Scattercatt
Level: Delver
Rank Points: 36
Registered: 05-15-2016
IP: Logged

File: The Four Laws of Mankind2.hold (2.1 MB)
Downloaded 54 times.
License: Public Domain

After getting my first hold "The Tower" completed and submitted, I started working on a new hold that I feel has better puzzles, better atmosphere, and, hopefully, a story. I definitely think that this hold is much better quality both puzzle and aesthetic wise.

Unlike The Tower, I'm not submitting this complete as I want to get feedback and be able to change things now instead of going back through EVERYTHING later.
I really did want to wait until it was complete, but I just had to show off what I have so far!

Another huge new aspect is new elements. There is one new element per level with tutorials included.

The hold number at the end of the download file will go up every time I fix or update something.

Please download and give it a play!

EDIT: Rooms 1W and 2N1W replaced with new rooms in The Temple of Order. Also added checkpoints

NEW MESSAGE AS OF 3/28/2019:
It has been quite some time since I posted about this hold, but I feel this is a good time to get it out there again. I would also like to preface this by saying that the hold is far from finished (as are most here), so expect updates.
Since I'm not completely sure where to put the hold files, updated hold files will still be on the starting post

After playing a lot of user made and officially made holds, I feel I have gotten a taste of what a puzzle should and shouldn't be, at least, a better taste than i had before.

That being said, I have scrapped more than half of the rooms. Many I felt were not fun, trivial, or unrewarding. I have since replaced these with what I personally feel are better. Of course, this is why I'm on this board to begin with. (I have also recorded demos for every single puzzle as of now)

I would also like to point out that I am taking this opportunity to improve my writing skills, so take this apology in advance if it's not your cup of tea. While of course not necessary, if writing is the kind of thing you're into, recommendations and tips on that would be nice too.

(Also, question for the mods: is it okay for me to start a new thread on this hold due to the overhaul or do I have to stick with this one?)

Thanks for your time and consideration!

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[Last edited by Scattercatt at 03-30-2019 05:08 AM]

Nuntar
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 4854
Registered: 02-20-2007
IP: Logged

File: The Four Laws of Mankind.demo (7.4 KB)
Downloaded 43 times.
License: Public Domain

Demos for Temple of Order, all except 1W solved. Comments:



____________________________
50th Skywatcher

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[Last edited by Nuntar at 10-13-2017 06:45 PM]

Scattercatt
Level: Delver
Rank Points: 36
Registered: 05-15-2016
IP: Logged

Nuntar wrote:
Demos for Temple of Order, all except 1W solved. Comments:

Click here to view the secret text

×The landmine element is a very nice concept: really simple and easy to understand, but with a lot of puzzle potential.

Tutorial: Nice simple demonstration, although I think the player should be disarmed so that the landmines are clearly needed to kill the roaches.

2N1W: Simple queen-timing room. Should still have a checkpoint before going in the tunnels.

1E: Easier than it looks, because you don't have to trigger all three orbs in the same turn. Checkpoints needed before waking the first eye, and on entering the second chamber.

1N2E: Checkpoint needed before the large pressure plate. Pretty simple multiple manipulation, just had to watch where each one was going and the solution was clear.

1N2W: Wow, a room that has checkpoints! But it needs another one before the first pressure plate. I spent a while here trying various things, but the solution turned out to be very simple.

1W: Even apart from the lack of checkpoints, this is a horrible room. Getting each mine to kill three roaches is either a matter of luck, or constantly checking movement order. Okay, you can afford one of the mines to kill only two roaches, but it's not clear at what stage that should be, so if you end up with one mine and three roaches, you can spend a long time trying to get it to work without having any idea whether you're in a failure state.

2N1E: Demo not included; I didn't realise there was a room there because the edge is misaligned. Solved in the editor. Not a bad room; pretty similar to its counterpart. In the second chamber, I struck the NW orb together with the guard, then got him to step on the landmine to trigger the other two orbs; I suppose that was the intended solution.

Thanks for the feedback! I did a rundown with checkpoints before posting and I guess I just forgot The Temple of Order. I also completely agree with you on 1W after replaying it. It is being reworked along with it's counterpart.

Scattercatt
Level: Delver
Rank Points: 36
Registered: 05-15-2016
IP: Logged

It has been quite some time since I posted about this hold, but I feel this is a good time to get it out there again. I would also like to preface this by saying that the hold is far from finished (as are most here), so expect updates.
Since I'm not completely sure where to put the hold files, updated hold files will still be on the starting post

After playing a lot of user made and officially made holds, I feel I have gotten a taste of what a puzzle should and shouldn't be, at least, a better taste than i had before.

That being said, I have scrapped more than half of the rooms. Many I felt were not fun, trivial, or unrewarding. I have since replaced these with what I personally feel are better. Of course, this is why I'm on this board to begin with. (I have also recorded demos for every single puzzle as of now)

I would also like to point out that I am taking this opportunity to improve my writing skills, so take this apology in advance if it's not your cup of tea. While of course not necessary, if writing is the kind of thing you're into, recommendations and tips on that would be nice too.

(Also, question for the mods: is it okay for me to start a new thread on this hold due to the overhaul or do I have to stick with this one?)

Thanks for your time and consideration!

Someone Else
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 2356
Registered: 06-14-2005
IP: Logged

If you feel it would be better served by starting a new thread, I don't see a problem with that.

Scattercatt
Level: Delver
Rank Points: 36
Registered: 05-15-2016
IP: Logged

So, I just finished the last room in The Temple of Life, but I'm not sure if it is easy enough for the hold standard. Could someone test 2S in the temple of life and tell me what you would rate the difficulty? I don't want an unnecessarily hard room in a hold like this. Thanks.

KituU
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 221
Registered: 07-02-2014
IP: Logged

File: TFLoM Temple of Life 2S Victory.demo (2.3 KB)
Downloaded 43 times.
License: Public Domain

Hi, played 2S

First, I'm very much impressed with the beautiful artistic layout. What a joy !

2S : i got very stuck at first, until i realized . It is a very clever room!!
It is difficult, but not too hard ( and difficulty is so relative, like a played it late and maybe was not very bright then) . I would say keep it, very interesting room

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[Last edited by KituU at 03-30-2019 07:33 PM]

KituU
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 221
Registered: 07-02-2014
IP: Logged

File: Temple of Chaos.demo (6.9 KB)
Downloaded 41 times.
License: Public Domain

demos for Temple of Chaos

very nice ! liked most of rooms very much. A joy to play
specially 1W , a very clever room, (took me a while too figure it out) .
Also liked very much 1N1E

KituU
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 221
Registered: 07-02-2014
IP: Logged

File: Temple of Life demos.demo (12.2 KB)
Downloaded 41 times.
License: Public Domain

Temple of Life:
1W : stuck on this room, is there a reason for the pressure plates (from left to right) to activate the yellow doors conter-clockwise ? It is not very intuitive, (do not know if it is actually needed for the puzzle). Not a fan of this room, i suppose it involves the correct sequence of pplates.

Enjoyed the rest of the level, Iron Golems is very interesting !
Demos attached

KituU
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 221
Registered: 07-02-2014
IP: Logged

File: Temple of Order demos.demo (11.5 KB)
Downloaded 41 times.
License: Public Domain

Temple of Order:
this level is easier than the others, it is okay, (some puzzles can be solved by simply trial and error), did like the other levels more .
Monster landmines : nice !
Both new elements are a great addition