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3.1 Beginning Herding

The easiest way to herd a penguin is to block the worst diagonals.

To block a diagonal you need to block its 2 components. So to block a penguin from going SW both south and west must be blocked as shown:

____

_

Z

A

_

__

Z

_

With 3 players standing next to a penguin you can block 2 of the diagonals next to each other, so to block NW and SW you block north, south and west.

__

Z

_

_

Z

A

_

__

Z

_

However You do not have to stand next to a penguin to block it. Sometimes it is better to 'catch' a penguin a few squares along an unwanted diagonal.

You are on your own and North West is a bad direction (I heard the KBD is roaming around there) Standing next to the penguin does not help at all, but standing as shown catches the penguin between you and the wall if it tries to go NW.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

____

Z

_________

_________

A

____

______________

Standing away from the penguin like this can also give you time to react and 'reset' your block when it starts moving towards you.

.•´¯`•._.•´¯`•.

Remember the penguin movement theories on the previous page. Just because you have blocked a diagonal temporarily does not mean the penguin cannot just go around you. There has been many a day where the penguin flipped herders the bird and moved in the proper direction, only to switch directions quickly and go right around the block. ~ Bill

18-Feb-2014 02:45:44 - Last edited on 18-Feb-2014 02:55:41 by Shady Guy

3.2 More Advanced Herding Techniques

The next three pages cover much more advanced herding techniques, such as the shooter, the slide, the drag, walking a penguin, and even the chariot. The next post is more geared towards helpful tips and tricks that do not fit into the above categories.


Covering Multiple Directions

Armed with all the information in the previous posts and knowing that penguins follow WESN movement we can begin to predict where penguins can move and play the percentage game as to where to stand for the best results.

Sometimes you can even cover off 2 locations and the same time by getting ready to click on the correct spot as soon as you see the penguin move in the wrong direction.

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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

__

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Z

_____

A

_____

_______________________

___

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

__

Here we are alone and want the penguin to go East.

By standing back away from the penguin (Z in diagram) you can quickly move south if you see the penguin is moving SW, effectively covering off both of the bad directions by yourself.


Covering Multiple Directions - 2 players


Remembering WESN can help you pick a good spot to stand on.

For example, there are 2 people herding a penguin East and it stops as below

_ _ _ _

_ _ _ _

X

_

A

_

_ _ _ _

Here you you can catch both N.W and S.W directly by setting up like this

_ _ _ _

_

Z

_ _

X

_

A

_

_

Z

_ _

Since the penguin will go West rather than North or South it will end up between the 2 players if it picks a West diagonal. ~ Bill

18-Feb-2014 02:45:54 - Last edited on 18-Feb-2014 02:56:08 by Shady Guy

3.3 More Advanced Herding Techniques

Following a Penguin

In some instances, blocking makes no difference. Take the desert, and you are alone. Using an item on a penguin will make you 'follow' it until conditions are better for blocking.

Just know if the penguin doubles back and you reach it, you will stop. You must use the item on the penguin again.


.•´¯`•._.•´¯`•.


Using A Pet as a Backstop

You can run ahead of a penguin as it is going along a wall with your pet behind it.
The pet should catch the penguin if it turns back.

The penguin is heading NW.

X X X X X X X X X X X X

_

Z

_ _ _ _ _

A

_ _

n

_

The player is running or walking west, their goat will walk along the edge of the wall maintaining the gap to the penguin.

If the penguin turns NE they should bump into each other and both stop.

Try this along the wall north or south of West Ardougne!


.•´¯`•._.•´¯`•.


A pet can also be an excellent backstop on a one wide long path. This allows you to run ahead of the penguin and set up your next move.

As long as your pet remains on the path, the penguin remains on the same path or has an easy diagonal to that path, and you remain closer than 15 spaces from your pet, the penguin and the pet will block each other from moving in the direction they want.

Using the diagram below, the penguin will be forced to move west out of the gap. The pet cannot move west until the penguin has chosen to move west. This allows you to set up a catch or even a slide (shown on next page).

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

X X X

_

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A

n

_

_ _ _ _ _ _

Z

_

X X X

_

~ Bill

18-Feb-2014 02:46:00 - Last edited on 18-Feb-2014 02:56:37 by Shady Guy

3.4 The Basic Shooter

The goal of the shooter (or shot) is to force a penguin to move along a specific diagonal. That means blocking three different diagonals with obstacles, pets, or players and having the penguin's only option to move be the last diagonal.

The hard part is that blocking 3 diagonals as shown on post 3.1 will result in the penguin being one spaced. You need to use the other herding techniques to make sure you position yourself in the right spot. Take the example below:

_ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _

_ _

n

_ _

X

A

_

Z

_

X X X X X

Here we want the penguin to go NW.

By creating this gap allowing the penguin to go East we have stopped it from going NE and SE, and the obstacles prevent it from going SW. Thus, it is forced to go NW. We have a NW shooter!


The 5 Person/Pet Shooter

A lack of obstacles is no excuse not to use a shooter when you want the penguin to travel in a certain direction. With 5 players/pets combined, you can create your own shooter in any direction! Use the diagram below to see how:

These herders are trying to make the penguin move NE.

_ _

Z

_ _ _

_

n

_

A

Z

_

_ _

Z n

_ _

NOTE: The positions of the pets do not matter, so long as the 5 blocks are in these precise spots.

