Quoted from rai:I'm looking for some clarification on the rules. I read the wiki rules, but they're find of abbreviated.
Specifically with the band/pick targets. How many shots each band member and is the progress saved between balls. I mean if the first light takes 4 hits, does the next take 2 hits each and so on?
Also on the coffin hurry up, each time you hit a different shot that will light that shot but un light the prior shot, is there a good strategy like try to avoid starting another shot or is it better to light a few shots and cash in several at a time? IOW what's the point value for cashing in more than one at a time and is there a good rule of thumb to try one way ot another for coffin hurry ups?
The Pick Targets (depending on settings from menu)
Lets say hitting all 4 pick targets counts as 1 cycle.
Getting 2 cycles will light a band member, then you need 3 cycles, then 4, finally 5 cycles will start Blackened Mode.
The aim in Blackened is again complete a cycle and hit main shots for points. I've had a Blackened score of 265mil during a multiball.
On a further note, in multiball, 1 cycle of targets will open the snake and allow you to lock a ball in there, the 1st time you do this you get double scoring for 20secs, as well as an add a ball, and ball save. Subsequent cycles, just opens the snake to allow you to lock a ball for 20secs (no double scoring or add a ball). Still worth aiming for to safely 'store' a ball while still playing for multiball points.
With the hurry ups, I find the best strategy is to light the Grave marker first, as before that is solid, every hit on the drop targets will switch to that lane. I personally don't tray and stack the hurry ups as the effort required is not worth the payoff; 1m to 2.6m for 2 at once. I have had 3 at once but that was not by design.
Lighting all 5 starts Seek and Destroy. The aim is to hit the first shot you completed, followed by captive ball, followed by 2nd shot you completed, captive ball etc. The best I have achieved on this is about 80mil, again in a multiball. Before the CIU modes were added this was really the best strategy for big points - however.
A far bigger bonus of completing the shot is that each lit shot will award 1 Cross hit, 1 Sparky hit & 1 Snake hit towards the CIU mode when really big scores can be achieved, especially if you make use of the double playfied and complete the mode before cashing in the Jackpot.
The order I have found to be most profitable (and hence the order I play them in) is Fade to Black, Enter SandMan, Whom the Bell Tolls and finally Battery (mainly because the ball is out of control after hitting Sparky).
EOL I have only got to twice, with the best score being 64mil, was disappointed with that
Hope that makes a few things clearer for you, and anybody else. There are so many different scoring strategies as to make this such a great game it'll NEVER be leaving my collection.