While there is another debate raging on another forum thread on how best to proceed with dealing with TA, I would like to open this thread for an active study on the monsters that we see creeping back into cleared blocks. I've only made casual observations (as I'm more of a casual observation kind of person not likely to take notes and figure formulas), but here is what I've noticed: 1. The monsters seem to come in waves. We might not see any movement from them for some time, then suddenly they're there and keep creeping into squares we *just* cleared. Is this the result of some computer program sitting there spitting out monsters at given times? Or do the monsters come from somewhere (a monster breeding ground, reshuffling of troops from other blocks, etc)? Or perhaps do they respond to our own movements, moving in as we become more active in "their" territories or as we reach certain milestones on the blocks we're clearing? (For example: earlier this evening there were several fighters along the south borders, and the monsters kept coming. Now there are few monsters on that path and virtually no one's on patrol there. But when Zeke and I broke the 8K mark on the north land bridge suddenly more troops were all over the place. Coincidence? Perhaps. Perhaps not.) 2. They seem to me to be harder to beat than the uncleared blocks are. I am sent home more on these clusters of small armies than I am splatting at a regular block. Secretary and I were talking about this in chat and he has noticed this too. More aggressive (undoing buildings and monstology squares) and thicker skins. 3. As I hinted at in my first point, they seem to target different areas almost one at a time. Earlier there were the most monsters along the path to the south land bridge. But while that area (as I type this) is relatively clear, monster activity at the north port is rather aggressively active, blocking me in, increasing army numbers, booting me to another square, reinforcing the front lines... 4. Of the three areas they creep in (south land bridge, path to the 500K blocks, north port), I've personally noticed more monsters on the path to the south land bridge. Is this because there are more front lines there from whence they can emmerge? Is there something there that draws their attention more? Or is it just accidental that I happen to stumble onto TA when there's been less patrolling going on there? After all, seems like most splatters are concentrating on the north. So what I'd like to do is start monitoring their numbers and perhaps their stats (what kind of monsters we're meeting vs. our average splats). Secretary said that he splatted over 300 today
just in patrols alone
-- and while I have not kept track, I know I did quite a number of splats in patrols myself. Starting tomorrow, I will be keeping track of the numbers on paper. I invite all splatters to do so as well and post daily these things here on this thread: A. Number of monsters encountered and on which blocks you encountered them. B. Note any change in front lines that are not actively being splatted. (I would suggest that we take note of the numbers on the front lines of each of the blocks and then
keep them there
while concentrating on one (or two at most, if we set up some sort of race) splat block at a time. This way we can monitor how many monsters move in on those squares, fortifying the lines. This way it will not distract us from our common goals -- if ever we figure out what they are, of course.) C. What time of day you encountered monsters and which particular areas. (e.g. at 10 p.m. EST there was a total of 41 monsters on path to south bridge, 35 monsters on path to 500K blocks, 58 monsters in north port areas.) D. Average level or experience of monsters met. (Not nearly so important to me as the first three, but a curiosity factor nonetheless.) Of course, the more data we gather (that is, the more players who contribute to this thread), the more accurate the picture, and the better of an idea we have as to what we're dealing with... Happy patrolling, everyone!