[NeoLemmix] Lemmings United [Difficulty: Hard-Extreme]

[kaywhyn]

From the complexity side it isn't a backroute - complexity isn't the sole criterium though - it still avoids central tricks and I don't want people to get sucked into this extreme timing idea. That's the main intention of the fix.

Anyway, I think the solution is a tiny bit clearer now.

Yes, I was just thinking about how it misses the central tricks that you wanted to enforce that resulted in you changing the level. At the same time, the execution madness in my replay could also be said to be completely unintentional. Now that there's way less options available at each stage, it does seem a bit clearer on what needs to go where. We shall see when I actually try it and I report back with more replays.

A backroute is a solution that's more like bypassing the puzzle than engaging with it (which is of course subjective).

There can be unintended solutions that are desirable to fix for other reasons than being backroutes.

I think regardless of what was intended I think it also depends on the person. If I had made the level instead, I personally would had left the level alone if someone ever sent a replay like mine just because it's so very difficult, regardless of whether the central tricks were missed or not. Nevertheless, it goes without saying that I still have a lot to learn from a level designing/fixing levels to block off certain solutions perspective. I most likely won't ever get into level designing myself, but I may still occasionally give it a go just to see what I can or can't do. I have stated that I'm not so good at creating puzzles, but the thing is I won't know if I truly am not so good at it unless I try myself, right? Good thing for the available tutorials to help in getting started with this.

[kaywhyn]

Back with a bunch of replays this time. Here are my replay solutions for Genocide 23 through 31. I haven't taken a look at Genocide 21 and resolved it yet, so I'll probably send that one with my next batch of replays. In this batch, I didn't think any of these were very difficult, as I was able to conjure up the solutions somewhat quickly, but as usual the common problem I ran into while solving most of these levels was that I kept thinking I was a skill short and hence some of them took me a bit longer than it needed to.

Spoiler

Genocide 23 - IRON JUGGERNAUT I thought this one would be another really difficult level for me since it does require stackers to get up most of the level and I mentioned these are the styles of levels that are difficult for me. However, it turned out to not be so hard, and it's certainly much easier than Genocide 21. Interesting level where the entire level is steel and therefore the only destructible terrain is from the platformer, builder, and stacker. I managed to save 1 extra and have a platformer and 3 diggers leftover. Please tell me this is acceptable.

Genocide 24 - Delight and Angers Nice level! For a while, I kept thinking the solution needed a really long miner through builder from the platform near the exit to where the stoner builder trick is. Turns out that there isn't enough builders for that. Otherwise, I managed to piece together the solution somewhat quickly. Second level in the row where I have some skills leftover: a walker, glider, and 2 bashers. Please tell me this is acceptable too.

Genocide 25 - Scorcher VI: Global Meltdown Another great level! I was stuck on this level for almost 2 days, but this is yet another dumb dumb for me, as the part that had me stuck the longest was the very end, as I kept thinking I was a constructive skill short. Turns out I used the third blocker incorrectly, where I kept using it inside the fencer tunnel. After a while, I then remember lemmings still being able to go through a blocker from one side but not through the other side on a steep enough slope. Neolemmix Tutorial Pack to the rescue again. The only tricky thing is making sure no lemmings were near the swimmer, which the fencer needs to be assigned to. Not sure if the RR adjustment at the beginning was necessary.

Genocide 26 - Laughs of Insanity I didn't think this level was hard. Solving time was about 30 minutes. I probably self-inflicted unnecessary pixel precision on my part with the splatform for the entrance trapped by the OWW, as well as the second basher at the bottom. The releasing a blocker on a builder staircase with a fencer trick returns after being absent for a really long time (last time was at the very end of Neutrality, I believe). I didn't use the bottom right of the level, but I'm hoping this is ok?

Genocide 27 - Planter's Punch This one wasn't too hard either. I say the part that took me the longest to figure out was the beginning of building up to where the frog trap was. Also just making sure that I wasn't running short on constructive skills. Solving time was probably 45 minutes to an hour.

Genocide 28 - It's All About the Pentiums Armani said this level was hard, but surprisingly this level wasn't too hard for me. I do have a builder leftover, though, so backroute?

Genocide 29 - The Next Evolution of Lem Nice and somewhat easy level! I kept running into some skill shortages near the end a lot, but that's because I kept placing one of the platformers wrong. This solution nearly fails with making a second hole in the wall with a digger and platforming and digging to cut it short, so once again I appeared to have made it more difficult for myself than was necessary.

