I wouldn't bother with a full PF protector. I have WMS machines that I bought NIB almost twenty years ago and the PF's still look like when I bought them. In the home you don't need it. Plus the ball feels different on them and they eventually cloud up with scratches, etc..
Go naked baby! Except maybe some small mylar spots under the ramp returns, etc...

Pinball Refinery - does the hardware powder coating, etc...

You could also dim the bulb and use a glare guard plastic. The cheap man's invisiglass

Man all this scoring talk is making me excited to get my TWD Premium!

Speaking of scoring (pun upcoming)... I want to be able to slide and nudge this thing around. I'm always very delicate with my WMS stuff but I know Stern has the metal cab protectors built right on the cab.

Here's the question: should I use an x-acto knife and score the decals around the metal cab protector? I know the legs won't touch the cab but if the metal protectors shift on the cab won't the decals get yanked around and warped down there?

Has this happened to anybody? Maybe this isn't even an issue??

Awesome! Been so long since I bought a new machine I'm completely out of the loop. Thanks!

Ok dumb question #2 then... where can I find these felt sliders (if that's what is best for a carpeted surface)?? Home Depot?

Ahh I see... yeah the plastic bottomed ones might be the way to go on carpet. Or indeed those pin footies (that always reminds me of a set of coasters). I'll muddle around and find something... oh thx for the scoring advice throughout this thread btw. There's a small group of you guys that have put up some great advice from day one on the machine that I am now catching up on.

Just glad I finally ran across one of these to play recently in a club. Man I was instantly *hooked*. And I've never even watched the show!

I smell a hoax

Here's a question: In the rulesheet it mentions hitting the tower target during the skillshot. All I have been doing is making sure I roll across the roll overs when they are lit and then light the proper lane to collect. But do I need to try to hit the tower target up there also?
Because on my machine it's tough to hit that target reliably during a plunge.

Also the woodbury shot... do I just want to go only as far as the lit rollover to collect? I think that's right as I have gotten the million points by hitting just that rollover.

Yeah addictive game... a lot to think about as you play to maximize your points. I think I usually squander the x values or the walker bombs at this point. Lovin' it though.

Ahh I see - I have been only cycling through the rewards... I have to remember to also cycle through the targets too. Thx!

Unfortunately it's in the middle of THIS long thread. It really just involves lowering the right post of the left ramp to match the height of the BG flap better. Either by sanding/hacking down the original post by 1/8 inch or buying a different one.

On my new one there is a slight height difference but since it is on the right side of the flap it doesn't create any issues. When the ball flies up that ramp it tends to be on the left side of it anyways and it goes up super smooth.

I was prepared to deal with this after all the posts about it but thankfully the ball smoothly shoots right up it with no issues. I do have the coils set to "soft" however as on a new machine they have more than enough power.

Last night I'm playing this full bast in my pitch black living room. I take a break and hear a fox screaming outside. There's quite a few in my area and this time of year they scream to try to find a mate. It sounds like a baby shrieking...awesome sound.

I'm back in the game and all of a sudden I'm in Horde for the first time! I know I'm seriously late to the party but this is one *fantastic* game. I still have the outlanes at factory so most of my games are over quick ... BUT THEN!

That's what makes this game so special... you just never know.

I'm not having any issues with the left ramp but would like to even it out without dremel-ing the existing post. Got the part # for that shorter post? It's back *deep* in this thread and I may never find it again.

thx

Awesome. I suppose you could also add a washer to get the height exactly even also.

Appreciate it

You can simply raise the PF, loosen the huge bolt on the magnet assembly and then turn the screw to raise or lower the magnets height.
I haven't done this yet so the only thing I'm fuzzy on is if it raises just the small core in the center or the entire protective metal ring. Hopefully the latter.

Now that your core is presumably at a different rotation point... do you notice the magnet behavior to be any different? Does it fling the ball at a slightly different angle?

I ask because my Premium likes to fire it straight down at me - which is unlike the pro I had played repeatedly. Somebody here mentioned rotating the magnet a bit but I somehow don't think that will affect it. YOU can either make me fool with it or forget it.

