[EDIT: this is pre patch, a lot of things changed, you can still get some ideas here but its not how explorer works any longer, i update it when i have time and when all the kinks are worked out in this game mode]


we all think explorer mode is about how many items you can collect
but in fact you can score far better collecting items in order

1st of how many points you get for each collected item:
colors : 3
rest : 5

in ADDITION to above points you get if you collect 3 of a kind :
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edit: 2 times hackpack's 1.5 : 45 75 90

as you can see the difference is crazy
if you got your self a magnet you can just about forget about collecting in order !

the hack packs do not influence the primary score ONLY the combo bonus!

if room is full go for item hunt, recommend BP: magnet, + maybe hackpack4 1.5
if room has 3 or less go for combo bonus hunt, recommend BP: both hackpack 2x's

example score (average scores, negative is BP-investment):
player with 2x + 2x:
collected 30 in 3 packs = 120+600 (-320) = 400

player with magnet:
collected 70 = 260 (-160) = 100
or
collected 90 = 360 (-160) = 200

the mass bonus if any on top of this !, but if there is a mass bonus then is mass bonus times score with out the (-), and so the difference is even greater, example: 720 x 500% = 3600 VS. 360 x 500% = 1800

so as you can see even if the other guys collects 3x as much, you still winning the round, and he wont even know ; )

hackpack's 1.5 are lame for combo bonus, its only useful if you like the reduced negative effects, or increased positives.. but IMO its a waste of RP as you can just avoid picking up questionmarks(unless you have a magnet), and the only really useful positive is the magnet with you can BP

this way you can optimize your always get maximum possible score

the other big advantage is that your backpack item wont get you kicked, where the magnet is considered "evil", the hackpacks SEEMINGLY not giving you an edge in winning because in the end if seems you collected less items and no one can see the 4 digit huge score, and that you where actually winning ; )

tip: you get 500% mass bonus for full room, but serpentine with only 2 you can make several times as much then if you would be top collector in a full room ; )

*this guide is not 100% complete or maybe even correct, if someone figures out more details please post !

EDIT:
as proof, this was a room with 5, i collected ONLY 56 items !
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UPDATE:

Mega Combos found:

2 red 2 blue 2 yellow/green = 72 or 144 with 2x/2x
2 nitro 2 tire = 60 with 2x/2x 140

(i know this numbers dont make sense, but this is why i got on the test, because if i get 72 or 60 with out any hackpack then with hack pack i should get a h3ll of a lot more, they dont add up)

Very interesting post! I didn't even realize that there was such a huge difference! Thanks for putting this up =]

Now if we could ever get the massers to read this...

Don't forget, the MASS bonus for an 8 person explorer race is 500%

So DOUBLE what you see in that screen shot 8156!

So if you have EVER been called a MASSER, it is because you probably entered a race/room named COMBO +BP 500% or some variation to that effect.

The person whom created this race/room, and many that joined to compete, JOINED expecting EVERYONE to be playing with, though unofficial, a certain set of understood RULES. Hence the naming of the race/room.

Explanation of RACE/ROOM names:

COMBO: = Collect 3 of the SAME colored Disks OR 3 of the SAME item, While trying to AVOID (((MAGNETS))) and ?s

+BP: = Having Explorer Hack Packs in your Backpack

500%: = Room creator will wait until there are 8 READY Players before starting the race. Don't come into the room and expect it to start with any less than 8 Players, and saying "GO,GO,GO" will most likely earn you a KICK.

Now if you see a race/room named "JUST 4 FUN", "MASS", "NO RULES", toss a Magnet in your Backpack and go to town and try to MASS-collect as many items as you can!

I hope this further explains some of the terms and unwritten rules of Explorer Mode Racing.

what MCO_ZER said!
plus in COMBO +BP 500% room everyone should cooperate. With cooperation like
-not racing for the items
-not ramming/pushing others
-not picking at randome even when there are 10 pieces left
- helping people that ask for a piece location

you can pull off 60-80K out of a room, that means at least half the players will get 10K score, and no one will get less than 5K score.
Remember Combo hunt is like Fishing, its not a race, and helping others will make it easier for you.

The best combo rooms I played ended maps with 10 pieces left and players stating in chat what piece they are missing to full combo, or if they just ended the combo stating they are done and starting to help others finish their combo. Those were the 10K rooms.

-not picking at randome even when there are 10 pieces left

this is a manner of negotiation, and common sense

i think unspoken rule is that when there is only AROUND 10 left go for it

and this has a good reason, true 1 or 2 (out of 8) MIGHT get and extra 500RP out of it but it takes forever for those last few

where if you just go for the next round fast you will be making several times as much and not only those few guys but all 8

I dont agree with you Siiixon. For me Combo hunting is a perfect example of a game theory in action. You see when you decide to pick all after there are only 10 pieces left someone might think "hey, why dont I start picking all when there are 11 pieces left, thats 5 RP extra for me right there" and Nash equilibrium gets broken by some idiot with IQ of a donut. The next one will see it and start picking all at 15 left and so on. What they dont realize is they are risking kick out of the room for 5RP, room that would let them finish their 105RP combo with only 8 pieces left on the map.

So do you really think immediate 3-10 RP payout is better than 105RP payout if you happen to end up with unfinished combo and 10 pieces on the map left?

Maybe im just that naive, but i like to cooperate

BTW the "105RP combo" is actually 500RP combo with the 500%, and i was referring to that, that even that wont warrant and extra 15 minutes wasting time.

and no you don't understand i don't care about the 2 or 5 extra RP, what i care about that is rude let me sit in the map waiting for that MIGHT some guy need that left over red, while 7 other are bored and wasting time

i ask if its a valuable item often, but if there is no answer its gone

and no they wont be picking up at 30 because unlike popular believe people can think for them self, yes they might start picking up at 11 or 15, but definitively not 30 or 50

give the people some credit ! the system works just great with out stupid very specific rules

if it would be for me i don't even pick the last 10 just end the round right there, after there is only 10 left that clock on top should count down 10 times faster now that would be a nice touch

i dont think i'm the only one but often happens that where there is only 10-15 left i just leave the computer and watch tv or get a soda... and i know i'm not the only one because more and more frequently i see cars not moving on the end of the round

Mehh... when it gets down to the last 10-15 Items, I do a quick shout-out to see if anyone has seen the last item I need.

If not I head to the north cliff road, and start launching my car over the guard rail and off the cliff, landing on the lake for the fun of it.

Hmm... because majority of combos(and best ones) are known to people anyway, i don't see a problem posting this:

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Im too lazy right now to post all points, maybe someone else can do it x)

Hint: 144 isnt a best u can get



Happy combo collecting

OHHHH WOW thats kick a-ss

i saved the jpg just in case this post gets deleted

thank you so much!!!!

EDIT:
i dont know if you guys noticed but thats still not all of them : )

nitro nitro tire tire ... is not in there
so does the other one not in there the 2 2 2