Genocide 30 - Trump This Tower Looks pretty daunting, but it wasn't too bad. I most likely made the solution way too hard on myself, as this is a timing challenge solution and it could had easily failed had the timing for the second blocker not worked out and I had to waste more walkers. Not to mention the miner, first blocker, second blocker, and first digger all had to be placed precisely. This is probably the most extreme precision solution, as the miner had to be placed very precisely and still be able to be stopped by the steel after mining through the builder staircase. Ugh, me and my self-inflicted precision. I have a platformer leftover, but I'm guessing this is fine?

Genocide 31 - Sanctuary in Dying Light Armani also said this level was hard for him, but I didn't think it was. I'm not sure if this is intended, but the most frustrating part for me was making that splatform for the crowd at the bottom of the level. Several times, the fall was deadly by one pixel. So, it looks like the two bombers have to be placed very precisely, as well as the builder at the bottom. I think one of the bombers for a glider to build and that builder in the bomber hole were also very precise. Heck, I did almost the entire level with super pixel precision.

Save for Genocide 21 which I still need to resolve, finally in the home stretch. 10 main levels left in the pack! Also, besides the aforementioned level, the levels in the 20s weren't too difficult. Most likely this will change with the levels in the 30s, as I know there's still some really difficult ones ahead. Nevertheless, I'm super stoked that I'm near the very end of the main pack. I must say, the fact that I've been on a roll in solving several levels the last few days kind of brought back and boosted my confidence in getting through the rest of the pack, despite the constant fears I previously kept having about the Genocide rank being too hard for me to handle.

[IchoTolot]

V 11.7 is out!

Fixed backroutes thanks to kaywhyn's replays:

- 5 24 (added a trap)
- 5 26 (6 builders are now a pick-up skill)
- 5 28 (added some steel)
- 5 30 (added 2 OWWs)
- 5 31 (added some terrain)

New levels:

- 6 15
- 6 18
- 6 22

Comments:

A lot of backroutes this time and the most glaring one is 5 28 by far. I think that's the main reason you passed some major roadblock levels quite easily.

- 5 23 is a totally acceptable solution.
- 5 24 is not a total backroute but it's off far enough that a fix is needed.
- 5 25 is intended.
- 5 26 is very far off and does not even use all areas of the level.
- 5 27 is an acceptable alternative.
- 5 28 I would even consider one of the biggest backroutes yet. It totally missed all intended tricks.
- 5 29 is again an acceptable one.
- 5 30 is too far off the intended route so a fix is needed.
- 5 31 totally bypasses central tricks again.

Also, besides the aforementioned level, the levels in the 20s weren't too difficult.

Yeah, I have a feeling this statement will not stand after all the fixes are working. Especially for 5 28 and maybe 5 31.

[ericderkovits]

Hi Icho, I redownloaded your link on page one that says 11.7. but those levels listed that you changed for Kaywhyn's replays still doesn't show changes in the levels and Kaywhyn's replays still work. Are you sure you put the new version in the link?

I always like to have the newest version as I want to have any backroutes that you fixed

[kaywhyn]

Confirmed. Nothing has changed (no orange checkmarks next to the levels that you said have changed), yet the OP says that it was last modified today at 3:49AM (my time zone). Looks to be that you didn't upload the right version.

V 11.7 is out!

Fixed backroutes thanks to kaywhyn's replays:

- 5 24 (added a trap)
- 5 26 (6 builders are now a pick-up skill)
- 5 28 (added some steel)
- 5 30 (added 2 OWWs)
- 5 31 (added some terrain)

Interesting. All the even-numbered levels, plus 5 31, in this batch were backroutes.

[IchoTolot]

I am a bidg dummy----I've packed the new zip file, but I think actually uploading it to my dropbox would be advantageous!

It should be fixed now!

[kaywhyn]

Yes, got the changes to the affected levels now. Thanks for being prompt with it. Back to resolving levels and solving the rest of the pack I go.

[ericderkovits]

hi Icho, oh and you changed bonus level 15,18,22. So now i'm missing those replays. If you want can p.m those 3 levels so I have your update bonus levels replays.
 

