Dear friends,

thanks to Brell, who uploaded it very quickly and Rose & Semi-Native who beta-tested, my new mansion Underground Fortress is now officially released !

It is downloadable  at the usual place....   ;)


It looks like this:

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I've had lots of fun so far but can't get out of 15298.



NM I got it.

Great game, aquaMat!  Thanks for taking the time to keep us entertained.    I wanted to report that in Rm. 15300 one can jump over the blue door without a key.  Also, is the bottom level of 14498 a JS?  I can't get off that level.  Jack won't even attempt to put his hands up to grab the vine so I don't go down there any more.

Jackie

Hi Jackie,

When I was testing, I thought 14498 was a JS, too, but it's not. Jack has to do some searching and try some things to find a way to reach the vine.

Good luck!
8-)

Hi, Jackie! aquamat has problems with his Internet connections so it might take a while before he answers.

I beta tested the mansion and totally missed the jump over the blue door. It will probably be corrected eventually.

As for room 14498, it is not a JS. You have to find a way, something to do and then you'll be able to reach the vine. It took me quite a while to figure it out, so don't despair. Good rule is to try EVERYTHING!

Cross posted Semi-Native!! ;D

Thanks Semi-Native and Rose.  It's strange how one can try something about 100 times with no luck.  Then you get some encouragement and BINGO -- solution found!  Got the job done.  Thanks again!

Jackie

Hi Jackie,

thanks to Rose & Semi-Native who already answered your question....!
Indeed I'm having some trouble with my Internet connection....at the moment it works again....I hope it stays like that !

The issue with the blue door you mentioned is completely new to me (at this spot).
However, we know that - due to a certain "bug" in the game - it is sometimes possible to jump over closed doors.

This problem occurred in a few other mansions as well....and in fact, also in one later room in UF. There I could do something against it.... in room 15300, unfortunately, it will be very hard to do something against it, as it is simply not possible to include a "low ceiling" (above the door), without completely changing the room layout.

Maybe I can think of something else before the next UD..... if not, I just hope for the "fairness" of the players. In the end they'd be only cheatin' themselves.......

(Unfortunately now the secret is out......)   :-/

Thanks to everybody who is playing UF....and likes it !  ;)

Hi -
I am missing a blue key - I found two to the left of the Save on the 15000 level - I used one for the elevators to get the 2nd blue key in 15298. I used that key for the problem blue door to the right of the Save - 15300 -  but can't find the next one for 15698. Any chance for a small hint?
Thanks.

This was a very clever mansion, which I enjoyed immensely.

The only thing I disliked is that it relies a lot on auditory clues and I play with no sound, so I got stumped and frustrated a lot. Still, I eventually managed to finish with something like 96% secrets.  :D

So, my experience really isn't any comment on the mansion itself. The design was great and the puzzles and challenges were just challenging enough. Great job!

Arevn

@ arevn:

Thanks a lot for your positive remarks, arevn !!

@ Sherry:

You should take a closer look (=search) in the area near the first blue door to the right of the save pedestal (= room 15300).
You opened the blue door in that room with a blue key that most people use for somewhere else.....  (hint !).  ;)

BTW:  As a rule.....almost all hidden keys (or other hidden secrets) are hinted at....in some form or another. It could be visually, or - as arevn has pointed out - aurally (or sonically) in other instances.
Sometimes even both......   8-)

Thanks for the hint - also, what makes your mansions so good is that there are clues - albeit not always obvious!!! - but there nonetheless. My young grandson (Grayson ((The Vault)) aka eyeballking) and I spend a lot of time looking at the maps of your mansions for odd blocks, etc. Lots and lots of fun.

So Grayson is your young grandson! That's very cool that he made The Vault. Great job!
:)

OK. I know I am supposed to be able to get out of 15298 but I can't go up, down, jump out, pull a lever or find a ladder, trap door or vine! and I can't get back through the hole I entered to get back to  the elevator blocks. HELP!

This is a great one, however my frustration at the moment!

Zipwin

Hi!
This is a tricky one if you don't know how aquaMat is thinking:).

You need to jump in the "right" place when you are standing on a moving brick. I hope this tip is enough for you to find your way out. Otherwise when you are out of lives and patience PM me and I will help some more.

Rose

Hi AquaMat et al,

Having a lot of fun in UF, really enjoying all the hidden treasures and switches, and skillfull playing it requires.  Fantastic Mansion, thanks for building it! ;D

Having a bit of trouble though with room # 15099, I can't seem to get Jack to jump to the ?door / opening on the right where the angel is.  He either can't get in, or dies with a Zapper beam.  Am I missing something causing my poor Jack to die over and over again???? :-/

Thanking all in advance, and hope everyone is doing well !!!  8-)

SandyBean [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]

Hi Sandy Bean,

Yes, you're missing something. Try a different approach.
8-)

Hi!
If you can't get through a door it is closed. How do you open it? Remember you can pass a door two ways ;)

Hi Rose and Semi-Native,

Thanks for the quick replies!

