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So Close, Yet So Far
Act I: Pillar Trials
A single player puzzle by Noxiw

Pillar Trials originally began as a few platforms floating off of the Pillar area of ForgeWorld. A man-cannon here, and a man-cannon there, it rapidly evolved into something I just kept coming back to in Forge. It was only a matter of time until I found that all of my other forging projects were placed on the back burner, darkened by the shadow that was my un-named puzzle. Day in and day out I worked until I was finally at a point that it was able to be tested. Nick the Ratman, MetaWaddleDee, Urban Myth, Nibbles, Sleazy Grandma, and Throwin' Some Bows threw themselves into the frontline, exploiting every single aspect of the map, forcing me to revisit things I thought were fool-proof. Iteration after iteration, this map has received as much, if not more scrutiny than the average competitive map, and it is finally at a point that it can be released. Ready to make your mind explode.

Pillar Trials requires no knowledge of glitches within the game's engine, rather: logic, thought process, spatial awareness, and trial and error. Modelled closely off of Mander's Poseidon's Lair puzzle, this puzzle is capable of being solved by every caliber of puzzle player, from the first timers, to the puzzle-pro's. One unique difference Pillar Trials brings aboard is that instead of having a room-to-room styled puzzle (where you complete a task at X, move onto Y, complete a task at Y, and move onto Z), there is more of a "localized repetition". You'll find yourself repeatedly returning to the same 6 rooms, doing different tasks throughout the length of this "adventure". With this kind of progression exploration is crucial. Don't ever assume that just because you've used one object that you're done using it, you're probably not. Continually think of ways to use the same thing in multiple situations. If you find yourself confused or lost, go walk around what you have readily available, looking high and low for places you haven't yet gotten to. And while there are no hidden weapons, grenades, or armor abilities (this isn't a scavenger hunt), you'll find more often than not you know what to do, you just weren't aware of it.

Pillar Trials is meant to be easy. ... Once you know what you're doing. Use what you have to get where you need to go, once you're there you'll find that it wasn't actually THAT difficult...

Pillar Trials uses a "localized", or short-cut checkpoint system. Being that, as mentioned before, this puzzle takes place using just a few rooms, an actual spawn checkpoint system just doesn't cut it. Instead, as you progress you'll find that certain areas are blocked off by fixed fusion coils and some teleporters just aren't teleporting. These are two different forms of checkpoints that you'll have to find out how to unlock (Don't worry, they unlock as you make your way toward your goal.), and once you have you'll notice if you should mess something up, you won't have to repeat that last little bit you just completed.

I encourage you to go at a slow pace, completing a challenge or two every day or so. If you think you're going to get through this in one short sit-down, you're going to get quite annoyed. As mentioned before, once you've completed something it's not difficult to repeat what you know how to do. Don't burn yourself out on the map and you'll find you'll enjoy yourself more upon completion.

If you get to a point and you just haven't the faintest idea of what to do and think a quick Forge-through will help you progress, think again. Unless you were to physically alter the geometry or supplies the default map gives you, forge will not help you. (It's not recommended that you change anything (actually, just don't do it.), being that you revisit areas so often you never know what might not work later on should you change something.)

Rather than make an "elite trap" at the beginning like a lot of other puzzle maps do, the gametype forces you spartan. No need to change your preferred species. As mentioned before, this is a single player puzzle map. Playing with multiple people break some challenges and should there be a connection-host switch mid-game one of the final challenges may actually not work. Take it alone.

Special thanks to Rifte Gifle for making an uber awesome trailer for our viewing pleasure. 720p Available on Youtube... Click it. :D
YouTube - Video Request .:Pillar Trials by Noxiw :.

Things to know:

Trait | Base Player Traits | Custom Power Up

Player Speed | 100% | 0%
Jump Height | 90% | 150%
Gravity | 150% | 150%
Infinite Ammo | Enabled | Bottomless Clip
Damage Resistance | Invulnerable | Invulnerable
Damage Modifier | 0% | 100%
Flag Carrier Cooldown | 3 sec. | 3 sec.
Primary Weapon | Pistol
Flag Reset Time | 30 sec.
Flag Carrier Traits: Unchanged
Cooldown Traits: No equipment usage

Active Camouflage Armor Ability Pickups are the ONLY fixed (floatable) items on the map.

As mentioned before, Pillar trials uses localized checkpoints, or "Shortcuts". The types of shortcuts are as followed:

Blocked doors/windows/holes by Fusion Coils. Once removed you'll find that it takes less time to get somewhere
Mancannons blocked by Fusion Coils. Same story as the above
Teleporters blocked by Fusion Coils/Plasma Batteries. Remove the blockade and get to the otherside.
Teleporters and a floating Plasma Grenade. Remove the grenades and you've just activated the sender. There are only two teleporters like this.

BEWARE: SPOILERS

Fall Back I: Photo Rollovers

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Fall Back II: Video walkthrough

Nearly a flawless run here.
14123108
Perfect run estimated at 14-15 minutes.

So Close, Yet So Far
Act I: Pillar Trials
A single player puzzle by Noxiw
And yes, there will be more to come.

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