Mega Update

So I'm well aware I haven't updated this thing in ages. I've been busy with the website http://www.paradoxforums.com/, which is the perfect place for Halo 3 puzzle players, and has become extremely active. But here are some important things for viewers to know:

The Paradox Forgers have finally released Paradox Origins, the prequel to Paratroxity. It's awesome but don't take my word. Check it out for yourself.

I am currently working on two more forge projects- an insanely inventive basketball map with BuddhaCrane, that should be finished in a couple of weeks, and another collaborative puzzle titled Encore, with a number of Paradox Forgers.

I will be making about 4 videos within the month see stay alert for those.
-Mind Crypt Guide
-Necrubis showcase
-Origins Preview
-Basketball map preview

This blog will be completely torn down and redone this summer, as I'm turning it into my online portfolio. It will be neatly organized into sections with showcase my different talents. There will be my maps, my artwork, my stories/scripts (to be uploaded in future), and reviews on games and movies which I will start doing on a regular basis. So things are going to get sweet around here soon.


So yeah, that's about it. I'm just finishing up a semester at the university, and then I can concentrate on sprucing this place up and getting more projects done. Thanks for tuning in!
-Mander

Mind Crypt

The fourth and final installment of my "Mind" puzzle series has finally arrived. Even though my "Mind" series was quite good and popular (Mind Snare having over 8000 downloads), I always felt that that my maps never properly represented my potential. There was always a couple of challenges in them that I thought "I can do better than that". Then when I did my part on Paratroxity and really took the time to carefully map out my challenges, the result was something that I could proudly stand behind. So I thought, I really need to make my own puzzle map for Sandbox, as all my individual maps were on Foundry, and Paratroxity was a collaborative map so I couldn't call it my own. That's when I decided to do the fourth "Mind" map, my final individual puzzle map (puzzles are just too hard and time-consuming to make). And since it was going to be my final map I decided to really take my time with this one to make sure that every challenge is top-notch. I wanted to make sure that my challenges were not only unique and difficult, but also very enjoyable. Well the result is that this map took a whopping four months to make, much longer than I ever expected. But it was worth it because now I have a map that I will gladly allow to represent my skill as a puzzle maker.

DOWNLOAD MIND CRYPT

DOWNLOAD TRAPPED GAME VARIENT

The Facts

-Because I planned out the entire map before I took it to forge, I was really able to drastically increase the length of the map by building most challenges off of eachother. This map is HUGE, it contains over 30 challenges and is quite possibly the biggest solo puzzle map of all time.

-Every single one of the challenges is new and original. This is the main reason this map took four months to make, I spent much of that time coming up with completely unique puzzles, and figured out how I could connect them together. I also scraped a lot of ideas that just weren't as fun as the others. (BTW there isn't a single bubblesheild/kill ball combination in the map)

-This map is designed to be beat by one person, but it's also a lot of fun to do with some friends (up to four). Although having friends may make some challenges slightly easier to pass.

-The proper game varient is absolutely required.

-I really concentrated on making the map fun to play. I did my best to make the challenges as epic and enjoyable as possible.

-The checkpoint system is both unique and very handy. Most checkpoints do not involve unblocking teleporters, and the checkpoints are well spaced-out between challenges. I also made sure to put checkpoints directly after difficult challenges, so that once you pass them you won't have to do them again.

-There are no ghost jumps, or any really difficult moves incorporated into this map. The challenges are harder to figure out than they are to do. This is my personal preference to puzzles as I find it very frustrating when you know what to do, but just can't do it.

-There is a bonus: find and get to the flare. (I was going to have a prize, but the answer got leaked out). I will still put up a reserved spot for the first person to get it legitly.

The first person to find the flare is:

-Forging 101:

>Interlocking

>Geomerging

>Pressure switches

There is a huge amount of interlocking on this map, the most extreme example being a single object that is interlocked with 18 other items!

-Ironically even though it's name is "Mind Crypt" none of the map takes place in the crypt. I named it that for 2 reasons: 1) For it's association with Sandbox and 2) The majority of the map looks like it's taking place in a crypt as there are numerous small passages and confined rooms.

Pictures

Hints

Challenge 1

The key to a door

Lies in the floor.

Challenge 2

Dump your excess through a crack

And you may get something deadly back.

Challenge 3

You’re stuck in a room that seems like it can only hurt you

Here unhesitant courage is your most helpful virtue.

Challenge 4

A bigger room now that’s much more revealing,

To find a way out look to the ceiling.

Challenge 5

You passed through a deadly fire, but now your trapped in,

So you need to find a way to make the impossible happen.

Challenge 6

This next challenge consists of not one but two stunts

You can do them in any order or even both at once

For step one you must unblock

And in step two you must unlock.

Challenge 7

There is a problem for you to fix

So use your tool from challenge six

Your chances of survival may be darker

But you can improve them using the marker.

Challenge 8

If you have succeeded with unlocking

Then you can do some more unblocking

You will undoubtedly find your new toy

Which you must use twice with one deploy.

Challenge 9

You should be carrying an extra item to throw,

But you will not need it here,

Instead use what’s up above to get down below

And destroy the nuisance near.

Challenge 10

You’re back to where you were before,

But now equipped with something more,

Here knowledge of location should be applied,

So your item can benefit you on the other side.

Challenge 11

A test of time to clear the blockage,

A test of courage to cross the bridge.

Challenge 12

Is there more bark than bite? Maybe a little,

But it'd still be best if you stuck to the middle.

