Tower Defence (flash game)
January 9, 2007 5:03 AM Subscribe
Tower Defence A Macromedia Flash based Tower Defence game inspired by Elemental TD for WarcraftIII.
wasted nearly thirty minutes and only got 2,000 point (and not even a stupid t-shirt). The top ten is full of 10,000 and 20,000, ohmygod.
posted by darkripper at 6:09 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by darkripper at 6:09 AM on January 9, 2007
1748 points, Bonus Round 1.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:31 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:31 AM on January 9, 2007
Oh, no. I just played the first level, and I can already tell that my day is shot. Damn you, srboisvert!
posted by monju_bosatsu at 6:38 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by monju_bosatsu at 6:38 AM on January 9, 2007
Welcome to my corridor of death!
posted by fijiwriter at 6:42 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by fijiwriter at 6:42 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]
You get wood every seven levels (read the small print at the bottom). Do not let any creeps through. Pay attention to the status scroll. Etc.
posted by dhartung at 6:45 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by dhartung at 6:45 AM on January 9, 2007
2,360. Sweet. I have to say that it gets a bit boring for parts, especially when you get the Combo Towers for the first time. But those 10,000 HP dudes... man, that's tricky.
posted by adrianhon at 6:50 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by adrianhon at 6:50 AM on January 9, 2007
Wasn't me! Wasn't me!
posted by adamgreenfield at 7:01 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by adamgreenfield at 7:01 AM on January 9, 2007
Air towers only fire at air targets, they don't fire air... The first time I played it I put only air towers in, and was demolished.
Anyway, off to bed now, only three hours later than planned.. Shit.
posted by tomble at 7:03 AM on January 9, 2007
Anyway, off to bed now, only three hours later than planned.. Shit.
posted by tomble at 7:03 AM on January 9, 2007
Water Towers saved my bacon with the fast moving creeps.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:05 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:05 AM on January 9, 2007
Tip: don't forget to upgrade the towers. It's really worth the investment, and a good cheap way of increasing firepower in the middle of a battle.
posted by adrianhon at 7:09 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by adrianhon at 7:09 AM on January 9, 2007
Best strategy I have found so far - one cannon, two archery towers near the entry point. Upgrade the cannon, then the archery towers. First wood point to fire, install a fire cannon, sell the other towers in order to upgrade it. Install more fire cannons until you can afford the combo tower.
Also, if you are going to buy or upgrade anything and can possibly wait until the beginning of the next round, do so. This way you get the interest on your current funds.
posted by tomble at 7:21 AM on January 9, 2007
Also, if you are going to buy or upgrade anything and can possibly wait until the beginning of the next round, do so. This way you get the interest on your current funds.
posted by tomble at 7:21 AM on January 9, 2007
Yeah, I can't get by the 10,000 hp guys yet. I also haven't gotten any work done today. Thanks srboisvert!
posted by Inkoate at 8:12 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by Inkoate at 8:12 AM on January 9, 2007
Yeah, I think interest is the key. Buying the interest bonus first thing and being VERY thrifty on your tower purchases.
posted by empath at 8:22 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by empath at 8:22 AM on January 9, 2007
Seconded on being thrifty. It's worth noting that in the early levels, you do not need to use up all your money. I went through the first 3-4 levels with one tower being completely unused. As Einstein said, the most powerful force in the universe is compound interest.
posted by adrianhon at 8:55 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by adrianhon at 8:55 AM on January 9, 2007
If you buy interest as your first two purchases, then water, then fire, it is possible to get up to about 1k monies near level 19, and thus be getting 200 extra per level, which is better than a kick in the junk.
Of course, your field is littered with cannons, then, and you must under no circumstances forget to sell everything and get fire towers before level 20, or else the fast slow-immune guys will rape you.
posted by TypographicalError at 9:07 AM on January 9, 2007
Of course, your field is littered with cannons, then, and you must under no circumstances forget to sell everything and get fire towers before level 20, or else the fast slow-immune guys will rape you.
posted by TypographicalError at 9:07 AM on January 9, 2007
yeah, but if you get two interest purchases, you won't be able to buy rockets.
posted by empath at 9:33 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by empath at 9:33 AM on January 9, 2007
yeah, but if you get two interest purchases, you won't be able to buy rockets.
A fact I learned just a little too late....d'oh!
posted by inigo2 at 9:42 AM on January 9, 2007
A fact I learned just a little too late....d'oh!
posted by inigo2 at 9:42 AM on January 9, 2007
Rockets are pretty terrible, as far as I can tell. Nearly 400 for a slow single target 2000 damage, which is 10 shots to take down the 20k guys in Bonus 4.
My previous comment should've been referring to levels 29 and 30, incidentally.
Anyways: I tried double interest at the beginning again, and was able to beat bonus 3 barely, and bonus 4 whomped me. Don't see how anyone could get past bonus 5. I had all cannons and 4 upgraded arrow towers until level 21, when I picked up enough water towers to cover my cannon radii. Then I sold everything at the end of 29 to build fire towers in the middle with water towers on the corners in the middle. Ended up with 12 fully upgraded fire towers and 1 at the penultimate level, and the 20k health guys just murdalized me.
posted by TypographicalError at 9:45 AM on January 9, 2007
My previous comment should've been referring to levels 29 and 30, incidentally.