And I do tap away with the flippers when it has the ball... and curse repeatedly because if I don't time it just right it can screw me. It can be a mean mistress sometimes. Part of it's charm I suppose.

Ahh thanks. Funny how different each TWD can play. Love my left ramp right out of the box but my prison mag is a SOB. At least the WW magnet is pretty amusing... when he fully hangs on to it he'll drop it nicely to the flipper - other times he whips it around... even up the riot shot. He's a helpful fellow that way.

There's a lot for sale at the moment. I suspect GB is currently sucking away a lot of pin dollars.

Wow that is something to see. Yeah seeing that in the window (especially in the evening) would scare the sh*t outta me. What a badass.

Maybe he used to box?

Looking good man... nice job. Btw are those the red sling/guide protectors from PBL? If so do you have elevate them a bit with washers to avoid having the crossbow hit them?

Yeah I'm going to try that Tool version soon myself... right now I have been enjoying KPG's version. Nice to have these alternatives!

So anybody know what happened to KPG?

Hey you and me both. But that just makes the big game you get even sweeter... no matter what your final score. I like the way you can't just flail away and hit ramps, etc... maybe some drops by accident but you really need to try for each shot. You also have to remember to keep hitting drops throughout the game or you'll sort of hit a dead end. So different from a lot of my other machines... in a good way.

So you both need sensitivity training? Company mandated?

When I get back from vacation I'm going to give it a shot. Looking forward to it... thx for the effort. Awesome having different mixes for this game.

Nice paint work. If I could do such wonders I also would have grabbed one. I thought about it but figured my final result would look like somebody did a drive-by graffiti job on it.

I'm using KPG's right now... it incorporates the quotes from the series like the others but also leaves the "redneck" in a lot of spots to point out some game shots, etc.. it's a modified version of the others that were heavy on clips from the series.
The music is a nice version of the original that retains the doomsday orchestra riff but adds a bit of groove and some techno flairs done
(believe it or not) ...tastefully.

Play it with the original sounds for a while then start trying the others out. There's a Tool version... Slayer version... etc All are pretty well done and easy to swap in.

Also get the Gnassel mod that flickers and lights up the bicycle girl... maybe lane extenders... lotta good stuff for this game.

I don't have the links handy but they are deep in this thread... starting maybe about halfway through. Plus some have their own threads on PS you could search for.

There has been about 5 for sale in the last month. Right now on PS marketplace are two LE's... 7500 and 8100

Yeah when I got a Premium recently I was all set to have to do this and that to the left ramp but... nope. It's been perfect out of the box.

I felt cheated out of all the tinkering I was planning on doing

Well there goes the neighborhood

Hey you're not the first to dislike that "knocker". Thankfully you can turn it off in the settings.

That's a great question and there are quite a few people over here that have worked this game to death changing audio samples. Hopefully one of them can shed some light on this... you'd think somebody would have already done this by now if it were possible though.

But what if my Well Walker likes to go commando?

Got the package btw.

Yeah it's such a high energy game with stationary bash toys the dimples are inevitable... like MM, etc. Nice thing is it will get an nice uniform orange peel *eventually*. Like my 19 year old MM... I now forget how many years that took though... but not 19!

Is the Mezelmod "door roof" tightened down too hard? I don't know if over-tightening the mod would bear down on the top of the doors and rub or not. I have that too and it hasn't caused any issues. I suppose that's the first thing you checked.

That sign looks good - "a walker free community"...lol Nice job

Yeah I kinda agree. The Modfather idea is a cool looking figure... and the original IS disgusting looking but it actually looks damn close to the well walker that was in the show.

I have more respect for the game's WW after seeing him in the show. Plus you realize why he splits in the middle

But if you want to switch things up it's a worthy replacement.

Mine does this a bit too and simply hitting the flippers doesn't always save it. I hold in one and quickly tap the other...almost like a vibration and that gets the ball excited enough to fling it OTHER than SDTM. It's fun to do when it works... when it doesn't you wonder why the hell it wasn't designed to fling it properly by itself.

I can't tell if I like it or not. I *want* to like it but my brain keeps saying "gutter guards" ...maybe because I use those on my house's rain gutters.