The space to the west of the penguin draws any SW or NW movement into the blocking players/pets. The person/pet east of the penguin prevents any movement SE. The penguin to escape must move NE. ~ Bill

18-Feb-2014 02:46:06 - Last edited on 23-Feb-2014 20:27:51 by Shady Guy

3.5 How NOT to Do a Shooter

Credit goes to Anon991 for this post.

This is a mistake I have often seen. Even *I* have been guilty of this on occasion!


You want the penguin to go SE. You decide to stand East of it. NE is the direction you least desire it to go (maybe Miss Ele is that way)!

X X

_ _

X

A

Z

_

X

_ _ _

X X

_ _

However from here the penguin can choose SW and then NE and escape past you!

Chooses SW:

X X

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X

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Z

_

X

A

_ _

X X

_ _

Chooses NE:

X X

_ _ _

A

X

_

Z

_

A

_

X

A

A

A

_ _

X X

_ _ _ _

Here is yet another test for those working on shooters. Why is this shooter not working correctly? PM me with an answer if you think you know. ~ Bill

18-Feb-2014 02:46:12 - Last edited on 18-Feb-2014 02:57:48 by Shady Guy

3.6 North/South Wall Shooters

This is the easier one to set up and envision. The diagram shows a NW shot by forcing the penguin to go in that direction

X

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X

_

Z

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X

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Z

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X

A

Z

_ _

X

Z

_ _ _

The SW and SE are blocked by players/pet or by the wall. The penguin has but two choices - NW or NE. If it chooses NE, it will wind up in the spot labeled in the diagram below:

X

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X

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Z

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X

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A

Z

_

X

_

Z

_ _

X

Z

_ _ _

Now the NE and SE directions are blocked. The penguin still has two choices. SW leads back to where the penguin started. NW leads out of the shooter in precisely the direction you wish it to go.

.•´¯`•._.•´¯`•.

It is recommended to stay in position unless you are absolutely sure the penguin will not bounce back SW when choosing NW or NE. That means it came to a full stop. Penguins have become quite a bit more bouncy when hitting obstacles, and they often travel back in the opposite direction they just traveled.

If the player Z furthest south is not careful, they might allow the penguin to escape heading SW. ~ Bill

18-Feb-2014 02:48:15 - Last edited on 18-Feb-2014 02:58:15 by Shady Guy

3.7 Advanced Shooters

The East/West Wall Shooter

This shooter is much harder to set up due to WESN movement.


If you set it up like a North/South Wall shooter in the post above, you will find that the penguin will have a bit more freedom to move SE than you anticipated. This is the correct INCORRECT way to set it up:

X X X X X X X X

Z

A

_ _ _ _ _ _

_

Z

_

Z

_ _ _ _

_ _

Z

_ _ _ _ _

The penguin moving SE will see that as a spec gap, and will go entirely past the person Z furthest east!


The following diagram shows the correct shooter by forcing the penguin to move NE.

X X X X X X X X

Z

A

_ _ _ _ _ _

_

Z

_ _

Z

_ _ _

_ _

Z Z

_ _ _ _

Here the NW and SW are blocked. The penguin has two choices - SE or NE. If it chooses SE, it winds up in the spot in the following diagram:

X X X X X X X X

Z

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

_

Z

_

A

Z

_ _ _

_ _

Z Z

c _ _ _

This time, it has three choices.

SW will move it one space west into the block.
NW will return it to its original position.
Only NE will allow it to escape from the trap.


.•´¯`•._.•´¯`•.

It is important to once again maintain your positions when attempting this shooter. Patience is the key to a lot of these herding techniques. ~ Bill

18-Feb-2014 02:48:21 - Last edited on 18-Feb-2014 03:00:09 by Shady Guy

3.8 More Advanced Shooters


Shooting off a North/South Wall

If you were smart and waited to read further about how post 3.2 is incorrect, I have supplied you the answer.


First, this is the correct INCORRECT way to set this up:

X X

_ _

X

A

Z

_

X

_ _ _

X X

_ _

In the worst case, the scenario shown by post 3.2 will happen and the penguin will just move past you due to WESN.


Luckily, just adding one more person/pet block to the SE in the above diagram will cause the shot to work properly, as shown below:

X X

_ _

X

A

Z

_

X

_ _

Z

X c

c c

The penguin has three choices after moving SW.

It can move NW and back to its original position.
It can move NE and into the two person/pet block.
It can move SE and escape the trap.


Using a 2x2 NPC for a Shooter

Just like a 2x2 NPC (see here) can be used to block multiple diagonals, the same NPC can be used to set up a shooter in the direction you wish the penguin to go.

X

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X

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Y Y

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X

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Y Y

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X

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n

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X

A

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X

Z

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You can set your self up so that your pet (standing diagonal of you) blocks the 2x2 NPC. Doing this along a wall will create a shot. In this one the penguin can choose NE but will get trapped between the pet and the 2x2 NPC. In short setting up like this will force the penguin to come out NW. ~ Bill

18-Feb-2014 02:48:27 - Last edited on 18-Feb-2014 03:00:38 by Shady Guy

Reserved. Please do not post.

~ Bill

18-Feb-2014 02:48:33

Reserved. Please do not post.

~ Bill

18-Feb-2014 02:48:39