Yes and your 11.7 is now there, und Vielen Dank

[kaywhyn]

I have officially completed 200/205 United levels! Thus, I'm in the home stretch and down to the final 5 levels of Genocide. With some logic, you can deduce that I'm currently on Genocide 37 Gate to the Inner Sanctum, supposedly the hardest level in the entire pack. I haven't attempted it enough for the level to really make me sweat yet, but with the few attempts I have had at it, I know that the biggest problem is conserving builders as much as possible.

To celebrate this achievement, bunch of replays incoming for your viewing pleasure and to see if the solutions are intended or not. Here are Genocide 32 through 36, as well as Genocide 24, 26, 28, 30, and 31 resolved, and my very best attempt at the new version of Genocide 21, so I haven't been able to resolve it yet after spending a few hours with it tonight.

Regarding resolved levels, as well as an explanation for Genocide 21, these all seem intended now or at least acceptable except for Genocide 28 and 31.

Spoiler

Genocide 21 - I am the End of Fortune! Unless you're supposed to use a stacker for the very end to reach the exit, I haven't been able to work that part out yet. Now, I have thought about conserving a digger for the part after using my builders, but the problem I would run into is that the crowd would come way too soon while the long basher tunnel is in progress. Thus, I would be forced to use another basher and then I have no way to stop a digger after he bashes part of the final stack away. My previous solution in the previous version of the level uses a builder for the very end instead, but in this new version it seems that it's not possible to conserve the builder used at the very beginning. In any case, I have kept on checking to see if I could save any skills anywhere else in the level, and I think I've come to the conclusion that I cannot. Still, I wonder if I'm really close. I was dreading having to play the level again anyway after the previous version managed to give me a lot of problems.

Genocide 24 - Delight and Angers The only part I don't think was intended was bashing into steel to turn around. Otherwise, this seems either intended or at least acceptable now.

Genocide 26 - Laughs of Insanity This was a very quick resolve. I do have a builder leftover, which I'm guessing is to make releasing the blocker with a fencer much easier, but in any case it at least doesn't break the level in any way.

Genocide 28 - It's All About Pentiums! I have a feeling this isn't intended despite the fact that I use all skills this time instead of having a builder leftover like last time.

Genocide 30 - Trump This Tower! I think I might had made some parts more difficult than was necessary, but this seems intended or at least acceptable now. I have a blocker leftover.

Genocide 31 - Sanctuary in Dying Light Same as Genocide 28. It's practically the same solution as last time, except I only used 1 basher for the very start and hence I have a basher leftover.

Now the new replays, Genocide 32 through 36.

Spoiler

Genocide 32 - To New Shores of Sadness I thought this one was easy. The solution came to me in about half an hour. I must say, I absolutely love the solution! The only tricky part is timing releasing the blocker with a walker so that the second miner meets the builder at just the right time.

Genocide 33 - Architect of Your Despair Just like the previous level, only the solution came to me much faster. Solving time was about 10 minutes. Nice level here as well, with the main challenge figuring out what the RR needs to be in order to minimize losses to the traps.

Genocide 34 - Salvation Code Very easy level. The trick of interrupting a builder with a basher so that he can bridge the gap without turning around returns. The basher assignment at the top so that the glider makes it across is very precise, as there's only one position that works, and that is the lemming needs to bash when he is directly up against and touching the wall.

Genocide 35 - Kiwi Knight's Keep Ok, I was a complete dumb dumb on this level, as this level managed to stump me for a day. That's because, for a long time, I couldn't figure out where the last platformer skill needed to go. I was able to place all the other skills very easily. Also, I thought I needed to avoid the glider from turning around after platforming across the spikes because then he would die in the spikes far below and there was no rescuing him if it happened. Hence, I kept thinking I had to waste a walker to prevent that. However, once I figured out that it needed to go just below the platform that needs to be mined, then it was easy from there. Despite stumping me for a day, nice level.

Genocide 36 - Earth Below Us,... Drifting Away Level looks daunting, but it's not a really hard level. The most difficult part is just knowing how to get up the level since only platformers are provided, which don't add height. The additional challenge is not wasting any of your skills. At one point or another, I kept running into platformer, miner, and bomber shortages. Hence, after a while it was really just fiddling with the skills until I finally was able to minimize the amount of skills needed in each area and be efficient in skill usage. The area where I interrupted a miner with a walker and platformed, as well as bombing three times in the vicinity all seems very fiddly and doesn't seem intended. Also the bomber in the top right was very precise. In the end, I have a floater and a platformer leftover.

