Announcement: To see an overview of all the holds in this forum, see this page. You cannot directly add your hold by attaching it here - you must get your hold approved by Hold Administrators. Check this thread for details.

Caravel Forum : DROD Boards : Holds : Tar Ballroom (Brain paths and snake bodies)
Page 1 of 2
2
 New Topic New Poll Post Reply
Your Rating
Average User Rating
Difficulty:
Overall:


8.1/10 (19 votes)
σ 2.65
Author Name:Daniel
Submitted By:Rabscuttle
Hold Name:Tar Ballroom
Theme:Brain paths and snake bodies
Author's Difficulty:
Number of Levels:3
Number of Rooms:14
Number of Monsters:357
Version:DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold
High Scores:View High Scores
Hold Karma:4 (+4 / -0)
Poster Message
admin
Level: Legendary Smitemaster
Rank Points: 8
IP: Logged

File: Tar Ballroom v2.hold (13.3 KB)
Downloaded 1753 times.
License: Other
From: Unspecified
 icon Tar Ballroom  
I'm a tar baby and I dance dance dance and I dance dance dance.

The hold is called "Tar Ballroom" but really it is about the interaction of brains and serpents.

When a brain is working out the quickest way to Beethro, it assumes that serpent bodies are obstacles and will direct monsters around them. (However, they're not so smart when it comes to serpent heads and will try to send other monsters through them.)

So, it is possible to set up a snake in a loop so that it blocks off different paths as it moves. This causes brained monsters to dance back and forth as they are sent first down one path, then another.

Tar Ballroom is a collection of puzzles using this quirk.


The other thing you might want to know is that in this hold the snakes will always move before the tar babies. But you shouldn't need to use this to complete the hold.


Thanks to everyone who pointed out bugs and commented on the hold while I was building it.

I hope you enjoy playing it.

-Daniel
09-18-2006 at 03:06 AM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts Quote Reply
Rabscuttle
Level: Smitemaster
Avatar
Rank Points: 2502
Registered: 09-10-2004
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Huzzah!
09-18-2006 at 03:09 AM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts High Scores This architect's holds Quote Reply
coppro
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1309
Registered: 11-24-2005
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (+1)  
I ranked it for CNet - but that's about it. I'm sure my first will be beaten quickly.
09-18-2006 at 03:18 AM
View Profile Show all user's posts Quote Reply
Rabscuttle
Level: Smitemaster
Avatar
Rank Points: 2502
Registered: 09-10-2004
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Heh, I've already found an unintended solution but I'm leaving it in. :cool

edit: actually there's two.

edit2: ehh, the second one isn't so bad either.
[Last edited by Rabscuttle at 09-18-2006 04:24 PM]
09-18-2006 at 12:36 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts High Scores This architect's holds Quote Reply
Syntax
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1218
Registered: 05-12-2005
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (+1)  
Rarely have I played a single room and been in awe at the concept. This is genius at work... again ;)

This is going to be *hard* but looking forward to it :D
09-20-2006 at 09:14 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts Quote Reply
silver
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 915
Registered: 01-18-2005
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (+1)  
I love this hold. And not just because it's the longest I've ever gone sitting on rooms that no one else has conquered (on cnet, anyway)... the concepts are just neato.


____________________________
:yinyang
09-22-2006 at 02:50 AM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts This architect's holds Quote Reply
eytanz
Level: Smitemaster
Avatar
Rank Points: 2708
Registered: 02-05-2003
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (+1)  
I'm awed at how, even though the hold has been available for five days now, I'm still one of only two people with more than one highscore.

____________________________
I got my avatar back! Yay!
09-22-2006 at 03:57 AM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts This architect's holds Quote Reply
larrymurk
Level: Smitemaster
Avatar
Rank Points: 1917
Registered: 12-09-2004
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (+1)  
I can attest to this being a very good hold from the testing I did pre-release.

This is high on my to-do list but I've been busy with Beethro's Mission: Spiders and other projects. I imagine many prople are playing BMS as well, but I'm sure all will enjoy dancing with the tar babies in Tar Ballroom once they get a chance.
09-22-2006 at 02:22 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Send Email to User Show all user's posts High Scores This architect's holds Quote Reply
Rabscuttle
Level: Smitemaster
Avatar
Rank Points: 2502
Registered: 09-10-2004
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Thanks for the comments! Although I'm wondering if maybe I shouldn't have made it Spider Ballroom instead...

