I never use factory balls

just got feedback that the brackets I designed have reduced airballs in the Turtles game so the targets are probably the same and there for should solve the airballs.

the brackets lift the target up by 2mm and tilt them forward 5 degrees. The lifting up and tilting forward makes a big difference.

the brackets fit on to these 3 target in turtles

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I put the ant man Cliffy on my premium and you can’t even tell it’s there. Wasn’t too much of a pain to put on, but you do have to take ramps, plastics, and other things off so takes some pictures and you’ll be fine. You can use metal washers as some have done in previous thread posts. I didn’t install any washers on the thor guide because there was nothing that looked like it was digging into the playfield. Of course, you can add metal washers there if you’re worried.

I don’t even use the stock balls that come with the game, they are garbage. Just buy some nice quality balls from ball baron and you’ll be set.

Last batch from ball baron where dull as shit, horrible. I'll be avoiding his carbon balls.

Just today I had 2 balls looping around the gauntlet ramp at once. It’s a shame super gauntlet wasn’t running, but I kept both balls looping around a bunch of times just for kicks.

Well, the carbon balls are really for games with heavy mag play. (I had a set as well , and agree they won’t win any pageants, but they worked just fine.) You’ll be fine with the ninja balls, and they’re beautiful.

To be clear: AIQ doesn’t impart magnetism to the balls, which would be a reason to go with the carbon balls.

Separate, silly topic... what’s everyone getting on their RPM score? Completely irrelevant for scores of course.

I couldn’t bear to attach a screen shot since it’s really meaningless, but I’m sitting at 1,200 RPM. Most are in the 800-900 range.

Yeah the Polaris or whatever they are called for games with magnets in, where crap, factory balls that came with my AIQ and BM66 both had a better shine and finish on them.

Factory intentionally left that off.

I haven’t hit 1,000 yet. I am curious how high this can go!

I don’t mind the chirpy sound when you get a good spin displayed (400rpm or more, I think). It’s distinctive enough that I immediately know what it is and don’t need to look up at the display.

Has anyone collected the hard soul gem without help from the mind gem? I’ve gotten the soul gem the hard way a few times (well over 100m each time!) but always with a level one mind gem.

My upper flipper started sticking sporadically over the weekend and would unstick after activating another coil. I popped the hood and found a bunch of that black "magic dust" on the cabinet underneath it. I pulled the stop and found it and the plunger head slightly melted. The game has under 50 plays. Crazy.

Anyway, I replaced the stop and the sleeve and cleaned everything up, and I'm back to working again. I'm also making the gauntlet ramp from that flipper with ease now.

I've had 4-5 NIB Sterns over the years, but this is a new one for me. I mean, I've seen this on some older games with a ton of play, but never on a brand new one.

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I have not collected Black Widow and I place the Mind Gem on her.
* Because she is not collected, I can use the Mind Gem to collect 1 shot on Black Widow. - Yup
* I can collect her while the Mind Gem is there and am now able to use it twice on the Black Widow shot. - Yup
* If I use the Mind Gem while she's uncollected, does collecting her recharge it? - Yup, any level up will recharge, including uncollected to collected
* Once I've used a level 2 Mind Gem boom, I must MOVE the Mind Gem to use it again. Can it be moved to Hulk and then moved back to Black Widow for another level 2 boom? - Yup, but you do not have to do it this way. While you must go through the "change gems" action, you can just place it right back on BW and be good to go again. No need to actually move it.

I just mentioned this yesterday...1490.625

Must have missed that post! That's a good rip. Good to know I still have some room.

Well I just always use carbon balls in games with magnets. If holding multiple balls still with a magnet for seconds at a time isn't "heavy use" I don't know what would be

Yep it's a thing alright, off & on for years.

Wow, my fastest is 750.

Finished my AIQ custom topper! Each gem light is tied into the corresponding gauntlet light.

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Short video showing my AIQ custom topper in attract mode.

i went to the audits today:
after 255 games (almost no other player than me):
30% right drain, 27% left drain
And I did the "big" post mod on right side and I adjusted the slings, because it was worse before!
I love the game, but I will keep looking for a way to dial it in order to balance these drains. I think 20/60/20 should be the way, right?

