Ali Baba ( Custom level by GooRoo )
Story by GooRoo

Preview without links and pictures

Acknowledgementz: All about the people who contributed to this Custom Level, either by examples, or actively; the people (giantz) upon whose shoulderz I stood while making this level.

About:
Ali Baba: The hero of “A Thousand and One Arabian Nights”.
Sub-titled “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves”

Gruntz:
You begin the game with a Bare-handed Grunt. Toolz, Coinz and Toyz will be found under Rockz, and in Holez. But some Toolz, Toyz and Spellz are required that the puzzle creator did not provide for you! How do you acquire them, you ask? Take them away from enemy Gruntz, or win the enemy(iez) over to your side. Holez with dirt in them frequently turn into ordinary Tilez when you dig them up. If not, you may find some sort of “goodie” in it. If it lookz like a Hole with dirt dumped into it … dig it up again! There may be something worth your time in it. In the descriptionz of the Gruntz below, you will see a number in parentheses next to the Tool description. That number is the creation sequence of your Gruntz, as the puzzle creator designed the puzzle to be solved. You may find another order of Gruntz to receive Toolz, so don’t treat this as “etched in stone”.

Puzzle Concept:
You will need to find the Warpstone, collecting Coinz along the way. Your Grunt(z) will need the correct Tool/Toy(z) for each area of the puzzle, to help you find other Toolz, Toyz, Letterz and (of course) the Warpstone.

Where to start:

• Bare-handed (1) Grunt: The most challenging part of this puzzle is getting started! You see, you are immediately going to be under attack by an enemy Toobz Grunt! Like most of your enemies in this Custom Level, this Grunt is a Thief! So if you can somehow turn him into a puddle of Goo, he will leave behind the Tool he was carrying (the Toobz). There is some Zap Cola nearby to give you back some health during your battle, but use it wisely. Wait until your health has gone into the Red, then grab some Zap Cola. Repeat as necessary, until your enemy is Goo, and his Tool is left behind for you to use. SAVE! What can you find lying around loose? Pick it up! Now, before you leave the (now) safety of the island you landed on through the wormhole, look around at where you can go, and what obstaclez lie ahead. The easiest part of your quest is now behind you, and the most difficult task is next … find a way to put three Gruntz onto three Checkpoint Switchez, when there is only one Grunt you can control. It certainly would be nice if there were a Conversion PowerUp around somewhere, now wouldn’t it? Yes, there it is, but it is surrounded by Grey Pyramidz, and there are no Switchez that control Grey Pyramidz, correct? Or maybe not!

There is a “?” Switch that might do the job … if you can get past that enemy Grunt with the Boomerang. The trick is to wait for him to wind up to throw that thing, and then quickly move out of range so that it doesn’t hit you. The trouble is, you can run, but you cannot hide! Maybe that Jack-in-the-box providez a solution for you?!? Grab it, and run to the Boomerang Checkpoint Switch. When he windz up to throw, step one space North of it, and he will follow you. Give him the Jack-in-the-box! Now hurry to the Black One-Time Switch (BOTS) and then approach the Barehanded enemy Grunt. As soon as he startz to chase you, run toward the “?” Switch, and grab the Keg of Zap Cola on the way. Then head for the Conversion PowerUp, and either take the time to get the can of Zap Cola, or hope that your health lastz long enough without it, You see, you have to lure the (now) Toobz Grunt onto the Toobz Checkpoint, then convert him, then run up to the Boomerang Grunt and convert him, then back down to the GooberStraw Grunt and convert him! Whew! If you manage to do that before “Hale-Bopp, here I come” … SAVE!!! Compared to what you have just been through, the rest is “a piece of cake”.

• Boomerang (2) Grunt: Use it to do what it does best, which is to hit something, and return to you. Remember that you have to be in the same place from which you threw it, in order to catch it! So throw it from someplace safe. Like, from the space where that Squeak Toy is right now! Aim at the further enemy Grunt, and throw! (Four timez, to turn them both into Goo.) After you have cleared away the opposition, your team may take their placez on the Checkpoint Switchez in the area, to lower the Checkpoint Pyramidz so you may reach the next area. There will be lotz of Goo puddlez to be found, both onez you manage to create, and a few generously provided by GooRoo ;^). So let’s see some teamwork here! Have your buddy clean up the mess (Goo) you create with your Boomerang. Repeat three timez. Then you can exchange your Boomerang first for a “Butter Knife”, and (possibly) later for some other Tool. Just don’t trade it away before you are sure you have used it for every possible enemy Grunt!

