# So I've found the SECOND most addicting game to exist on the internet. No, really.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [September 14, 2016, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917 "2016-09-14T07:22:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 23

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/442 "2017-02-10T13:21:15Z")

</div>

Anyone got any tips about the 50-60 slump? I’m about 40 runs in and I’ve gotten to the point where I can reach zone 115 before the going becomes impossibly slow, but I haven’t been able to do any of the time achievements for the Prison yet. When I make it to zone 50, I don’t have anywhere near enough gems to start building Collectors, so I have to let the game idle overnight to build up my stocks to where I can keep up with coordination. The same thing happens at 60 - I’m not anywhere near building warpstations, so I have to let it idle overnight again.

I’m guessing that once I get to 120 and unlock the coordination challenge that that’ll open things up for me bigly, but at the rate things’ve been going it’ll take me at least another week to get there.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/443 "2017-02-10T14:58:33Z")

</div>

> [@USCDiver](#):
>
> Are you on a new run but haven’t gotten to Z20 again yet?

Uh, no. I’m on Z165.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Call_Me.Tim)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/444 "2017-02-10T15:04:06Z")

</div>

> [@Peter\_Morris](#):
>
> My Portal button has vanished. Anyone else seeing this? An Update?

I realize this may be obvious, but I’ve missed the obvious before… have you completed the Dimension of Anger map yet? It doesn’t matter how far you are, you have to complete that before the portal button shows up.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/445 "2017-02-10T15:30:25Z")

</div>

Ah, that could well be it. I’m working through a Poisonous Void map at the moment. Be at least an hour before it’s finished. I’ll try it then.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/446 "2017-02-10T15:32:04Z")

</div>

> [@Smapti](#):
>
> Anyone got any tips about the 50-60 slump? I’m about 40 runs in and I’ve gotten to the point where I can reach zone 115 before the going becomes impossibly slow, but I haven’t been able to do any of the time achievements for the Prison yet. When I make it to zone 50, I don’t have anywhere near enough gems to start building Collectors, so I have to let the game idle overnight to build up my stocks to where I can keep up with coordination. The same thing happens at 60 - I’m not anywhere near building warpstations, so I have to let it idle overnight again.
> 
> I’m guessing that once I get to 120 and unlock the coordination challenge that that’ll open things up for me bigly, but at the rate things’ve been going it’ll take me at least another week to get there.

I’ve had to respec several times myself. When doing so, I’ll grab a low-level quest like Scientist I. I buy more of the gem+ perks for the reason you describe, and select Depths for Maps. You can also trade bones for gem producers. I place more emphasis on making Food for the gem-finding Dragon. I’ve only gotten past z100 once, but it didn’t count. I lost my game specs when I had to reinstall Chrome.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/447 "2017-02-10T16:47:18Z")

</div>

Yeah, that solved it. Thanks, Tim.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/448 "2017-02-10T21:26:58Z")

</div>

> [@Smapti](#):
>
> Anyone got any tips about the 50-60 slump? I’m about 40 runs in and I’ve gotten to the point where I can reach zone 115 before the going becomes impossibly slow, but I haven’t been able to do any of the time achievements for the Prison yet. When I make it to zone 50, I don’t have anywhere near enough gems to start building Collectors, so I have to let the game idle overnight to build up my stocks to where I can keep up with coordination. The same thing happens at 60 - I’m not anywhere near building warpstations, so I have to let it idle overnight again.
> 
> I’m guessing that once I get to 120 and unlock the coordination challenge that that’ll open things up for me bigly, but at the rate things’ve been going it’ll take me at least another week to get there.

Only been past z100 once in 40 runs? I’d say you’re not using your Gigastations sparingly enough. I’m on my 16th run - I’ve hit z120 the last 3 runs. The longest run I’ve had is 11 days.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/449 "2017-02-10T21:44:52Z")

</div>

Wait - I read that wrong. I merged your comment with Knowed Out’s.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/450 "2017-02-10T22:46:41Z")

</div>

> [@Smapti](#):
>
> Anyone got any tips about the 50-60 slump? I’m about 40 runs in and I’ve gotten to the point where I can reach zone 115 before the going becomes impossibly slow, but I haven’t been able to do any of the time achievements for the Prison yet. When I make it to zone 50, I don’t have anywhere near enough gems to start building Collectors, so I have to let the game idle overnight to build up my stocks to where I can keep up with coordination. The same thing happens at 60 - I’m not anywhere near building warpstations, so I have to let it idle overnight again.
> 
> I’m guessing that once I get to 120 and unlock the coordination challenge that that’ll open things up for me bigly, but at the rate things’ve been going it’ll take me at least another week to get there.