Woo, someone's mastered it!
09-25-2006 at 01:31 AM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts High Scores This architect's holds Quote Reply
michthro
Level: Smitemaestro
Rank Points: 679
Registered: 05-01-2005
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (+2)  
Rabscuttle wrote:
Woo, someone's mastered it!
That'd be me. :D One day I'm going to post-master it..

Great hold. Very difficult, but equally rewarding.

Comments:
Click here to view the secret text
09-25-2006 at 01:52 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts Quote Reply
Rabscuttle
Level: Smitemaster
Avatar
Rank Points: 2502
Registered: 09-10-2004
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Click here to view the secret text
09-26-2006 at 10:34 AM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts High Scores This architect's holds Quote Reply
michthro
Level: Smitemaestro
Rank Points: 679
Registered: 05-01-2005
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Rabscuttle wrote:
Actually, the intended solution is a little simpler. :)
yarrgh.. The BT syndrome again. I'm forever doing this. Well, intended schmended. My way's faster.
09-26-2006 at 12:08 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts Quote Reply
Rabscuttle
Level: Smitemaster
Avatar
Rank Points: 2502
Registered: 09-10-2004
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
michthro wrote:

Rabscuttle wrote:
Actually, the intended solution is a little simpler. :)
yarrgh.. The BT syndrome again. I'm forever doing this. Well, intended schmended. My way's faster.
*resists urge to get high scores in own hold* O:-
[Last edited by Rabscuttle at 09-27-2006 04:31 AM]
09-27-2006 at 03:31 AM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts High Scores This architect's holds Quote Reply
michthro
Level: Smitemaestro
Rank Points: 679
Registered: 05-01-2005
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Rabscuttle wrote:
*resists urge to get high scores in own hold* O:-
Go for it. I've actually been wondering when you were planning to. Since it's your hold, I'll go easy on you. ;)

There go another 9 #1s..
09-27-2006 at 10:31 AM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts Quote Reply
Rabscuttle
Level: Smitemaster
Avatar
Rank Points: 2502
Registered: 09-10-2004
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Ok, I have submitted and submitted one score. :P

Also! I have found an unintended solution in The Three Steps. I most likely will be making an update to try and fix it either tonight or tomorrow, so I apologise in advance if michthro or BoyBlue are partaways through it.

The other mistakes I have found (on Dance Floor) will remain as they are relatively minor and I don't want to mess up people's scores. (But I will probably make some posts on Challenges sometime)
[Last edited by Rabscuttle at 09-29-2006 03:43 AM]
09-29-2006 at 03:42 AM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts High Scores This architect's holds Quote Reply
Rabscuttle
Level: Smitemaster
Avatar
Rank Points: 2502
Registered: 09-10-2004
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (+1)  
I have now updated the hold. The only changes should be in The Three Steps. Feel free to thwack me over the head if otherwise.
[Last edited by Rabscuttle at 10-02-2006 03:04 PM]
10-02-2006 at 02:55 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts High Scores This architect's holds Quote Reply
JonhSoft2006
Level: Roachling
Rank Points: 12
Registered: 01-01-2006
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Nice hold. :)

____________________________
No
10-02-2006 at 08:43 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Send Email to User Show all user's posts This architect's holds Quote Reply
UrAvgAzn
Level: Smiter
Avatar
Rank Points: 468
Registered: 04-15-2006
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
JonhSoft2006 wrote:
Nice hold. :)

Jonh is unbanned? Cool! Maybe he can make a few more good holds!

Keep posting,

____________________________
"The leaf, still green, must someday fall.
Such grief, such joy, to live at all."
- T.A. Barron, The Lost Years of Merlin
10-03-2006 at 08:07 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Send Email to User Visit Homepage Show all user's posts Quote Reply
larrymurk
Level: Smitemaster
Avatar
Rank Points: 1917
Registered: 12-09-2004
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (+1)  
Now that I've officially completed this hold (though mastery might be a ways off) I'll copy these comments that I made in the architecture thread.


General comments-
I like the look of the rooms because they have-
1. Nice layouts
2. Nice floor coloring
3. The tar dances, dances, dances.
4. Thank heavens for the generous checkpoints.

I gotta say this hold is fun!

