Pond of Serenity - Levels 403 - 408 (Region 68)

[Phaedrakiki]

Didn't see this on[/url] the [URL="http://blog.teamlava.com/"]TL Blog (http), so I borrowed this photo from the JM Regions Master thread (http://forums.storm8.com/showthread.php?51491-Jewel-Mania-Regions-Master-Thread-(Updated-8-1-13)&p=727413&viewfull=1#post727413):


http://i.imgur.com/5o960QT.png

Stressed-out? Let the cool, calming waters of the Pond of Serenity soothe you. Feel the transformation, as your spirits are restored by the power of the tranquil waters. Don't get too relaxed, though. There's too much fun to be had on this island of Jewel Mania (https://www.facebook.com/JewelManiaGame)!


~*~*~

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 403: Dig 9 meters in 60 moves (5JC.) When I first saw the restricted jewels, I thought something was wrong (a glitch, maybe.) Then I realized that it was restricted ice (white blocks) - that's new! This level also has super dirt, snakes, windows, and a whole bunch of triple-boarded crates.

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/400%20up%20-%20JMD/0749e06f-0beb-472d-9938-acfbcb5dfe38_zps18c5e8da.jpg
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/400%20up%20-%20JMD/ebcd741e-00d0-4959-af56-ee42e4992b25_zpsbfe982f1.jpg
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/400%20up%20-%20JMD/692fbb80-b172-4346-9019-fc7aa60ab889_zpsdf17ed9b.jpg

To clear the restricted ice, first you have to color-change the ice by making a match next to it. Then you release the new jewel from its restricted state by making another match. Or...you can just bomb/blast the heck out of them...(that's what I mostly did, lol! ;))

As you approach the windows on this level, it can get a little tough, and hard to get through. I had many attempts where I ran out of moves. But I finally had a round where my blaster + bomb opportunities happened at the perfect time & places. I definitely got lucky in that 5-meter area, where it tends to slow down a bit. Had nearly back-to-back blaster + bombs. Then at the end, I made a couple diamonds. Used one to detonate a bomb that was right next to a piece of s.d. (that was keeping the screen from scrolling beyond the goal line.) Then, I was hoping to get a blaster next to the 2nd diamond for a combo & better score...and I did (yay!) Had lots of fun on this level... :D

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 404: 16 glass in 1:15 (5JC.) More restricted ice (white blocks) in this rather unique board layout. Looks strange, might take awhile to get used to seeing it! There are lots of difficulties to overcome here, like windows/cutouts that create corners and completely separated/isolated areas. Another is identifying the 16 glass--only 14 are visible at first glance:

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/400%20up%20-%20JMD/3e10038e-e083-4d3d-91ed-a0e40d9bf965_zpsa317ba03.jpg

Here's another screenshot to show the other 2 glass. The pink dots are the glass locations you can see when the level starts. The green circles show the last 2 glass..."hidden" under the two bottom-row restricted ice/white blocks.

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/400%20up%20-%20JMD/1d4a966e-4c67-4e5f-b5d0-4b336bece864_zps1ddd0a33.jpg

You have to really hustle on this one. At least some of the ice has to be color-changed, in order to clear some restricted jewels. Only 2 restricteds have to be cleared (to get to the glass.) But getting others out of the way creates more room to maneuver/make matches, special jewels, combos, etc. In the round I passed, I was swiping like crazy. I ended up making a diamond, then a blaster right above it. Swapped them, then kept making matches (creating more specials, etc.) while the combo was still detonating. By the time it was done, I only had one glass left. Luckily, there was a match for it right there, cuz I had only a couple seconds remaining. Whew! I'm so glad I got lucky on that, cuz this level prob would've had me stuck for days (or more!)

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 405: 18 fire in 35 moves (5JC.) This level has 2 little snakes, windows/cutouts, and a lock and chain area in the middle of the board. The L&C has fire inside, and a 25-count lock. The target color was red every time I played, but only made a few attempts. There's more fire blocked-in by the snakes. Once they're cleared, the fire is free to spread...

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/400%20up%20-%20JMD/3ecd04ac-1f3f-483f-8183-a06f9d914192_zpsd34f97b7.jpg

This board layout makes it difficult to get direct access to the fire. Same goes for the snakes--you can't make a regular match using the head, because the little windows are in the way. So you have to blast the snake heads, or use a diamond. (Actually, I take that back. Once the L&C's unlocked, you'll have direct access to the snake head. Every time I played, though, the snakes were ****ed first.)

It's important to get the L&C open as quickly as possible, so you can start pushing back the fire. Once that's done, you have room to make direct matches to extinguish fire, or better yet get a blaster + bomb down to the bottom to wipe it out. When I passed, I ended up using several blaster + bomb combos, after using regular blasters to **** the snakes. Had a few flames left in awkward places, and I was afraid I'd lose control of the fire again. I blasted down into the gems (where the fire had been,) cuz it seemed the best of only a couple possible moves. It provided some new match possibilities, including ways to put out all but 2 flames. After a couple more moves, I had a 3-match right next to my last flames. Ta-dah! ;)

(Another level I was worried about, lol!) I really like this island so far...it has some unique layouts. Having fun so far, but now I'm worried (timed level up next :eek:)

[Phaedrakiki]

Here's how level 405 looks once you get the obstacles removed. I had meant to include this in the last post (forgot.) I find it helpful sometimes to see the "bare bones" of the board...to know what's underneath all the obstacles, etc. I took this right before I passed the round...