• GooberStraw (3) Grunt: Suck up every puddle of Goo you can find, of course! There is no reason for you to ever give up your Tool for another, so let the other Gruntz baked from the Goo you suck up have the neat new Toolz!

• Toobz (4) Grunt: Most of the time, this Grunt will be the “sacrificial lamb” to enter into battle first … so his Tool (the weakest one) will be stolen, and his stronger buddies can defeat the Thief who stole the Toobz. Then this Grunt takez his Tool back, only to repeat the process several more timez. There is a Pool, where the Toobz may be useful, but another meanz has been provided to accomplish the taskz those Toobz would be good for … Switchez which control Bridge Stepping Stonez. Use whichever method suitz you, when you come to that Pool.

• Sword (2) Grunt: Step on the Checkpoint! (Your buddies will take their own placez on the other two, and the way will be clear into the next area.) As much as possible, when you enter an area where there is a Barehanded enemy Thief, send Toobz ahead into the area, so his Tool is the one stolen, not yourz! That “butter knife” only requirez two usez to turn a Grunt into a Goo puddle, so you don’t want it to fall into the handz of the enemy! Toobz takez the initial blowz from the enemy Gruntz, and you and GooberStraw wade in to finish the enemy off before he can do too much damage to (your) Toobz Grunt. (So Toobz is also the Grunt who will head for the Zap Cola most frequently.) When you reach the large open area in the central part of the puzzle, you will have to take the lead, since the enemy Gruntz already have Swordz of their own. Take them on one at a time, and run for some Zap Cola after taking one stab from the enemy’z own “butter knife”. (It helpz if your buddies step in to “take one for the Gipper” while you are refreshing yourself.)

For the second enemy Sword Grunt, you should attack via the “Reflective Armor”, then quickly attack one of the two enemy Sword Gruntz just on the other side of the Checkpoint Pyramidz wall. More Zap Cola, then back to attack the remaining Sword Grunt. Go back for more Zap Cola after you have taken one stab from a butter knife, because you will not survive two of them without restoring some of your health. Lastly, go into the exit of the area where Toobz entered, to dispatch the Thief that stealz his Toobz there. All three Gruntz should be restored to full health before you satisfy the next Checkpoint (GooberStraw Grunt, and any other Grunt).

• GooberStraw (3) Grunt: When the Sword/Toobz/GooberStraw Checkpoint has been satisfied, your task is to be the number two back-up in the next few battlez, and then go in and suck up the Goo your team createz anywhere. When all of the areaz your team can reach have been cleared of enemies, it is time for you and Sword (better choice than Toobz, since he has a Checkpoint of his own) to satisfy the Checkpoint to allow access to the area where three Rolling Rockz may be seen. While it may be possible to solve the puzzle with the loss of a few enemy Goo puddlez, defeat your opponentz in such a way as to be able to suck up their Goo later. The intent of the Spikez/Holez area with the enemy Sword Grunt Object Guard is to have one of the Rockz dispatch both Sword Gruntz in the area (no Goo remainz). It is also possible to use one of the Arrowz to squish the object guard (no Goo this way, either). If you are really good at fighting a Sword Grunt with Shovel and GooberStraw Gruntz (and perhaps a Barehanded Grunt), let the Rock go over the Defender Grunt without going through the Spikez/Holez area to take out the object guard (Goo!). By this time you should have sucked up enough Goo to bake three or four new Gruntz. Truth to tell, you better have sucked up enough Goo for four Gruntz! (Did you miss some? Remember, you can suck up Goo on the diagonal, through Pyramidz, Rockz, Holez and other obstaclez.)

• Shovel (2) Grunt: Your Sword Grunt should be the Grunt who pickz up the Sword found near where the Defender Sword Grunt was standing. Fill in (and possibly dig up again) the Holez at the Western edge as required, and the Holez that run horizontally (from East to West) should be processed from East (first) to West (last). The Holez in this area will contain five Toolz, some Coinz, Letterz, a Black One-Time Switch and Zap Cola … and a Checkpoint Switch for a Rockz Grunt.

