Strategies on beginning a level

[Brinx]

Okay, maybe it's a weird question: do any of you use specific tactics for beginning a (large) level? For instance, suppose there is one anchor point on the river bed and two more on the "beginning" and "end" of the ravine. Typical strategies would be: build a supporting truss structure from the bottom up that supports the entire bridge, or build one large tower with cables hanging from it, or whatever? As editing a large bridge can take some time, it's often very handy if you lay out a bridge concept first, and work from there in refining it. Oh well, this is probably all pretty obvious

[JohnK]

Speaking of rediculously low bridge costs, Falkon2, How in the world were you able to get that low score for the first complex level? I've been playing around with it and can't see how you could have done it on hard. Any hints?

[Volmarias]

To be totally honest, after I lay the deck for the bridge (then test it, for good measure and to watch the train go kersplash ) I just think about how I think it ought to be solved, and go about it from there. This explains why when I can't get a bridge to work, I have trouble thinking of radical new ideas of how to make it work. Speaking of which, anyone want to post a pic of how they solved map pack level 3?

[falkon2]

LOL I'll give you a clue... There are two deck members... They are worth 3200 and 3576 respectively... You should be able to figure out what else exactly I built by finding the remaining budget =)

btw Gray *THOUGHT* he could get it down to 7776, but I'd already thought of that idea beforehand, and it always broke when you started the train at a certain time. However, if CL uses the same rules for the records as the contest, 7776 will be legal, though I'll still hold the title. Muahaha Gray =P

[Sarterixa]

AHHHH... I'm stuck on the same level, heh.

I tend to lay the floor first thing, test it for kicks, then I slowly add supports and see what snaps first.

[JohnK]

I made the deck curve up two boxes over two spans, even out, and then go back down, above that i have a heavy steel arch that follows the same pattern with large triangles between.
                 .     .
        .                        .  
  .            . __.__ .             .      
       .                           .
.                                             .
Connect the dots!

Give me an e- mail at johnkvinge@hotmail.com if you want me to mail it to you.

[pasqualz]

I always approach the beginnings of making a bridge by studying the empty landscape for 3 hours from varying positions. Then I drink a double half-caff latte and meditate on several Buddhist mantras for a while. Then I refrain from sex and fast for 24 hours. Finally, I basically do the same thing that y'all have mentioned already. :-)

[baggio]

Quote: from pasqualz on 4:55 pm on Oct. 18, 2001
I always approach the beginnings of making a bridge by studying the empty landscape for 3 hours from varying positions. ... Then I refrain from sex and fast for 24 hours.

[falkon2]

Spam the area with light steel triangles then slowly take away/arch areas which need more/less support. Finally, add cables

[VRBones]

I usually look at the anchor points and try to 'visualize' the different types of bridges in place, then go for the one the seemed the most structurally sound. Typically this would be suspension if it has an anchor point outside of the bridge area, supported arch if there is anchors inside the bridge area. Once you get into the complex ones though the standard bridge types don't apply, but you can usually still 'visualize' the end product.  

Then again, Falkon2's bridges end up a lot cheaper than mine, so mebbe I'll stop thinking and start spamming

[falkon2]

I'm going to post up a long document on what I'm talking about by spamming then refining... but the level I want to use as my example is the contest level, so it'll be after the 28th