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/400%20up%20-%20JMD/be542854-0b68-4998-9c56-af506cbd4fac_zps9ba74227.jpg

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 406: Dig 9 meters in 2:50 (5JC.) This level has some similarities to 403. It's a 9-meter super dirt level, with windows and snakes to add difficulty (but luckily, no crates this time, lol!) This one has unbreakable/stone jewels (instead of restricted ice,) and it's timed, of course. And just like 403, this one gets even more difficult once you hit the first window.

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/400%20up%20-%20JMD/ff8f7c95-3011-4a38-b76c-12510bc136a0_zps6fc24d49.jpg
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/400%20up%20-%20JMD/2891befa-daed-40ec-8420-f1c9909e4b02_zpsc41bcabc.jpg
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/400%20up%20-%20JMD/d461bdb9-3c5f-44b5-8785-044e4b9490c2_zps1e540264.jpg

Haven't made it beyond 6 meters, but I can see how tricky the bottom/goal area is going to be to get by! I'm not sure how to pass this, since the time seems to run out before I can get halfway through all those obstacles. For one thing, this will require some luck--in getting the combos you need where and when you need them. Good luck with that (hope I get some myself!) :D

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 407: 38 glass in 35 moves (5JC.) This board has lots of windows/cutouts, creating lots of hard-to-reach areas. There's also triple-boarded crates, and portals, making it even more difficult. The moves are very tight.

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/400%20up%20-%20JMD/1851e232-290b-401a-9dfc-712faa86a2a3_zps7f657410.jpg

This one took many, many attempts. Got really close quite often (down to just 1 glass left a few times,) but not good enough. I only played boards that started with matches in some of the harder to clear areas (circled in white in screenshot below,) or I'd restart the level. I'd also play boards with diamond-creating matches, or other optimal moves. I tried to break the crates as soon as possible, and tried not to waste a single move. I finally had a lucky round, and passed with a diamond + blaster, as well as easy matches in all the areas marked in the screenshot. That round, I had 11 moves left--even passed the challenge, lol! Whoo-hoo!

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/400%20up%20-%20JMD/65fb1910-c302-4013-9e3a-350ce07279b7_zps6d1f43e6.jpg

The green-circled areas are where I usually had a glass or two left at the end of each attempt. Had glass left in the upper white-circled areas (both sides) sometimes, as well. I enjoyed this--fun level! :D

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 408: 18 fire in 50 moves (5JC.) This level has four 2-headed snakes, and 3 windows. All the fire is contained in lock and chain areas. There are 2 L&C, with different colored 35-count locks (target color changes each round.)

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/400%20up%20-%20JMD/2ec7742d-8c88-448f-9aa0-32b9a178a987_zpsea04a7be.jpg

Took lots of attempts to get this one. The windows make it very difficult to get direct access to the fire, so extinguishing it is quite tough. It's pretty easy to make special jewels on this one, though. So you just have to keep trying until you get the right combos at the right time. I got close SO many times on this--down to just one flame several times. But I just couldn't reach certain flames on the bottom (or sometimes the sides.) Finally, I got a lucky round with 2 diamond + blaster combos after the L&C was unlocked. I still had a flame left, worrying me when it started to spread again. But then I made a blaster + bomb in just the right spot--I was so excited to pass! (Easy, now...lol.)

A few times I left the side snakes in place, and this can be helpful in keeping the flames from spreading upwards. If you don't get the right combo (like diamond + blaster or bomb,) this is a big help. A blaster + bomb combo's blast is only 3-wide, so the snakes keep the flames from getting too high, making the blast more effective. I basically just tried to **** the middle snakes, and didn't worry about the side ones (if they get ****ed--more room and access to the side flames. If not, a nice fire "block"! ;)) Unfortunately, there's no "one spot" on this board where you can put a blaster + bomb to take out all the fire. On this one, you might have to use a combination of combos...

Long story short (too late,) on this level the diamond combos worked the best--imho--for fire-fighting (post-L&C unlock.) Now I'm off to Naval Narwhal (http://forums.storm8.com/showthread.php?59857-Naval-Narwhal-Levels-409-414-(Region-69)) island...Yippee!!! :D

[limonepledge]

Updates!

Level 403: Now has 65 moves. +5

Level 404: Has been increased to 1:50, so that's :35 more seconds!

Level 405: 45 moves. 10 have been added. For this one I tried to not **** the snakes until I opened up the L&C and was able to put out some of the fire. I think that gives a little more room in the middle to set things up and keeps the fire from spreading too soon.

Level 406: Now at 3:10, +:20 seconds.

Level 407: 40 moves. 5 added. I found the portals on the this one really annoying. You think you have a move set up but next thing you know, you don't. This level was hard, but definitely fun.

Level 408: 65 moves. Added 15.

[Phaedrakiki]

Thanks for the updates, limonepledge! I'm loving the levels where time/moves have been added. Been going back to my 1-star levels to upgrade, as well as some 2-star's that were fun to play (to try for 3!) I had some pathetic scores on this island, in particular...so I appreciate this so much. Thanks again--awesome! :D

[limonepledge]

Of course, Phaedrakiki! I basically live on your tips (as well as the other folks who used to post. What happened to them?) so I figure the least I can do is add in what I'm seeing for anyone going back of just coming through.