From: lfs@mitre.org (Lyman F. Sheats Jr.)
Subject: Re: Dr. Who -- second opinion
Organization: The Mitre Corp., Bedford, MA.
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 15:02:43 GMT

In article <1992Dec28.215049.17320@clipper.ingr.com> jimmy@clipper.ingr.com (Jimmy Blair) writes:

> Although the big points in the game seem to come most easily from
> the Jackpot during multiball, going for doctors makes the
> game interesting.  Is there a hierarchy of Doctors?

That may be where the greatest number of points in the game are, but how
many people have actually time-warped Davros on a game with anything but
easy settings?  I've yet to do it, but have tried many times.  Most of the
time, I'm getting better points elsewhere.

> In other words, which are the most helpful in accumulating
> a high score?  The default doctor, number 4, seems
> the least useful to me, but maybe that's because I never
> consciously shoot the R-E-P-A-I-R targets.  

I find that Dr. 1 is useful, but then again, I shoot for the pop bumpers
and video mode.  As soon as I get through enough VMs to have Dr. 6 awarded,
I start pounding the side ramp to get that playfield multiplier up to 4x.
Then it's sonic booms and more VM.

>	 Another thing that can make Dr. Who more fun is to actively
> use the third flipper rather than see it has an annoyance.
> The nice thing about DW's third flipper is that you can
> pass the ball to it by hitting into the Hang-On area from
> the lower right flipper.  Then you can go for the "O" loop,
> which can get pretty rewarding.  The loop shot isn't too 
> hard, but I have trouble hitting the 'Activate Transmat'
> target with the third flipper.  My crude strategy for transmatting
> is to charge the transmat just before I get to Factor 0
> to begin multiball.  During the chaos of multiball, it's
> impossible not to hit 'Activate Transmat'.

The loop shot, IMO, is the entire game.  I've played out a bunch of
different strategies now and can easily say that the loop shot is most
of the game.

I don't go near the Activate Transmat target at all during single ball
play, except when I'm floundering badly and hit it by accident.

But the freaking thing doesn't give you a Loop Champion sequence if you
go over 100 loops.  It'll display it on the screen OK, but at game over,
it doesn't let you enter your initials for Loop Champion.  I know, I've
had the Loop Champion record of 79 on a game in town and went over 100
loops on it twice, and it didn't let me enter my initials.  Heinous, bogus,
most non-triumphant LOSSAGE.

>	 I still can't stand the video mode.  The only good thing
> I can say about it is that at least you aren't forced to
> play it very often -- unlike Black Rose, which must be the
> Turkey of the Year...

I like the VM.  It's the rare combination of something that's not
impossible if you're on your toes, but also not too easy if you're
alseep.  There are lots of points to be had in VM with a multiplier
of 4x.

And is it my imagination, or when you get captured during VM, does
it look like a COW is holding you at gunpoint?  I'm wondering to what
all those spots belong.

--
Lyman F. Sheats Jr.
The MITRE Corporation
202 Burlington Road, Bedford MA 01730
e-mail: lfs@mitre.org