Bilge scoring

From YPPedia
Opinion.gif The values used in this article are for the purposes of demonstrating relative values only.
The actual mechanical values behind the puzzle are undisclosed.

Basic points

Points in bilge are earned by making clears. The basic score is based on length of the clear:

  • Length 3 = 3 points
  • Length 4 = 5 points
  • Length 5 = 7 points

Combo factor

The multiplier for combos depends on the star level. At low star levels, combos do not score high multiples (combos are easy to get).

At the 7 star level (all 7 pieces, all 3 critters), the score multiple is

  • NxN (double): 2 times
  • NxNxN (bingo): 3 times
  • Sea Donkey: At least 4 times, possibly 5 times.
  • Vegas: At least 5 times, possibly 6 or 7 times.

Chain factor

Chains (secondary clears as the bilge empties) score a reduced amount. Since the size of the text ("Super" and "Bonus") stays about the same no matter how many blocks are cleared on these secondaries, the score is not believed to be large; in particular, the secondary clear of a bingo does not get a large text the way that the normal bingo or combo does. Based on this, secondary clears are estimated to produce no more than one point per block cleared.

Unknowns

Value of crabs. It is known to depend on the height of the water, not the height of the crab when cleared; the exact amount is not known.

Sample effective scores

All of these ignore chains.

Scoring a 3 block clear every move will score 3 points per turn, and is the base "100%" efficiency.

Scoring a 3x3 every third turn will score 12 points (3 points per "3", two threes is 6 points, the *2 factor for a NxN combo) will score 4 points per turn, for 133% efficiency.

Scoring a 3x3 every two moves will score 6 points per turn (200%); it is not clear if any actual bilger can maintain this.

Scoring a 3x4 is worth (3 + 5) * 2 = 16. Doing this every four turns scores as much as a 3x3 every three turns.

For bingos, a 3x3x3 is worth 27 points; 6 turns to set one up is worth 4.5 points per turn. Note that most high-end bilgers will consider 6 turns to be too long for a bingo to be worth it. This is 150% efficiency, and should be taken as a minimum target level for someone trying for high-end bilging.

A 3x3x3 in 4 turns is worth 6.75 points per turn.

For Sea Donkeys, a 3x3x3x3 is worth at least 48 to 60 points. 9 turns to set one up is at least 5.333 points per turn. 7 turns is at least 6.85 points per turn.

Scoring Table

Clear Size Score Moves for efficiency of: Score per Moves:
100% 133% 150% 166% 1 2 3 4 5 6
3 3*1 = 3 1 0.75 0.667 0.6 3 1.5 1 0.75 0.6 0.5
4 5*1 = 5 1.667 1.25 1.111 1 5 2.5 1.667 1.25 1 0.833
5 7*1 = 7 2.333 1.75 1.556 1.4 7 3.5 2.333 1.75 1.6 1.167
3x3 (3+3)*2 = 12 4 3 2.667 2.4 12 6 4 3 2.4 2
3x4 (3+5)*2 = 16 5.333 4 3.556 3.2 16 8 5.333 4 3.2 2.667
3x5 (3+7)*2 = 20 6.667 5 4.444 4 20 10 6.667 5 4 3.333
4x4 (5+5)*2 = 20 6.667 5 4.444 4 20 10 6.667 5 4 3.333
4x5 (5+7)*2 = 24 8 6 5.333 4.8 24 12 8 6 4.8 4
5x5 (7+7)*2 = 28 9.333 7 6.222 5.6 28 14 9.333 7 5.6 4.667
3x3x3 (3+3+3)*3 = 27 9 6.75 6 5.4 27 13.5 9 6.75 5.4 4.5
3x3x4 (3+3+5)*3 = 33 11 8.25 7.333 6.6 33 16 11 8.25 6.6 5.5
3x3x5 (3+3+7)*3 = 39 13 9.75 8.667 7.8 39 19.5 13 9.75 7.8 6.5
3x4x4 (3+5+5)*3 = 39 13 9.75 8.667 7.8 39 19.5 13 9.75 7.8 6.5
3x4x5 (3+5+7)*3 = 45 15 11.25 10 9 45 22.5 15 11.25 9 7.5
3x5x5 (3+7+7)*3 = 51 17 12.75 11.333 10.2 51 25.5 17 12.75 10.2 8.5

Notes on scores and indicator

Although it varies by ocean, a sparkly indicator generally requires an average of at least 4 per turn.

(Point per move = ppm)

It is better to get a 3*3 in 2 moves (6ppm) than a 3*4 in 3 turns (5,33ppm)

It is better to get a 3*4 in 2 moves (8ppm) than a 3*5 in 3 turns (6,66ppm)

It is better to get a 3*4 in 2 moves (8ppm) than a 4*4 in 3 turns (6,66ppm)

It is better to get a 3*3*3 in 4 moves (6,75ppm) than a 3*3 in 2 turns (6ppm) but not in 5 moves (5,54ppm)

As a conclusion, you can notice that it is better to work on the combo (3*3,3*3*3) than on the size of the block because using a move to improve a block is less efficient than breaking the smaller block now. However, using 2 moves to get a tripple instead of a double is a great idea.


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Icon bilge.pngBilging | Icon carpentry.pngCarpentry | Icon sailing.pngSailing | Icon navigation.pngDuty Navigation | Icon gunnery.pngGunnery |

Important disclaimer: All point values used within these pages reflect relative values and weights as determined by players. No developer has commented on the current accuracy of any of these. Any forum post from developers that gave point scoring information is from pre-release days (pre-Midnight), and potentially has been changed. In particular, sailing (at least) has been known to have had major changes to scoring at least once. Use at your own risk. Past performance is no guarantee of future potential. Scoring may be changed in any update. Star levels do change the challenges that you face, and may change the scoring; the same play at different star levels may score differently. While this is known to be true in bilge, it potentially may be true in any puzzle.