Anyways: I tried double interest at the beginning again, and was able to beat bonus 3 barely, and bonus 4 whomped me. Don't see how anyone could get past bonus 5. I had all cannons and 4 upgraded arrow towers until level 21, when I picked up enough water towers to cover my cannon radii. Then I sold everything at the end of 29 to build fire towers in the middle with water towers on the corners in the middle. Ended up with 12 fully upgraded fire towers and 1 at the penultimate level, and the 20k health guys just murdalized me.
posted by TypographicalError at 9:45 AM on January 9, 2007
Oh, I should also point out: the flying levels were the toughest ones, and the easiest way to get past them is to buy several air towers, fully upgrade them, and then just as the final few enemies are dying, sell the air towers. Then you lose the 25% on them, but you at least get the interest for all but one or two.
posted by TypographicalError at 9:57 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by TypographicalError at 9:57 AM on January 9, 2007
I have no idea how to get past the "How are you still alive" level...even with six upgrade rocket towers and a smattering of fire towers I barely got past the level before.
posted by christopher.taylor at 10:03 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by christopher.taylor at 10:03 AM on January 9, 2007
Any tips on surviving past the "trolls riding drug runners" level? My slow towers were obviously carrying me.
posted by tehloki at 10:41 AM on January 9, 2007
posted by tehloki at 10:41 AM on January 9, 2007
Thanks for the link, srboisvert. I've been playing this all morning. I finally got to Bonus Level 4 and, like TypographicalError, was completely eaten, bones and all. On some of my earlier playthroughs I put all my faith in rockets, but this last time through I realized the benefits of coupling the slowing splash effects of a water tower with the damaging splash effect of a fire tower.
I just realized that, though I've played this several times now, I have never built an earth tower. Are they any good? Should I be using them?
posted by Nedroid at 10:46 AM on January 9, 2007
I just realized that, though I've played this several times now, I have never built an earth tower. Are they any good? Should I be using them?
posted by Nedroid at 10:46 AM on January 9, 2007
4720, got to the 20,000k level...
My strategy was to get interest, then fire, then water... water towers and splash towers covering the entrance, water lasts all round and splash works best in tight corners.
posted by anthill at 10:55 AM on January 9, 2007
My strategy was to get interest, then fire, then water... water towers and splash towers covering the entrance, water lasts all round and splash works best in tight corners.
posted by anthill at 10:55 AM on January 9, 2007
Just hit over 5k, also dying on the 20k HP level... Fire with the first upgrade, then interest with the second, and water with the third. Air levels aren't really any harder if you make good use of fire towers, since they'll still hit.
I'm going to try my next time through upgrading with fire/interest/interest/water, and see if I can get enough money through the interest to get me further. The earth towers don't seem that useful due to firing SO slowly, and I'm not sure if the cannons are worth it.
posted by evilangela at 11:52 AM on January 9, 2007
I'm going to try my next time through upgrading with fire/interest/interest/water, and see if I can get enough money through the interest to get me further. The earth towers don't seem that useful due to firing SO slowly, and I'm not sure if the cannons are worth it.
posted by evilangela at 11:52 AM on January 9, 2007
6740, fire/interest/water/interest... should probably get double interest sooner.
Space water towers apart, so they slow only a few of the enemies, this will bunch them up and make the fire towers work better.
Not sure how the top 10 are getting 20 - 700k though...
posted by anthill at 11:59 AM on January 9, 2007
Space water towers apart, so they slow only a few of the enemies, this will bunch them up and make the fire towers work better.
Not sure how the top 10 are getting 20 - 700k though...
posted by anthill at 11:59 AM on January 9, 2007
I can get up to 7k, with about 10 guys left in the last level, but then I die. Frustrating.
posted by OmieWise at 1:18 PM on January 9, 2007
posted by OmieWise at 1:18 PM on January 9, 2007
I'm so glad I didn't click on the link when I was at work.
There goes my evening.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 1:37 PM on January 9, 2007
There goes my evening.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 1:37 PM on January 9, 2007
i got to 20k guys with int/int/fire/water. There's a HUUUGE difference between 10,000 an 20,000...
posted by empath at 1:48 PM on January 9, 2007
posted by empath at 1:48 PM on January 9, 2007
20K guys here too, without any rockets (interest, fire, interest, water).
A huge stack of un-upgraded fire towers interspersed with upgraded fire and water towers. I can kill off the 10k guys but I normally only have 5 or 6 lives left to deal with the 20K bastards.
I think the high scores are most likely hacks.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 2:12 PM on January 9, 2007
A huge stack of un-upgraded fire towers interspersed with upgraded fire and water towers. I can kill off the 10k guys but I normally only have 5 or 6 lives left to deal with the 20K bastards.
I think the high scores are most likely hacks.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 2:12 PM on January 9, 2007
I want this as a full-on console game with 3D paths and 40 hours of gameplay. Now.
posted by lbergstr at 2:24 PM on January 9, 2007
posted by lbergstr at 2:24 PM on January 9, 2007
Same for me, Omie - got to 7049. I think I'd be able to get past bonus 4 if I just didn't overbuild in the later levels. However, I did fairly well in the early and middle levels by saving potloads of money at 20% interest.
posted by adrianhon at 3:08 PM on January 9, 2007
posted by adrianhon at 3:08 PM on January 9, 2007
6,479, got past the 20000hp guys to the last level. the key was ditching rockets for fire towers with one upgrade. best damage per $ i've found so far.
to do better i'd have to be more careful about what i buy, i'm killing too many people too early and not earning enough interest.
posted by lbergstr at 3:08 PM on January 9, 2007
to do better i'd have to be more careful about what i buy, i'm killing too many people too early and not earning enough interest.
posted by lbergstr at 3:08 PM on January 9, 2007
Got 8700 (look for TomJode on score list). I think any score above 11K is a hack. As I only had like 7-8 guys get through, and so dont see how much more points could be scored. When you beat the last level, it isnt that fancy. My strategy? Fire/interest/water/interest (sometimes I get interest twice in a row though). Be sure to have at least 6-8 water towers (I use 7). Mass fire in the middle and in the beginning, with 2-3 near the end. Remember, you can put fire ones on top of each other, so just mass them in the center. The very last level, once they pass the beginning, sell off those towers and build near the end. For water towers, upgrade them fully immediately. For fire, upgrade to lvl 3 quickly, and upgrade to level 4 just before the Bonus 4 level.
posted by LoopyG at 3:11 PM on January 9, 2007
posted by LoopyG at 3:11 PM on January 9, 2007
I have a hard time getting a setup that works, and then upgrading it all.