I’m no expert, but my assumption was that the strength and frequency drove whether or not the balls get magnetized during a typical pinball lifetime. I’ve used both, and had no issues either way. I think some pinsiders just prefer the shiner balls...

I did my audits today too after about 1400 plays (kids and mom about 30% of the games with me and my aggressive nudging about 70%) and set at 6.5 :
Left - 25%
Center - 54%
Right - 21%
I also added the Star posts about 700 games in and noticed a slight difference in side drains. It’s a brutal game but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have played a few of the latest JJP games and they’re fun, but feel kind of slow. I can’t get over the speed of this game. It’s so fun and so unforgiving and wonderful and challenging and relentless all at the same time. The depth is ridiculous. But I think the thing I love the most is all of the different “Scoring Challenges”. Having a shot at 25 different challenges to get your name on the board makes this so interesting to play. I find myself choosing a different goal or strategy almost every game. Plus my kids love it too. They can’t challenge me for the Grand Champ score, but they have me on things like Combo Champ or Time Gem Champ. It makes it enjoyable for them as much as me.

As I look to add another game to my collection, what other games have this level of individual challenges like AIQ? It’ll jump to the top of my list.

Sorry for asking as I know it's been answered several times, but what is the recommended incline for this table? Been relying on the little bubble thing, but finally got my Klein angle gauge today... Thanks!

6.5 degrees measured between the flippers. Start with all levelers raised (no threads showing), then adjust as needed.

I have at 7 and I like it a lot. super fast.

Crank sling power settings to 30 and it solves the very frustrating cheap drain issues. At greater power when the ball hits the slings, they bounce higher than the outlane entrances and keeps the ball in play. Factory power is set at 25 which is just right for the balls to have the cheap drain ricochets to the outlanes. So frustrating! Tried lower settings and all that does is ricochet the ball straight from the slings more slowly arching right into the outlane drains. Sling power set at 30 and now no cheap drains. Problem solved and AIQ now shoots like a dream machine!

Well finally figured out how the gems work and using their abilities...so yeah that helps

Man, hard mode Soul Gem; that's a tuffy.

So guys that have played both pro and premium is it worth the upgrade really considering this as my next game.

I just got the pro and I'm very happy with it! The premium does have some great extras but for me, it wasn't worth the extra money. A cheap, easy upgrade is the yellow backbox molding...I think it looks much better than the stock black.

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I was able to get a very good bargain for the pro, prem were so in demand last year, you had to pay msrp, at least in my area.
No regret, the prem layout looks super good, but Stern mechs tend to be high maintenance, and i prefer spending more time playing & less time fixing

Haven't had the chance to play a premium but the kids and I love our pro! Less to break/need fixing, not that it won't on the pro too.

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Is there an easy fix for fly balls getting stuck in the prem/le wireframe intersection? This is a real issue for gameplay. Tried an old outlane plastic in there mounted under the nearest wireframe screw and it worked but is ugly, wondering if there is a place I can order custom clear one to my specs. The non clear blocks the view of collect gem led so painting the old scrap isn’t really a great option.

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As I said earlier, I don't think you're getting less game with a pro on this title. I can't see how you'd go wrong with either. But it is worth mentioning the need to service and tweak the subway, CM ramp, and rising stage. Some folks seem to have zero issues, other are in a constant uphill battle!

Unrelated, I keep forgetting that some gem mode shots are on the drop targets. This morning, I was doing one of the modes and could not figure out what shot to hit. After the ball eventually drained, I noticed the grid flashing and moving up and down. Oops.

I emailed Stern about this and they asked for a video of it, apparently they'd not heard of this happening. It happens every few games for me and I haven't been able to come up with a fix. I feel like there needs to be a plastic guard above the two wireforms or something similar.

I am very happy with my Pro. Other than a wobbly sanctum disc, this thing has been a champ (waiting on Stern replacement). I do hate the wimpy sound coming out of the CM spinner and that ramp seemed nice, but the other options I don't miss. I'm pretty sure you can't back hand the CM ramp, but I sure can nail that spinner with the right flipper, so maybe the game is a bit easier. I put my pitch to 6.7 and really don't feel cheated by the outlanes that much. IMDN seems worse to me. Can't wait to get the topper and other accessories as I think this is a keeper.

