Hear! Hear!

I'm kind of ashamed now of how anti-Hobbit I was when it first came out. No interest. Whatsoever.

As the code evolved though, I came to enjoy it more on route, and now at home ... a total joy to play and experience!

I ordered the mod. How does it make it more mode focused? I’m still learning all the rules. Is it going to help me get to TABA?

I've gotten to the point that when someone says they don't like Hobbit, I feel they either haven't actually played it or are morons. The game is my favorite in my collection.

Having a game in your home so you can understand the rules and callouts makes a big difference. I didn't like it either on a casual pass, now that we own one I like it a lot.

Same

I also wonder how many people only tried the game on early code. That might make a difference in their opinions on the game.

Two things it does for me (besides using the third flipper more):
-help complete pop bumper objectives.
-get shots at the lit dwarf target after pops more consistently.

No doubt, that one little mod is a game changer for the better.
Must give thanks again to its creator: Trumpanche
On a side note, would like to know what JJP thinks of this.

It has been a week since my Hobbit Le has left the building . I'm pretty sad that is has gone but it was the only way I could afford GNR . Hopefully I can get enough money to have it back someday . Mine played fast and the flippers weren't mushy , it was the most immersive game I've ever played . I've never brought into the third Flipper was useless , there's over 20 things you can hit .
GNR better be worth it .
I did have it for over 3 years and sold it for 1k more than what I paid , I'm just sad to see it go .
I know people will hang shit on me but I rated it a perfect 10 .

Considering how much is in the game , if JJP wanted the gate there , they would have put it in .

Getting rid of games you like is tough. Im in for a gnr as well but no space and dont want to sell any that I have. So...Im shipping off one of my games to one of my kids. Im sure the sting of it leaving will lessen with GNR. Good luck!

Im not so sure. They may rethink that position after so many people are pleased with this mod. But than again designers are less likely to approve of any new design they are not part of. Still,would like to know.

It really does change the game completely! I never realized how crappy the pop bumper actions was until I installed Trumpanche's gate.

You go IN the front door of Bag End, and OUT the back door - otherwise the dreaded Sackville-Baggins will see you leave and no doubt want something. This is known.

trumpanche (resized).jpg

I'm going to reverse engineer that idea... If I can get my Dad into pinball then he can ship me his excess machines! Excellent strategy there!

Thanks mate , I think I'm in for a lot longer wait than I initially thought .
Yep , lots of people seem happy with their gate mod , I just wouldn't consider one because I never felt ripped off by sdtm drains and the game wasn't designed that way , but each to their own , whatever makes you happy .

My thoughts are that the gate is cheating. With 100% of your balls feeding to the upper flipper, you'll essentially have infinite kick backs (as hitting the captive ball from the pops lights your kickback). So another mod you could do would just put a rubber band on your left outlane, I guess.

Of course I jest, but the other shot is perfectly lined up... once you've accumulated your kick back would be to aim for the lit drop, which doing x amount lights extra ball. It will make the game WAY easier.

Otherwise I do enjoy the idea of it. Especially considering some modes use the pop bumpers in very creative ways.

I'm glad everyone is excited about the gate, but I personally want to play the game as designed.

I feel the same way. I've set my pop switches super tight so I get lots of action. I also try and nudge it so it feeds the flipper.

Hmm - my gate installation is about 80% feeds the flipper - 20% still get through. Reverse those percentage before the gate installation.

Seems to work for me, thanks!
I ran some thicker regular pinball gate wire.

image (resized).jpg

That's about how mine plays too @pinballcharlie, but maybe 90%...

Doctor6 - I hadn't even thought about tweaking my kickback settings! But now that you've inspired me, I think I agree with you: The default settings are too easy - we should have to earn those from shots off the third flipper! I'll try these new settings, then get frustrated , and then make them easier until it "feels" fair

One of the things I really enjoy about Hobbit is that you don't feel like you get cheated with outlane drains; I really enjoy the kickback and ring save you can earn. The Stern "sling-sling-outlane-drain" is NOT my favorite way to play pinball as a casual player (if you've played the new Turtles, you know what I mean...)

IMG_1791 (resized).jpg

Can I ask Hobbit owners on ver 3.10 when the 'Extra' and 'Ball' is available and you shoot them do you get awarded and extra ball?
As I don't get awarded one, the hole shots work and I have extra balls on in the menu.

It works for me. Check to see what the maximum extra ball setting is. You could be exceeding that so it wont award it to you.

Stupid question: you know you have to hit them BOTH, right?

This is my software setting, strange thing is I can not changed the stacked extra balls.

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Yes I know I need to hit both shots.

What happened when you reset all your settings? Same problem?

If you change the maximum extra balls to unlimited, it will probably fix it. That changes stacked to unlimited automatically also.

Hobbit not awarding extra balls update.

Tried upping the maximum extra balls from 4 to unlimited, still no extra balls awarded.

Did a factory reset and played a game got extra balls, so progress.

I'll tell you exactly why a lot of people hate it... They don't know how to set up a pinball machine to save their life!

And I suspect operators set them up too flat on location, making the game "floaty" for those who tried it on location.

Absolutely! I've seen it myself!!

When you see Led Zeppelin and Stranger Things above Hobbit in the Top 100. You can take it with a truck load of salt!

My wind lance ramp was rattling and I discovered I have a missing mount bolt, pretty sure it was never there in my time with this game. I put the rubber on it to protect the plastic. Tightened the next connector up that was loose. Anyone ever see this issue? Is this a wood screw / mount bolt combo part that would thread into the hole left here? Thanks!

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Does anyone have a link to the gate mod?

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1305-trumpanche-mods/04739-gate-at-bag-end-mod-for-the-hobbit

If you don't want to or don't have the ability to 3D print your own.

Or if you want to support the guy who invented it.

Looks like the add-on ball hang fix is missing from that area that JJP sent out when new.

My fellow adventurers, does anyone have the Smaug mouth adjustment numbers we should use in order to not burn out that servo motor? I think I remember seing someone post the adjustment numbers for open and close, but I can't seem to find them anywhere. Since I bought mine used, I can't tell if it was ever done. That is the reason why I would like to compare against someone's numbers who has made the adjustment.

TIA

Check post 9609

LTG : )

Thank you, both! What are the default values? Just wondering if previous owner already made the adjustment.

This game is incredible. Future classic for sure

Hmm. I totally stink at Barrel Escape and any modes the highlight the pops.

Get the gate mod.

GTO - I think that was a good explanation from @reaper802! Mine are at 110 and 125, just for reference, but like Reaper says, listening to the motor was key for me. BTW - if you're adjusting the mouth position and you hear the servo motor running and running, but don't see the mouth moving, you might try my rubber band "fix" also.
Example of sticky mouth movement:

Example after the rubber band is added:

Could someone post a picture of what it should look like? Sorry for the trouble, thanks in advance!

it was originally designed without the shot through the pops. They changed that last minute when Keith suggested to add another shot to get more balls in the pops and they added the target in the back. This was posted on the JJP forum years ago. It’s still in my mind but I have no link to the actual message.
The Bag End was only a target originally.

Yeah! Support the inventor!!

It's a current classic , people just don't realise it