Yeah I did the film thing too... added red sparingly on bloodbath, horde and Woodbury (to balance it out). I was going to add more colors but then decided I didn't want this particular machine to get too "cheerful". And as you pointed out... some of the film colors do noticeably dim the inserts.

Hmmm. Pretty clever. This is my first new Stern in years so I'm still enjoying the blinding light show in the dark...but that would be something to consider in the future.

To do *every* insert though... that must have taken you some time.

Makes sense. Maybe I'll revisit those

Well what would you EXPECT him to say? Seriously?

I have one from the earlier run this year and it's got a sweet PF. One of the nicest Stern PF's I have. Hated to even play it and dimple it up as it was like a deep mirror with no visible insert edges, etc. At the time I was tempted to buy another one from the run and just keep it boxed up but that would be... silly.

Let's hope the new batch upholds this tradition. Good luck with it and let us know when you get it - it's a great game.

I'd consider getting the lane extenders unless you're damn good. It can be a cruel mistress at times.

It's a bit like lighting a roman candle with an iffy fuse... you'll fizzle out with a lot of short games but when it goes off: watch out!

Craziness ensues

Mine actually came with some great balls for once so you may not need a set.

Well that sure doesn't sound right... lol

Well it shouldn't sit flush as there is a small bit of foam under it to protect the PF. Yeah it really is a keeper I agree.

Horde also rocks with a subwoofer under the cab. I find the shakers kinda distracting and rattle-y so you could also consider the sub route... or go ALL IN and use both lol

Hmmm so the foam under the ramp flap didn't do it's job? Did it shrink or deteriorate?

Sorry to hear it but appreciate the head's up. I'm going to check mine next time I play.

THANK YOU for the spoiler alert. I DVR'ed the show but was trying not to hear anything until I could watch it. Then I stumble in here without thinking... you could have spoiled it for me dude! But you didn't... I physically looked away when I saw you post title

Yeah I avoided the show for 6 years thinking it was just about zombie killing, etc. Then I played the pin and was hooked. So I'm your backwards twin

Fortunately I could now binge on about 80 hours of the show without having to fast forward through commercials on Netflix. I enjoyed it immensely but yeah... don't like the cackling hollywood 2D style scripted villain they now have. I assume this episode was to set up the season and it will return to it's more "complex" nature. Hate losing characters (especially one on the side of the machines) but this show has constantly added good characters over the years so I'm looking forward to seeing new faces.

From what I read they may not really need that many new viewers... it's apparently the only show that worries the NFL and pulls people away from SNF. Though the NFL is down across the board this year.

I forget the sequence but there is a way to always put the million point shot up on the top lane - which is usually easier to hit than the rollovers. Something like left flipper twice then right flipper three times.

Yeah but don't they affect each other? Like when I'd set it for the million point award then move the shot then the award would change with it? So I had to do a specific sequence or I'd be monkeying around with it forever. So I found I had to do a certain sequence to always have the shot and award where I wanted it. I wish I could just set the award independent from the shot.

Now you're making me think I've lost my mind

I remember seeing a video of the gameplay before I bought the machine and seeing the guy have to fuss with the skill shot to get it where he wanted it. I can't check mine right now but I don't think it's as simple as just picking the lane and the award. I wish it was but they mess with each other... or my machine is fubar.

If I remember correctly you pick the award and then cycle the light to the shot you want. Problem is by the time you cycle it up to the top lanes the award has changed along with it. So I usually have to set the award to 250 or 500k... then when I cycle it up to the right top lane it is the million point shot I want. So for me it's something like 2 hits on the left to 3 on the right to get the award AND the lane I want.
If that makes any sense.

I'm not sophisticated enough to know why I would want "bit". I assume this gives you a certain point total when you lose the ball through the outlane with "bit" active. I'd probably lose it down the other lane so I usually go for the million points. Quick gratification.

At least the redneck is always impressed... no matter what the outcome

Thanks - that's what I was thinking of. That's what I do but use the manual plunger. Still a good bet you'll hit it.

Hillbilly innovation for the win! Seems appropriate for this title Mine registers ok but if it starts getting flaky I'll remember your fix.