• Rockz (5) Grunt: Don’t just make a grab for that Rock Tool! (You’ll get bombarded by Rockz from two enemy Gruntz while you are picking it up!) Accept a little pain, and avoid a lot of pain, by stepping on the Spikez just below the Rockz Tool … the enemy Gruntz will throw at you there, and now you can get the Rockz. Use “hit and run” tacticz to defeat the two Rockz Gruntz closest to you. When they have been turned into Goo, proceed to the Northern part of the area, where you can bombard an enemy Sword Grunt on the other side of the barrier. Step on the Checkpoint Switch! When you are able to leave the area, look around for other enemy Gruntz you can dispatch (like other Rockz Gruntz, Swordz Gruntz, Toobz Gruntz, for instance).

• Barehanded (6) Grunt: There are four Toolz remaining in this area for Gruntz 6, 7, 8 and 9 to pick up:

• Gauntletz (6?) Grunt: There is a Checkpoint Switch waiting for this Grunt, and one of the other ‘newbiez’ will create some work for him to do in the area, as well … a Brick to break. (If you like to break Brickz, there are two otherz which don’t mean anything at the endz of a Rockz path that you can break … but only two of the three layerz. ;^) When all of the Checkpoint Switchez are satisfied to allow the team to leave the area, there will be lotz of objectz to use those Gauntletz on … don’t miss any of them! Don’t forget to send him to the “Western Front” to break the Ice Crystal on the island where this whole puzzle began! His last task will be to stand on a Purple Switch over there.

• BrickLayer (7?) Grunt: This is a really hard worker (to hear him tell it, at least), whose job is to lay one (!) Brick, and then stand on his Checkpoint Switch. When everyone else on the team has completed all of their taskz, BrickLayer is best used to stand on a Purple Switch at the Western edge of the map.

• Shovel (8?) Grunt: This Grunt will help in filling-in/digging-up Holez, and was intended to be the Grunt who finally takez the Warpstone to the King. If I were you, I would keep this Grunt near the King’z Fortress for the rest of the puzzle solution. (Don’t move him far enough away that you cannot keep the King’z Fortress in view wherever you move this Grunt.)

• Bootz (9?) Grunt: This Grunt may be used within the Spikez field that can only be entered when a Springz Grunt satisfies the Checkpoint. (Springz can do everything required in there, but Bootz can do it easier.) His real purpose, however, is simply to cross the Spikez field and take up a position on one of the Purple Switchez at the extreme Western edge of the puzzle map.

• Barehanded (10) Grunt (Swordz?): Police up the area! Pick up any loose Toolz left behind by Thievez who are now Goo puddlez (or re-baked into friendly Gruntz). I would suggest that only one type of Tool be picked up by any of the clean-up crew Gruntz. There will be lotz of Swordz (one Grunt), lotz of Rockz (a different Grunt) and a few SpongeGunz (yet another Grunt). Only a Grunt with a SpongeGun is really expected to use the Tool he acquirez … against an enemy SpongeGunz Grunt, and (possibly) against an enemy SuicideBomber Grunt. (By the time all of these Gruntz can be baked, there are probably no more enemy Gruntz to fight with either Swordz or Rockz.) His final task is to stand on a Purple Switch (somewhere).

• Barehanded (11) Grunt (Rockz?): Police up the area! This Grunt is also a good candidate to go pick up the Springz in the Northeast corner of the map, in order to satisfy the Springz Checkpoint.

• Barehanded (12) Grunt (SpongeGunz?): Police up the area! In the North Central area are a couple of SpongeGunz Gruntz who have been (or will be) turned into Goo. Go get those Toolz, so another Grunt (who has a Tool he really needz) doesn’t run into it by accident, and wind up with a useless Tool instead of the useful one he already had. Yeah, and pop a SpongeGun and SuicideBomber Grunt for good measure.

• Springz Grunt: One of the ‘clean-up crew’ Gruntz should take this Tool. Use it to satisfy the Checkpoint, to open up access to the Spikez area in the Northwest quadrant. There are several Purple Switchez on the ‘Western Front’ that need Gruntz. Springz should take up a position on one of them, after he has done everything necessary in the Spikez maze … such as step on Toggle Switchez, pick up Coinz, etc.


