u/ackmondual

If you have specific parameters in mind, then do mention them! Otherwise, since we had Double Trouble (VL with Kill Bots + Propogators) most recently, that could be one baseline we could all use.

Zerg COs sound like they're all barred (esp. Zagara and Stukov), although Dehaka may be an exception (who in many ways doesn't act like a Zerg CO anyways). I'm guessing Raynor non-P1 and Mengsk would be the best bets?

TL;DR, "viable" doesn't mean completely balanced. And some COs + prestiges may still struggle. But at least it'd be nice if the likes of Zagara and Stukov weren't "mandatory". And yes, I'm aware there's not more development on this mode.

For those unaware, CtG and guests do a tier list for each Mutation on YouTube. If nothing else, it's amusing to see Raynor ranked higher on Double Trouble than half the usual roster* that normally would surpass him (if not by a large margin), simply because those ranked lower get demolished by Kill Bots 😂

And FWIW, we didn't really need them to tell us that much either. The player base on their own gravitated towards Stukov and Zagara, if not also Stetmann.

*. including but not limited to... Tychus, Zeratul, Swann, Nova, Karax, Mengsk

.

One suggestion was to make kill count based on supply. If we were to do this, all units (as appropriate since exceptions like Raynor Spider Mines don't count exist), would still count for a minimum of 1 kill. I'm thinking Tychus would still be screwed since Outlaws are too beefy, and still only contribute 10 supply (although some would argue he's OP anyways 🤷‍♂️ ). The likes of Abby can still feed SH Locusts later game, and Broodlings from Evo Chambers early on.

Another would be to let workers count as 3 to 5 supply each. This would still favor Zerg since they have excellent output in pumping those out, but at least it'd give T and P COs a better fighting chance. Murder/Death/Kill Bots need 5/10/15 kills respectively. At least it would lower the worker counts to the below...

supply provided
|
V
   5  10  15  <-- supply required
3  2   4   5
4  2   3   4
5  1   2   3

.... which wouldn't mean certain economic death.

Had a Raptor converted via Perfume Shroom kick a Treasure Yeti off the lawn. It didn't drop its lunch box, nor did I get a lunch box prize upon completing the level. Is this expected behavior?

I'll also mention that the notification banner at the bottom of the level select area remained (stating the Treasure Yeti has been spotted). I tapped on it, played the same level again, defeated the Yeti + got his lunchbox, and was awarded the lunch box prize upon completing the level this time around.

I'd like to do more of these, but can't seem to really find much of them.

NJ = New Jersey
DE = Delaware
PA = Pennsylvania
MD = Maryland
VA = Virginia

Please leave out TooManyGames (in Oaks, PA) and Super MAGfest (National Harbor, MD) because I already know about them.

All sizes welcome. They don't have to be ginormous sizes like those 2 with 20K to 25K attendees. Several hundred, several thousand, to 10K+ attendees in size are also welcome. 🙂

It doesn't have to be 100% about video games, but it should either be the majority, or large enough that it's still prominent. As an illustrative example, if an anime con is more so about anime, but if 25% of it has video game related stuff, that still works for me.

I'm more into open play and organized play. Less so into tournaments and competitive play (although if someone wants to jump into a fighting game match, I wouldn't necessarily say no).

Most types of gaming are fine. PC, consoles, arcade, VR, handhelds, even mobile.
Most time periods are fine as well. "Retro retro" (like Atari 2600, NES, GB, SNES era). 'Retro' like Xbox 360 and PS3. Modern times such as within the last 8 years.

Playing video games is nice, but vg related I'm also interested in, including but not limited to.... dealer halls, vendor, local crafts, open gaming, any workshops, panels, guests of the industry (ie. developers, artists, indie studios, major AAA, sound people, those who dabble in their tools), concerts, music, music jams (observing or participating with your own musical instruments/singing), etc.

Just to be clear, I'm not interested in buying a saxophone, nor learning to play it. I just want the experience of trying one out is all.