I did try to approach this room from the rooms above and to the right, and I also looked everywhere to try and find a switch.

I also tried to approach from the 'blue room' below and to the right, but still no luck! :-?

I guess I will go back and search, search, some more!   Boy, my Jack better be rewarded with some hefty cash in that room  ;)

thanks,

SandyBean [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]

Hi SandyBean,

first of all - thanks for the nice words about Underground Fortress !
I am always glad to get feedback from players...!

Your question has been pretty much answered by Semi-Native and Rose (thanks, folks)..... who are definitely both UF specialists.

But one thing you said strikes me as odd:
You mentioned you had already tried to access room 15099 from all sides, without any luck ?!   :-/   :o
This can't be true......because as you see, room 15099 is not closed off at all at its right side....which should lead you to the conclusion that at least from there it should be easy to access !!?!

Also never forget that I am a big fan of secret passages.....a hint that will help you also in other corners of the Underground Fortress.

Alas, I'm sorry to report, in spite of all your efforts there won't be too much pecuniar recoupation to be had in 15099...... but it's still worth visiting !   ;)

Hi,

I'm stuck after save point 4. Boo! I've been through everything in the following rooms but I'm now stuck.

15698
15699
15700
15701
15702

Help?

Thanks! :)

Hi Lara! I am not quite sure where you want to go. The rooms you are mentioning have 3 levels to walk on as I assume you are aware of as you have saved 4 times.

Tip: Have you searched all rooms more to the left than the rooms you have listed?

What annoys me is below. I can see that there appears to be two gold blocks on the left of the room, but I can't see any way of removing/switching them. Also, if Jack walks to the right of the save pedestal he walks on something that makes a funny 'switch' noise.

It is all very aggravating. Grr. Help! :(.

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Hi again Lara! I suspected this. You need to find your way to the left from somewhere else. Have a good look at the map. I can't say more because then I spoil some of the fun with the mansion.

Hi Lara,

Rose pretty much said it all.....  if you can't "open" or "change" the gold blocks now, you should assume that they are for later on in the game....after all, every object, door or whatever can be accessed from 2 sides.
So if you can't go through the path now blocked by the gold bricks, and can't go anywhere else, you're still not stuck:  you can go back to where you came from (= take the ladder) and then continue from there (by consulting the map).

So you see: you're not stuck at all....in fact you have everywhere to go.  ;)

I have another suspicion that I'm missing something in the room below...

And I bet you I need to find a secret way to get across the three blue columns, because I can see on the map that there is a hidden ladder on the bottom left of this room. Argh! :D.

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Lara, you are doing fine! Keep on exploring. There are several ways to go here.

I am Stuck Stuck Stuck!

When I get frustrated not knowing what to do I take a break. Later I come back and try again.  :) [smiley=bath.gif]

:'(

How about getting that purple key, Lara? ;)

I've done it about five times and have all the keys.

Please see the PM I have sent you.

Thanks.

Bloody heck!

I've sorted out one problem, and now I've got another. I've got nowhere to go in room 15898! Gah!

I. WILL. PREVAIL.

I've finished but only with 85% secrets. Rubbish!

This mansion rocks, it has so many hidden gems!  :D

I'm trying to get out of Rm. 15700 in UF.  I've been playing this mansion for some time and enjoying it tremendously.  But,  I'll get stuck somewhere and go off to play other mansions. This time I'm determined to finish.  Can anyone give me a hint?  I have been down in the secret area under the Fortress and have one blue key and three green ones and nowhere to go. [smiley=sad.gif] [smiley=lipsrsealed.gif]

Hi Jackie,

thanks for playing (and liking) Underground Fortress !!

I suspect I know what your problem is:
You say you're "stuck" in room 15700, but you have already been to the secret underground area
....and now you're back in 15700 with all those keys and nowhere to go?

Well, that's not entirely true.....           Attention, SPOILER:
Apparently you did not explore the underground section thoroughly enough....otherwise you wouldn't have all those green keys left !

Go back down....

aquaMat

Great mansion! But is this a JS?

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Oops, how did you get there ??  It shouldn't be possible anymore....

In the very early versions it was possible to get there through one certain risky jump, but it's not possible anymore since the official version 1.0.

However, there is a small, secret door that is meant to let out the scorpion from that section..... normally this door closes as soon as Jack steps over a hidden switch in the 1st column.

Normally the door is too small anyway to let Jack thru....but you probably were lucky enough on two accounts:

1. You didn't activate the secret switch to close the hidden door.... probably you jumped over it
2.  You managed to angle a jump in that last column in such a fashion that you got through or over that small scorpion-door.
My guess is that this is another case of the MM-bug that allows Jack to jump OVER doors, even if there are solid layer-4 blocks on top of them.

