LemFan's various packs

[Guigui]

Yeah, for sure, I've enjoyed them for the most part. I guess you have played those two specific levels I mentioned then? Any hints, or do you still have your replays saved maybe? They're the only two levels that have completely stumped me so far! Just can't see how they're possible.

I launched those 2 levels Brutal 18 and Chaos 3. Please note that I am not the best solver out there but I can not see a solution either, at all.
In both of them the lack of building skills combined to the fact that you have to climb blocks me.

EDIT : as you said I can clear A Higher Platform with an extra bomber. So I'm wondering : could it be a case of "I set the skillset wrong when creating the level too quickly, and did not take time to playtest it afterwards" ? Considering the history of this topic, this could be possible.
So new game for LemFan's fans : try to find solutions with the least possible joker skills in Brutal 18 and Chaos 3 !

[JawaJuice]

Yeah, for sure, I've enjoyed them for the most part. I guess you have played those two specific levels I mentioned then? Any hints, or do you still have your replays saved maybe? They're the only two levels that have completely stumped me so far! Just can't see how they're possible.

I launched those 2 levels Brutal 18 and Chaos 3. Please note that I am not the best solver out there but I can not see a solution either, at all.
In both of them the lack of building skills combined to the fact that you have to climb blocks me.

EDIT : as you said I can clear A Higher Platform with an extra bomber. So I'm wondering : could it be a case of "I set the skillset wrong when creating the level too quickly, and did not take time to playtest it afterwards" ? Considering the history of this topic, this could be possible.
So new game for LemFan's fans : try to find solutions with the least possible joker skills in Brutal 18 and Chaos 3 !

Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this, Guigui! My impression from your other forum posts is that you're a very competent solver, so that gives me some hope that it's not just me missing something! I had the same thought re: potential lack of playtesting. As we've said, I think you only need one 'joker' skill (the bomber) to complete Brtual 18; I'll see what I can do with Chaos 3.

Gonna attach my replays for the rest of the pack, just in case anyone's interested

[JawaJuice]

OK, as I suspected, Chaos 3 (Statue of OilDrums) can be completed if you substitute the 2 platformers for 2 builders - replay attached. Makes me wonder if the level simply included platformers rather than builders by mistake. Also attached is the solution for Brutal 18 (A Higher Platform) with additional bomber - I'm sure it's the same as yours, @Guigui.

[Guigui]

Good job ! A Higher Platform is quite accessible with additionnal bomber for sure.

But Statue of Oildrum, even with 2 builders, uses a lot of tricks ! Mine a bridge, get out a basher tunnel with bombing a blocker.
Those stuffs you learn in advanced techniques from IchoTolot Redux pack. I have not cleared other levels from LemFan, but do they use those same kind of techniques ?

[JawaJuice]

Ha, yes, I spose I take some of these tricks for granted now, like extending a miner tunnel via a builder, or stopping a basher with a blocker then freeing him with a bomber. You're right, I did learn a lot of tricks for the first time from IchoTolot's Introduction Pack, and also Strato Incendus's World Tour Pack.

Yes, a lot of LemFan's packs make use of tricks like this. Some of them can be obscure and less well-known though, like using a blocker at just the right time to turn a basher around but also free the blocker. Another trick of his I haven't seen used too much is turning a blocker into a stoner so that you can bash through it to finish the level. Not sure how common knowledge it is that you can assign a stoner to a blocker; certainly the first time I'd come across it. I don't feel there's an over-reliance on tricks though, my main criticism of his packs is inconsistent difficulty curve and the occasional ridiculously fiddly level. One that springs to mind is where you have a 99 release rate and have to use 4 diggers in quick succession followed by a fencer while another lemming goes ahead to make a platform, all within about a 40 second time frame. The solution is rather obvious but executing it is a real pita! As I said to kaywhyn, those are my least favourite type of challenge; more frustrating than fun.

That said, I would recommend LemFan's packs, and they do improve as they go on. BadLems is probably too easy for most people here and you were often left with a ton of unused skills whereas LemFanLems I, there aren't many leftover skills at all, implying there's really only one solution in each case. Let me know if you give Lemmings Obliterated a go - as far as I know, no-one else has played through that one yet. There're only 3 ranks that were ever finished, but things get really tricky in some of the third rank levels; I still haven't solved them all yet.