« Back to All Topics
Next TA Target Discussion
Next TA Target Discussion
Next TA Target Discussion
Now that the million square is clear, we can decide on our next target.  I know a few of us want to clear the 40k northern square first, which gives us some time to discuss our options.

There are eleven possible squares to choose from, but the way I see it, we have three main options (if you would like another square, let us know your reasoning and the community will consider it).

1) 
10313
 - 
This is the 500k square north of the old million block.
  The idea here would be to isolate the infinite square, which we believe to be the source of invasions.  After this square, we would head east, which, sadly, will likely be another million square.  
Total conquest: 1.5million.


2) 
10311
 or 
10312
 - 
These are the 250k and 300k squares around the lake.
  The plan here would be to create a path around the lake, which I know some people would like.  
Total conquest: 550k.


3) 
10240
 or 
10275
 - 
These are the 120k and 150k squares south of the current 40k target.
  Smaller squares will make us feel more productive after the long endeavor of a million conquest.  Widening the corridor and cutting the western blocks off even more from the recruitment center would also help protect the north city from invasions.  
Total conquest: 270k.


Those are my ideas.  I open up the discussion to the community.
I like idea #3. While we learned some interesting things from taking down the 1M square, it took a very long time. I'm not sure pecking at another gigantic square with no promise of results is conducive to maintaining high splatter morale. 

I think we should wait to see what terrain lies underneath the 40k square (10205). If it's more desert, the two squares to the south of it (10240&10275) are most likely desert as well. But if the 40k square has more Magician district or even Caverns, I support investigating further east, assuming the block sizes are manageable. Either way, I don't think we should go for any blocks bigger than 300k so that we can stay productive. In the time it took to clear the 1M block, we could've taken out over 8 of the 120k blocks!
(For anyone not aware of what the 5-digit block numbers are, refer to the map on larkinorguide.com: 
http://larkinorguide.com/cgi-bin/islands.cgi?act=map&iid=2
 ... you have to click each individual square to pull up the ID though).

As much as I'd like to go for Option 1 (which could theoretically be done in 1 to 1.5 years)... I understand that "quick wins" are better for morale.

I see no point in Option 2... it's not like we'll be able to go fishing with our nets or anything.  And for double the monsters as Option 3 (with still only requiring 2 squares), well... Option 3 looks more appealing to me.

I would also add Option 4:
4) 
10203, 10328, 10273, 10308
 - 
4 squares each at 120k, forming the "Western Block"
.  Nice small targets, with no reason for the Western Block to remain in tact.  We could go for a square a month, and make some great open space on the Western front.

So for now... I go splat on the square with less than 40k remaining.
Thanks for the asking ideas about next target area. :)

Before deciding about the next block i like to see if clearing 1 million square effected the invasions.  I measured the daily invasions before, calculating invasions daily since the clearing of 1 mil.  It has been two days yet to early to tell if there is a difference.

I like to add another option;
5) 
10312, 10277, 10242
 for an eastern coridor.  10312 is 300k, we don't know about 10277 and 10242.  My estimates are their total would be less or equal to 300k. If we select this option total monsters to be cleared would be around 
600k
.

Clearing 40k block would reveal one more block, this could help our decision.

-kristal



I honestly agree with zmr08, studies  regarding invasions are required first. Did the 1M block being gone change anything? Unfortunately I don't have the exact numbers on how it used to work (average invader numbers per hour or per day) but if anyone has/had them - we could even make several assumptions, from the following:
1 - number of daily invaders depends on total numbers of invaded blocks - yes/no/maybe
2 - number of daily invaders depends on total numbers of invaders present on TA - yes/no/maybe
3 - number of invaders depends on the number of invaders nearby RC block - yes/no/maybe
Based on these answers further faster progress can be achieved to minimize the number of daily invaders. If getting rid of 1M square changed the number of invaders, then we may see what happens after getting rid of 40k block - if it will decrease it as well then probably 1 and 2 are true, 3rd is false, and so on...

Thus I consider studying the invasions first, and then clearing the 40k block and studying them again. Depending on results - we can choose the next target wisely
 (most likely something not too big (<=300k) as Tyler mentioned).
Kristal's been doing some invader studies and it doesn't appear that their numbers have changed since clearing the million block.

My vote is going for 10313, the 500k square.  I would like to isolate the infinite block, and we could conceivably head north for two squares and cordon off the east coast.

Also, considering the number of splatters I've seen on the northern square over the last couple weeks, I don't think choosing smaller targets has any effect on morale.
I agree with ezekial.  My vote is also for  10313, the 500k square.
Invasion study shows there is not any change of number of invasions after clearing 1 million square. We cannot change the number of invasions, but we can control where the invasions appear by clearing around source square.

