Tuttle
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1548
Registered: 02-22-2003
IP: Logged

I just played all three King Pilchard VIII holds in a row, and this is the one I enjoyed the most.

I do think that a few more rooms could have used checkpoints -- Tenth 3N and Twelfth 1S stand out as being particularly painful to replay from the start after making a mistake right at the end.

The difficulty spike at the end was a little bit unpleasant as well, but overall I'd still recommend the hold. The variety of puzzles was good, the swordless and Slayer roles were both done well (I especially liked the aumtlich/mirror rooms), and it made me think without being head-bashingly difficult.

fratropea
Level: Delver
Rank Points: 87
Registered: 11-05-2005
IP: Logged

FINALLY I CONQUERED KPVIIID3: THE FINAL FLOOR!!!
I am a fan of Pilchard VIII!
The story, the architecture, the graphics are wonderful...
Some rooms are very hard, others are riveting.
I really enjoyed playing this hold!
Thanks.

Rabscuttle
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 2497
Registered: 09-10-2004
IP: Logged

Tech-Dugandy: Twice East should be marked unscorable as it isn't possible to defeat the goblins that appear after you beat the room.

TFMurphy
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 3118
Registered: 06-11-2007
IP: Logged

No, it's still possible to complete the room, in pretty much the same way as before. (Though there will be some demo breakages - but on the flipside, I think you can optimise it further by 1 move now)

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[Last edited by TFMurphy at 05-19-2008 07:45 PM]

CuriousShyRabbit
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 3170
Registered: 10-14-2006
IP: Logged

Oh yeah, it is still possible. Just did it.

Rabscuttle
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 2497
Registered: 09-10-2004
IP: Logged

gragh! Yeah, that unsworded mimic change makes the room considerably easier.

No wait, it was possible before, wasn't it.

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[Last edited by Rabscuttle at 05-20-2008 01:20 AM]

deftriver
Level: Delver

Rank Points: 77
Registered: 07-11-2007
IP: Logged

Man, I'm almost through all of the rooms behind the mater wall. The only room I have left to solve is Removed for Difficulty 1N, and it is hard.

But I'm posting here because I see no mention of the problem in The Origin 2E, there's glitch, the Beethro character doesn't move to kill a guard and gets killed instead, so the room is stuck on a loop.

CuriousShyRabbit
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 3170
Registered: 10-14-2006
IP: Logged

This hold is indeed on the "to be fixed because of 3.2" list. The reason there isn't a post about it here, is that Tahnan told me about the problem in the in-game chat.

However, for any concerned highscorers, I'll mention that there are no highscorable rooms in the Origin level. You're missing story here, but not points.

kmt
Level: Goblin
Rank Points: 26
Registered: 10-27-2007
IP: Logged

I've really enjoyed this hold. It was accessible to someone with my modest skill level, but still very challenging in places. One question, though.
I can't find the secret room on Thanks.

CuriousShyRabbit
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 3170
Registered: 10-14-2006
IP: Logged

disoriented
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 2401
Registered: 08-07-2007
IP: Logged

I just mastered this hold and I'm exploring behind the master walls, but I think I've hit a bug.

In "The Origin" 2E, the animation just loops over and over because Beethro gets killed by a guard on move 13.

____________________________
34th Skywatcher

Best to PM me, since I might miss your message on CaravelNet chat.

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[Last edited by disoriented at 07-01-2009 06:12 AM]

CuriousShyRabbit
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 3170
Registered: 10-14-2006
IP: Logged

Please see 4 posts up.

The problem is due to a game engine bug introduced in 3.2. In 3.2, guards act unbrained when chasing a Beethro NPC. Mrimer has said he would fix this bug, so that the hold won't need updating. However, the fix hasn't happened yet.

martz
Level: Smiter
Rank Points: 416
Registered: 08-19-2005
IP: Logged

I completed this hold about a week ago (except for one particularly tricky post-mastery room).

This is a large story-heavy hold with a variety of puzzles, a very good ending and a plethora of post-mastery goodness.

I actually felt the hold started rather poorly - I wasn't too impressed with the first few puzzle levels but once I got to the Eighth floor there seemed to be an increase in enjoyment (and difficulty) as I progressed through the levels.

I would say the major theme of the hold is horde management, but there are many varieties of this utilizing hot tiles, speed & clone potions, orthosquares amongst others such that you never really get a feeling of repetition. There are other puzzles here as well - fegundos, mirrors and platforms make an appearance and there is a fairly large chunk of slayer role puzzles which are always a good thing in my opinion.

Once you reach the end (beyond a couple of slightly annoying "scripted monsters appearing" rooms) you are treated to a very impressive cut scene (not sure what Lego Luke Skywalker is doing there mind!) and providing you've mastered the level, a Caravel-worthy post mastery section packed full of hold information and additional puzzles (including a couple of very nasty ones).

If you do happen to play this hold, I would encourage you to persevere as it definately gets better as you progress - there are already a number of hint topics for the tougher rooms if needed and everyone should experience the ending.

I would say I'd hope to see more holds from Pilchard VIII in the future, but sadly his last post (incidentally about a 4th hold in this series) was some 2 1/2 years ago - maybe he'll return one day as others have done?

My rating:

Difficulty: 5.5
Fun: 7

____________________________
Without struggle, there is no progress, so get up, get out, and go make the rest of your life the best of your life; you deserve to live the life that YOU want to live...

Progress - Gavin G