Tactical Defense Game

Overview
Groups of monsters will walk down the path and try to get out the end, you have to stop them. You use coins to buy towers tokens from the Tower Distributor. Also get coins from the Game Master. Hand the token to one of those towers along the top of the game. The tower will create a battle tower on the game board. Watch the towers go pew pew pew! You have to be careful because the coins you get will be limited. Survive all the waves of monsters and you win.

During a winning game you'll get approximately 508 Tactical Defense Coins (or a few more if you earn them from killing creatures), plus 250 more coins in one batch, and then you won't get any more.

Introduced in the Shifting Tactics event.

Guide to Playing

 * 1) You must be Master rank in your faction to play this minigame although lower ranks can enter the room to watch.
 * 2) Speak to the Tactical Officer in the armor smith room (north wing) of your Faction Stronghold for a Yes No dialog to enter the Tactical Arena.
 * 3) Give 5 Commendation Ribbons to the Tactical Training Officer to start the game.
 * 4) You will be given a few tokens to buy towers, purchase them from the Tower Distributor. Give to the translucent tower of your choice (match the colors) and an active tower will drop down on the board. You can upgrade towers to make them more powerful.
 * 5) Obtain more tokens to buy towers from the Game Master. The number of tokens he gives you appears to be based solely on time, he will give new coins every 30 seconds and over time slowly increments the number given each time. Whether you use the tokens or not and how you use them does not impact the number he gives. If more than one period has passed when you talk to him, the NPC will give you all the unclaimed tokens at once (though it is to your advantage to use them as fast as you can get them to maximize damage done).
 * 6) There are several types of mini creatures, it's possible each has their own speed and weaknesses. They meander in single file through the maze of trails until they make it to the stone tunnel exit.
 * 7) You start with 30 lives. If 30 monsters escape you lose, at that point the towers despawn as does the token guy and any remaining monsters continue to wander as they are cleaned up.
 * 8) * At the end of the map there is a hole in the wall where the monsters enter. Inside the hole is a Tactical Defense Score Keeper who kills the monsters that enter. He appears to use the same spell as the Uber Towers (Spectral Bolt) to kill the monsters. Once the Score Keeper kills 30 monsters you lose the game.
 * 9) If reach the end with less than 30 escaping you win and the Supreme Tactician will appear near the coin NPC. Speak to him for your reward. A Society Treasure Key, a Society Trade Token, and a title.

Strategies and Tips

 * 1) * Using an overhead view zoomed out a little gives a much clearer view of the towers (the roofs are darker so they show up a lot better).
 * 2) * It may be easier (less errors) for some people to click on the tower and use the give hot key (see Mule for details) than to drag and drop on the tower. It can save time also since you can click on the tower as you are running up to it.
 * 3) * Since tokens are only available every 30 seconds, use the time to plan your next move instead of spamming the NPC early in the 30 sec period.
 * 4) * Early on you will have few tokens so will have to predominately buy archer and flame towers.
 * 5) * The health and toughness of the creatures increases each spawn, so although higher upgrades early will help, it is better to upgrade broadly rather than deeply as you go. Later when you are getting more tokens per turn it's easier to continue upgrading broadly. It's also easier to keep track of since you don't have to remember which ones need which upgrades.
 * 6) * The uber tower shoots Spectral Bolts at the same rate, so more powerful but same speed and cannot be upgraded.
 * 7) * The firing rate is low which means you need towers all along the route to effectively attack a column.
 * 8) * Corners are an especially good place to kill monsters as they pause for a second or two before turning.
 * 9) * During the last several waves you will get no more tokens from the Game Master so you had better be happy with your set up towards the end.
 * 10) * Be sure to have the Trap Towers built prior to the wave of Mini Phyntos Wasps. They seem to make a big difference.

