Does anyone know what led strip or what filter to change on the backbox to make it warmer? Itsort too cool looking for the theme. Love the game.

Thanks

Sorry I meant to check this for you The last time you asked. I got my Mylar installed yesterday so I will play for a while tonight and let you know re: the motor.

Does this game have the eerie and iconic "Misty Mountains" song in it?

It will be hard to get the balance right with multiballs. Right now I feel like the best way to qualify for an arkenstone mode is just to keep Smaug multiball going for as long as I can and almost everything will automatically qualify. Obviously its a shooter game with the detailed modes it feels like too many things can happen on their own.

Keiths idea was to be able to end beast multiball after a certain amount of time, or after cashing in some super SJs?

I think in its current mode state MODE multiballs are needed, because some modes are just too hard. Sometimes I have 1 ball, and the mode tells me to hit 4 different things. When I hit the 4th I think I'm done with 15 seconds on the clock, and then it tells you to hit the yellow targets. I cannot make 9 shots in that time. especially when 6 are on the edge of a flipper.

I know i will memorize all 31 modes over time, but it would be nice to be able to see maybe a difficulty rating on the book before the mode starts so I know if i should be concentrating on bringing in a mode lock, or if I should just start the mode.

Damn that was fast - my last JJP ticket took nearly 2 months.

The ticket system is poor in my opinion.
Calling them directly will have fast results.

How do I jump start it?
I can't find a reset button, can someone send me a picture of what I am looking for?

Here is what I did for the shooter strength. Just double the existing shooter spring. Take another shooter spring like the one from the factory and put them together. It's perfect! You can hit every target and still maintain a delicate touch for the inland shot and lower targets.

PM me your email address and I'll send you instructions and big pictures.

LTG : )

I haven't received my update kit yet but I did get the mylar. Definitely call them.

I tested my Smaug motor temperature this evening. At idle after letting the game sit in attract mode for approximately 15 minutes, the temperature with my infrared heat gun was 91°. This was measured on the bottom of the motor itself. If I powered off the game the temperature dropped quickly, say ~ 3° in 5 seconds. After playing a few games it went up to 93° by the time I got the playfield up where I could register it and the temperature dropped quickly as expected.

It's hot to the touch but not hot enough that I would be concerned. I would have to keep my finger on the surface for 2-3 seconds to start to really feel the heat.

Regarding the Smaug switches if I power on the game, the game goes into attract. Then I go right into setup into device tests and select the Dragon (SMAUG) Head Test. The "Dragon (Smaug) Limit - left" switch is active.

I would ask JJP about that as well.

I'm glad I lifted my playfield because I found a few of those drop target white plastic screws and lock nuts on top of my PC chassis lid. I also found this:

What is this??

It looks like it is something use to pipe light. I can see the injection molding circle on the edge of the piece. Time to scour the manual for info.

Looks like the broken pieces of a part installed in front of the pop up characters to prevent ball hang ups.

LTG : )

could be parts of the clear plastic u-channel from one of the pop-up mech leaf switches

This.

30-0055-00 Pop Up Character Switch Locator.

LTG : )

Same part on MM Troll : 30-9808 Troll Guide

LTG : )

Is that 91F or 91C? I know that sounds like a silly question... I'm going to need to buy one of those heat guns, I've got no way to measure it. Definitely doesn't park correctly though.

Concerning MBs...

My general impression with this game is you almost need a 'spotter' to tell you what to be shooting at. I can look up and read the book during modes a lot of the times but during MB forget it. Additionally, I've noticed that there really isn't the needed info a lot of times on the book for Smaug MB and Into the Fire (never been to Barrel Escape yet). I think I finished the first stage of Into the Fire last night but couldn't really tell for sure and quickly drained when I was trying to figure out what was next. At least some call outs would be very helpful.

F#ck me, this game is epic.

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Most of the time during the mode you don't need to real the screen. Just shoot the flashing SCROLL insert. I guess it gets confusing when you need to shoot a ramp and all targets are flashing to add value. Maybe Keith can change the color to flash white instead of the orange color.

For smaug. They cannot give instructions on the little screen as you can stack a mode with smaug.
You just keep shooting the arrows until the SJ is ready. I agree that it needs more verbal instructions.

For Arkenstone Modes instructions are in bottom right of screen. I am guessing they might add more instructions on the little screen but remember that arkenstone modes are still 'new' and maybe a little unrefined.
Barrel escape is the same as ITF

My Smaug is stopping correctly now even though I haven't touched anything, I'm assuming a cable being tied wrong is to blame.

However, the motor after 20 minutes was up to 99 degrees on the back surface and takes 5 full minutes before the temperature starts to drop at all.

Also noticed the printing on my playfield isn't the best - pictured is the worst bit by far - those lines to some degree run all the way down. A little bit of grain visible on the right catching the light too. It's not like the sheet of perfect glass that my WOZ resembles.

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Awesome guys, thanks! Now that I know what I am looking for I found out that the part broke on my spider mech. I will have to reach out and buy some from JJP directly since I can't find that part (by the part #) on any pinball parts sites.

