Total newbie requests a little help with the ESB table please....

[Spirit X]

So after always wondering about the mysteries of pinball, I've started playing Pinball FX 2 and am very much enjoying it. Learning slowly but surely how it all works.

After trying a few tables now, I've come to realise that perhaps the ESB table isn't the best for me to learn on because I frequently find myself having to deal with both a Scene and a multiball at the same time and stuff....when, for the purpose of learning, I feel like I want to be doing just one thing at a time. Never-the-less I'm enjoying the table so I'm going to persevere and have set myself a short term goal of getting 100m. On a side-note though, I'd welcome any suggestions for a good table for a newbie like me to learn on please.

On to my question though. When you activate Scene 1 on the ESB table, it says to 'hit the left hole 3 times' and this is confusing me because I'm assuming it means the left-hand target of the 3 in the middle (the one that says "STAR" on it) but I frequently hit it (and see it flash) and yet the count of hits remaining doesn't go down. On the other hand, if I shoot the far left lane that leads to the R2-D2 bumpers (is this called the left orbit?), then the count seems to go down to 2. The rule sheet says to hit the left 'sinkhole' but I'm not sure what that means. Can anyone explain how this works please?

Thanks.

[Beliskner]

I think the marvel tables are the best to learn stuff
in particular Fantastic Four, Spider-Man and World War Huld are pretty straight forward

the left sinkhole on the Episode V table is a barely visible hole below the R2-D2 bumpers
the easiest way to access this sinkhole is by shooting the orbit to the left you already mentioned

[Spirit X]

Thank you, I never noticed that there!

Will check out the Marvel tables too.

[Casio]

Look for what flashes on the table. Usually this guides you in the direction you need to go.

For learning, avoid Iron Man at all costs. Its known to snap joypads in half all over the world. Maybe try Wolverine.

[shogun00]

First off, welcome to the forums.

Never-the-less I'm enjoying the table so I'm going to persevere and have set myself a short term goal of getting 100m.

Good luck on that goal. I only have 139 million on this table and that's with completing all 6 scenes and started up the Grand Finale. The only real scoring opportunity that I see on this table is the stacking the multiball modes together.

On to my question though. When you activate Scene 1 on the ESB table, it says to 'hit the left hole 3 times' and this is confusing me because I'm assuming it means the left-hand target of the 3 in the middle (the one that says "STAR" on it) but I frequently hit it (and see it flash) and yet the count of hits remaining doesn't go down. On the other hand, if I shoot the far left lane that leads to the R2-D2 bumpers (is this called the left orbit?), then the count seems to go down to 2. The rule sheet says to hit the left 'sinkhole' but I'm not sure what that means. Can anyone explain how this works please?

The left sinkhole is indeed the Light Saber hole next to the R2-D2 bumpers. There is a hole behind the center "Star Wars" target, but that would be the "center hole". The small loop behind the "Star" and "Wars" targets is a mini-orbit and not a hole.

When it comes to missions on any Zen table, I personally don't pay attention to the scoreboard (aka Dot Matrix Display, DMD for short). Instead, I pay attention to the light cues (flashing lights). In Scene 1 (part 1), you will notice that the left orbit (left lane), the Jedi lane, the Sith lane and some times the right ramp (has a diverter) will be lit. All four of these lanes will lead to the bumpers and also into the light saber hole.

[BushMackel]

It's so funny to hear which tables people love because per Casio's recommendation, Wolverine frustrated the hell out of me. My first love was Spider-Man as lanes are pretty big and between then and now I really enjoyed Iron Man and Ms. Splosion Man but yeah, Spider-Man is a gem and has some killer music.

I'm kind of surprised to hear that some members saying they've had difficulty on Empire Strikes Back because it's easily my favourite despite my best efforts to get into Clone Wars and Boba Fett (I blink and the ball just goes down the middle in light speed). I think ESB has a good speed to it (I rarely find myself out of control) has really good contrast on the color so despite other tables, I pretty much always know where to shoot it as I can always see the lighted targets. And I think the modes are really topnotch and do a fantastic job going back to the source material.

But in the general pinball sense - I remember when I watched my friends come over and play pinball that some people didn't grow up on it (I'm only 30) so they didn't understand how much control/patience is a part of the game. If you haven't seen it already next time you have time to kill maybe checkout "Special When Lit" on Hulu or Netflix. There's a part in there where they talk (and show) some basic pinball technique which I think you can apply to Zen Studios' Pinball tables.

GL and let us know which tables become your favourites!

[richvar]

Funny, because the I'm also a total newbie, and the Star Wars tables provide great motivation to get better. I never knew that pinball games can have so much depth.

[Spirit X]

Thanks for advice people. I now have a much better sense of what's what and how to read my objectives by paying attention to what's lit/ flashing etc...

I'm kind of surprised to hear that some members saying they've had difficulty on Empire Strikes Back because it's easily my favourite despite my best efforts to get into Clone Wars and Boba Fett (I blink and the ball just goes down the middle in light speed). I think ESB has a good speed to it (I rarely find myself out of control) has really good contrast on the color so despite other tables, I pretty much always know where to shoot it as I can always see the lighted targets. And I think the modes are really topnotch and do a fantastic job going back to the source material.

Yes I totally agree on the point about ESB having a very good colour palette and contrast to it, making it less visually confusing than some other tables. I'm enjoying Boba Fett but I do find that the colour palette on that table has a tendency to make things visually indistinct and makes it confusing to play on until you become very familiar with the table. I think that to a lesser extent the Clone Wars also suffers from this.