People should post screen shots of their most successful setups.
and/or reveal your strategies. On preview, what LoopyG did.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 3:19 PM on January 9, 2007
People should post screen shots of their most successful setups.
and/or reveal your strategies. On preview, what LoopyG did.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 3:19 PM on January 9, 2007
Fantastic. Lot of replay value, clearly well-playtested, lots of fun. Thanks for the link.
posted by ikkyu2 at 4:23 PM on January 9, 2007
posted by ikkyu2 at 4:23 PM on January 9, 2007
I see a lot of late-game strategies, but what of early-game ones? I need to know what to do so I can get the -opportunity- to buy fire-interest-water-interest or whatever.
posted by tehloki at 4:41 PM on January 9, 2007
posted by tehloki at 4:41 PM on January 9, 2007
LoopyG: I got 10,460 with no hacks and I think I can do better... My order was interest/fire/interest/water. The hardest level on the way up is the drug runners+immune, so no sense in having water towers before that as you will still need enough firepower to make it through.
Seek compound interest. Maximise your towers' %firepower area on path. Put your big guns up front (cannon/fire++) and your littler guns (arrows/fire) behind to sweep up, that way you get better average damage per shot (2000 damage on a critter with 100 health is a waste of ammo). Scatter water towers up front for the bonus levels, so you bunch up the opponents.
posted by anthill at 4:59 PM on January 9, 2007
Seek compound interest. Maximise your towers' %firepower area on path. Put your big guns up front (cannon/fire++) and your littler guns (arrows/fire) behind to sweep up, that way you get better average damage per shot (2000 damage on a critter with 100 health is a waste of ammo). Scatter water towers up front for the bonus levels, so you bunch up the opponents.
posted by anthill at 4:59 PM on January 9, 2007
Although I think the balancing still needs a little tweaking. After level 7, there is no reason ever to install anything except a fire tower.
posted by ikkyu2 at 5:14 PM on January 9, 2007
posted by ikkyu2 at 5:14 PM on January 9, 2007
137 sacrebleu 10,252 +0 hours
Played through to level 30 and killed 'em all - no earth towers and spent the last three levels adding clusters of fire and water towers as fast as I could, upgrading them up as I went and adding more.
Got the cash to do it by using wood for fire, interest, interest, water.
I'm glad I got through or I would surely have lost a night to this sticky little beastie. More!
posted by sacre_bleu at 5:55 PM on January 9, 2007
Played through to level 30 and killed 'em all - no earth towers and spent the last three levels adding clusters of fire and water towers as fast as I could, upgrading them up as I went and adding more.
Got the cash to do it by using wood for fire, interest, interest, water.
I'm glad I got through or I would surely have lost a night to this sticky little beastie. More!
posted by sacre_bleu at 5:55 PM on January 9, 2007
I got over 30,000 but my score never showed up on the leaderboard (I'd love to know why). Here is a screen shot of my board on the last level at over 28,000 and 10,000 gold left over.
Here's the trick: get nothing but the interest upgrade until level 28, then get fire. Build the absolute minimum amount of towers to beat any given level so that your interest is maximized. I built nothing but cannon towers except prior to a level with flyers, when I would build air towers. Sell these towers at the end of each flying level (or preferably, during), to maximize your interest.
posted by christonabike at 6:12 PM on January 9, 2007
Here's the trick: get nothing but the interest upgrade until level 28, then get fire. Build the absolute minimum amount of towers to beat any given level so that your interest is maximized. I built nothing but cannon towers except prior to a level with flyers, when I would build air towers. Sell these towers at the end of each flying level (or preferably, during), to maximize your interest.
posted by christonabike at 6:12 PM on January 9, 2007
And avoid earth towers...pointless.
posted by adamgreenfield at 6:16 PM on January 9, 2007
posted by adamgreenfield at 6:16 PM on January 9, 2007
I usually hate these little flash games, but this was excellent.
posted by davejay at 6:29 PM on January 9, 2007
posted by davejay at 6:29 PM on January 9, 2007
Two maxed-out arrows and one maxed-out cannon, then fire/interest/interest/water. All the way through with three maxed-out water towers and twenty ++ fire towers.
An unhealthy pleasure to be derived from watching the 20,000hp columns contract and shrivel like slugs under salt.
posted by the sobsister at 7:54 PM on January 9, 2007
An unhealthy pleasure to be derived from watching the 20,000hp columns contract and shrivel like slugs under salt.
posted by the sobsister at 7:54 PM on January 9, 2007
I'm hooked too. I can't imagine playing this for 8 hours...one would hope that the top scores are from just letting in run in the background.
Fire towers ROCK!
posted by Muddler at 7:59 PM on January 9, 2007
Fire towers ROCK!
posted by Muddler at 7:59 PM on January 9, 2007
I would like to register one objection. The game said that I would get wood every seven levels.
Although I did experience a certain visceral satisfaction from the game's mediated violence, I did not once get wood.
The other thing about this game is that I can't stop thinking of that great scene in Ronin:
(Spence draws an ambush diagram on a dry erase board)
Spence: Okay, we got shooters here...Shooters here. I'll tell you an old trick...
Sam: Hey [walks up to places coffee on table as he walks up to board and erases the diagram]
Spence: What's your problem?
Sam: Draw it again. Draw it again. You're the ace field man, draw it again. It's a simple diagram, just draw it again. Draw what you say! Draw it again! Draw it again!!
[grabs marker and re-draws the diagram]
Sam: Two shooters, car comes through here, shooters across from each other kill each other dead. Oh my? Where'd you learn that? Heh??
Spence: In a Regiment.
Sam: What Regiment was that?