Should've used some pink chewing gum to hold the dime on to get the full effect though...lol

I only found the global setting for coil power and set mine to "soft". It still has more than enough power to make the big ramps, etc.
In fact the manual says the settings either decrease or increase the power by 12%. Not huge but for a clean home game I find less is more for flipper power.

What? Are you accusing Pinsiders of stuffing their machines with costly and unneeded junk just for fun? We're Puritans around here...
not only is nothing added...we even REMOVE plastics and toys that seem too flashy or eye catching!

Some of us even have our kids power the machine by pedaling a stationary bike fitted with a manual generator. They don't seem to like it much but it teaches 'em character.

Standard adjustments - #43

Don't forget yoyocopter's outlane extenders. I enjoyed it without the extenders but due to my lack of skill...didn't see myself ever getting very far in the game.

Even with the extenders I can have some quick (bad) games but now I can get to Horde, etc on occasion

They're all in this thread but the ramp on my Premium was smooth and reliable right out of the box. I was ready to tackle it after reading these posts but then never had to...lol

You can find them on eBay or Amazon if you want to give your machine that LOTR look.

Looks nice. One thing you need to finish it off is the plastic Mezel sells that hides the round washers over the prison doors. Really cleans up the look of the prison, etc.

Aside from the prison tower (which looks awesome painted) you could always add some light to the rear of the ramps in the chamber back in there. You can go with a static LED strip but I got one with some electronics and a controller which allows the color back there to pulse...kinda like a heartbeat. Adds some life to the lighting. A guy named Kim makes the kit... Kimball's Pinball's I believe.

You even put blood on the metal next to the crossbow. I like it. Nice and bloody everywhere.

Any more news about this?

Good to hear. I can't think of a better candidate for colorDMD. thx!

Yeah I just soldered the 2 wire connection directly to the flasher ends so not to mess with the original wiring. I'm not fond of those squeeze-type connectors they included that are supposed to bite through the insulation of the other wires.

I also had a slight tilt to the tower but found if I pulled a bit on the black connector that comes out of the tower to down under the PF I could get it to stand just right. Then I secured the connector under the PF to keep it in position.

Best the budget could afford! lol That's why the prison tower got put in a picture on the backboard.

Binge on 6 seasons worth on Netflix... it'll make a little more sense. You gotta start with the very first episode though to really feel invested in it

I do all this and do get to Horde but can still not get a monster score. Might have to do with whenever I load the X shot with the inlane I then usually choke and miss that shot. But that's not the machine's fault

Glad you worked it out...probably be fine in the long run. Also sorry but I remember my problem was my tower leaning to the right and putting tension on the main cord from it straightened it out... I'd forgotten that so no wonder that didn't properly yank your tower backwards into position.

Is yours painted? I got one from a guy here that was nicely painted/distressed looking. Worked out well for me as even if I found a "bare" one I didn't trust my own skills not to make it totally fugly in attempting to paint it.

Sadly Lymans probably so buried with the unfinished BM66 we may never see a final polishing

Talk about one guy holding the whole operation together...

Ha - yeah and I think their "Alexandria" WAS supposed to be near Washington DC in Virginia like mine. Unfortunately it wasn't actually in "my" Alexandria after all

Then just get KPG's sound mix. Has Negan's whistle all over it.

Hey man if I have just done Horde...what's the route to Terminus? Or is it something you need to shoot for from the start?
Thx!

The only adjustment I read about was to try to rotate the magnet core and people that had done it said it doesn't change it's behavior. On my particular machine it tends to throw it down the middle most of the time no matter what kind of flipper tapping you do... not like this on some other machines and I don't think anyone knows why this is the case.

I wish they did...believe me.

Good to know. Well I now finally have big ass wrench for that core nut so maybe I will give it a shot. I hate to mess with the side to side pitch as I have no problems with the pops going down the center. In fact it plays wonderfully fair *except* for the prison magnet.

Hey you *guaranteed* me dude! I'm driving all the way up there if it doesn't work

My ramp is still the way it came from the factory and the plastic is still fine up there. If you need a new one there is a mod maker that sells it. That's if Chas can't send you one from Stern. Good luck with it.

Yeah I'm talking about the one to the entrance at the bottom that sits off center . I was surprised to see someone selling these but now I know why...