• Shovel (2) Grunt: There are lotz of Holez around that need to be either filled in, or dug up. Try not to miss any, since you do not want any of your buddies to fall into an open Hole, and you never know what may be buried in one filled with loose dirt. But when you find an Invulnerability PowerUp, leave it for a Sword Grunt to use! Some areaz are well guarded by enemy Sword Gruntz, and you need to allow your Rockz and Swordz buddies clear out the opposition from those areaz. Near the Northeast corner of the map, there are a few Holez which need to be filled in, in order to gain access to the Springz, waiting near the Landing Area of the Pool. Within that same area are some Holez that you need to dig up, for the thingz buried in them. As usual, there is a Thief Grunt waiting in the area for someone to enter with a Tool he can steal. It would be wise to send in a Grunt with a weaker Tool first … or a Grunt protected by Reflective Armor. Turn the thief into Goo … raw material for the GooberStraw Grunt to clean up for use in recycling into friendly Gruntz.

• Wingz Grunt: One of the ‘clean-up crew’ Gruntz should pick up this Tool. There is a small Pool in the Southeast corner separating you from a number of Coinz … guarded by enemy Rockz Gruntz. Wingz will need to fly over the Pool, and dispatch any remaining enemy Gruntz in the area, and stand on the Green Hold Switch, in order to let GooberStraw into the area to suck up enough Goo to make more friendly Gruntz. Either Wingz or GooberStraw (or both) can pick up the Coinz found in the area. Stand on that GHS to let GooberStraw out, and then fly out of the area. There is a Purple Switch located on the middle Island of the large Pool just North of you that needz a Grunt on it. Wingz might be just the right candidate for that job.

• SuicideBomber Grunt: A Grunt with a Bomb is required to satisfy a Checkpoint near the Northwest corner of the map. This Grunt should also be the one who goez through the Red Warp that appearz when the Secret (“?”) Switchez are activated. He will not be required to use that Bomb, though, as the first thing to happen when he goez through the Red Warp is to exchange the Bomb for a pair of Gauntletz. Whew! Sure glad to get rid of that thing! And somewhere, there is a Purple Switch without a Grunt standing on it. Find it, and place this Grunt there when he returnz from the Red Warp.

• Warpstone Grunt: Really tough! A Shovel Grunt is required to dig up the Warpstone. And every Purple Switch needz to have a Grunt standing on it, with Shovel free to move about. If a Grunt is able to reach the Warpstone (all Purple Switchez have a Grunt standing on them), he is standing just two spacez away from the goal, and the way is clear into the King’z Fortress! You can just waltz right in!!! Congratualtionz! You have cleaned out that den of Thievez, and saved the world!

Making the King happy: Why, give the Warpstone to the King, of course!

Secretz:

Red Warp #1: At the opening of this Custom Level, just East of the Island where the wormhole deposited you, across that small body of Water, there is a “?” Switch surrounded by Grey Pyramidz. At the far Northeastern corner of the map, there is a Hole filled with loose dirt. In it is another “?” Switch. When the Northeastern “?” Switch is activated, the Grey Pyramidz will temporarily be removed. If the SuicideBomber Checkpoint has been satisfied, a Grunt may now reach the Northwestern “?” Switch. The Red Warp openz up on the original Island Landing Area. The Grunt entering the Red Warp needz to have reasonably good health, as there are Spikez under all the goodiez to be acquired, and they hurt!


Acknowledgementz:
• Paul: “A World of Sweetz”; Covered Powerupz (multiple layerz). This Gruntz Page!!!
• Guenter, Snower, etc, etc: Custom Levelz with Logicz and Graphicz that all worked; timing of StaticHazardz; what to do (and in some casez, even what not to do). Every Gruntz level I have ever played had thingz I liked, and thingz I hated (to solve, anyway ;^) … like Wingz pushing Gruntz to specific placez.
• Mad lady: Distribution via her Address Book.
• Everyone who has contributed Custom Levelz: Adding to my personal enjoyment of Gruntz; proving (to me) that the Gruntz Editor can be used, even without the existence of a “cook book” approach to the various featurez of the editor.
• Monolith: Making this great game engine available commercially; releasing the Gruntz Editor to the public.
• Whoever: Actually designed and implemented a great (!!!) puzzle game.
• My Wife (Mary Lou): Who actually bought the game in the first place (and lets me play it ;^).