Now you landed there....
I never managed to do so during testing (of the improved version).
But I'm afraid you're stuck now.

I might be able to do something about it in the next update, though I can't promise it.

Aw geeze! Oh well, guess I have to go back to my last save. But just FYI (in case you want to address this in a future edition) - I did step on the hidden switch in the first column. I was on the last moving brick, thinking that I was stuck because I was unable to go anywhere for quite awhile. So I just kept jumping and jumping. I was actually thinking that it was one of those jumps where you just go up to the top level. Anyway....poof....abracadabra....or...whatever...there I got and I guess there I will stay. Sigh.

Thanks for the speedy reply. Am enjoying the mansion very much1

Last night I tried a few things and found a great way to include an "emergency escape route" for those players that end up where you are now, without altering the room design.

I'm proud of that.....and it'll be in the next UD. Maybe I'll even release an update soon.

BTW: Yes, the secret switch activates/closes both - the little scorpion door and the grey door in front of the blue door (=entrance to the column-area).**
When this happens the unsuspecting player might get the impression that he is "trapped" inside this "columns & elevators - area".....  but as you said, there is a simple way out there (via jumping from the first row / elevator back to the top level).  (<SPOILER !)

** Since this front grey door is open in your above picture I assumed  the little scorpion door must be open too !

Yes, think I jumped over the floor switch on the way in...then I did activate the switch in the first column. So....I have gone back to my last save and started from there. I managed to get through without becoming entombed again. Whew!

Ok, now I am having the same problem that Lara was having. I'm "stuck" in room 15698 which I entered from the right. I have been the  area to which she refers where the save is ( don't want to spoil) and activated the gold bricks on the left. I have the purple key and four green keys. But for the life of me I just can't figure out how to get from the first column on the right to the middle one....there doesn't seem to be an elevator.

Now totally exasperated after my last ordeal......please PM me with how to get SOMEWHERE...Please!

Windrider wrote on 15.10.2008 at 08:33:29:

Yes, think I jumped over the floor switch on the way in...then I did activate the switch in the first column. So....I have gone back to my last save and started from there. I managed to get through without becoming entombed again. Whew! Ok, now I am having the same problem that Lara was having. I'm "stuck" in room 15698 which I entered from the right. I have been the  area to which she refers where the save is ( don't want to spoil) and activated the gold bricks on the left. I have the purple key and four green keys. But for the life of me I just can't figure out how to get from the first column on the right to the middle one....there doesn't seem to be an elevator. Now totally exasperated after my last ordeal......please PM me with how to get SOMEWHERE...Please!

You missed something at an earlier point in the mansion. Remember that those three blue columns run throughout a few mansion levels. Have a bit more of a nosy around... x

Today I have send an update of Underground Fortress to the admins.
It should be downloadable pretty soon.

It fixes the potential JS-situation mentioned by Windrider above.
Also there are 1 or 2 small "decorative enhancements".

So even though there are no major changes, I recommend strongly that you should all download this new version 1.1.

Aquamat, I'm really enjoying playing UF. Playing it now that my skill level is finally able to handle it.  ;)

But, is this a JS or how do I get out of here? As you can see, I don't have a green key to use below.

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This isn't a JS! You can get a level below and ou can get out to the left, where you came from.

The green key is somewhere ;)

rose wrote on 26.04.2009 at 13:00:57:

This isn't a JS! You can get a level below and you can get out to the left, where you came from. The green key is somewhere ;)

What Rose says is the truth, and nothing but the truth....!!    ;)

Explore the area thoroughly is the best advice I can give you.
(And by "area" I mean not only the room you are in now....)

"There are cracks in the wall
where the light gets through...."

Some wise poet said that.

"Look under every stone."

I said that.

Well, with no lives Jack died exploring that area. I have found where that green key is.

But now I'm in Rm 15298 in a similar situation as Windrider was. I'm in the area to the right of the blue columns and can't figure out how to get out of this room.

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Catwoman, Jack is not stuck, there is a way out. Remember the way out is not always visible. Get up to the top.

Catwoman wrote on 27.04.2009 at 10:05:23:

But now I'm in Rm 15298 in a similar situation as Windrider was. I'm in the area to the right of the blue columns and can't figure out how to get out of this room.

Catwoman, is it possible that you still use Version 1.0 of "Underground Fortress" ??
Only if this is the case you can be stucked....
If so, I strongly advise you to download the latest version of UF from the usual spot.

If you are already using the update 1.1, you just need to go looking for the secret escape route !  8-)

I didn't mean to cause confusion. Not saying it's a JS, just that I'm stuck trying to figure out where the secret passage is. I am playing UF 1.1 version. I've attempted to get to the top. Any hint for the escape?

Nevermind. I found it.  :)