From:
[email protected] (Frank Kuan)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Dracula Optimal Strategy
Date: Tue, 9 May 1995 07:44:56 GMT
Dracula Tip Sheet
Prerequisite:
If you haven't mastered bounce passes, stop shots (dead catches),
don't bother playing Dracula. You'll just get incredibly
frustrated.
Here's what I believe is the optimal strategy for Dracula.
0. NEVER attempt to hit the castle lock targets unless it's
during the time you start a multiball and the ball saver is on.
1. Hit the right ramp 5 times to ligh coffin lock, and then pass the
ball to the right flipper.Do not start locking balls, because
it's risky. anytime the ball is sent into the pop bumpers,
it's like Russian Roulette. The reason we LIght the lock
first is so that 12 Left Ramps will award a castle lock lit
instead of advancing Coffin by one measly ramp! This little
trick is a MAJOR factor in getting castle locks safely!
2. Start hitting the Left ramp. This is the bread and butter shot
of the game. Ultimate Glory awaits those who can hit this
shot anytime. At 3 ramps, it will start Bats. DO NOT
even bother trying to hit switches to maximize Bats. Just
Keep hitting the left ramp.
3. At 5 left ramps, mist is lit. If your castle lock targets are
close to being lit (i.e. one center hit away to light castle
lock), then hit the left ramp to light caslte
lock from the award at 6, and then once more to collect the
lock. Now start mist multiball. While the ball saver is
on, hit the center target to light another castle lock!
4. During Mist, collect 1 or 2 coffin locks if the oppurtunity
presents itself. I prefer to trap one ball on the left fliper,
and loop the left ramp with the other. The idea is to get
all three multiballs going.
5. Ok, now you're in the state where just about every multiball is
ready to get started. You should go for Mist first if
possible, since if you start mist during another multi, the
balls flying around keep you from getting a clean shot.
Second priority is Castle multi, because you can lock
up to two balls in the left ramp to get them off the
playfield for about 20 seconds. Keeping the playfield
clear will allow you to make unobstructed shots. So in
our preferred order, we start mist, get the third castle
lock from the targets during ball saver, start castle
multi, then go for a coffin shot or the sinkhole to collect
the jackpot, which ever is a safer shot. Never get greedy
and try to start the coffin right away. Collect a couple of
castle jackpots a couple of times if you don't get a good
clean collected shot at the coffin. Don't force up a bad
shot. Dracula is the most unforgiving game every made.
you can't afford to take a risky shot on the fly. Only
take controlled shots off a dead catch or a bounce pass.
6. All three multis are started: Go for Coffin or Castle?
Preferably Castle, since you can lock two balls up there
and clear the playfield for a clean shot at the jackpot.
But again, don't force a shot. If you have a clean shot
on the left flipper, take a shot at the coffin. But if you
are given the choice, Let the ball bounce pass to the
right flipper or do a dead catch from the right flipper
to take a shot at the left ramp or sink hole.
