Yeah - really looking forward to the final wizard mode they promised. Will make a world of difference.

Where did you see that they promised a Wizard mode?

For sure and the champion items that Keith mentioned that I hope relate to beating X number / sets of modes.

Keith made a post a while a while back here outlining the games features and rules. One of the items mentioned is a super wizard mode. Also, Keith mentioned on the JJP Google Group back in June that he has plans for a final mode.

In the latest 2.0 code folder structure there's a subfolder named "There and Back Again". I think this may correspond to the games rumored final mode as the same folder doesn't exist in any of the previous releases, including beta releases.

So what's your next move? Can you fix the wire without replacing it?

Are you sure? "pinball_keefer" never posted anything about a super wizard mode in this thread.

I also didn't see any statement from Keith on the JJP group either. Plenty of owners mentioning a super wizard mode, but nothing directly from Keith. It's not hard to filter "Keith P. Johnson wrote" on the JJP group.

Maybe I'm missing it, but I can't find anything.

On 06/09/2017 Keith posted a topic called "Statement on code" on the JJP google group. The most recent post on the topic was 10/13/2017. I recommend you go look for it again.

When did the production units start shipping? I see the 1.13 code was released on 06/01/2017. I thought games started shipping before then, but perhaps I am wrong.

In May - every non prototype DI was built with at least 1.10 but 1.13 came out right on top of that just as the games started shipping in force.

Got it, Thanks! I now recall reading it before. Keith stated as of Expo it will be "rules complete for all playfield inserts," so I mistakenly read it as being done.

But yes, I see he says future updates as time permits, including a final mode.

It is very encouraging to read this, but he never promised anything. It's contingent on time permitting, and they've now got two games post Hobbit. I know he will do his best.

Just soldered it back together and put heat shrink around the joint. I didn't need to replace it, but that certainly was an option, but more work.

How will a wizard mode make a world of difference when 99% will never see it. Better to spend the time improving immersion in the modes and making them feel integral to the game. Then if there's time give players an option to postpone the default stacking of MBs.

I agree, but that's not what Keith mentioned.

The potential update as described by Keith won't make a huge difference to the way the game plays now, rules-wise.

Here's the post that Keith made from around a year ago. I'm not sure if the 3 mini wizard modes are in reference to Super Spinner, Beast and Feast Frenzy (will guess yes), but the 3 major wizard modes are the Arkenstone modes. The "1 super wizard mode" is what we are anticipating being put into the game.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/2015-hobbit-update-thread/page/37

hobbit (resized).JPG

Duplicate, please delete

Everything Keith listed in that post from a year ago, he claims is in the game already, including the super wizard mode. Huh?

There is some ambiguity and inconsistency with his comment in the JJP thread from June.

In my opinion, it doesn't really matter. You gotta love the game as it is now, or risk disappointment if there is no update.

Keith said he will try, but there is no promise.

I posted this on the JJP Facebook site – but was worth sharing with my brotheren here!

Again, more innovation that just blows me away. I was working on WOZ and noticed that the playfield lights are coordinated with the logo images. Haven't checked my Hobbit, but I'm sure it's the same. Crazy.

IMG_0433 (resized).JPG

IMG_0435 (resized).JPG

Anyone know a source for the rollover buttons on the playfield? Mine wore through and the top of one of the buttons came off the post. Havnt found a replacement online anywhere.

JJP has them

JJP you have to call for them or send an email they also will want to know if yours have a single white washer on them or two since each playfield is different. Some have zero - I had a replacement with an extra washer and the ball hops we're crazy huge pain to remove the washer so find it out before calling or sending in support request.

The Hobbit does this as well - I bet DI does too (but can't confirm)

When I see activity on this thread I get excited thinking there was a code update

thats awesome, playing it so much you wore right through the button!

Le owner here. It sits right next to Lotr for that extra super geeked out experience. As of recent I have been buying into the hate, because let's face it people either love or hate our game. There is no medium ground. Buddy who hates hobbit comes over, and has best game he's ever had on the table. On and on he goes about his dislike prior to going for near a mill score. When I'm calling the shots for him explaining " shoot here, hit this" spotting it up for his money ass I see the lightbulb go off in his head. DING! Goes the bell in his mind and I can hear his brain saying "wow this game gives it to me like I want it". There is something special about this game when you invest the time it takes to get full enjoyment. Flip on brothers and sisters

100% agree.. well said

A lot of people who don’t like it, don’t understand how to play it. I hear people say I played a few games, hated it and walked away. It took me well over 100 games to understand how to play and even now I still don’t understand it all. Some people just like shallow games with easy to understand rules, many others like complex adventurous games. I like them both. The hobbit takes a little while to get it going, but once you do, it’s like magic, extremely immersive game. To each his own.

I have had this exact same experience with somebody. Calling out the shots made the game much more enjoyable for him, until he found out that nealy everything is pointed out on the playfield with the inserts. Somehow everyone thinks this game stikns because they HAVE to look at the screen, until something clicks nd they see how the game works.