Fine hold Rabs!!
10-24-2006 at 09:26 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Send Email to User Show all user's posts High Scores This architect's holds Quote Reply
michthro
Level: Smitemaestro
Rank Points: 679
Registered: 05-01-2005
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (+10)  
Finally postmastered it. I think I broke The Three Steps. Oops. Nothing trivial about my solution, but what strikes me as unintended is:
Click here to view the secret text

Saves a move too. :P
01-03-2007 at 12:50 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts Quote Reply
Rabscuttle
Level: Smitemaster
Avatar
Rank Points: 2502
Registered: 09-10-2004
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
michthro wrote:
Finally postmastered it. I think I broke The Three Steps. Oops. Nothing trivial about my solution, but what strikes me as unintended is:
Click here to view the secret text

Click here to view the secret text
01-03-2007 at 03:29 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts High Scores This architect's holds Quote Reply
michthro
Level: Smitemaestro
Rank Points: 679
Registered: 05-01-2005
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Click here to view the secret text
01-03-2007 at 04:17 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts Quote Reply
Rabscuttle
Level: Smitemaster
Avatar
Rank Points: 2502
Registered: 09-10-2004
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Click here to view the secret text

[Last edited by Rabscuttle at 01-04-2007 12:19 AM]
01-04-2007 at 12:13 AM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts High Scores This architect's holds Quote Reply
michthro
Level: Smitemaestro
Rank Points: 679
Registered: 05-01-2005
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Click here to view the secret text
01-04-2007 at 12:20 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts Quote Reply
Jatopian
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1842
Registered: 07-31-2005
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Having unintended solutions of a room isn't really "broken" if the room isn't trivialized. It's not really fair to those who completed it the unintended way to "fix" it and take away their scores/progress, when they had no way of knowing better.

____________________________
DROD has some really great music.
Make your pressure plates 3.0 style!
DROD architecture idea generator
01-04-2007 at 11:08 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts This architect's holds Quote Reply
Syntax
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1218
Registered: 05-12-2005
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Jatopian wrote:
Having unintended solutions of a room isn't really "broken" if the room isn't trivialized. It's not really fair to those who completed it the unintended way to "fix" it and take away their scores/progress, when they had no way of knowing better.
I think you'll find michthro agreeing with you heartily on this one. I haven't played this room, but is the proposed change something which would break your/most demos?

If so, maybe leave as is... especially if the "alternative" solution isn't any easier. Whether the final solution was intended or not, it is always the unintended hard solutions which are more difficult to copy and therefore (in my book) ones which should be left alone.
01-04-2007 at 11:27 PM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts Quote Reply
Rabscuttle
Level: Smitemaster
Avatar
Rank Points: 2502
Registered: 09-10-2004
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (+1)  
Click here to view the secret text


Jatopian wrote:
Having unintended solutions of a room isn't really "broken" if the room isn't trivialized. It's not really fair to those who completed it the unintended way to "fix" it and take away their scores/progress, when they had no way of knowing better.

michthro is the only one (besides me) who has a score for this room. Since he beat me, I am fully justified in being petty.
:)
But seriously, the unintended solution bypasses at least two of the puzzles in the room and is not that difficult to pull off. It does not leave the room trivial, but that is because the room is pretty complex to begin with.
It's a post master-wall room, only one person has solved it, only three people have reached it, so lost scores/progress is not really an issue.
If I was going to be a jerk about enforcing intended solutions, I would fix 1S on the main level.
01-05-2007 at 12:31 AM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts High Scores This architect's holds Quote Reply
Syntax
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1218
Registered: 05-12-2005
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
If that's the case I'd say fix it :)
01-05-2007 at 01:04 AM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts Quote Reply
michthro
Level: Smitemaestro
Rank Points: 679
Registered: 05-01-2005
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Yes, I don't mind my demo being broken. I'm generally against breaking demos, but I like this room so much that I'd rather have it fixed. Since I'm the only one who'll lose a score I guess I can make an exception. I already know how to get my #1 back anyway. ;)
01-05-2007 at 09:08 AM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Show all user's posts Quote Reply
bandit1200
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 290
Registered: 10-29-2003
IP: Logged
 icon Re: Tar Ballroom (0)  
Every time I see the name of this hold, it reminds me of Reginald Dixon. I wonder if anyone can make the connection without googling old Reggie's name? You probably need to be from the UK and born in the middle of the last century to get it without looking it up. ;)
01-12-2007 at 08:23 AM
View Profile Send Private Message to User Send Email to User Show all user's posts Quote Reply
Page 1 of 2
2
 New Topic New Poll Post Reply
Caravel Forum : DROD Boards : Holds : Tar Ballroom (Brain paths and snake bodies)
Surf To:


Forum Rules:
Can I post a new topic? No
Can I reply? No
Can I read? Yes
HTML Enabled? No
UBBC Enabled? Yes
Words Filter Enable? No

Contact Us | CaravelGames.com

Powered by: tForum tForumHacks Edition b0.98.8
Originally created by Toan Huynh (Copyright © 2000)
Enhanced by the tForumHacks team and the Caravel team.