BlameThePixel!

As some of you may have noticed, a 'new' multiplayer game made it to Wormnet - called FlySurfer. The rules for this type of game are very easy, yet many people do not understand them, hence this topic.

The Roots: A FlySurfer is in fact nothing more than a combined SurfShopper and FlyShopper. While SurfShoppers usually take place in a 2 chambered map with an island below, FlySurfers are open and obviously you have to fly - sometimes. Here comes the itchy part, because first time joiners might get confused on what to do in their turn -> When to fly? When to surf? ahh i quit in stead of trying...


The Rules:

1) Surf to the island.

2) Only worms on the island may attack.

3) CBA and Fly Before Attack.


That's it - nothing more nothing less.


Notes on rules:

1) There is no need to fly before you surf to the island. (Rule 1 only states "Surf to the island", and not "Fly before Surf to the island"). However if ya like to show off or fly a bit before you take a dive into the water (or maybe you just want to get some crates on the other side of the map), nobody is gonna stop you in having that bit of fun.

2) ONLY worms on the island may attack, and knocking/attacking on the island is not allowed. So how can you attack worms on it then? - Aqua sheep is one option, guided missile another one, but remember: Fly before Attack. How you'd get off the island? No, not via roping through the surf tunnel, but by taking the stairs

3) Remember the traditional shopper rules that apply before attacking. Crate Before Attack is a very old rule and since this is a mutated FlyShopper, you must also Fly Before Attack (even if the attacking worm flew before he surfed!). There is NO rule telling you that you must CBS (Crate Before Surf), so just be sure you get your crate before you attack. Getting one or several crates before you surf is always good for your armory though.


Quick QnA:

Q] So, what about worms starting on the island then? May they attack or must they surf first?

A] This had many thoughts on it, and to keep the rules simple, no additional rules are added to make those worms surf before attack. They are just lucky to start on the island already and may attack immediately. Why? If several worms start on the island and during the turns several worms also manage to surf to it, then the island may become a bit crowded. Nobody is gonna remember (or wants to have to remember) which worms on it surfed and which didn't. To 'prevent cheating' and people deploying attacks with worms on the island that have not surfed yet, that part has been legalized (KISS method, programmers should know wtf I'm talking about here). Nevertheless it's nice and fair play if that person in question at least tried to surf 1 worm to the island before he deploys the lucker(s). The solution not to have any worms starting on the island would be to use worm placement on game startup. Resulting in people who don't know where to place their worms, resulting in very long waiting time and explaining before all worms have been placed on the map by the players and the actual game can start. I don't like that solution, so worms on the island are simply lucky, wohoo!


Q] After I surf, how do I attack with that worm? Because his turn ends after the surf I can never complete your "Surf and Fly Before Attack"....

A] Use WormSelect on your next turn to select the worm you just surfed to the island and attack with him. Your turn ends after the surf, sure. That's the moment where you gain an attack for your next turn.


Q] Do I have to surf all my worms to the island before I may attack?

A] No need to surf your whole team to the island before you start your attacks. During your turns, simply use SelectWorm to choose if you want to surf to the island, or to attack with a worm on the island. If there is no WormSelect available in the game, then tell the host and quit - it's a basic option that should be in the game scheme and FlySurfers can't be played properly without.


Q] After an attack, must that worm surf again, or is he free to continue like in a normal FlyShopper next turn?

A] Hehe, this is not a normal FlyShopper: on his next turn he MUST surf to the island again to get a new attack ==> Surf - CBA/FBA - Surf - CBA/FBA - etc. Remember: only worms on the island may attack, so if you'd like to attack again, there is no way without surfing first, unless you'd COW horribly...


Q] Yes, but after I attack, must I surf to the island immediately, I mean during retreat time?

A] Wow, that would be an awesome hard rule. No m8, not needed but if you manage to do it, it's very cool and you'd probably get some N1's, wohoo's, VN1's and more in the chat for that xD. After you attack, just surf with the worm on his next turn, that will be fine.


Q] It's so hard, can't you make it easier?

A] The game knows 3 basic rules only. Play a couple of games to learn how the rules work and how to use your attacks efficiently. Also make sure you know how to surf. Yes, it's a hard gametype - it was meant to be a challenge, so you'd better know how to use a rope, too


Q] Any tactical information perhaps?

* The FlySurfer scheme uses WormSelect by default. So players may choose if they surf a worm to the island, or use a brave soldier on it to attack the enemy.

* Before you attack or choose a worm with WormSelect, check your weapons so you have a good idea of which weap you're going to use and which one might be good for Plan B if you run out of time (but doesn't this apply for all worms games?)

* FlySurfer maps typically have two stairs, leading to left or right part of the upper map. If your enemy is to the right, then take the left stairs so you'd only have to make 1 fly. Otherwise, you'd have to go back and forth unless you have something long ranged in your armory. Time is limited so if you like to have some time for error corrections, then start with taking the stairs on the side which has the least enemy worms on it.


Q] Scheme settings suggestions please?

* WormSelect should be ON, otherwise the game sucks. If you can't choose the worm you just surfed to the island, there whole idea of how the game should run is messed up.

* Turn time a bit more than 30 seconds. I'm using 33 secs and it seems a nice setting. Worms from the island appear at the upper parts between 27 and 20 seconds, resulting in a nice and quick Fly and Attack. Put in more seconds if you like, but it would probably be a waste of time since the game is for pro ropers intended anyway.

* Retreat time set to 8 (diEharD) or 10 (possible surf after attack would be easy) seconds.

* NO falldamage, the game is hard enough already, don't you think? Worms flo0sh, flush, blub and weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee more than they fall anyway....

* NO mines or barrels


Additions?

PodSurfer: a mutated version of PodShopper and FlySurfer is also around: involving a little pod on outer left or right side of the map from which the worms must make a very long surf to the island on the other side of the map. Those lucky ones that actually make it, go upstairs and follow normal shopper rules, so: CBA, AFR and KTL or ABL. For the rest, same basics apply as to FlySurfers.

1. What's a SurfShopper?
2. Any replays on this gametype?