Man, 5 main levels remaining, plus any that I might need to resolve depending on your feedback. To think I wouldn't ever get to this point or even this far in the pack.

[IchoTolot]

V 11.8 is out!

Fixed backroutes thanks to kaywhyn's replays:

- 5 28 (added some steel)

Comments:

Genocide 21 - I am the End of Fortune!

Spoiler

You are still missing the central trick I intended in this level. It would reduce fiddlyness by a large margin and precision as well. The level is designed in a way that other methods should become a few skills short if not using the trick.
Maybe start here if you wish a little hint:

Spoiler

but in this new version it seems that it's not possible to conserve the builder used at the very beginning. -- start doubting your statement and see if you can find a cleaner and less fiddly way.

Genocide 24 - Delight and Angers

That's totally accepted territory now!

Genocide 26 - Laughs of Insanity

Your assumption is totally correct.

Genocide 28 - It's All About Pentiums!

Closer, but still far away. I had the fix already implemented last time, but decided it was overkill and removed it. Let's see if it stops your backrouting now.

Genocide 30 - Trump This Tower!

Totally acceptable!

Genocide 31 - Sanctuary in Dying Light

Yeah, you found a way to save a basher and I will accept that. The intended trick is present now.

32-35 are all totally intended!

Genocide 36 - Earth Below Us,... Drifting Away

This one is intended to have many viable solutions - as long as you don't have too heavy shortcuts. Therefore fiddlyness and other factors vary as well.


So that leaves 5 more levels + resolves + bonus rank remaining.

[kaywhyn]

Just posting to confirm/verify that I have updated to the newest version of the pack and that I visually see the change in Genocide 28 Glad to hear there's only one backroute this time out of the 10 that I was able to solve/resolve and that we're getting very close to a backroute free Genocide rank It's been an honor helping you eliminate them in all of the pack.

Genocide 21 - I am the End of Fortune!

Spoiler

You are still missing the central trick I intended in this level. It would reduce fiddlyness by a large margin and precision as well. The level is designed in a way that other methods should become a few skills short if not using the trick.
Maybe start here if you wish a little hint:

Spoiler

but in this new version it seems that it's not possible to conserve the builder used at the very beginning. -- start doubting your statement and see if you can find a cleaner and less fiddly way.

I had a feeling I was still very far off. All rightie, let's see if this will steer me better towards a working solution. I can do this... I hope!

[kaywhyn]

And, the Genocide rank has fallen! Took me much longer than I thought it would, but all 205 main levels completed. Since today is your 29th birthday (at least here in the west coast USA it is, but in your hometown it's already Monday), my present for you is this: The remaining Genocide replays, 37-41. 38-41 are in the same rar file, while I have attached two solutions for Genocide 37 as separate files. Compared to the first half, the second half of Genocide wasn't too bad, although it certainly slowed my progress considerably. Truthfully, except for Genocide 40 (see level feedback), I thought the final 5 levels of the rank were all difficult.

I still need to go back and resolve Genocide 21 and 28, but I have officially completed all the Genocide levels at least once, and I wanted to at least see and solve the remaining levels of the pack, as I was very close to the end. Of course, I also know you're on vacation in your hometown, so you probably won't be able to view them until you return from vacation. No rush! Just enjoy your little vacay and birthday.

Regarding Genocide 21 and 28:

Spoiler

Genocide 21 - I Am the End of Fortune Ever since I completed Genocide 37, I haven't made more serious attempts at it yet, but hopefully when I do come back to it I'll be able to solve it.

Genocide 28 - It's All About the Pentiums! I have taken several swings at this, and now it seems way too hard. I think I know the gist of it, but I'll come back to this after I solve the Bonus rank.

Now the new replays.

Spoiler

Genocide 37 - Gate to the Inner Sanctum For what's supposedly the hardest level in the entire pack, I didn't think it was THAT hard. Yes, it took me a while and might had taken me a week and half, but that's only because I was constantly on and off with playing lemmings. The extremely hot weather here in California didn't motivate me much to play during that time. In all, solving time was about 1.5-2 hours. Compared to other levels in the pack, I thought this one wasn't so bad. Except for Genocide 40, I thought the levels after this one were harder. Then again, I might had backrouted the level. It seems the key to this level is making sure to allocate the athlete skills carefully instead of trying to assign them all to the same lemming and therefore making multiple triathletes.

