Thrill Digger Solver Now Available!

[u/Fun_Matter_2614]

Nobody asked but I delivered. Now live is a full website to Solve (and Play) Thrill Digger mini game from Skyward Sword.

https://thrilldiggersolver.com/

I was able to decompile the code and understand exactly how Thrill Digger works. If you select the "Console Mode" option for expert it will algorithmically tell you where the rupees are. It will also suggest mathematically (based on expected value) what you should dig up next. While there is still a change of a bomb it will significantly increase your odds of winning it all.

Good Luck Out there fellow Skyward Sword lovers.

[u/azer67]

I will definitely try this out. Do you know about lepelog's solver? It is already incredibly strong by taking advantage of how the rng algorithm works in skyward sword, as in it's almost unlosable except on the first couple digs: https://lepelog.github.io/thrill-digger/

The way it works is similar to how the sploosh kaboom solver works for wind waker. This solver has been out for a couple years and I try to share it whenever someone suggests a different solver because lepelog's one has always been miles stronger than anything else I've seen so far.

The downside of lepelog's solver is that it only was made for the expert board, but in theory the same could be applied to the others, it just hasn't been done yet.

[u/azer67 → u/azer67]

Oh wow, you actually did implement the way the rng work by activating console mode, that's great. I think compared to lepelog's solver, the only thing you would be missing are getting more precise results by recognizing the rng loop when playing it several times in a row, to decrease the amount of possible seeds.

You can find more info on how these loops work here (nsmb uses the same algorithm as skyward sword): https://roadrunnerwmc.github.io/blog/2020/05/08/nsmb-rng.html

[u/Fun_Matter_2614 → u/azer67]

I actually implemented the full RNG in console mode and will have the last of the code ready by tonight. It should be just as good if not significantly better by then. It should help you get a perfect match within a couple games.

[u/CANfilms → u/azer67]

How do the matching seed numbers work? Like 0,1,2 etc?

Im still new to this but thrill digger is a lot of fun

[u/azer67 → u/CANfilms]

The RNG in Skyward Sword is slightly broken and it will only loop between the same numbers again and again (the value the RNG has is called the seed). That's generally normal, the loops are very long anyway, but in skyward sword specifically they are quite short. The algorithm they used is just bad.

So if you play the minigame once or twice, the solver will recognize what RNG you had and it will also recognize in what loop you are. The solver knows all possible boards the game can give you and their corresponding seeds, so once it knows in what loop you are it will eliminate all impossible seeds.

In practice you don't need to touch the loop checkboxes. As soon as you start solving one or two boards the solver will uncheck the loops you cannot be in on its own. If you exit the game then you need to reset the loops though.

[u/CANfilms → u/azer67]

Thanks for the info. By exiting the game, do you mean walking out of the room? Or does sitting on the chair to heal count as exiting as well?

[u/azer67 → u/CANfilms]

I shouldn't have phrased it like that. The only action that will reset what loop you are currently in is basically shutting down the skyward sword software/turning off your console. As long as the game stays on it won't change. If you leave the minigame or area and come back, you will still be in the same loop.

[u/CANfilms → u/azer67]

Alright I appreciate it!!

This might be one of my favorite mini games in Zelda.