 2383
Factory 6698

Prototype IDs
---------------
Mini Fusion Reactor
Improved Medium Laser
Heavy Particle Gun
Advanced Plasma Rifle
Heavy Proton Cannon
Enhanced Coil Gun
Tiamat Missile Launcher
Tesla Bomb Launcher
Advanced Energy Well

Alien Tech Recovered
----------------------
None

Game
------
Seed: 1441920813
^Manual?: 0
Play Time: 97 min
Sessions: 8
Mod: N/A
Game No.: 45
ASCII: 0
Keyboard: 1
Font: 12/Cogmind
Map View: 76x56

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boomblip · September 10, 2015, 10:23:39 PM

Well my new favorite last ditch escape effort is diving down chute traps and hoping for an army of allies whose corpses I can loot for gear and reemerge.

boomblip · September 10, 2015, 11:14:06 PM

What is the schedule for leaderboard updates so I don't obsessively check

cogger · September 11, 2015, 01:13:53 AM

This challenge is so funny, I love it. I have really no idea what I'm doing, yet somehow I ended up on 11 (for now

) spots on the leaderboard. Probably for things like "Most times bumping into a wall", "Getting hit most times by a single robot" or "Repeatedly headbutting combat bots".

Kyzrati · September 11, 2015, 09:30:24 AM

Quote from: boomblip on September 10, 2015, 11:14:06 PM
What is the schedule for leaderboard updates so I don't obsessively check

Sorry... I decided not to announce a schedule since on some days I know I won't be able to keep it (it'll be nice when this is fully automated...).

I can say that I'll always update at least twice a day, usually three times assuming I'm around all day--once in my morning, afternoon, and night. So in EST that's generally around 22:00, 05:00, and 11:00.

Today I happened to be out all day because the weather was finally nice (= not raining) for once, so only two updates.

Quote from: cogger on September 11, 2015, 01:13:53 AM
This challenge is so funny, I love it. I have really no idea what I'm doing, yet somehow I ended up on 11 (for now ) spots on the leaderboard. Probably for things like "Most times bumping into a wall", "Getting hit most times by a single robot" or "Repeatedly headbutting combat bots".

Haha, they're not that bad

. I did just now reveal a few more achievement titles, and added the first couple descriptions as well.

I most likely will not be revealing all of the achievements before it's over, but I'll start revealing certain ones that might spark interesting play styles or challenges beyond just going for a high score. (In a few cases the achievements might also be reminders/hints of things that are good to do. There's quite a variety.)

Agroesch · September 11, 2015, 11:30:54 AM

I have a high score D:

What is this madness.

Kyzrati · September 11, 2015, 07:44:20 PM

Ooh, and #2 at that. Obviously fighting your way to the end there fairly aggressively

At this point simply making it to Research with a combat build will assure anyone a spot in the top 10. I'm still expecting to see some more scores in the 15k+ range, and a combat win or two that can reach 20k+.

Kyzrati · September 12, 2015, 10:34:15 AM

Prepared some more stats from the first three days' data. And today I revealed some more achievements in the latest score update--more definitions to come!

zxc · September 12, 2015, 11:10:34 AM

Well I didn't need an achievement to tell me I'm most 1337.

News:

Alpha Challenge 2015 (September 8-22)