I may as well buy extras.

Whoops, it's in Fahrenheit.

I bought this infrared heat thermometer to check the temp of my oil when frying The one I ordered was only $17 on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00837ZGRY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage

I have also used it to measure the cold air coming out of our A/C ductwork. It is a very handy tool.

Maybe the Smaug base plate isn't aligned correctly on the stepper motor shaft or has come loose? I would definitely focus on getting the base plate to actuate the left limit switch.

My game doesn't have that printing issue.

I s$@k but my son can play!

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How the heck did he get that?

My high is still only 700-something and heck I just hit that the other day.

I found this part @ BAA:

http://bayareaamusements.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=GS-MM03-9808

03-9808

Steve at Pinball Refinery has done it again for me! Coin door powder coat complete with gold bling and Cliffy's protectors rock...I'm so thankful for talented modders to feed my addition Loving my Hobbit SE

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Just to balance that with some positive experience: I opened four tickets in the support system on Wednesday. They were all handled to my satisfaction within two days.

I agree that the ticket system is getting a little better, but if you dont get a response in a day or 2 its best to call.

Anybody knows when the next code update will be coming?

1.35p firmware to be shown at open house tomorrow

Was putting the hangup update in my beast mechs tonight and noticed the mech gouging into the playfield at the back edge of the hole. This has been mentioned in the tweak thread with extra mylar being a popular fix. I grabbed my pliers and bent the mech edge inward to remove the leading edge that was grabbing the playfield. Total fix. Clears it by about a mm now. Mech still operates perfectly.

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Awesome, looking forward to seeing what is in the next update!

So, what is the circular insert between the flippers telling me?

That's the arkenstone. Could be wrong but doesn't have a real function yet. Possibly could be the indicator for the final mode when it's in there. Right now I think it's just for lighting effects.

Just curious.

Billy, it's ok to be curious. It's perfectly natural for a boy your age to have questions. Have the talk with your mother about Misty Mountain.

I climbed the Misty Mountains (not mothers) years ago. Even planted a flag at the top.

I'm just about to join the Hobbit owners club, hoping the song is in it because I haven't heard it the dozen times I've played it.

Your game is early like mine, and missing the upper mylar around the character mechs.
Call Frank at JJP and have him send you the upper mylar pieces to support the top edge.
My game is wearing out the clearcoat from the flaps rubbing there, and has a few tiny chips in it.
You cant see them at all with the glass on, but, it will get much worse without the mylar support at the top of the mech.

Holy shit.

Just hit Barrel Escapefir the first time.

Ended up with GC of 1.3m.

I don't think it's a coincidence that it was right after tweaking my pitch. I could trap balls like never before and I also fixed an issue where the left diverter would cause the ball to skip off the wire form.

I've never had sore palms during a game ever before.

This game is so epic I can't wait for next update

so what did ya do to fix the ball flying off left ramp? I'm having same prob.

If the ball wont stay on the upper part of the wireform the problem is often too high of a pitch combined with flipper settings being too high.

Adjustment on this game can be touchy. This is why people post fractional pitch adjustments e.g. 6.9, 7.2 etc.
Once dialed in the game plays fantastic.

All pinball machines get super tweaked over time as the owners and operators get more experience on them and make adjustments.
This is why games at enthusiasts homes play like a dream, and often some location games play like crap.

My problem was that the diverter on the wire form that loads the wind lance was sitting too high. This caused the ball to touch the diverter everytime it passed over it. At lower speeds no big deal but a hard shot would cause the ball to skip when it touched and would knock the ball right onto the playfield.

All I did was push down on the diverter to bend it down until there was no more contact and voila! A nice smooth return to the inlane now.

It gradually lights up brighter and brighter as you collect pieces of the Arkenstone.

I am not an owner, but just wanted to say what a great game this is. I have played a total of two games and it's just great, lots of shots, countless modes, a great light show and animations. No idea what I was doing, but it felt good. I played in the JJP tournament yesterday and finished 7th I think, scored 487k I think, first time I ever played it. Then went to play it at silverball museum and scored 890k and got the fourth highest score on the game, eached into the fire mb. Love the troll pop ups. In the tournament, the kick back was turned off if I recall. I have no idea if these are good scores, but it was a lot of fun playing it. Can't wait for JJP #3!

Anyone want to sell theirs, let me know.

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Lermods: I fell under The Hobbit's spell too.. I played a Hobbit at a buddies house. I didn't think that I'd be buying another pin for a while. I bought an LE the next week. What an awesome game!

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The Hobbit is awesome! Sadly mine has been down for 10 days The motherboard power supply stopped working, but happily the replacement shipped yesterday! I should be up and running this weekend

My hobbit LE NIB shipped yesterday! should be here Friday. The countdown begins!!

Yeah I've been in the same boat with a bad power supply. The replacement arrives today so I should be able to get it installed this evening. Hopefully that was the issue and I can start playing again. Fingers crossed.

Mine is now at my local airport hopefully getting it home tonight. Kind of cool to get one in where the movies were made!