If you haven’t already done so, crank up the food production to feed the dragon. Gems will be very important for a long time at the stage you’re at. Keep in mind that you’re investing the food in a continuously generating resource that, assuming you aren’t able to read all your Coordinations, will contribute significantly to your speed and longevity. For me, it isn’t until past zone 100 that I find myself short of metal instead of gems for warpstations if I keep metal and food production even, and if your main problem is not having enough Trimps to read Coordinations, you should be spending far more on food. Really, food should be your main priority for most of the way until you have way more gem production than you can use.

Cut out all prestiges at Zone 50 (and thus most of the need for metal) since prestiges get a significant cost reduction at zone 60. At very least, only prestige weapons when you are willing to spend more metal now to go a little faster; you can not bother with the HP upgrades since you can just get block instead. I usually buy up to 147 gyms and whatever number of trainers doesn’t make a meaningful dent in my food supply (like 1 second of food production per trainer); this will get you blocking everything up to level 60 and allow you to ignore HP upgrades. After level 60 things obviously change.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/451 "2017-02-10T23:10:04Z")

</div>

… I am used to the format used there (third person), so before I click on the game and get started, am I likely to find first person and inundated with ads?

Thanks

Q

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/452 "2017-02-11T00:46:48Z")

</div>

No ads and it’s all text.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/453 "2017-02-11T00:55:27Z")

</div>

It isn’t a graphical battle game. It’s a text interface that reports to you how your soldiers are doing.

No ads, as far as I know. I have adblocker enabled and I’m not seeing any.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Call_Me.Tim)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/454 "2017-02-11T04:36:13Z")

</div>

It seems more like an old school someone’s personal fun project and less like a modern pseudofree vehicle intended to get you to pay for content. Oh, and source is available, which puts it squarely in the homebrew ethos camp.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/455 "2017-02-21T21:33:16Z")

</div>

Heirloom advice time:

Staff A:  
11% Dragimp Eff.  
12% Explorer Eff.  
10% Miner Eff.

Staff B:  
34% Farmer Eff.  
36% Fragment Drop Rate  
40% Gem Drop Rate

The numbers are obviously bigger on B - but the mods aren’t really the ones I like.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/456 "2017-02-22T11:45:16Z")

</div>

> [@Munch](#):
>
> Heirloom advice time:
> 
> Staff A:  
> 11% Dragimp Eff.  
> 12% Explorer Eff.  
> 10% Miner Eff.
> 
> Staff B:  
> 34% Farmer Eff.  
> 36% Fragment Drop Rate  
> 40% Gem Drop Rate
> 
> The numbers are obviously bigger on B - but the mods aren’t really the ones I like.

IMHO:  
Check your gem numbers, then try each for five minutes. Whichever ends with the most gems wins.

Also, I’m still struggling to get to z120, so take my advice with a grain of salt. 😉

Your only real difference is the 10% metal though, so how important is that right now?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/457 "2017-02-22T13:27:44Z")

</div>

You know you can carry both, and swap them around as needed, right? When you need metal, use the 10% miner staff. When you need food, use the 34% farmer staff.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/458 "2017-02-26T04:25:22Z")

</div>

Haven’t been playing as much lately, but made it to 130 yesterday and started a new run today and… new stuff!

What’s the deal with these Challenge2? It says to do your old challenges as far as you can go for a permanent increase to attack, health, and Helium found. How far is as far as you can go? 🙂 IOW, how far to you HAVE to go? Anyone tried one yet?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/459 "2017-02-26T14:13:22Z")

</div>

Oh nice - it’ll be a few days until I get to try them, but that looks like a new addition.

I got around to completing Slow the other day, and then finished off Scientist V. I’m on the tail end of that run right now - it should be a great boost.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/460 "2017-02-26T14:50:33Z")

</div>

I’m not seeing Challenge2.

I’ve looked at What’s New, and it says it kicks in at level 65. I’m up to level 180, and I’m not seeing it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917/461 "2017-02-26T15:43:40Z")

</div>

Save, then reload your browser page - then check what’s new.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917.md?page=22)

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-found-the-second-most-addicting-game-to-exist-on-the-internet-no-really/765917.md?page=24)
