Russian Roulette
From Worms Knowledge Base
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W:A replay: An example of a Russian Roulette game with ShyGuy and ChaTeve; taken from Worm Olympics |
| Download · Info |
Russian Roulette is a scheme based on the real-life potentially lethal game of chance in which each player's worms (often just one) are positioned on a small piece of terrain and must kill the opponent worm with a Homing Missile or Pigeon. However, the worms must not be directly targeted - instead, the target for the weapon must be placed somewhere in a large space above the worms such that the weapon will continually orbit the target until it times out and drops onto the worm (or, more likely, into the water). The unpredictable nature of this attack lends the scheme its name.
Contents
Description
| Game setup |
|---|
| Scheme |
| Russian Roulette: |
| Map |
| Specially-designed map (examples: WoRmS.oRg.Ua, TUS) Examples at the WMDB |
| Worms |
| 1-6 players, typically 1v1 in competitions. Usually 1 worm per team but can be played with more. |
The game begins with each player placing their worms on the map. The map usually includes instructions on where worms can and cannot be placed.
During the game, the players target the empty space above the map. The valid area where targets can be placed is usually indicated on the map. Players must fire their weapons at full power, and after 4 seconds of circling around the target marker, the weapon loses its attraction and falls down. If the player is lucky, the missile will land on and injure or kill the opponent worm. Or if they are unlucky, it will kill one of their own.
Low gravity is often provided as well. Sometimes the pigeon is omitted.
The scheme is not currently supported by HostingBuddy.
Rules
- No direct targets - Players must always place their target in the space indicated by the instructions on the map, and far enough that a homing missile won't hit them before circling around the target.
- Full power launches - Players must always use full power when launching a homing missile.
- Kill The Cow (KTC) - Players must target (as far as they can given direct targeting cannot be used) players who break the above rules.
Strategies
While the scheme is largely devoid of strategy due to its simplicity, there is a technique that players can use to increase their chances of a hit.
This involved firing a homing missile in the opposite direction to the target, giving the homing missile enough flight time that its homing mechanism times out just as it reaches (or just before it reaches) the target. This enables a player to more accurately control the flight path of the missile.
History
Maps designed for this scheme credit XShadow with its creation. The scheme dates back to August 2006 at the latest, when it featured in the Worm Olympics.
Competitive events
The scheme has featured consistently in competitions, featuring:
Tournaments
In most years of the Worm Olympics from 2006 to 2016, and in tournaments hosted on The Ultimate Site in 2012.
Cups
In TUS cups between 2011 and 2013 (2023 can be considered too).