A music store has a variety of instruments for us to try out. It's typically free to do so*, but this is the first time I'd like to delve into instruments with reeds. I don't have my own mouthpieces nor reeds for any of those instruments so I'd have to spend money just to do so (as one option, the store has them and that would set me back $30 for a set of alto saxophone reeds, and another $50 for its mouthpiece).

What advice is recommended in getting the most out of this trial session? If I do go ahead with it, I would have 2+ hours to do just that. The only thing I got is to read/watch as many primer articles and videos ahead of time.

.

*. I've tried out euphoniums, trumpets, trombones, French horn, and flute. These instruments use mouthpieces and the lip plates on flute that can can be properly sanitized from person-to-person.

I play euphonium and trumpet so I know what to do with those. The trombone and French horn have "similar enough" embouchures to them respectively, while I've played flute before (even though I no longer have one, and it was for a year or so).

2 years back (2025), especially come Sat. noon, I remember the parking lot directly in front of the Gaylord venue filling up. Do the other parking lots/garages within walking distance (so up to 10 minutes away) also fill up? I'm carrying extra gear would rather not have to rely on public transit, nor the MAGfest shuttles, so I'd like to know what my options would be (and if possible, how much they charge).

Thanks!

I was looking over the policy they posted in 2025, for 2026. It doesn't mention anything about this, but online is saying there are King beds that cover just that. I don't have anybody to bunk with and I'd rather have my own room anyways, so would like to know what the deal with this is and what the odds are of getting such a room (besides pray and make a luck producing machine).

A music store has a variety of instruments for us to try out. It's typically free to do so*, but this is the first time I'd like to delve into instruments with reeds. I don't have my own mouthpieces nor reeds for any of those instruments so I'd have to spend money just to do so (as one option, the store has them and that would set me back $30 for a set of alto saxophone reeds, and another $50 for its mouthpiece. I'd imagine it's similar for those of a clarinet).

What advice is recommended in getting the most out of this trial session? If I do go ahead with it, I would have 2+ hours to do just that. The only thing I got is to read/watch as many primer articles and videos ahead of time.

.

*. I've tried out euphoniums, trumpets, trombones, French horn, and flute. I play euphonium and trumpet, so the trombone and French horn have "similar enough" embouchures to them respectively, while I've played flute before (even though I no longer have one, and it was for a year or so), so I know what to expect from those (and also, no reeds to mess with there).

A music store has a variety of instruments for us to try out. It's typically free to do so*, but this is the first time I'd like to delve into instruments with reeds. I don't have my own mouthpieces nor reeds for any of those instruments so I'd have to spend money just to do so (as one option, the store has them and that would set me back $30 for a set of alto saxophone reeds, and another $50 for its mouthpiece).

What advice is recommended in getting the most out of this trial session? If I do go ahead with it, I would have 2+ hours to do just that. The only thing I got is to read/watch as many primer articles and videos ahead of time.

*. I've tried out euphoniums, trumpets, trombones, French horn, and flute. I play euphonium and trumpet, so the trombone and French horn have "similar enough" embouchures to them respectively, while I've played flute before (even though I no longer have one, and it was for a year or so), so I know what to expect from those.

The settings app for my Google Pixel 6 divides apps into games and non-games. This one is showing up in the latter for me. I was wondering if this is the case with anybody else (list your phone if you will). I don't particularly mind, just curious is all

For me...

Karax, Fenix, HH, Swann, Stukov, and Stetmann

Karax especially since he specializes in "the way of the towers", "the way of the units", and "the way of the Spear of Adun laser show" that tackle various mutation configurations so well.

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Those mostly unaffected (again, for me) would be...

