Zugzwang's Tower

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Revision as of 03:35, 15 May 2014 by TW George (talk | contribs) (Added Rook Crumble charm)

An ordered chaos consumes the enchanted tower as the technological chess mice do battle with their mystical counterparts, all under the auspices of a dark game master who hides in the shadows. Conquer both Kings to find what lurks beyond the chess board, but beware: this is a place of powerful magics, where things are not always what they seem.

Description and Requirements

Zugzwang's Tower is a location in the Rodentia region requiring a minimum rank of Lord or Lady and the Zugzwang's Tower Key to enter.

Upon catching a Mystic King or a Technic King with any cheese besides Checkmate, the hunter is automatically transported back to the Seasonal Garden with the following message:

Checkmate! I defeated a Technic King Mouse! I was transported to the Seasonal Garden. <br\> OR <br\> Checkmate! I defeated a Mystic King Mouse! I was transported to the Seasonal Garden.

Upon catching a Chess Master, the hunter is automatically transported back to the Seasonal Garden with the following message:<br\> Checkmate! I defeated a Chess Master! I was transported to the Seasonal Garden.

Upon exiting Zugzwang's Tower, by traveling or catching a King or Chess Master, the Tower Progress will reset as well as the Tower Amplifier. Reaching 0% on the Tower Amplifier does not transport the hunter out of the tower, but at that point, it is impossible to catch any further mice without traveling elsewhere.

Shops

There are no shops in Zugzwang's Tower. Shops for the Rodentia region can be found in the S.S. Huntington III, Seasonal Garden, and Iceberg.

Zugzwang's Tower Mice

Mouse Points Gold Mouse Group Loot Decrease in
Tower Amplifier
Technic Pawn 7,200 1,090 Wizard's Pieces 1%
Mystic Pawn 8,800 890 Wizard's Pieces 1%
Technic Knight 15,590 1,980 Wizard's Pieces Crystal Library Card 3%
Mystic Knight 19,060 1,620 Wizard's Pieces Crystal Library Card 3%
Technic Bishop 33,265 1,100 Wizard's Pieces Crystal Library Card 3%
Mystic Bishop 40,655 900 Wizard's Pieces Crystal Library Card 3%
Technic Rook 59,400 2,785 Wizard's Pieces Crystal Library Card 5%
Mystic Rook 72,600 2,277 Wizard's Pieces Crystal Library Card 5%
Technic Queen 66,240 17,080 Wizard's Pieces Crystal Library Card 9%
Mystic Queen 80,960 13,970 Wizard's Pieces Crystal Library Card 9%
Technic King 80,730 10,470 Wizard's Pieces Droid Jetpack
Satchel of Gold (5,000)
Technic Cheese Mould
Torn Technic Page
10%
Mystic King 98,670 8,560 Wizard's Pieces Hunting Research (10,000 points)
Mystic Crystal
Mystic Curd
Torn Mystic Page
10%
Chess Master 119,600 19,000 Wizard's Pieces Ancient Relic
Master Bindings
Zugzwang's Left Sock

Hunting Strategy

Hunters are advised to use their strongest Tactical setup. Upon entering the location, hunters will only be able to attract two breeds of mice, the Mystic Pawn Mouse and the Technic Pawn Mouse; the Pawn Pincher weapons are recommended for this stage as they will allow the hunter to focus on catching Pawns from one 'team' rather than both. The Mystic Pawn Pincher and Technic Pawn Pincher are sold in the Seasonal Garden trapsmith, so in order to use one for the current amplifier charge, it must be purchased before traveling to the Zugzwang Tower. Hunters will need to catch 8 Pawns, then 2 Knights, then 2 Bishops, followed by 2 Rooks and a Queen; all from the same 'team'. Only then will that team's King be 'unlocked' and available to attract.<br\> Catching either the Mystic King Mouse or the Technic King Mouse will cause the hunter to be immediately transported to the Seasonal Garden, unless they were using Checkmate cheese, in which case the hunter will then be able to attract the elusive Chess Master if they continue using Checkmate cheese.

A 'Double Run' is when a hunter aims to catch the King from both teams. This can be achieved by first completing one team, and using Checkmate cheese to catch the first King to remain in the Tower, then arming standard cheese to attract the pieces from the second team. Upon 'unlocking' the second King, the hunter will need to decide if they wish to arm Checkmate cheese, to be able to continue hunting the Chess Master, or standard cheese to be transported to the Seasonal Garden. It is also possible to complete a double run by catching mice from both teams concurrently, this strategy is harder to succeed with because the hunter will be attempting to catch the powerful pieces (Rooks and Queens), and the final Kings from both teams when the Tower Amplifier will be significantly depleted.

