Flamethrower is pretty powerful if you use it to cash in on a juicy super jackpot during multiball…with a multiplier(or 2 or 3)stacked it can turn into a big cash out.

How do I switch between items when I'm playing?

Are multipliers from the boba Fett targets?

That’s one of the 3 multipliers you can shoot for and the easiest to get. Getting a scope shot(after you qualify it)will give you another multiplier and completing a Hunter mode(after you start it)will also give you a multiplier.

You also can get a multiplier in the foundry. It will cost you some beskar.

Awesome video. I finally read the rulesheet too. Still not 100% on the best strategy for high scores, but focusing on Razor Crest for multiballs makes sense.

For those of you feeling like the code needs some additional refinement, what is the game missing? Too many shots up the center?

Only refinement I'd like to see is make the ambush more valuable.

Man that ambush is so bad, played it for like 10 minutes and got 60m.

Way too risky hitting those 2x ramp targets and uturn.

Nice video. My approach to the game is very similar to yours. I do hit the left ramp from the left flipper to progress through encounters as often as possible. I also really didn't like that you had to start a hunter mode or drain to enable progression on the multiballs and hurry ups, so I changed that setting to bypass that requirement. Just too many cheap drains starting hunter modes. I like the game so much more with that setting changed.

You're right, ambush is too many shots that don't earn any points. I played it a few times and got the jackpot way up, but drained before I could collect. I ended up with less than 10m points. Feels like I'm better off ending the mode as quickly as I can.

I time it out right when it starts. If I accidentally make a shot and it gets into ambush it takes too long to timeout.

Truly the sign of a great mode or feature.

Funny thing is, on previous code I played like 500 games and activated once so I thought it was so cool. Now it activates at least twice a game and I hate it.

I agree ambush and Hunter both need scoring increases, I totally get Dwight wants Hunter to be for Beskar but it still needs additional scoring to make the risk of the mode worth it.

The playfield multiplier makes Hunter worth it. I wish they would add one for completing ambush also.

I’ve missed what you’re describing about having to do these things “to enable progression…”. Would you mind please explaining more what you mean? And how you changed the setting to bypass it (what setting is it)?

Thanks in advance!

It does but unless your going for maximum multipliers boba and scope are much easier and less risk.

If ambush paid out at the same rate it builds jackpot and still had the jackpot, it would be a killer mode. I would play it every time.

The rules have this as the default setting for mutiballs:

"After playing a multiball, the Razor Crest can be relit to start Razor Crest Hurry-Up by completing a Hunter mode. The Razor Crest also relights when the ball drains, if it isn’t currently lit. Playing all three multiballs in a single game qualifies Precious Cargo as the final Razor Crest award. Every Super Jackpot scored during multiball adds 2.5 million to end-of-ball bonus."

In the game settings you can change this so that the Razor Crest relights automatically to allow you to progress towards the next hurry-up and multiball without the need of completing a hunter mode or draining. In my opinion, changing this setting makes the game much more enjoyable.

I’m hoping Xaqery still has some time to devote a little more love to Mando, it’s very good as is but it could be great with a little more code love.

In a real life ambush, the only goal is to escape. I wonder if that is the mode's purpose too.

There is that but I think Lyman said it best in his CGC interview with TSAPshow, he believed that everything should be valuable, rewarding and feel a necessary part of the game to shoot, nothing should be left feeling like it should be skipped or timed out.

He did say it best.

I have owned a lot of games over the years. The games that last the longest are the ones that have multiple ways to play for the high score. Having mini modes with big score potential makes deviating from the primary goals worthwhile.

Ambush could also suffer from the location of the ambush lights in the playfield. Both lights are obscured by the ramps, so it appears the triangles are the most important targets. While they do build the jackpot, they don't really score anything. Before knowing the rules, I kept getting caught hitting the flashing triangles and collecting nothing. If the triangles payed out while also building the jackpot, it's a boost to uninformed players and incentive to play the mode. All in, it would basically double the value of the ambush. Maybe add that multiplier reward for good measure too.