Spence: The 22nd Special Air Service.
Sam: What's the color of the boathouse at Hereford? What's the color of the boathouse at Hereford?!
Spence: I don't like your attitude.
Sam: What's the color of the boathouse...
Spence: Oh FUCK OFF!
Sam: What's...You got the gun. I'm unarmed. Do something. Go ahead, do something. Do something!
[as he gets into Spence's face, he backs up towards the coffee table]
Sam: Do something!
[Spence spills the coffee and Sam grabs his throat leaning him backwards over a railing as he takes his gun.]
Sam: Oh, tell me about an ambush?? Tell me about an ambush?! I ambushed you with a fuckin coffee cup!!
posted by dhartung at 9:00 PM on January 9, 2007
Although I did experience a certain visceral satisfaction from the game's mediated violence, I did not once get wood.
The other thing about this game is that I can't stop thinking of that great scene in Ronin:
(Spence draws an ambush diagram on a dry erase board)
Spence: Okay, we got shooters here...Shooters here. I'll tell you an old trick...
Sam: Hey [walks up to places coffee on table as he walks up to board and erases the diagram]
Spence: What's your problem?
Sam: Draw it again. Draw it again. You're the ace field man, draw it again. It's a simple diagram, just draw it again. Draw what you say! Draw it again! Draw it again!!
[grabs marker and re-draws the diagram]
Sam: Two shooters, car comes through here, shooters across from each other kill each other dead. Oh my? Where'd you learn that? Heh??
Spence: In a Regiment.
Sam: What Regiment was that?
Spence: The 22nd Special Air Service.
Sam: What's the color of the boathouse at Hereford? What's the color of the boathouse at Hereford?!
Spence: I don't like your attitude.
Sam: What's the color of the boathouse...
Spence: Oh FUCK OFF!
Sam: What's...You got the gun. I'm unarmed. Do something. Go ahead, do something. Do something!
[as he gets into Spence's face, he backs up towards the coffee table]
Sam: Do something!
[Spence spills the coffee and Sam grabs his throat leaning him backwards over a railing as he takes his gun.]
Sam: Oh, tell me about an ambush?? Tell me about an ambush?! I ambushed you with a fuckin coffee cup!!
posted by dhartung at 9:00 PM on January 9, 2007
22K, and currently #2 on the leader board, thanks to Christonabike's interest/interest/interest/fire strategy.
Lots of maxed out cannons pulled me through until I got the fire towers.
posted by SemiSophos at 9:42 PM on January 9, 2007
Lots of maxed out cannons pulled me through until I got the fire towers.
posted by SemiSophos at 9:42 PM on January 9, 2007
You can do the first 4 levels with a single cannon.
r1: place
r2: upgrade
r3: upgrade
r4 is a gimme.
r5 place another cannon, but this time in the upper left. upgrade to l3 and you'll be good for another long while.
posted by boo_radley at 11:04 PM on January 9, 2007
r1: place
r2: upgrade
r3: upgrade
r4 is a gimme.
r5 place another cannon, but this time in the upper left. upgrade to l3 and you'll be good for another long while.
posted by boo_radley at 11:04 PM on January 9, 2007
Oh yes, and you can overlap the towers if anyone hadn't noticed. I can fit three towers in the space that two should line up. This results in some impressive stacking!
posted by tomble at 11:07 PM on January 9, 2007
posted by tomble at 11:07 PM on January 9, 2007
Wow, playing this is like watching "Will it blend?"
posted by Eideteker at 12:12 AM on January 10, 2007
posted by Eideteker at 12:12 AM on January 10, 2007
410 CF12 6,983 +0 hours
My first time in the 3 digit rank. Woo.
/pathetic
Ok, work in five hours. Thanks a lot, srboisvert.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 12:15 AM on January 10, 2007
My first time in the 3 digit rank. Woo.
/pathetic
Ok, work in five hours. Thanks a lot, srboisvert.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 12:15 AM on January 10, 2007
187 BooRadley 9,983
posted by boo_radley at 12:29 AM on January 10, 2007
posted by boo_radley at 12:29 AM on January 10, 2007
I finally beat this damn thing. I wanted to see if fire/interest/interest/interest worked. It did, and it was rather brainless. Finish level 7 with cannons, then sell everything and put in a fire tower. Add one or two fire towers in the center every level thereafter; except, before fast levels, add three fire towers. After level 29 you'll need to add about ten fire towers.
At the end of bonus level 3, you'll have about $4K. Spend it all on fire towers. Overlap them for maximum density in the prime real estate. It looks something like this (spoiler alert.) Then: die, rebel scum!
However, you're swapping the magic of compound interest for a truly mindless victory. If you could use your brain to get through level 14, you could rack up a heck of a lot more dough.
Scored 8853, because a few of the beasties made it around once.
posted by ikkyu2 at 1:39 AM on January 10, 2007
At the end of bonus level 3, you'll have about $4K. Spend it all on fire towers. Overlap them for maximum density in the prime real estate. It looks something like this (spoiler alert.) Then: die, rebel scum!
However, you're swapping the magic of compound interest for a truly mindless victory. If you could use your brain to get through level 14, you could rack up a heck of a lot more dough.