Magnificently programmed game, one of the best there is. This is exactly what I expect from innovation in pinball but it turns out that most people are more conservative than they think. Or they just do not want to put the effort in learning something new

edit: why was your buddy playing on the table ?? Much simpler to just stand behind the pinball machine

And easier still if you are in front of the pin

I need a little help. I just sold my Hobbit And when the guy set it up at home it starts and seems to be OK but the “Start” button won’t start the game. He’s checked the connections at the button and the large connector at the back of the PC box with the yellow wires as well. Any ideas?

This weekend , I removed the center post and changed the pop up setting to xtra hard. My game times reduced dramatically but I did have one 1 plus million game that was fun Changing the pop up setting cut back on the stat king between Smaug and beast multiball plus the multiball time was reduced .. I need to keep tweeking. Great game that only gets better.

Tests - Switches - Matrixed, does it register there. If not I'd be sure the switch is still on tight, and you can hear it click when the button is pushed, then check all the connectors in the area that they are pressed together tight.

LTG : )

Psst - start button is dedicated switches not matrixed

Oops. Make that Tests - Switches - Dedicated.

LTG : )

Make sure it's on free play

Check that the rubber feet on the playfield rails aren't sitting on top of the metal board box. The playfield might be rubbing against button

How do I get the extra ball in the "complete all qualifiers"? I keep trying to start the roaming drop target to light extra ball, but it never happens. Do I need to get all the qualifiers on 1 ball? Maybe that's my issue? Is there a setting I have wrong?

Thanks!

I thought I would chime in,I finally beat Smaug monday night, I was yelling so much my wife thought I had a serious medical condition.

Score was over 2,200,000, still stink at barrel escape, didn't get to 5 armies. What a game.

I don't thin it needs to be all on the first ball. Are all of the modes lit up? If so might be a setting adjustment

My start button was sticking when I received the game NIB. I had to hit it hard multiple times to start a game. I took it apart and sprayed some WD-40 on it and it has worked perfectly ever since.

I'd like to know this too as it seems a bit random (possibly a bug?)
I've started it on 1 ball and I've started it across multiple balls - but not always!
Doesn't seem to start if you complete the qualifiers when in Smaug MB or Beast Frenzy.
Fairly sure I've had it start and not start when in a mode too!

And I've no idea what the criteria is for getting it a second or third time even though I have managed it a few times.

Has anyone needed to adjust their Windlance Coil? Mine seemed to fire too hard, and the ball would go into the Radagast hole. I tried adjusting it last night with some luck (gave it a little less, down 3 I believe). Didn't get to try it against smaug, but it did serve the ball up nicely to the flipper in the mode where you need to shoot the right ramp that feeds the windlance for a smaug shot. Finished that mode for the first time last night.

I had to dial mine down as well - or it would just fire into the right vuk hole when it should fire to the right orbit and be right on top of the top right flipper. That makes for a very cool combo shot into the dwarf targets. Keith gives you a little grace period to allow you to have the ball come down and fire from the lower flippers, but I think he should shorten the timer a few seconds to make the player use the top flipper for that shot.

I just qualified all the modes on ball 1. No roaming drop. No multiballs. When I launch the ball one of the qualifiers is spotted for me. I think that might be the issue, but I don't know the setting.

This rule is a bit old (done by Scott T). Search for Hobbit rules for the complete and updated version...quite good and extensive:

There are three primary methods of lighting an extra ball. They may be completed in any order and are:
• Award after 25 Captive Ball Hits
• Completing all 6 mode qualifiers (Gandalf, Bilbo, Radagast, Elf, Dwarf, Man) and then
hitting the travelling drop target before it is gone
• Achieving Super Jets and then Kicking over 5 barrels while it is running
[Is this unlimited? i.e. if you kick over 10 barrels will you get another extra ball lit b/c you did another 5? And if you light all qualifiers and get the travelling drop target again do you light another?]
The default behavior for collecting the first extra ball is for both the Extra and Ball inserts to blink at the left and right holes respectively. You must hit both holes in any order to collect.
For the second extra ball only Extra will be blinking and must be collected before Ball blinks and must be collected.

I got the roaming drop to appear by changing the preset difficulty to "hard". No qualifiers were spotted when I launched a ball. Is "hard" the default mode from the factory?

Mine was on medium, and the extra ball from 6 mode qualifiers did not seem to work, possibly because the game was handing a free qualifier per ball.

Yes, the free qualifiers don’t count and you have to consume and re-earn them to get it.

That is the reason you can only get it on ball 1. I think you will spot a missing qualifier for balls 2 and 3 before you launch it.

For those concerned regarding a new Hobbit code update...straight from the horses mouth from another site:

Keith P. Johnson
Nov 8 (21 hours ago)
Hi everyone.

We appreciate your feedback and thoughts and are glad you're interested in the game. There will be another Hobbit release, but it won't get major time spent on it until POTC comes out as all of our efforts are going to that right now. I would expect it to be in line with my previously stated (and requoted) statements.

Nope. You can do it for any ball.

Explains it all. Thanks!!