-kristal



The only problem I see with that logic is the study when we first tried to isolate the Western Block.

Monsters invade the pathway, thus connecting the Western Block to the rest.  And then monsters can invade from the Western Block to the North or South, since it's all connected again.

So even if we clear 500k on this block, then likely 1 million North of the "Mystery Block", and take 2-3 years doing it all... these cleared squares will get invaded, reconnecting everything, and then invasions can continue happening everywhere just like they are now, most likely.
>The only problem I see with that logic is the study when we first tried to isolate the Western Block.

>Monsters invade the pathway, thus connecting the Western Block to the rest. And then monsters can invade from the Western Block to the North or South, since it's all connected again.

>So even if we clear 500k on this block, then likely 1 million North of the "Mystery Block", and take 2-3 years doing it all... these cleared squares will get invaded, reconnecting everything, and then invasions can continue happening everywhere just like they are now, most likely.

answer to the jason's comments:

We certainly cannot isolate only clearing 500k block, we have to clear b.10273, north of the 500k too.  You are right it will take a while, i think around one year hopefully less to clear these two blocks. 

To avoid invasion bridges we need to clear invasions as frequent as possible.

-kristal
>To avoid invasion bridges we need to clear invasions as frequent as possible.

But if we even let the monsters invade for 6 hours overnight without someone checking on them, they can create the bridges, and advance from wherever.

Let's say our goal is to be able to rebuild the North teleport, so we can jump back and forth from North to South easier.  Putting a year's worth of effort into clearing 2 blocks (and really, I would say probably at least 1.5 years), and not being able to see any gains until that time is up... good luck with morale.  Right now, monsters need to invade 4 squares (in the right direction) to hit the teleport square.  Even if we clear around the Recruitment Centre, they will bridge the gap instantly when they invade, and then would still only need 4 squares in the right direction to hit teleport.

Whereas, if we clear the blocks just East and South of the previously cleared block in the North (2-3 months), then monsters would need to invade 5 blocks (in the right direction) before they could damage the teleport.  And after that, the two squares South of those two plus the North-most block West of the path would mean monsters have to invade 6 blocks (in the right direction) to reach the teleport.

So we could make significant progress to protecting all buildings in the North city (specifically the teleport) within the next 6 months.  And after that, really every 2-3 squares (3-4 months) we would make another big step of progress.  Based on the damage over the Christmas holidays the last couple years (due to splatters not being online as often)... we could significantly reduce that this year, and possible even have no damage the following year (I'd guess we could be about 8-9 invasion-blocks away from any buildings by Dec 2015, rather than the 4 we are currently at).

But if we try to isolate the RC block, it will only be around Christmas next year when we finally do it, and monsters will still be only 4 blocks away (after the inevitable first invasion that reconnects the whole thing).
... so I will be splatting up North most of the time these days, to try and make progress to protecting the buildings in the North city.

(Silly forum not allowing editing).
So based on my argument above, this is the order I would recommend clearing squares, in order to maximize our effectiveness of protecting the North city:

sea------150000
sea------120000-120000
120000-120000-120000-120000
120000-120000-120000
__5___-120000-120000-__1___
_8or9__-120000-__2___-__3___-__6___-__10__
__13__-120000-__4___-__7___-__11__--__15__-__17__
__14__-120000-150000-_8or9_--__12__--__16__-__18__
120000-120000---lake-----lake-----500000-1000000-RC(20)
120000-120000---lake----150000--300000--__19__
120000-120000-120000-120000--150000
120000-120000-120000-120000--120000
sea------------------120000-120000--120000
sea------------------120000-120000--120000-120000
sea------------------120000-120000--120000-120000
sea------------------------------120000--120000-120000
sea-------------------------------------------120000-120000
sea-------------------------------------------120000-120000-120000
sea--------------------------------------------60000--150000-150000
sea-------------------------------------------------------120000-150000
sea------------------------------------------------------------------120000
sea------------------------------------------------------------------150000

So then the order we're clearing them, and the monsters on those blocks (or predicted monsters, for hidden squares, shown in brackets) is as follows:

1 - 120k
2 - 120k
3 - (120k)
4 - 120k
5 - 120k  <-- completion around Dec 2014?
6 - (120k)
7 - (120k)
8 - 120k or 250k
9 - 250k or 120k
10 - (150k)
11 - (150k)
12 - 300k  <-- completion around Dec 2015?
13 - 120k
14 - 120k
15 - (300k)
16 - 500k  <-- completion around Oct 2016?
17 - (500k)
18 - (1 mil)
19 - 500k  <-- completion around Dec 2018?
20 - RC, unknown?

Completion dates are roughly based on ~3000 cleared per day, in addition to any invading forces, which is about what we were averaging for the last 6 months, I believe.