Scored 8853, because a few of the beasties made it around once.
posted by ikkyu2 at 1:39 AM on January 10, 2007
btw, as near as I can tell, by upgrading fire towers, you shaft yourself, with the last upgrade being worse than the first 2 combined:
50g / 75 damage = 1.5 dpg
125g / 175 damage = 1.4 dpg
225 g / 300 damage = 1.33 dpg
375 g / 400 damage = 1.07 dpg
If the splash radius really increased significantly when you upgraded, it might make up for this, but in my testing that's clearly not the case unless you bunch the monsters with water turrets. And if you do this, you can't get the third interest upgrade, resulting in not enough money.
posted by ikkyu2 at 1:47 AM on January 10, 2007
50g / 75 damage = 1.5 dpg
125g / 175 damage = 1.4 dpg
225 g / 300 damage = 1.33 dpg
375 g / 400 damage = 1.07 dpg
If the splash radius really increased significantly when you upgraded, it might make up for this, but in my testing that's clearly not the case unless you bunch the monsters with water turrets. And if you do this, you can't get the third interest upgrade, resulting in not enough money.
posted by ikkyu2 at 1:47 AM on January 10, 2007
dhartung: that scene is a mistery to me. Why two snipers are supposed to shoot each other dead? When I play CounterStrike sniper generally don't owns each other, they own ME.
that movie is awesome, anyway
posted by darkripper at 2:05 AM on January 10, 2007
that movie is awesome, anyway
posted by darkripper at 2:05 AM on January 10, 2007
70 dreamsign 13,646
5 gold for those 30,000 hp beasties, I don't know. What are they, treasure type D?
(holy. NO treasure type charts anywhere on the internet? Now I feel old)
posted by dreamsign at 2:45 AM on January 10, 2007
5 gold for those 30,000 hp beasties, I don't know. What are they, treasure type D?
(holy. NO treasure type charts anywhere on the internet? Now I feel old)
posted by dreamsign at 2:45 AM on January 10, 2007
Beat it with 26485, and could have done better at the end. The advice above is right on. Get nothing but cannons early, pop in just enough air to beat the air levels, then sell the air off immediately.
Use your first three upgrades on interest. Then, get fire at level 28. Build overlapping fire towers in the center, upgraded only to level 2 (at levels higher than that, you get less bang for your buck).
Most importantly, build ONLY what you need. interest compounds quickly, so the more you save early, the better off you'll be.
Good luck!
posted by chrisamiller at 2:51 AM on January 10, 2007
Use your first three upgrades on interest. Then, get fire at level 28. Build overlapping fire towers in the center, upgraded only to level 2 (at levels higher than that, you get less bang for your buck).
Most importantly, build ONLY what you need. interest compounds quickly, so the more you save early, the better off you'll be.
Good luck!
posted by chrisamiller at 2:51 AM on January 10, 2007
Woohoo!
44 inigo2 15,286 +0 hours
(Thanks entirely to advice here...Boo_Radley's advice, then fire, then ikkyu2's advice to sell all cannons and just put up one fire in the middle and upgrade from there, and then interest-interest-interest.
Sweet!
posted by inigo2 at 7:19 AM on January 10, 2007
44 inigo2 15,286 +0 hours
(Thanks entirely to advice here...Boo_Radley's advice, then fire, then ikkyu2's advice to sell all cannons and just put up one fire in the middle and upgrade from there, and then interest-interest-interest.
Sweet!
posted by inigo2 at 7:19 AM on January 10, 2007
20 anotherpa 20,180 +0 hours
I didn't beat the last level, though. I had one life left, and one lousy creep just wouldn't die. My strategy: interest/fire/interest/interest. I lined every square inch of green with fire cannons... but it still wasn't enough.
posted by anotherpanacea at 8:39 AM on January 10, 2007
I didn't beat the last level, though. I had one life left, and one lousy creep just wouldn't die. My strategy: interest/fire/interest/interest. I lined every square inch of green with fire cannons... but it still wasn't enough.
posted by anotherpanacea at 8:39 AM on January 10, 2007
oh... i see the problem. didn't upgrade because i thought it was inefficient. *smack*
posted by anotherpanacea at 8:40 AM on January 10, 2007
posted by anotherpanacea at 8:40 AM on January 10, 2007
I stayed up till 2AM playing this. srboisvert, I hate you. srboisvert, I love you.
posted by boo_radley at 9:02 AM on January 10, 2007
posted by boo_radley at 9:02 AM on January 10, 2007
Oh, also, there's a better place for a single cannon, on the thin strip that attaches the center island to the left of the screen. My tactic is to use low #s of cannons on that strip, and it works really, really well.
Misc:
A fully upgraded arrow tower is more costly and does less damage overall than a cannon tower. I played int/int/fire/ice because the ice towers (clustered a bit before fire towers) slow down attackers, allowing the fire towers to really churn through the creeps.
posted by boo_radley at 9:09 AM on January 10, 2007
Misc:
A fully upgraded arrow tower is more costly and does less damage overall than a cannon tower. I played int/int/fire/ice because the ice towers (clustered a bit before fire towers) slow down attackers, allowing the fire towers to really churn through the creeps.
posted by boo_radley at 9:09 AM on January 10, 2007
40 The Caddy 15,454 +0 hours
(fire/int/int/int)
You don't need to use anything but cannons for the first seven levels, and it helps if you place them so that they get two completely independent attacks at the line of enemies. That way, it's like adding two cannons for the price of one.
You never need air towers; just use two fire turrets on the first air level and you'll be fine.
Upgrading is almost always better than a new tower, but the fourth upgrade to the fire tower isn't worth it--150g for 100hp more damage, whereas 125g will get you a level 2 fire tower that does 175hp damage.
posted by thecaddy at 10:41 AM on January 10, 2007
(fire/int/int/int)
You don't need to use anything but cannons for the first seven levels, and it helps if you place them so that they get two completely independent attacks at the line of enemies. That way, it's like adding two cannons for the price of one.
You never need air towers; just use two fire turrets on the first air level and you'll be fine.
Upgrading is almost always better than a new tower, but the fourth upgrade to the fire tower isn't worth it--150g for 100hp more damage, whereas 125g will get you a level 2 fire tower that does 175hp damage.
posted by thecaddy at 10:41 AM on January 10, 2007
ikkyu2: I'm not very good with math, so I'll take your word for it. But by that logic, would it be better for you in the long run to just buy new firetowers and perhaps just overlap them, instead of upgrading the ones you already have?
