Sandcastles on Risa..how?

rickpaaa

I have been all over the beach looking for a spot. I think I find spots that are already claimed alright as there is nothing for me to click. Is this event for for the few lucky people?

xtern1ty

the beach, NE of the resort, there's a sandcastle guy you talk to outside the balcony. If you need step by step directions or want a guide, just drop by our help channel and ask. Simply type in your chat:

/channel_join XTERN1TY

bluegeek

rickpaaa wrote: »

I have been all over the beach looking for a spot. I think I find spots that are already claimed alright as there is nothing for me to click. Is this event for for the few lucky people?

xtern1ty wrote: »

the beach, NE of the resort, there's a sandcastle guy you talk to outside the balcony. If you need step by step directions or want a guide, just drop by our help channel and ask. Simply type in your chat:

/channel_join XTERN1TY

If it's at all like last year, you have to have the event "mission" in order to build a sand castle. Not sure it's necessary to actually go visit "sandcastle guy". There should be an interaction button when the event is live, similar to when the hunt is available yet you don't have to actually visit the contact to start it. Don't recall for sure (and not in-game to check).

Hopefully they have added more locations since last year, as it can be very difficult to find an open spot when a lot of players are active. "Click-stealing" was pretty rampant.

rickpaaa

I did get the event active, but I think there are way too few spots to work with along with way too many participants.

So what is fair game? Is a bucket with boundaries open or closed? if not open, what does an open space look like? I tried clicking on one, and could find no node on which to click.

bluegeek

rickpaaa wrote: »

I did get the event active, but I think there are way too few spots to work with along with way too many participants.

So what is fair game? Is a bucket with boundaries open or closed? if not open, what does an open space look like? I tried clicking on one, and could find no node on which to click.

Your best bet is to pick a spot on the eastern beach and stay there until it opens up. It's farther away from where people spawn in, so slightly less competition.

The site should have the normal interact animation (on the bucket, I think?) when it's available. If you don't see that, someone's probably working the site and it can take awhile to collect the stuff for each stage.

Unfortunately, there are no lines/queues and just like the winter event it is entirely possible to "click-steal" a spot.

Sounds like they didn't add any new locations, which is a shame.

rickpaaa

I guess I will do what I did last year, and pass on everything except for the hoverpack daily for the ship.

Thank you very much for being so helpful!

gerwalk0769

No need to pass on events, you can destroy a castle if the former builder did not clean up their mess.
Better to fly or scoot around using ice boots to scout out openings.

This map is from 2013 so it does not show the newer 2105 or 2015 buildings.

Look for spots along the stretch of beach along Tower Bay, by the light house.

Festival info.

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geminisierra

There's a few buckets on the beach between the lighthouse and the resort and between the Promeade and the arch bridge...

markhawkman

btw, does it hightlight potential areas on the map when you have that quest active?

tarran61

Thanks for asking this, I too had problems with the mini game.

BTW, what ship is that in your sig?

emperormak

markhawkman wrote: »

btw, does it hightlight potential areas on the map when you have that quest active?

Nope. It sure would be nice if it did though.

rickpaaa

tarran61 wrote: »

BTW, what ship is that in your sig?

It's a little bit Tor'Kaht, Vor'cha, and Vor'kang.

http://sto.gamepedia.com/Fleet_Tor'Kaht_Battle_Cruiser_Retrofit

bendalek

What I can't understand is WHY for the love of Spock they don't add more spots!!!

There is an absolute maximum number of player that can be in any instance at one time, and there are (I believe) 75 Instances of Risa, and miles and miles of (virtual) beach. Why there are only a handful of spots is totally beyond me!

If they want the castles to be visible in more "populated" areas only, then why not spread out some of the amenities, or how about adding an "island Tour" event/function/accolade so as to encourage players to "fly around?

where2r1

bendalek wrote: »

What I can't understand is WHY for the love of Spock they don't add more spots!!!