It does mean we delay the isolation of the RC for about 2.5 more years.  And the bottom of that list might look discouraging.  But the top has got to look pretty good.  We can have the island look almost entirely clear in the next 1.5 to 2 years.  Literally, in 2 years, there could be only 4 or 5 blocks left to clear (plus whatever happens with the RC).
While your reasoning makes sense (though I think you may be overestimating our splat rate), it assumes our goal is to protect north city.  Personally, there's nothing of worth for me up there: no market, no store, and it's not like we'll be able to buy homes once the palace is built.  As for the teleport...well, the only reason I go up there right now is to clear invaders, so I wouldn't really be needing that either.  And buildings don't get damaged if they need the maximum number of stones still.

My goal right now is to see if there is any way to slow down or halt invaders.  Granted, that's a long shot, but with over 1.5million invaders to date, anything that might hint at slowing them down is at the top of my list.

As far as morale goes, if there are 4+ people who will agree to splat regularly on a northern target, I'd be happy to join them.  My morale is more attached to the number of consistent splatters working on a square than the number of monsters on that square. 

Anyhow, until more people weigh in, I'll keep using my clicks on the 500k.
>So based on my argument above, this is the order I would recommend clearing squares, in order to maximize our effectiveness of protecting the North city:

I understand your argument Jason, but do not think only north part of the island but the whole of it.

Our goal is not only protect north city but south city as well.  There are some repopulated monsters that we use for harvesting some items, I like to protect that area too.  So I prefer to open an eastern aisle first, then extend it. At the northern city only completed building is the pub next to port.  I think we can protect it by clearing that region a few times during the day.  If invasion extend to the pub we can complete building again as we did many times before.

-kristal
>though I think you may be overestimating our splat rate

From this thread, over the last ~10 months (I would do 1 year, but there seemed to be a severe delay from May to August of last year):

http://forum.flyordie.com/thread.jsp?forum=13&thread=60543&start=0&msRange=15


Aug 23 - 650k
Sep 25 - 600k (50k / 33 days = 1515/day)
Oct 23 - 550k (50k / 28 days = 1786/day)
Nov 13 - 500k (50k / 21 days = 2381/day)
Dec 05 - 450k (50k / 22 days = 2273/day)
Dec 25 - 400k (50k / 20 days = 2500/day)
Jan 12 - 350k (50k / 18 days = 2778/day)
Jan 15 - 340k (10k / 03 days = 3333/day)
Jan 29 - 300k (40k / 14 days = 2857/day)
Feb 09 - 270k (30k / 11 days = 2727/day)
Feb 16 - 250k (20k / 07 days = 2857/day)
Feb 26 - 230k (20k / 10 days = 2000/day)
Mar 06 - 210k (20k / 08 days = 2500/day)
Mar 10 - 200k (10k / 04 days = 2500/day)
Mar 18 - 180k (20k / 08 days = 2500/day)
Mar 28 - 150k (30k / 10 days = 3000/day)
Apr 03 - 130k (20k / 06 days = 3333/day)
Apr 07 - 120k (10k / 04 days = 2500/day)
Apr 10 - 110k (10k / 03 days = 3333/day)
Apr 13 - 100k (10k / 03 days = 3333/day)
Apr 30 - 56k (44k / 17 days = 2588/day)
May 03 - 49k (07k / 03 days = 2333/day)
May 06 - 40k (09k / 03 days = 3000/day)
May 08 - 30k (10k / 02 days = 5000/day)
May 10 - 22k (08k / 02 days = 4000/day)
May 12 - 12k (10k / 02 days = 5000/day)
May 14 - 00k (12k / 02 days = 6000/day)

So... we can forget the last ~6 days, where the rate obviously increased significantly (to 4-6k/day).  Otherwise, since November of last year, we've been running 2200-3300/day, so 2500/3000/day seems like a reasonable rate.

And in theory, there should be a couple more splatters being added here-and-there.  I've got 4 splatting regularly (and have only come back to the game early in 2014), and am trying to get the time to get my 3 others up there once in a while.  I'm sure some of you guys have a few characters becoming more and more efficient at splatting.  And there might even be the odd new player joining the ranks?  The only concern with the rate of splatting would be if one of the regulars (and I think there are 2 of you who do most of the splatting) were to leave, even for a period of time.
...making our average over the course of those 650k only 2390.  If you add in our average on the 40k square afterwards (20 days), brings us to 2363.  And if you want to go even further and add in the last five days where we've only done around 10k, we're at 
2357/day
 since August.

If you're projecting our progress over a long period of time, it will make a substantial difference.  Granted, if you join in splatting regularly, we might just make 3k/day.
My 4 char's alone should get ~400/day (average) - they do not fight on Larkinor, only TA.  If I'm able to get Strength/Persistance/Speed there as well, that will be pushed up even higher.