I was able to bend the top wire form up a touch, and the ball can pass by that way.

As mentioned above, a small bend to the wireforms will fix it.

in 80 games I have had zero issues, nada, with any ramps or the subway. Capt Marvel ramp works, do not know why people have issues with it. Subway works.
Maitenance? that is pinball, if you do not like maintenance in my opinion then you should not own pinball machines, just enjoy them elsewhere...

I have been working on a 90s game for the last month, did a lot of work, after receiving my first stern 2 days ago, I can tell you: there is not a lot to go wrong with a modern game. I can't be happier with the newer Stern, I find it is built really well.
Sure it does not have the old schools decals, the 90s game had, do I care? no. Are the decals cheaper when/if need replacement, yes. WIN WIN.

The electronics in new games are smart, minimalistic, I love it.... Less clutter under the PF, working on a new game is EASY when compared to a 90s game (or older).

Ok so now: dimples? less talk about them for a sec (and stop here) My 90s games has a GAZILLION dimples, the fact you can't see them has nothing to do with the wood used nowadays vs 90s. IT IS THE SAME, you just need to play the game a few thousand times and the dimples will disappear.

What else? Nothing. I am VERY impressed with this game, the flow is AMAZING. I love the game, I am happy with my purchase and I am a 90s pinball kid! I love my 90s pins, but I can't find anything wrong with modern games, in fact, I prefer them.

Stern makes a good game in my opinion!

Now coming back to issues:

I think my Dr strange isn't perfectly flat but not sure it can be? how flat does it have to be all around, I think I can see one side as being slightly higher than the rest but do not think this can be corrected?

Is everyone Dr. Strange disc perfectly flat? levelled with the PF? mine does not seem to be at the moment, but this has not caused any issues so far...

I can try to lower it but do not think the actual disk is actually flat, I might need to take a closer look.

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The issue is the ball on top of the lower wire, which cannot be cleared without removing the glass. That ball then traps the second ball when I tried to play out the multi ball I was in.

That marvel ramp is worth every penny imo, it just never gets old, it’s the only shot I enjoy more than the Warp ramp on Star Trek.

I’m also a big fan of the lifting disc, subway and VUK, they break up an otherwise non stop combo fest, which for me gives me time to think and workout what’s next. No regrets at all going for an LE.

Premium if you can swing it, but pro is great too.

Haven't had a Capt. Marvel ball stuck yet

Mine isn't flat. From time to time I have to get in and push down on the high side. I got a new leveling kit from Stern but that didn't fix the issue.

Put the ball on the top of the bottom wire form, where it is sticking. Then if you lift slightly on the top wireform, the ball will roll through and back onto it.
Bend gently to keep the top wireform just out of the way.

I will try that, thanks!

you can lower that disc easy enough. My problem is that it is lopsided and before I lowered it there were a ton of airballs when the balls would hit the raised end. Now I get an occasional ball resting on the lower side of the disc that now sits a little below the playfield, but the airballs are gone.

I actually changed them to the Max and they seem to go above the outlane area. I can try lowering them a bit.

I don’t mind the ball going out if is going that direction. But the slings slowly doing the sideways death March was not good. So stronger is better.

Thanks.

That is right, mine is like that too, so if I lower the high spot then the low spot might be too low and trap the ball. I don't have any air balls though so it might be just right then?

In addition to the subway breaking up play, it's also a physical ball lock - which I love. Hate virtual locks, which is why I have a MET Pre as well. Kinda wish I had gone IMDN Pre but that ball lock seems to have a lot of issues, especially early on, so I stayed away.

Agreed on the CM ramp. It may be my favorite shot to hit out of any game I've ever played. My new favorite thing to do now is to combo Black widow with the Captain Marvel ramp over and over until she goes binary. Then I go for the shot multipliers. Its just so satisfying!

anyone have any idea what % of these premiums have lock issues? i may be able to get the pro or premium. i want premium, but really don't want a headache of stuck pinballs in the subway.

So I managed to get my disc completely level, it wasn’t bad to start with out the box, with a little tweaking I got it perfectly level with the playfield at the front half but slightly higher and unlevel at the back between 10 and 2.

So I put pieces of 2mm ply under the back end of the mech BOOM perfectly level.