I thought they added more Sand Castle building lots last year. I am not sure if it "reverted" to the "before extra spots were added" Risa map this year, or what.

To OP: I am having a heck of a time finding Sand Castle Building Lots on my new Delta Recruits, too. So, it isn't just you.

My fleetmate informs me they have more people per instance, too. So, they may need to expand the number of sand castle building lots to compensate, again.

bendalek wrote: »

how about adding an "island Tour" event/function/accolade so as to encourage players to "fly around?

There are accolades for touring around Risa, and there is, also, accolades from Pavyl to collect. Oh and the "View Birds".

sheldonlcooper

My advice is just to wait until Monday and after and find a low pop instance. I think the reason they don't add more spots is that they are only necessary for the first few days and maybe first 2 weekends.

Also, as a note, you can not destroy castles until you get the accolade.

subzer0d1vide

I find it impossible to build sand castles and can't find ANY instructions ANYWHERE - WTF?
...and NO, I don't want to join a channel. I just want some written out instructions on how to play - that is what we're supposed to do, right?

angrytarg

subzer0d1vide wrote: »

I find it impossible to build sand castles and can't find ANY instructions ANYWHERE - WTF?
...and NO, I don't want to join a channel. I just want some written out instructions on how to play - that is what we're supposed to do, right?

This game doesn't even explain how much damage you deal or what your defenses are. All they give is vague numbers and pseudo-instructions but actually you have to figure out/calculate everything yourself.

fu11ofstars

There is a prompt, like the Horga'hn hunt, where you can pick up the sand castle building mission remotely. Yu can also visit the Arenologist near the Promenade. You can get the mission from him. You also turn it into him when you're done.

One note: To get the bonus rewards, there is no reason to build a castle during the event. You can build one any time you want. You do have to turn the mission in during the event. I usually build one after the Horga'hn hunt when I've got some spare time. I've never had to wait for a spot.

You don't need any extra equipment (I've seen some questions about this in game). You just pick up the mission, and then head to one of the sand pails on the beach. They'll be all glowy like other objects you can interact with. You'll then follow the instructions. The whole thing is timed, so you have to be careful.

One other note: When you're getting sand, the bigger patches will usually get you 75% of what you need. The smaller patches get you 25%. I think there are some that get you 50%. I usually try to get 75% and then 25%. It seems faster.

Hope that all helps.

freakium

There are currently 5 sandcastle plots. 2 are on the beach southeast of the resort and 3 are south of the promenade.

You can either fly back and forth with a floater and swoop in on an open plot or wait at one of the sandcastles until it crumbles.

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tiriusavaro

westmetals wrote: »

(there are three spots that there can be one within the visible area of the beach, and two more "around the corner" toward the resort).

There is also a sixth spot near the Promenade. The full list, as far as I know, is:

• 2 spots east of the resort
• 3 spots south of the promenade
• 1 spot north of the promenade

drazursouthclaw

No, you shouldn't do the sand castles because it's first come first served, because the devs are either lazy, or hate us, or both. The devs would rather take away all our Pearls than make the mini-'games' fun, or even non-****ty. You can tell, because that's exactly what they did.

So, now you have your written instructions on how to play, posted by others.

Now you can look forward to bad luck ("because it sure wasn't ****ty design" - Cryptic) ruining your Risa experience. Don't forget, if you are one of the lucky ones, to gloat about how easy it is, and about how much that means that everyone else 'obviously isn't even trying'.

angrytarg

I'd like to ask anyone building a sandcastle to use the site-to-site transport to transport to either one of the spots after finishing the castle as this will immedeatly make your castle go poof and free the space

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angrytarg

westmetals wrote: »

Anyone who's gotten the accolade - which I think requires building five to seven sand castles - can kick them over, too.

Not immedeatly, though. It takes like two minutes for the castle to become "abandoned". If the finished people teleport it's insta-poof and very friendly towards other players