Challenge 13

First you must set the bubbleshield loose,

Then find a way to preserve the mongoose.

Challenge 14

To get to the freed item, a familiar path must again be tried,

Find a way to die on the ledge in the room of your first suicide.

Challenge 15

You should have protection in a new place if you didn’t make a blunder,

And now you can use it to create a path that’s safe from Heaven’s thunder.

Challenge 16

Careful listening is what this challenge is all about,

Wait for a large explosion before finding your way out.

Challenge 17

You may find the new way to go, and certainly feel free to take it,

But you’ll need to supply yourself for the future if you want to make it.

Challenge 18

This challenge does not require any sort of perk,

Only the knowledge that the physics here don’t work.

Challenge 19

Danger will be upon you before you can hardly catch your breath,

Quick reflexes and a hoarded item should save you from certain death.

Challenge 20

To find a way in look for a purple marker that’s partially fused,

And getting the checkpoint will require something you just used.

Challenge 21

Now you have to find some way to get back to the start,

Damage right after healing begins is an essential part.

Challenge 22

It won’t be long before you notice there is a new afterlife,

And that a quick reaction will help you pass the next strife.

Challenge 23

You’re up in a new place but I hope you brought a guest,

Because you’re going to need to free a bird from its nest.

Challenge 24

Now you need to find an item that will make your range greater,

And destroy something non-explosive below to help you out later.

Challenge 25

Repeat challenge twenty-one and the start of twenty-two,

But this time use your guest to get to someplace new.

Challenge 26

23 will have helped you out with the first part of this as reckoned,

And puzzle 22 will have provided your escape from the second.

Challenge 27

You have never been so free in this puzzle as you are now

But you need to get to the skybubble. The question is: How?

Challenge 28

From freedom to a cage, advancing requires the right angle,

And then you'll have to find the way out of your current tangle.

Challenge 29

Through a dangerous checkpoint to get to the next part,

Where there is beauty to behold, but where do you start?

The most important hint in this entire speech

Is that every single item has a different reach.

Challenge 30

This hint is a subtle guide:

First find something concealed,

Then use it twice to get inside,

And quickly grab that overshield.

Challenge 31

Knowing that the final path is clear should really brighten your mood,

But beware as Heaven’s wraith may have not been completely subdued.

Bonus Hint:

Not knowing where to start a quest can sometimes be quite dull,

So I’ll tell you that the hunt for the flare begins with the other skull.

Note:

Many of the hints cover multiple challenges so If it seems like you should be on the next challenge, but according to the hints you're not, don't sweat it.

Testers

aAftershock
ActualGlory
Brandon Lavoie
Merrifield69
T3CHH800
Tylyr1
YEE MAN IZ BAK

DOWNLOAD MIND CRYPT

DOWNLOAD TRAPPED GAME VARIENT

Thanks for viewing,
please tell me what you think!

What I've been working on

So, yeah, there's been a bit of a delay in my projects since I've been recently spending my free time working on a new website that I created with Gamer 720. This new site is much more advanced than this one, as it's an actual website, not a blog. We've really put a lot of time and effort into it (not to mention money) and it's really truning out well. We have a community maps section where you can post your maps, tons of forums to talk about whatever your heart desires, a shop where you can spend points you earn from posting on cool items to put on your display shelf, and even an awesome arcade where you can compete to get highscores. I must admit, it's pretty slick And while it's a gathering place for the puzzle community, we also gladly accept any new member, and have sections to post non-puzzle maps as well. So whether you're a fan of puzzles or not, this site is worth a look:

http://www.paradoxforums.com/

Things to come

Alright, I figured that this place was in need of an update. For those who think that I no longer care about this site and only concentrate on Paradox Forgers- you're wrong. I will still regularly update this site with news you won't get on Paradox so keep stickin around.

So I got your opinions on my variations of a signature and from your helpful feedback I have concocted a final version:

Thanks, I like this one a lot.

I have now dedicated my full attention to Mind Crypt and it shouldn't be too far away from a release since I now have it fully planned out.

Here are some things to expect from it:

-Loads of new challenges and concepts

-Mainly takes place in SkyBubble and Main Level

-Should be around 30 challenges if all goes to plan

-Since this is the fourth and final installment of the "Mind" series and the last of my solo puzzle maps, it will be, by far, the best of my work.

Still, don't expect it for a couple of weeks. In between that time, there is a good chance that I'll put up the walkthrough for Paratroxity on YouTube. It won't be anything too spectacular but it will show each of us doing our own section rather than having Tylyr1's walkthrough for the video. This will also help show the viewers who made what. After Mind Crypt, I will turn my attention to the Necrubis Machinima. So keep your eyes open.

-Mander

The After Effects

Hey guys, s'up? Anywho, Paratroxity has been released and is experiencing great success. It's gotten featured on Forging Grounds, has over 63 replies and 3500 views on ForgeHub, is dominating the forums on xForgery, ReadyUpLive (even though Gamer posted it in the wrong section), and MonitorBuilt, and has generated a bombardment of messages upon us, the creators. I can't wait to see what it'll be like when it gets on Bungie Favorites :).

Anyways, right now I'm working on the Necrubis Machinima, and Mind Crypt, along with some other top-secret projects. I also just finished creating a forum signature for myself. I think that it turned out pretty decent considering that I had to do it al in Microsoft Paint (I don't have Photoshop). The problem is that I came up with two versions and can't decide which one's better. Take a look, tell me what you think of them, and then vote in the poll, and I'll go with the most popular decision.



Version #1



Version #2



Thanks,
-Mander