I think the rate of fire should also be taken into account, as well as splash damage.
If we can work out a simple formula, it'd be a lot easier to crack this game.
Which I'm still playing.
Ugh.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 10:53 AM on January 10, 2007
I think the rate of fire should also be taken into account, as well as splash damage.
If we can work out a simple formula, it'd be a lot easier to crack this game.
Which I'm still playing.
Ugh.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 10:53 AM on January 10, 2007
This is such an optimizer nerd's game. I can pass level 11 with only two (fully upgraded by level 10) cannons on the board, and 435 gold in the bank.
Building on the sweet spots that boo_radley has pointed out is the key - they have to be spaced so as to have two clean strafes at the line of targets, which is what makes the "fast" levels so tough.
posted by anthill at 10:57 AM on January 10, 2007
Building on the sweet spots that boo_radley has pointed out is the key - they have to be spaced so as to have two clean strafes at the line of targets, which is what makes the "fast" levels so tough.
posted by anthill at 10:57 AM on January 10, 2007
2 Anthill 33,328 +0 hours
interest/interest/fire/interest. OK, now back to the lab. For spoilers, copy and paste my nerd notes:
Level 1..4 as per Boo. Level 5 101hp - C++, C perfect. | 6 F87hp - C++, C+ perfect | 7 136hp - C++, C+ perfect | 8 A158hp - A+, A, a perfect - 225g | 9 189hp - C++, C+ perfect | 10 212hp - 2x C++, perfect | 11 246hp - 2x C++, perfect - 430g | 12 F212hp - 3x C++, perfect | 13 331hp - 3x C++, perfect | 14 384hp - 3x C++, perfect | fire or interest?... interest. | 15 445hp - 3x C++, C+, perfect | 16 580hp - 3x A++, perfect (fucked sale) | 17 695hp - 5x C++, perfect | 18 F599hp - 8x C++, too much? | 19 806hp - 8x C++, too much | 20 925hp - 8x C++, too much | 21 1075hp - 8x C++, too much | fire, this time | 22 1265hp - 2x F+, 2x C++, too few -1 | 23 1468hp - 3x F+, F, 2x C++, too much | 24 F1265hp - 6x F+, perfect | 25 A1615hp - 6x F+, too much | 26 1935hp - 6x F+, too much | 27 2165hp - 6x F+, too much | 28 2405hp - 6x F+, too few -1 | 29 2655hp - 8x F+, too much | 30 F2500hp - 12x F+, too much
31 5000hp - 15x F+, too much | 32 7000hp - 26x F+, too much | 33 10000hp - 29F+, too few -2 | 34 20000hp - 35F++, perfect 25420 gold | 35 30000hp - 52F++, perfect, 16 lives left.
posted by anthill at 11:41 AM on January 10, 2007
interest/interest/fire/interest. OK, now back to the lab. For spoilers, copy and paste my nerd notes:
Level 1..4 as per Boo. Level 5 101hp - C++, C perfect. | 6 F87hp - C++, C+ perfect | 7 136hp - C++, C+ perfect | 8 A158hp - A+, A, a perfect - 225g | 9 189hp - C++, C+ perfect | 10 212hp - 2x C++, perfect | 11 246hp - 2x C++, perfect - 430g | 12 F212hp - 3x C++, perfect | 13 331hp - 3x C++, perfect | 14 384hp - 3x C++, perfect | fire or interest?... interest. | 15 445hp - 3x C++, C+, perfect | 16 580hp - 3x A++, perfect (fucked sale) | 17 695hp - 5x C++, perfect | 18 F599hp - 8x C++, too much? | 19 806hp - 8x C++, too much | 20 925hp - 8x C++, too much | 21 1075hp - 8x C++, too much | fire, this time | 22 1265hp - 2x F+, 2x C++, too few -1 | 23 1468hp - 3x F+, F, 2x C++, too much | 24 F1265hp - 6x F+, perfect | 25 A1615hp - 6x F+, too much | 26 1935hp - 6x F+, too much | 27 2165hp - 6x F+, too much | 28 2405hp - 6x F+, too few -1 | 29 2655hp - 8x F+, too much | 30 F2500hp - 12x F+, too much
31 5000hp - 15x F+, too much | 32 7000hp - 26x F+, too much | 33 10000hp - 29F+, too few -2 | 34 20000hp - 35F++, perfect 25420 gold | 35 30000hp - 52F++, perfect, 16 lives left.
posted by anthill at 11:41 AM on January 10, 2007
181 NDcent 10,881 +0 hours
I did interest/interest/fire/water. A couple of maxed out cannons and an arrow tower will take you to level 21 as long as you buy and sell air towers with the right timing. Then you can get by with very few fire towers as long as you upgrade them (I think the splash and rate of fire make the upgrades worthwhile except the last one). By the time the bonuses came up I had over 5,000 gold and spent it on two groups of water cannons at the entrance to slow them down and put them in groups and an assload of upgraded fire towers in the center. The last board wasn't even close. The key to this game is to save money and collect interest.
Oh and don't let the +0 hours fool you, I have been playing this game pretty much straight sense it was posted. The towers were always my favorite part of Warcraft III, so this game was made for me.
posted by ND¢ at 12:02 PM on January 10, 2007
I did interest/interest/fire/water. A couple of maxed out cannons and an arrow tower will take you to level 21 as long as you buy and sell air towers with the right timing. Then you can get by with very few fire towers as long as you upgrade them (I think the splash and rate of fire make the upgrades worthwhile except the last one). By the time the bonuses came up I had over 5,000 gold and spent it on two groups of water cannons at the entrance to slow them down and put them in groups and an assload of upgraded fire towers in the center. The last board wasn't even close. The key to this game is to save money and collect interest.
