Preview: The Rumble and Be9ond

The Rumble quest is one of the more complicated things I built for Absurd Area, and it can take a lot of effort to actually complete. You might be unable to complete it when it first becomes available! Often, in testing, I would skip this mission until I return from the Underworld.

I took a video of completing this quest before visiting the Underworld - it took me 12 minutes.

I find this mission to be a lot of fun - although, it can be quite tedious if you aren't prepared and leveled enough! Winning does give you an Objective Point, so it's worth pulling it off when you can.

The key to winning is to focus on seizing outposts and targeting down the enemy's big boys.

Let me explain.

In the Rumble, there are 6 outposts between the 2 bases. The Rumble quest will plop some troops randomly across the map, and some enemy toys will also be added. After that, both bases will send out waves of reinforcements. Each outpost will also send out reinforcements; an outpost's squad will be replaced after it is wiped out.

The squads for both teams will be "led" towards the enemy base by a system I've rather proud of. See those grey rocky rectangles with a dark area in the middle? Those are hiding troops for each team, which are moved with "swap map" specials in a path towards the enemy base. So, the soldiers will target these "hidden" troops, and "follow" them along the path until the two teams run into each other.

Each outpost has a hidden friendly or enemy troop on the inside, hidden behind the building. The troops on this field can target and attack this hidden troop, and so can you. When it is eliminated, the outpost has been "seized" by the other team and will immediately send out a squad of reinforcements.

So, if you run past the enemy troops and "seize" their outposts, you can help push the balance in your favor. More outposts means more troops.

However, the enemies will have respawning big troops - Bruisers or Clockbots - and you don't. This makes a huge difference! I actually did some tests when designing this mission. The troop ratios are just about perfectly set so that, without either side having big troops, the two armies will pretty much fight to a standstill.

But WITH the big troops... whichever side you're not on will, without your help, be pushed back onto the bridge near base in about 4 minutes.

To win the quest, you much (1) seize all 6 outposts, and (2) defeat all the enemies with a certain tag. These enemies will be spawned every time the enemy base sends out a wave, so this will only happen when you push the enemies all the way back to their base.

However, the first time you have seized all 6 outposts, the enemies in desperation will send out a wave of the biggest and baddest evil toys they could get help from. This might push your troops back and reconquer an outpost or two, but you'll be fine. Target the nasty toys, recapture the outposts, and finish the mission.

The Tinpot Generals are the most important to take down, since they give instant full heals to nearby troops. In fact, they're so important that I might replace them with a few Triguns instead. That might be a lot less nasty.

Lastly... If you don't want to do the Rumble now, you will have to fight through the enemies to get to the enemy base. You should be able to push past them if you've gotten this far.

Once you've gotten to the enemy camp, business proceeds as normal. The camp is full of enemies which will attack you, push past them and find the enemy leader.

Once you've found the leader, it's time for a boss fight! Well, unless you're playing with the Order, when you just have to talk to the guy as usual. Whatever.

After defeating the enemy leader, there's nothing you need to do before delving into the Underworld - although there may be optional sidequests you can complete first! If you find ALL the hidden bosses and quests, you should have over 20 Objective Points before you enter the Underworld.

When you're ready... you need to go back to the Sinister Slopes and the Caliginous Cavities.

Find your way through the maze-like caves to the upper slopes...

Here you can see the lip of the ominous caldera!

And eventually, you will find the entrance to the Underworld. Make sure you have the Asbestos Underpants!

Also, make sure you push down these rocks to make it easier to return.

In the next devlog, I will preview the Underworld areas, including another video! Don't worry, this one is a lot shorter.