I thought the hardest part was getting to the buttons on the bottom platforms. It took me a while to figure out the best way to get to them all. For a really long time, at the start, I thought I had to prevent any lemmings at the bottom from slipping past to fall into the water, but once I tried other things to see if I could save some skills, it was more productive. Also, once I realize I could take the ceiling route, it was a near solve, but there was still a few things to figure out. I don't know if taking the ceiling is intended, though. I don't know if there is a better way to get the swimmer(s) back on land other than the very fiddly mining cancelling I did on the starting platform at the bottom.

I have attached two solutions, both of which have leftover skills. The first one is where I have a leftover basher, but I can swap the miner at the platform above the exit with it and I'll have a miner leftover instead. For the second, even though the second one is a variation of the first solution where I bash with the triathlete instead, the second one seems to be a much worse backroute, since I have a climber, swimmer, and a basher leftover. Again, I can swap the miner with the basher and have a miner leftover instead.

Genocide 38 - Legacy of Lemlab I wasn't too much of a fan of this one since there's a lot of fiddlyness with digger cancelling. Not only is this hard, but figuring out whether it was even possible to reach the exit through the outside was difficult as well. Due to these things, I thought this was what made the level harder than the previous one. Then again, the level is also somewhat easier due to the very limited skill set and how practically the only skills that are useful here are the diggers and builders. I don't know if it's necessary to fiddle with the RR at the beginning. Also, I don't know if building outside on the right side is intended. Then again, I don't think the normal solution of going through the inner portion is possible, since you'll always be a builder short. I did use some floaters but none of the swimmers. I'm guessing these leftover skills I have is acceptable?

Genocide 39 - Rise of the Harkonnen Ok, this was a fine level that managed to stump me good for an entire day. There were some things I managed to figure out very quickly, but the hardest part for me was getting up in the central area. I thought a stacker, miner, and basher would be enough to get up, but alas it's not. However, once I swapped out a walker with a stacker for the platforming part on the left side, I think it was a bit easier to figure out how to get up. Even then, it was still tricky, and some precision is required. Other than the difficulty of carving a path upward, the key here appears to be that you must do certain things first before you can build the crowd up. In particular, first mining through the Harkonnen, then collecting the pickup skills. Otherwise, the level isn't possible. Even when I did figure out the order, I still struggled a lot with the level.

Genocide 40 - Photo Finish Ok, unless this is intended, this seems like a huge backroute, considering I don't use any climbers or floaters. I did have another solution of getting the lemmings down the left side that works, but due to miscalculating on my part, the solution leaves me with a lemming short and therefore doesn't work. Other than that, I don't know any other solution that would work.

Genocide 41 - The Epitome Yea, for the rank finisher and final level of the main pack, I thought this wasn't too hard, even though this one took me about a day to solve. Thus, it remains true that out of all the rank finishers of the pack, Neutrality 41 stumped me the longest. Heck, compared to the final level of Reunion, I think Nightmare 30 is much harder.

Anyway, even before I started my attempts, there were several things I was able to quickly figure out in my mind. The hardest parts for me were making a landing platform for the top right crowd in the bottom right area and being able to get him to safety without losing him afterwards, as well as building up to the middle area on the bottom left area. The other parts were easier to figure out, although as was the case with many levels in the pack, the main problem I had was running into skill shortages. In particular, I was trying to make sure that I had enough diggers and blockers for the most important parts. In some senses conserving bashers as well, as even though you are provided a lot of them they surprisingly run out quickly and all are used in the solution. Even after finally finding a solution and solving the level, I still ended up with a climber and 2 gliders leftover, so ultimately a backroute? I'm not sure which parts in my solution might be unintended, though. Also, awesome congratulations message at the very end! And oh dang, 8 minutes exactly.

Finally, it doesn't relate to the level solving process in any way, but the point I want to mention is that I absolutely love your music track choice for this level. I definitely prefer this track over the one that plays for Neutrality 41 and War 41. I love how this track has a much calmer, softer tune that has a "final feeling" quite appropriate for the last main level of the pack. Well done! In contrast, the track for the other two levels is really loud and can be quite atrocious. I get that it's supposed to invoke an intensive feeling due to being rank finishers, but the track doesn't really help motivate one to solve them in any way.   