Oh and don't let the +0 hours fool you, I have been playing this game pretty much straight sense it was posted. The towers were always my favorite part of Warcraft III, so this game was made for me.
posted by ND¢ at 12:02 PM on January 10, 2007
Anthill. I haven't the faintest notion of what your "nerd notes" mean.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 1:09 PM on January 10, 2007
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 1:09 PM on January 10, 2007
C refers to cannon, F to fire, a plus sign to an upgrade, and perfect to the wholesale slaughter of every last enemy that poked it's rotting head (I'm talking to you "little boys") onto the field of battle.
posted by OmieWise at 1:16 PM on January 10, 2007
posted by OmieWise at 1:16 PM on January 10, 2007
Yeah, the +0 hours is how long that score's been on the board. It'll always be +0 for a game just completed.
posted by boo_radley at 1:29 PM on January 10, 2007
posted by boo_radley at 1:29 PM on January 10, 2007
Oh I thought it was how many hours you had played the game that round. I guess that explains the +11's that I saw.
posted by ND¢ at 1:38 PM on January 10, 2007
posted by ND¢ at 1:38 PM on January 10, 2007
59 David T 15,560
I followed Anthill's advice, re: int/int/fire/int, but couldn't quite make it through all the bonus rounds.
posted by MythMaker at 1:39 PM on January 10, 2007
I followed Anthill's advice, re: int/int/fire/int, but couldn't quite make it through all the bonus rounds.
posted by MythMaker at 1:39 PM on January 10, 2007
But by that logic, would it be better for you in the long run to just buy new firetowers and perhaps just overlap them, instead of upgrading the ones you already have?
Citrusfreak: Yeah, that's what I did. Picture here. That setup took down all but 3 of the 30,000 hp guys. I overbuilt before bonus level 3, though, and that cost me a lot of interest.
Fire towers don't get faster when you upgrade them, as far as I can tell.
posted by ikkyu2 at 2:11 PM on January 10, 2007
Citrusfreak: Yeah, that's what I did. Picture here. That setup took down all but 3 of the 30,000 hp guys. I overbuilt before bonus level 3, though, and that cost me a lot of interest.
Fire towers don't get faster when you upgrade them, as far as I can tell.
posted by ikkyu2 at 2:11 PM on January 10, 2007
20 mbd1mbd1 22,511 +0 hours
On an interest/interest/interest/interest strategy with only cannons (and air for the air levels of course). For the bonus levels I filled every available area with lvl3 cannons. I didn't pack as tightly as possible, though - and could not beat the 4th bonus level. I think you might be able to do it with VERY tight packing.
posted by mbd1mbd1 at 2:46 PM on January 10, 2007
On an interest/interest/interest/interest strategy with only cannons (and air for the air levels of course). For the bonus levels I filled every available area with lvl3 cannons. I didn't pack as tightly as possible, though - and could not beat the 4th bonus level. I think you might be able to do it with VERY tight packing.
posted by mbd1mbd1 at 2:46 PM on January 10, 2007
mbd1mbd1, I tried your strategy, but like many other "no fire tower" strategies I tried, no matter how many anti-air towers I put, I lost way too many points on level 16.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 3:09 PM on January 10, 2007
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 3:09 PM on January 10, 2007
dang.us doesn't work on the wii.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:16 PM on January 10, 2007
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:16 PM on January 10, 2007
I don't agree with the "cheap is best" school.
following the no-upgrade fire tower plan, I scored 10+K and had over fifteen creeps exit the board between the last two stages.
following the two-upgrade fire tower plan, I scored 13+K and had zero creeps exit the board.
both approaches used fire/interest/interest/interest.
and it's a pain in the ass to squinch hundreds of no-upgrade towers or cannon onto the map. I mean, fun is fun but that ain't.
posted by the sobsister at 4:25 PM on January 10, 2007
following the no-upgrade fire tower plan, I scored 10+K and had over fifteen creeps exit the board between the last two stages.
following the two-upgrade fire tower plan, I scored 13+K and had zero creeps exit the board.
both approaches used fire/interest/interest/interest.
and it's a pain in the ass to squinch hundreds of no-upgrade towers or cannon onto the map. I mean, fun is fun but that ain't.
posted by the sobsister at 4:25 PM on January 10, 2007
7112, beat the game, thanks to... MetaFilter!
Fire towers and water towers all the way, I went Fire/Interest/Water/Interest. I was a total skin flint, started maxing out the upgrades at level 25, at the last level I sold the towers that were out of range and rebuild them at the exit.
posted by Scoo at 6:10 PM on January 10, 2007
Fire towers and water towers all the way, I went Fire/Interest/Water/Interest. I was a total skin flint, started maxing out the upgrades at level 25, at the last level I sold the towers that were out of range and rebuild them at the exit.
posted by Scoo at 6:10 PM on January 10, 2007
Has anyone actually done the math to figure out if you're really making a profit by not buying the fire towers at some point? In my 33,000 point run I used double-upgrade fire towers as ikkuyu2 pointed out - ok value for money.
posted by anthill at 6:21 PM on January 10, 2007
posted by anthill at 6:21 PM on January 10, 2007
I suck at this. I made it to the 7500 hp guys the first time and the second time I tried a different strategy and didn't make it that far.
So in order to maintain my game-players pride (that sounds wrong somehow) I feel that I must remind everybody that I conquered Ninja Gaiden Black on the hardest difficulty. So at least I could do that. A year ago. Maybe I would suck at it now too. BUT I TOTALLY TORE THAT MOTHERFUCKER APART! Or beat it, won it, something along those lines. I am king. Of my pants.
Also I have Warcraft III and didn't know anything about the minigame this is supposedly based on. Huh.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 9:50 PM on January 10, 2007
So in order to maintain my game-players pride (that sounds wrong somehow) I feel that I must remind everybody that I conquered Ninja Gaiden Black on the hardest difficulty. So at least I could do that. A year ago. Maybe I would suck at it now too. BUT I TOTALLY TORE THAT MOTHERFUCKER APART! Or beat it, won it, something along those lines. I am king. Of my pants.
