When I first began thinking about attempting a VP solo or duo a few months back (haven't tried it yet), I started counting cogs during the VP battle just to see how many I'd have to take on on my own. If varies quite a bit--I couldn't find any particular rhyme or reason to the quantity of cogs. (The cog levels, on the other hand, seem to be affected by the laff of the toons standing before them, or possibly the suit level of the toons, or both.) My plan for a duo was for one toon to use a level 7 lure on one side and ride every second of that out while the other toon finished up as quickly as possible and then came over for a mutual tune-up. I'm glad I never tried implementing this plan, cause now I don't think it'll work.

Last night I did a CFO with just one other toon on my side during the cog round (BTW, Miss Sandy Thunderpoof, you are an incredible player). First time I'd faced the cogs with just two of us on one side. The cogs went on FOREVER. I was floored by the sheer quantity of cogs we were facing (our side used level 7s liberally--the other side only had 3 toons and I only remember hearing one level 7 from that side, but I wasn't really paying attention) and it dawned on me that our side was not going to "finish" until the other side met some sort of cog quota. The more I think about it, the more that seems plausable. Each side must kill off a pre-determined number of cogs (or possibly each side has to reach a certain "number" if you add together the levels of all the cogs defeated by that side) before EITHER side will be allowed to "finish" the cog round. I had noticed before that both sides seem to finish up at about the same time on the cogs, and I had thought that kind of odd because some times one side is sounding through the whole thing and the other side has a soundless toon, so they're taking them out the slow way, which means the slow side faced a much lower quantity of cogs than the fast side.

If this is the case, then there's not much point to blasting through a cog round fast with sound and level 7s if the other side is taking them out one at a time. You'll just get more cogs shoved in your face until the other side finally reaches some quota. I've not been paying a whole lot of attention to what the other side is doing, but if this is true, then it's a good reason to keep an eye (or ear) on the other side's progress. I've had some cog rounds go astonishingly fast, and although I don't specifically remember, I'm guessing both sides must have sounded their way through and possibly used several level 7s, etc.--both must have blasted through equally fast anyway.

I've not seen this discussed before and wondered what you guys think. And I also prefer thinking about this than doing what I should be doing right now! HEH

I'm not entirely sure about the theory-
I think there is just a set amount of cogs you fight- I always assumed it had something to do with the rewards given at the end of the battle. I lesser reward = lesser amount of difficulty. I remember when Sell HQ first came out the VP almost always made all the toons sad (even with for LOM or something similar. He jumped non stop and barely opened the doors to his undercarriage.

It has been awhile, but another VP, I went in with 3 or 4 toons. 1 toon ended up alone and I was with the other 2 or 3. The 1 toon lured the whole time, while my side killed everything. Then we went over and helped her kill what was standing in front of her and give her a much needed toon up. (I'll try to find my old post about it on TTC)


Just given you extra thought material so you don't have to do what you are supposed to be doing.


I couldn't find the post- that account goes back to 2003.

There are accounts of soloing that would be helpful, although most I remember are pre-level 7 gags. That has to make it easier overall. Of course, lots of toons go SOS and Unite shopping right before a solo try. I think the number is not always the same even taking into account both sides. I've always sorta thought it varied according to the reward, but I could be SOOO wrong.

I wouldn't want to imagine soloing the VP myself. The time it would take to stun and push, stun and push is mind boggling
Soloing the CFO would be more interesting. But, I've been at the end on my own before and the last 2 hits are really hard to get in. I'm not sure I can do it even if I got through the cogs.

A few people have soloed the CJ. I've read about it - very intriguing stuff - maybe someday.....

From what I've read, you have to be capable of doing a CJ with no one stunning the cogs in order to even think about doing a solo or a run with just a few toons (you jump whenever the cogs throw evidence your direction). My timing and jumping skills aren't there yet.

Soloing the CJ just makes my head hurt
I think a gang from here tried a 4 toon or less CJ (one toon plannning on taking War and Peace to read).
You might be able to do it, but I'd never have the patience. I'm not sure one toon throwing could outweigh all the cogs throwing continuously ever. Give it a tray and let us know!!