EDIT*

I just played through an ambush with boosting the jackpot and it only payed out 14m. It should be closer to 50m.

EDIT**

Is the ambush total jackpot progressive and increased with multipliers? I went into ambush on the first shot after skillshot, boosted jackpot twice and collected, 14m. I got into ambush later in the game and it had increased to 45m. Do I understand this mode at all?

Just a thought.

Just got my NIB premium set up. The ball is often getting slowed down/hung up on something when the left orbit is shot. Is this a common problem? What should I look for to fix this?

The ball lock mechanism can get hung up in the release position. I had to lightly file the tab on the ball release to keep this from happening.

Did you hit the 2x ramp targets on either side of the right ramp? That multiplies the ambush collect.

The plastic hanging over the left orbit can also droop too low and catch the ball. May want to check if the ball rolls cleanly under it.

I think it's this...What's the solution?

Thank you!

Probably. I played Mando all day yesterday and played the ambush whenever it came up, even actively trying to start it. After a day of play, I found myself just wanting ambush to end. The hit a shot, confirm the shot is tiresome and doesn't boost the jackpot at all. I wonder if I would feel differently if the jackpot doubled after each confirmation.

My main takeaway is that when I get ambushed, I just want to escape. I'm sure that isn't what the programmers we're going for.

All the practice is paying off though. I was happy with this score. Unfortunately, I need to double it if I want the GC.

IMG_20220620_090211316_HDR.jpg

Anyone know when the topper is coming out?

See above

At this point I don’t think even stern know the answer to that question.

ambush could use some new rules:

1. we shouldn't be able to just sit out an ambush. in a real ambush you can't just wait until it's over. someone is attacking, so deal with it.

2. instead there should be 2 escape shots. these shots should be at a fixed position and these should be easy shots, like razor crest target and/ or middle ramp, so if you are ambushed you can decide whether to run or to fight. running is a reasonable choice, running is easy, you escape, but you don't get any reward.

3. if you instead decide to fight, the fight should be tough but fair, like a duel at high noon, so orbits and ramps raise the points, right scoop locks the points and right ramps cashes (mostly like it is right now), but this should be timed, and if time is over, ambush is over, all points are lost, if not cashed.

4. after ambush is cashed or lost, maybe some bandits are still standing, so ambush can go on, but maybe they try to run, so a shot with medium difficulty is necessary to make the ambush go on, or it's finaly over.

Anyone here need center ramp & or cross cross ramps. DM me

I’d be careful about that. The purpose of that post is to prevent the pop bumper from slamming balls into the spinner. The spinner is a bit fragile for anything but straight-on hits. Things like this are usually discovered during testing, and there’s a reason Stern added this.

medeski7 Thank you

Good video, and tutorial of sorts!

One encounter level away from mini wizard and then this is the way today ugh. Gotta chop away at that earlier.

Very soon I hear.

I have been hearing this for almost a year now LOL

I agree with everybody’s feelings on Ambush & Hunter.

I like the IDEA of Hunter, but sometimes I wish I could just ignore it. Instead, I can’t since it locks out other features (specifically encounters).
Ambush I completely ignore 99% of the time and wait for it to go away. Not worth enough points and way too stressful of a mode. Most times if I attempt to complete it, I end up draining before collecting any points.

I truly hope they can be reworked a bit.

Removed mine as well and no issues after 600 games.

Ambush = escape or die
So if you feel that way I think they hit their mark !

I guess we are escaping by sitting completely still so they don’t notice us.

Sounds like Tom foolery!

That’s my name

I love the red gi and the stress of ambush, it has such potential.

Does ambush collect items? I feel like attackers could be dropping good stuff.

The rulesheet says that ambush should only be collected after building the multipliers. That would explain why it was a 46m jackpot the other day.

If it gave equipment, beskar, or anything besides points I would do it.