Post by Garibaldi on Jun 17, 2009 11:58:59 GMT -8
I'm not a very good bilger and don't pretend to be. It's me least favorite puzzle (maybe 'cause I'm not good at it). I occasionally look for and read bilging tips and have amassed a huge collection of them. I've pasted some of the good tips below. If someone would like to add to the list with a reply it would be appreciated.
The following is how to get "Good" or better most of the time in Bilge without having to think very hard. Ye won't make Ultimate using these, but Master or higher is quite likely.
1. *stay* in bilge as long as possible, unless the water is all the way at the top and ye have crab soup up there. don't pause to talk unless yer bilge pump is yellow.
2. look fer something ye can make with a *single* move (even if it's just 3 in a row). start looking near the top, so that ye get more cascades.
3. if ye can't find anything ye can do with a single move, look fer something near the top that ye can do in 2 moves (because near the top will mix it up better) or something that will leave ye with a one-move three in a row fer the next combo ye make.
4. save yer jellyfish and pufferfish until ye don't see a one-move 3-in-a-row. when ye use a jellyfish, get rid of the pieces that ye have the most of.
5. when the water is high, freeing a crab is major points. freeing two or more crabs is ridiculously high points. when water is low, freeing a crab is about the same as a three in a row cascade.
Bingos and Sea Donkeys are awesome, but a constant string of one-move 3s (with cascades) can get ye Excellent on the duty report. There will be some 3x4s and Bingos that ye spot that can be made with one or two moves - grab em, but don't bother to build a bingo if it's going to take more than two or three moves.
Me own brain tends to hurt when i try to plan complicated combos in bilge, but i stay at GM or Legendary by using these tips and spotting those one-move bingos when they happen.
Something else that will get your puzzle sparkling quickly is when you go to make your first clear make sure its at least a 3X3, larger combos are even better. If you can pull a large combo off as the first clear the pump will start sparkling right away. I even read some place that it allows you to make 2 or 3 moves before your first clear to get that combo. However you then run the risk of making a small clear by accident. So best bet is to study it and make your first move worth it.
Bilging has a lot to do with momentum, so once you get the pump going as fast as possible, just try to clear them in one move.
And remember, kids, SLOW DOWN!
Bilge is not a puzzle of speed, but rather efficiancy. You have 10 seconds to make a move before it starts to hurt ye.
Think of the moves and clears like a bank account. Each move is like withdrawing a dollar and each token cleared is like deposting a dollar. You want to end up with as many dollars in your account as possible.
The following is how to get "Good" or better most of the time in Bilge without having to think very hard. Ye won't make Ultimate using these, but Master or higher is quite likely.
1. *stay* in bilge as long as possible, unless the water is all the way at the top and ye have crab soup up there. don't pause to talk unless yer bilge pump is yellow.
2. look fer something ye can make with a *single* move (even if it's just 3 in a row). start looking near the top, so that ye get more cascades.
3. if ye can't find anything ye can do with a single move, look fer something near the top that ye can do in 2 moves (because near the top will mix it up better) or something that will leave ye with a one-move three in a row fer the next combo ye make.
4. save yer jellyfish and pufferfish until ye don't see a one-move 3-in-a-row. when ye use a jellyfish, get rid of the pieces that ye have the most of.
5. when the water is high, freeing a crab is major points. freeing two or more crabs is ridiculously high points. when water is low, freeing a crab is about the same as a three in a row cascade.
Bingos and Sea Donkeys are awesome, but a constant string of one-move 3s (with cascades) can get ye Excellent on the duty report. There will be some 3x4s and Bingos that ye spot that can be made with one or two moves - grab em, but don't bother to build a bingo if it's going to take more than two or three moves.
Me own brain tends to hurt when i try to plan complicated combos in bilge, but i stay at GM or Legendary by using these tips and spotting those one-move bingos when they happen.
Something else that will get your puzzle sparkling quickly is when you go to make your first clear make sure its at least a 3X3, larger combos are even better. If you can pull a large combo off as the first clear the pump will start sparkling right away. I even read some place that it allows you to make 2 or 3 moves before your first clear to get that combo. However you then run the risk of making a small clear by accident. So best bet is to study it and make your first move worth it.
Bilging has a lot to do with momentum, so once you get the pump going as fast as possible, just try to clear them in one move.
And remember, kids, SLOW DOWN!
Bilge is not a puzzle of speed, but rather efficiancy. You have 10 seconds to make a move before it starts to hurt ye.
Think of the moves and clears like a bank account. Each move is like withdrawing a dollar and each token cleared is like deposting a dollar. You want to end up with as many dollars in your account as possible.
I cannot wait !!! lol 