Creature Order

 * 1) Mini Black Rabbit
 * 2) Mini Cow
 * 3) Mini Drudge
 * 4) Mini Banderling
 * 5) Mini Reedshark
 * 6) Mini Lugian / Mini Tiatus Lugian
 * 7) Boss: Mini Martine
 * 8) Mini Crude Monouga / Mini Wild Monouga
 * 9) Mini Mosswart / Mini Mosswart Zealot
 * 10) Mini Scarecrow
 * 11) Mini Tusker / Mini Silver Tusker / Mini Tuskie Sprinter
 * 12) Boss: Mini Gaerlan
 * 13) Mini Abominable Snowman / Mini Snowman
 * 14) Mini Mattekar / Mini War Mattekar / Mini Swarthy Mattekar
 * 15) Mini Ninja
 * 16) Mini Tumerok / Mini Tumerok High Priest / Mini Tumerok Gladiator
 * 17) Boss: Mini Thunder Chicken
 * 18) Mini Sapphire Gromnie / Mini Emerald Gromnie / Mini Brass Gromnie
 * 19) Mini Obsidian Golem / Mini Oak Golem / Mini Coral Golem / Mini Diamond Golem / Mini Copper Golem
 * 20) Mini Mu-miyah
 * 21) Mini Grievver / Mini Bane Grievver
 * 22) Boss: Mini Olthoi Queen
 * 23) Mini Guruk / Mini Burun Ruuk Shaman / Mini Burun Ruuk Savage / Mini Guruk Brute
 * 24) Mini Obsidian Chittick / Mini Iron Spined Chittick / Mini Stinging Chittick
 * 25) Mini Fiun
 * 26) Mini Olthoi Eviscerator / Mini Olthoi Warrior / Mini Baby Olthoi
 * 27) Boss: Mini Shadow Aspect of Grael
 * 28) Mini Hollow Minion / Mini Blight Hollow Minion
 * 29) Mini Ruschk
 * 30) Mini Eater
 * 31) Mini Red Phyntos Wasp / Mini Blue Phyntos Wasp / Mini Gold Phyntos Wasp / Mini Black Phyntos Wasp
 * 32) Boss: Mini Very Mad Cow
 * 33) Mini Mukkir
 * 34) Mini Stalking Margul / Mini Helcan Margul / Mini Creeping Margul
 * 35) Mini Horrid Remoran / Mini Remoran Corsair / Mini Remoran Raker
 * 36) Mini Penguin
 * 37) Boss: Mini Harbinger
 * 38) Mini Moarsman
 * 39) Mini Niffis
 * 40) Mini Sleech
 * 41) Mini Spirit
 * 42) Boss: Mini Jester
 * 43) Mini Elemental Protector
 * 44) Mini Sclavus
 * 45) Mini Virindi
 * 46) Boss: Mini Aerbax
 * 47) Mini Pyre Minion / Mini Pyre Champion
 * 48) Mini Shadow
 * 49) Final Boss: Mini Bael'Zharon

Tactical Training Officer
Tactical Training Officer tells you, "Welcome to Tactical Defense, a completly original game thought up by me and only me. The game is to test your skills of commanding in battle." Tactical Training Officer tells you, "Over time you receive coins, you then use those coins to buy tower tokens. When you hand a tower token to a tower, a battle tower is created on the landscape." Tactical Training Officer tells you, "If you would like to play hand me 5 society ribbons and the game will begin."

Handing in Celestial Hand Commendation Ribbons
You hand over 5 of your Celestial Hand Commendation Ribbons. Tactical Training Officer gives you 2 Tactical Defense Coins. Tactical Training Officer tells you, "A fine choice you will not regret. Now the game works as so. Groups of monsters will walk down that path and try to get out the end, you have to stop them. Sounds easy right?" Tactical Training Officer tells you, "But you can't stop them yourself. You have to use these coins to buy towers from the Tower Distributor over there. You then hand the tower to one of those towers along the top of the game. The tower will create a battle tower on the game board." Tactical Training Officer tells you, "You have to be careful because the coins you get will be limited" Tactical Training Officer tells you, "Survive all the waves of monsters and you win. Good luck. The clock is already ticking."

Receiving the Tactical Defense Coins
Game Master gives you Tactical Defense Coin. Game Master gives you Tactical Defense Coin. Game Master gives you 2 Tactical Defense Coins. Game Master gives you 2 Tactical Defense Coins. Game Master tells you, "Let's see if you have earned more tokens" Game Master tells you, "You have earned some more coins." Game Master tells you, "More coins coming up." Game Master tells you, "I'm just a coin machine." Game Master tells you, "Ching ching ching." Game Master tells you, "You have all the coins you currently need"