Ha! Right underneath your post to me was the item displayed in the pink(ish) Pinside market ads. Hope this is what you want:

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1012-ulekstore/00060-clear-acrylic-replacement-mod-for-stern-s-twd-bicycle-ramp

Do I deliver or what?

Regarding ColorDMD... Does this mean they figure there will be no more game code updates?

So for my 2016 TWD Premium I just need to get the eight dollar spacer kit, right? Not blow another 24 bucks on the more elaborate kit?

Thx

Yeah nothing like the tunnel to arena ramp combo also - I did it twice in a row the other day. Wish I could claim it was my skill rather than lucky shots. Love the combo sound too.. CLUNK

Yeah I agree. Maybe that's why it feels so good when it works

For what it's worth mine seems to have finally calmed down a bit and I can smack away at that incoming cruise missile and NOT cringe at the potential massive air ball.

I suspect it will do it again when I wax it though.

I don't have it come off the Arena ramp. It's when it's flying back at the left flipper from a fast tunnel shot that the flipper will make the ball go airborn. And this is with the flipper rubber raised on the bat to help prevent this.

But it's apparently calmed down and I can finally enjoy this combo on a more consistent basis.

It's probably because I'm such a badass that I have the game set ridiculously steep so I can barely follow the ball at this speed.

Pure adrenaline with the added benefit of being able to justify my massively low scores

Don't try to out-badass me!

I agree with that. Before I got my TWD Prem I dutifully researched and prepared for re-doing the left ramp to get a smooth experience. I'm still nicely shocked I never had to do anything to it... ball shoots up there quite smoothly with no fuss. Maybe not *quite* as smooth as a pro but certainly not clunky with rejected shots, etc...

So yeah... Stern managed to deliver *variety* even within the same game title. "It's not a bug - it's a feature!"

Maybe he has "invisaglass"... as in *the glass is off* lol Nah I like to hear about epic games on TWD because they are pretty rare (for me) but so satisfying when they finally happen.

You can move it up or down with a twist but I doubt if it will do anything because it's already so wonky... in a good way on my machine. Some time mine holds it for a bit and gently drops it to the right flipper. Other times it will whip it so violently it will shoot up and make the RIOT lane shot. So who knows.

My prison magnet has always been disappointing compared to other machines I've played though. If I try to bang away on the flippers when it's held it doesn't throw it off nicely (or even get a hit on the prison like some) but *always* throws it straight down the middle. I've learned to actually leave it alone now as when it releases it on it's own it tends to throw it down at and angle so I can get the ball back under control.

Yeah don't spoil it watching a video. Play it for a little while to discover some things yourself... THEN watch a video or read about the scoring possibilities.

At least that's what I did. I hate spoilers

oooh yeah... look at that damn leg! It's showing some leg... and not in a good way. Good detective work.

Btw look into getting Gnassel's light up kit for the under ramp Bicycle Girl and don't be afraid to try Yoyo copter's extended outlane guides if you find the hungry outlanes too frustrating.

After these you can leisurely pick up some of the cool cosmetic mods for this game. Enjoy

Ah so you are bit of a masochist and a glutton for punishment. You do indeed have a perfect lineup then. You'll be one badass player if you can eventually tame those three titles

Let me know when you are sure you have sold yours as I have the same new set I never used and would like to sell also...

Glad your post reminded me or I never would have gotten around to it.

Good deal - thx!

You want to get the Bicycle Girl light from Gnassel in Germany. It's the better one with the flickering effect, etc. You can PM him over here.

Mine did that a couple times early on but now I have it set pretty damn steep and I think that must help the ball settle into the crossbow switch - it's never had that issue again.

Yeah he did that for me too. What a guy huh?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004A9PMGE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00

I got this and it makes the inserts nice and red... in fact all the colors worked but blue didn't seem to fit in with the theme so I think I just colorized Bloodbath, Horde and a few others. I think I did some small ones with green too. I may have done the weapons too... I need to go look as it's been a while.

Worked pretty well in fact. Mine is the Premium if that matters... not sure if the inserts are colored differently on the pro.

White IS boring.

posting fail... nothing to see here folks.