Overall, excellent job with the pack, Icho! Upon completing the final level of the main pack, I immediately felt a huge sense of relief, accomplishment, and satisfaction. Reflecting back, I'm seriously still in huge disbelief that I made it to the very end. To think I initially was fearful of the Genocide rank when I started the rank almost two months ago and thought the pack would eventually beat me at some point, I persevered and made it to the very end. Now at least I don't have to worry about the main pack being too hard for me to finish. Yes, it is one of the most difficult packs I have ever played, but United is now officially the largest pack I have ever completed, even with the Bonus rank untouched. Prior to this, the largest pack I have completed was Strato's Lemmicks at 170 levels, but before this, interestingly enough, your Reunion pack was the largest I completed at 150 levels. Well, technically it's supposed to be Revenge of the Lemmings, but because I haven't completed it yet (I'm currently stuck at Bonus 25, and have been for 3 years!), I can't say that it's the largest pack I have finished. So, the title of biggest pack I have completed goes to United instead.

Enjoy your birthday present whenever you get around to viewing the replays. In the meantime, I will be taking on the Bonus rank and once that is done, I will likely go back and resolve Genocide 21 and 28. Or, which I think is more likely, once I finish the Bonus rank I will send all of my replays for the pack, just to see how many levels need to be resolved in addition to Genocide 21 and 28.

[ericderkovits]

Congrats on finishing United, hopefully there won't be many(if any) updated versions. Now when you get done with the bonus rank, you can go back to Genocide 21 and 28 and try to solve.
I really want Icho to have a final version of United so I can say this is another pack that I have all the replays for (Not only Icho's but other ones too)

And yes I wished Icho a happy birthday last night about 10pm our time so when he responded it was his birthday. He said he had a couple of beers with his friends and a nice BBQ.

Germany is famous for Oktoberfest(beer Fest and singing and dancing). Fortunatly I got to experience Oktoberfest in Munich in 2011. Now I just need to experience the German Christmas
markets(not sure when due to Corona)

Anyways I always keep on eye out for your United replays and I keep yours too once Icho approves them. Once he approves your replay of a level, that's when I turn it green.

[kaywhyn]

1/3 of the bonus rank completed already! 11 levels completed all in about 3 hours too! With what I've seen so far, it's been a huge relief playing much easier levels again after all the hair pulling, mind-bending difficult Genocide levels. So, with how I already have only 22 levels in the rank left, it appears that I might finish the rank in about a day or two.

Congrats on finishing United,

Hey eric, thank you for your congratulations. It might had taken me a really long time (almost a year, as a matter of fact!), but I did it. Truthfully, I'm still shocked I even managed to complete the pack. All without peaking at hints or replays before I've solved them on my own, too! That I managed to beat one of the most difficult level packs there is in existence, it's almost too good to be true. I seriously thought United would eventually become too hard for me and beat me at some point along the way, but I managed to make it through to the end. There's another pack I'm going to try and go back to complete as well, and that is Nepsterlems (currently on the 4th rank of 6). It is also a very hard pack, probably not quite as up there with United, but it's still really hard. Of course, you're more than welcome to get my replays for this pack when I get around to it.

Now when you get done with the bonus rank, you can go back to Genocide 21 and 28 and try to solve.

Let's just say that I'm quite burned out with the extremely hair-pulling and mind bending difficult Genocide levels for the time being and that as a reward for beating the main part of United I'm playing through the Bonus rank as a way to de-stress and recollect myself.

Anyways I always keep on eye out for your United replays and I keep yours too once Icho approves them. Once he approves your replay of a level, that's when I turn it green.

Yes, you're more than welcome to collect my replays for any of the packs I play. Just look out for my feedback posts on the level pack topics. Perhaps while that is going on, I will occasionally help you with solving levels and providing you replays you need for any Superlemmini conversion projects you might be doing.

[kaywhyn]

Hey eric, I appreciate the time you took to make a separate NL player. Unfortunately, it's all for naught. I just checked the Bonus rank in the current United version, and it turns out that the 3 levels in your attachment are already in the pack. This is what Icho's post meant.

V 11.7 is out!

New levels:

- 6 15
- 6 18
- 6 22

Thus, it appears that it was a misunderstanding. His update simply means that 3 more levels got added to the Bonus rank in addition to the ones that were already in there, not replace 3 of the levels in the rank. That's why there's now 33 levels in the rank, compared to the last time, when there was 30. The three levels moved down by at least 1 position as a result. They didn't get replaced. Moreover, this also means that my searching around the forums for them won't be necessary. Good thing, because I haven't done any searching around for them, and I won't have to anyway.