Also I have Warcraft III and didn't know anything about the minigame this is supposedly based on. Huh.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 9:50 PM on January 10, 2007
Well I made it to the last level and died with one left. Now I sleep.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 10:43 PM on January 10, 2007
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 10:43 PM on January 10, 2007
Okay, finally beat the game. Interest, Interest, Interest, Fire. Never got water. Used this method for the first 7 levels, then added *and immediately removed* air for the Air levels. Lost only 2 men; when I got to the fire level (29), immediately removed all the cannons I'd added & then put in fire only. Made sure I had *JUST* enough firepower each time, with a couple unupgraded fire towers on the final row - as soon as I had to use them, I added more to the earlier route. Never upgraded the fire towers beyond the 100 Gold level.
posted by jonson at 11:41 PM on January 10, 2007
posted by jonson at 11:41 PM on January 10, 2007
If you're not concerned with the final score, then finishing the game is a breeze (with all fire and a few water towers). Likewise, Fire Interest Interest Interest is really easy, but I wonder how badly you're hurt by that missed early interest -- how high a score has anyone won using FIII?
IIFI still works best for me, though IIIF is a fine option, too.
Had to muck around with lower-point strategies just for the fun of it. I'm glad that an all-cannon formula does not yield the best results. I'm already sad that four (possibly five) of seven weapon types have no place in the best possible approach.
posted by dreamsign at 1:45 AM on January 11, 2007
IIFI still works best for me, though IIIF is a fine option, too.
Had to muck around with lower-point strategies just for the fun of it. I'm glad that an all-cannon formula does not yield the best results. I'm already sad that four (possibly five) of seven weapon types have no place in the best possible approach.
posted by dreamsign at 1:45 AM on January 11, 2007
Oh, and as of tonight, it's been updated. A banner now appears to warn you when a special level is next (and what it is).
posted by dreamsign at 7:16 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by dreamsign at 7:16 AM on January 11, 2007
Thank god. I always got pounded on the air levels because I forgot about them.
posted by boo_radley at 9:34 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by boo_radley at 9:34 AM on January 11, 2007
11 mbd1mbd1 27,514 +0 hours
I/I/I/I and closely packed cannons got me most of the way through the 5th bonus level. I'm convinced it can be done, provided you have enough time and mouse finger endurance.
posted by mbd1mbd1 at 10:01 AM on January 11, 2007
I/I/I/I and closely packed cannons got me most of the way through the 5th bonus level. I'm convinced it can be done, provided you have enough time and mouse finger endurance.
posted by mbd1mbd1 at 10:01 AM on January 11, 2007
10 Typo 30,747 +0 hours
I really, really messed up level 25, and I overbuilt 29 (I was all ready for the fast guys =/) and Bonus 5.
Now to play another round.
posted by TypographicalError at 10:11 AM on January 11, 2007
I really, really messed up level 25, and I overbuilt 29 (I was all ready for the fast guys =/) and Bonus 5.
Now to play another round.
posted by TypographicalError at 10:11 AM on January 11, 2007
All I have to say is, whatever crackpot designed those Earth Tower should be shot. I feel a little bad for him, actually... hanging out with the wizards responsible for those other towers. The Rocket Tower guy is maybe a little embarrassed to be seen with him, even. Must be tough.
posted by Squid Voltaire at 10:29 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by Squid Voltaire at 10:29 AM on January 11, 2007
I agree about the Earth tower, but I have to defend the Rocket Tower, which, while not the optimal configuration for winning with the most money, has a certain graceful power that shouldn't be overlooked.
posted by OmieWise at 10:52 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by OmieWise at 10:52 AM on January 11, 2007
I can't believe there is a guy with 46k points. That feels to me like pure optimal play. I wonder if he sat down to calculate exactly what must be done at each stage...
posted by TypographicalError at 11:15 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by TypographicalError at 11:15 AM on January 11, 2007
Oh, by the way, I noticed (if no one else has mentioned it) that the last level doesn't actually give you interest. So after bonus 4, you may as well spent all your money on towers.
posted by TypographicalError at 11:19 AM on January 11, 2007
posted by TypographicalError at 11:19 AM on January 11, 2007
15,235. That's it, I'm never playing this game again. Hopefully.
posted by adrianhon at 2:06 PM on January 11, 2007
posted by adrianhon at 2:06 PM on January 11, 2007
You'll be back!
posted by boo_radley at 2:23 PM on January 11, 2007
posted by boo_radley at 2:23 PM on January 11, 2007
This is quite brilliant. Thanks for the post (/definitely a cannon all the way man)
posted by patricio at 5:23 PM on January 11, 2007
posted by patricio at 5:23 PM on January 11, 2007
Has anyone here played Master of Defense? Looks similar, but I can't download it right now.
posted by anotherpanacea at 7:04 PM on January 11, 2007
posted by anotherpanacea at 7:04 PM on January 11, 2007
I finally beat that last level with a "stack fire cannons every-frigging-where" strategy. Holy hell, that's addictive.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 6:22 PM on January 13, 2007
posted by flibbertigibbet at 6:22 PM on January 13, 2007
43,240 with I, I, I, F
Used canons all the way to 28, then started building fire canons. For the air levels, built just enough to get and sold the towers before the end of the level to get more from interest. The best spot to build is far upper right (maximizes time spent firing during the fast levels).
posted by idaniboy at 8:36 PM on January 13, 2007
Used canons all the way to 28, then started building fire canons. For the air levels, built just enough to get and sold the towers before the end of the level to get more from interest. The best spot to build is far upper right (maximizes time spent firing during the fast levels).
posted by idaniboy at 8:36 PM on January 13, 2007
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posted by tehloki at 5:15 AM on January 9, 2007