Game Master Sayings
Game Master tells you, "You have earned some more coins." Game Master tells you, "More coins coming up." Game Master tells you, "I'm just a coin machine." Game Master tells you, "Ching ching ching." Game Master tells you, "More coins coming up." Game Master tells you, "What you want even more coins? Fine." Game Master tells you, "To be honest I didn't think you would make it this far, let me make sure I still have some coins left." Game Master tells you, "Yeah you know the drill by now." Game Master tells you, "These coins aren't cheap to make you know" Game Master tells you, "Not asking you to lose, but I've got my house riding on this match and I picked the monsters." Game Master tells you, "Sorry I've run out of coins to give you. Just kidding." Game Master tells you, "No really this time I am out of coins." Game Master tells you, "Alright I was joking before which is why this is embarrasing but... I'm out of coins." Game Master tells you, "Ok I do have plenty of coins, they're pretty cheap to make with all of those toxic metals." Game Master tells you, "Don't you feel at all bad that you're killing hundreds of tiny monsters?" Game Master tells you, "I can't believe I'm going to lose my house because of you." Game Master tells you, "I cheer everytime a little creature makes it through that maze." Game Master tells you, "Hopefully someone will make a strategy game where you build bases. Bet that would be fun too." Game Master tells you, "Admit it, you want a mini tower to defend your house now." Game Master tells you, "Psst. I'm really a robot, don't tell anyone." Game Master tells you, "Ok, so I'm not a robot. But can you blame me for wanting to be one?" Game Master tells you, "You're almost to halfway! There's a big celebration for making it to halfway." Game Master tells you, "So close to halfway, get ready to party!" Game Master tells you, "Halfway! Congratulations you get... more tokens, sorry they told me there'd be a party." Game Master tells you, "Man can you believe they didn't throw you a party, jerks" Game Master tells you, "I'm still mad about the party, so I'll give you some extra tokens." Game Master tells you, "Actually I can't do that I'd lose my job." Game Master tells you, "This dungeon could be pretty nice with a little bit of furniture." Game Master tells you, "Despite what he says, this is as far as Ulgrim made it. But to be fair he was so drunk he passed out." Game Master tells you, "Want to hear a tip on how to win this? Build towers." Game Master tells you, "Don't lose now, that'd be embarassing" Game Master tells you, "I think I'm starting to run out of different things to say, how much longer are you going to last?" Game Master tells you, "I'm just a change machine." Game Master tells you, "Did I already say this one?" Game Master tells you, "I don't know if even Asheron has gotten this far. But that was because he started opening portals bringing in extra monsters, you'd think he'd learn." Game Master tells you, "Do you need a roommate?" Game Master tells you, "No seriously I need a place to stay, I have a gambling problem" Game Master tells you, "Want to hear a joke?" Game Master tells you, "Well do you want to hear a joke? You have to tell me if you do." Game Master tells you, "Guess you didn't want to hear my joke, that's fine" Game Master tells you, "You do know that if you lose past this point... they kill you." Game Master tells you, "If you win this, they might give you the secret society rank above Master. But you didn't hear that from me" Game Master tells you, "We kill the monsters that get to the end, it's true, it's a lose lose for them. So don't feel bad that you've kill hundreds of innocent creatures" Game Master tells you, "I heard the guy who invented this game is a genius, no worries though, you don't have to be a genius to win." Game Master tells you, "My legs are getting tired from standing here, win or lose I don't care but hurry it up." Game Master tells you, "So close to winning, and someone told me you get a chest for your house if you win." Game Master tells you, "Ok since you're getting so close to the end I feel I should be honest. You don't get anything for winning, except that party that was supposed to be at halfway. I've been told that's ready now." Game Master tells you, "I know you don't want to trust me after what happened when you reached halfway. But really you're getting a party this time." Game Master tells you, "Ok there's no party, never was. I have a problem." Game Master tells you, "Well hopefully you get something for winning, I mean that would just be ridiculous if you didn't get anything." Game Master tells you, "This is it, the last coins. Man imagine if you lost now, I would never be able to show my face again. No pressure, good luck!" Game Master tells you, "Really I'm out of clever things to say, from here on you get 15 tokens." Game Master tells you, "Tell you what, you can have 250 tokens and that's it, so plan the rest of your moves carefully."

Tower Distributor tells you, "Only the finest towers are sold here, guaranteed to kill off even the toughest miniature creatures." Tower Distributor tells you, "Don't forget the color token matches the tower it goes to."

Winning the Game
Supreme Tactician tells you, "Congratulations! Only a worthy combatant could survive all those monsters. Take this token as a reward." Supreme Tactician gives you Society Treasure Key. Supreme Tactician gives you Celestial Hand Trade Token. You have been granted the Title "Tactical Aid".

Winning the Game 10 Times
You have been granted the Title "True Tactician". Supreme Tactician tells you, "To have won this game so many times you truly are a tactician.

Playing Again
You allow Tactical Training Officer to examine your Celestial Hand Commendation Ribbon. Tactical Training Officer tells you, "Let's see if anyone else wants a turn, if not you may play again." Tactical Training Officer says, "Would anyone else like to play?"

Trivia

 * This game is loosely based on the original Flash Element TD game.
 * Fun Fact: Tower Defense originally started in Starcraft/Warcraft III before the flash games appeared.