Cheese Usage

Hunters may use any cheese in this location, but each time a bait fails to attract a mouse, the Tower Amplifier is reduced by 3%, so many hunters prefer to use SUPER|brie+ due to the low attraction rate of Brie or Gouda.<br\> In order to be able to encounter the Chess Master, a hunter must use Checkmate cheese when hunting a King in order to remain in the Tower.
Checkmate cheese can also be used before hunting a King. This bait will increase a hunter's chance of attracting the most powerful mice they're able to attract. For instance, if a hunter needs to catch a Rook in order to unlock the Queen, the hunter may decide to use Checkmate cheese to increase the odds of encountering a Rook.

Hunting Tips by Larry

Greetings, Mousehunter!

I hope you've got your Tower Amplifier charged, because the mice of Zugzwang's Tower are going to put up a fight unlike any other.

Long ago, the Tower mice became enchanted chess pieces in a game that never ends. The two teams, Technic and Mystic, use a clear strategy when attacking, much like real chess pieces. Catching eight Pawns releases the Knights. Catching two Knights releases the Bishops. Catching two Bishops releases the Rooks. Catching two Rooks releases the Queen, and catching one Queen releases the King.

Did you get all that? Don't worry if you didn't-- when you enter the tower, your Tower Amplifier also comes equipped with a progress bar to let you know how close you are to the King!

Each time you catch a mouse, or fail to attract, your Tower Amplifier's charge decreases. Make sure you don't leave the Tower before you catch a King, or drain your Amplifier. If you do, your progress, and your Amplifier will be set back to zero.

If your strategy is sound, and you capture the King, your progress will be reset and you will be whisked away to the Seasonal Garden. If however, you catch a King using the rare Checkmate Cheese then you shall remain in the tower and a greater adversary will await your challenge.

Everytime you hunt in the tower, your amplifier will go down making your trap less powerful.
Leaving the tower will reset it to zero!

These are the Technic mice you have caught since entering the tower.
The mice must be caught in this order: Pawn, Knight, Bishop, Rook, Queen, King.

These are the Mystic mice you have caught thus far.
Capturing either a Technic or Mystic King resets your progress and moves you back to the Seasonal Garden.

Watch your amplifier! As it drops, so will your trap power.
Good luck, and be sure to shout Checkmate when you capture a King!

Location-Specific Effects

Charms

Traps

Links


Locations
Gnawnia:  • Meadow   • Town of Gnawnia   • Windmill   • Harbour
 • Mountain
Valour:  • King's Arms   • Tournament Hall   • King's Gauntlet
Whisker Woods:  • Calm Clearing   • Great Gnarled Tree   • Lagoon
Burroughs:  • Laboratory   • Mousoleum   • Town of Digby   • Bazaar   • Toxic Spill
Furoma:  • Training Grounds   • Dojo   • Meditation Room   • Pinnacle Chamber
Bristle Woods:  • Catacombs   • Forbidden Grove   • Acolyte Realm
Tribal Isles:  • Cape Clawed   • Elub Shore   • Nerg Plains   • Derr Dunes
 • Jungle of Dread   • Dracano   • Balack's Cove
Varmint Valley:  • Claw Shot City   • Gnawnian Express Station   • Fort Rox
Queso Canyon:  • Queso River   • Prickly Plains   • Cantera Quarry   • Queso Geyser
Rodentia:  • S.S. Huntington IV   • Seasonal Garden   • Zugzwang's Tower   • Crystal Library
 • Slushy Shoreline   • Iceberg   • Sunken City
Sandtail Desert:  • Fiery Warpath   • Muridae Market   • Living Garden   • Twisted Garden
 • Lost City   • Cursed City   • Sand Dunes   • Sand Crypts
Hollow Heights:  • Fungal Cavern   • Labyrinth   • Zokor   • Moussu Picchu   • Floating Islands
Folklore Forest:  • Foreword Farm   • Prologue Pond   • Table of Contents   • Bountiful Beanstalk
Rift Plane:  • Gnawnia Rift   • Burroughs Rift   • Whisker Woods Rift   • Furoma Rift
 • Bristle Woods Rift • Valour Rift
Events:  • Great Winter Hunt: Great Winter Taiga
 • Cinnamon Hill   • Golem Workshop   • Ice Fortress
 • Halloween: Gloomy Greenwood
 • MouseHunt Birthday: The SUPER|brie+ Factory
 • Ronza: Ronza's Traveling Shoppe
 • Historic uses: King's Party Zone   • Festive Comet
Others:  • King's Stockade   • Vacant Lot