Raynor (I'm still not proficient at P3, P1 having no MULES is an issue in longer games despite how I loath "APM macro MULES"

Vorazun (I could hotkey DP and use Recall again, although it seems moot anyways since I hardly use her for Mutations)

Tychus (P2 micro was never that good, and I'd be willing to give up his P1)

Zeratul (I suck at AF hunting so P2 is out. Would miss P3, but having access to 3rd tier of Artifact fragments would be nice)

Energizers' Chrono Beam effectively applies stimpack to units and buildings. So just zap a worker unit with it and it'll get +50% movement speed! It only lasts for 10 seconds, but every bit can help (it certainly would've for some of my previous games). If you can have a network of them on the high ground, that could facilitate speed running. You will need to manually cast it since workers never attack and aren't eligible as an auto-cast target.

(I guess it's because regular Brutal is easy enough to not notice, and I haven't played this on Brutal+ in the longest time)

I'm assuming purchasing the Sc2 campaigns still gives you Swann, Zagara, Vorazun, and Karax as COs for Coop mode as well.

I typically play these sorts of things a few times just to explore it all. This time though, I accidentally beat it without having done so, and you're not permitted to repeat the Pinata Parties (save for taht bug a few days back). All I got are (bold faced are ones I'm unsure about)...

Apple Mortar (base plant without an upgrade)

Primal Pea Shooter (base plant without an upgrade)

Snow PS --> $2.5K Cold Snap Dragon
OR $3K Shadow PS

Primal Wall Nut --> $2K Frozen Pear

Zoybean Pod --> $3.5K Caulipower --> $5K Winter Melon Pult
OR --> $3K Grimrose

--> $3K Inferno (unassigned upgrade)

--> $3.5K Wasabi Whip (unassigned upgrade)

TL;DR, I much prefer Cherry Bomb here, and generally avoid the other two.

I really enjoyed Grapeshot in IAT/vanilla, but admittedly, as a plant that cost real $$, it was naturally OP (and hella fun)... it could 1-shot a Garg if placed at center, and scattering grape projectiles hit it as well. The sun cost, recharge, and explosion damage were all on par with Cherry Bomb, but all 3 of those attributes have been nerfed respectively... 150 vs. 250 sun cost, 50 vs. 60 recharge, 1800 vs. 600 explosion dmg.

Bombegranate also got enough nerfs that I find myself preferring Cherry Bomb to them.

Do any of you prefer Bombegranate and/or Grapeshot to Cherry Bomb?

It's some kind of rewards program built into your account and Google Play app.

So for the uninitiated, open your Google Play app, tap on your user icon at the top right, then tap on the entry that says "Play Points".

.

Around 8 years back, I was purchasing enough on GP to be at Gold tier rewards (close to Platinum IIRC). However, I went through a dry spell and now currently 60% of the way through Bronze. (There's an 'i' button somewhere that explains the perks of each tier)

They have weekly "claim your Play Points" feature where every 100 of those can be redeemed for $1 in credit to buy apps and games (if not other stuff like eBooks, movies, TV shows).

Also events like get 8x the points if you purchase stuff from now till 10 days later.
Another would be tied to events like Genshin Impact.
Closest I came was some perk for Slice & Dice, but I long purchased the game.

I'm just curious how much people get into this program. What got me to think of this was realizing that I haven't really thought about it in all those years is all! 😲

I'm assuming it'll be a crapshoot (more than ever) to win the hotel lottery. But still, I'd like to know what the room rates are for rooms within the Gaylord itself, and surrounding areas where you're within a 15 to 30 minute walk from the con's/fest's entrances. At least I can try to budget now and save up.

And yes, I've stayed in Alexandria before. However, going forward, I'd rather not go if I can't get something within walking distance (unless them Super MAGfest shuttles that became available starting last year are reliable and operate 24/7 for the duration of the con/fest).

Primal Sunflower is my go-to since it's possible when you max out the "starting sun" track to 100. But in addition to no sun dropping at night, the production feels, slower (or am I imagining this?), that it still quite doesn't cut it.

So I typically go Sun Shroom.

To compliment that, I also have Gold Bloom + that Imitated.