Winning the Cash Cow trophy in 20 games OR LESS

[williamson_39]

Cashing in on Cash Cow
Williamson_39

OK, so if you've read the "sticky" blue post in the main games forum called "Random Trophies...EXPLAINED" you know that in order to win a Cash Cow trophy, you need to click a group of 20 bottles or more (on levels 1-3 - fewer on higher levels) to have a random chance at the trophy. There are no secrets. There is no magic number or shortcut guarantee. The ONLY way to earn the trophy is to keep clicking groups that meet the minimum size (at least) until you get lucky. So how best to maximize your trophy chances? Build more groups!

(Note that this only applies to Cash Cow 1 - there is no trophy for Cash Cow 2, I'm sorry to say.)

Here are a couple of techniques that I use to build as many groups as possible in each game without a lot of stray single bottles getting in my way:

1. Pick your target colour(s)
At first glance this may seem easy - which colour has the most bottles already on the screen? BUT, this isn't necessarily the best approach if they are too scattered. Instead, I also look at which colours I can clear the most of right away, to leave my target colour behind without so many singles and doubles that I DON'T want. Sometimes that means clearing the clumpy ones that might look tempting as keepers.

Also, especially on the early levels, you don't really need to settle on ONE colour right away. If you happen to have a screen that is neatly divided into two good-sized groups, keep 'em both! Build them side by side, or build one under another if both are good-sized seed groups of 10 or 15. Remember you only need 20 bottles in a group - you can build two at once if you're confident about your clicking. If not, one group is just fine anyway.

On level one, you get around 60 points for a group of 20, so as long as your score for the group was at least in the 60's, you know you gave yourself a chance. On level 2, the same minimum-size group is worth around 75 points; on level 3 about 90 points. You should be aware too that if you click a large group and the little score floater says something like '14' it really means "one-hundred-and-forty-something" - the game doesn't display the last digit of scores over 99, but you do get all those points.

2. Don't rush to remove colours you don't want!
Huh? No really - instead of getting rid of an unwanted group right away, take a look around. If it is touching the bottom row, and the new row below it has one or two of the same colour coming that will be touching, leave it alone for now! If you just clear madly, that new row will introduce singles and doubles of your off-colours that you CAN'T clear. When that new row comes, wait again! Don't clear the unwanted group until it is an isolated island off the bottom row - and even then, only if it's in your way. Then you know you've done all you can with it.

Similarly, if there are removable groups of off-colours that can be made to touch an odd single or double with another move below it, give it a second look. Unless you're crashing into the top (I sometimes forget to check, and it's a terrible shock!), you can take your time and make sure that you aren't leaving oddballs (oddbottles?) behind unnecessarily. In the long run, this will make it much easier to create the necessary group of 20 or more.

Finally, a careless clear can actually split your lovely group-of-almost-20 into two that are too small. Take a look at what's going to happen first. Work somewhere else unless you have no choice, get your group over the minimum, clear it (congratulate yourself on the trophy if you're lucky) and then come back to that spot. It might turn out to be the seed of your next group!

3. Don't wait to build a HUGE group unless you are almost finished a level.
There is no advantage trophy-wise to a larger group. 20, 25, 150, whatever! They all give you the same 1 in 100 shot at the trophy. I count by fours to get a feel for "at least 20" without worrying about exactly how many, and then clear them right away. You can do this three or even four times on the first level. That means more chances at the trophy, and in the long run that means MORE TROPHIES.

Then, if you want to maximize your KC for the game, after the truck starts, build the last group for as long as you can without hitting the top or tripping the goal limit. Your last click on that level will then give you a big points boost, well over what you would get if you finish a level with a measly group of three. If the KC doesn't matter, play quickly instead - wanting more trophy chances doesn't mean you have to get them all in one level or one game.

4. Don't be afraid of level 4!
Groups are harder to build, but they only have to be 16 bottles! It's true that your game will often end because of an impossible mixture in a tall and annoying tower, but you can still get a trophy chance or two, and even better KC. The careful clearing tip above will help you survive a little longer too. Once in a while you will get lucky with a nice string of bottles and have a game to be proud of, even if you don't get the trophy.

Or not! For me it depends on my mood. Sometimes I don't feel like losing spectacularly and stressfully, so I just quit on my own terms. Start a new game and keep trying!

At the current odds of 1 in 100, if you can click yourself 10 trophy-chance groups per game, you have an 86.6% chance of winning the trophy in 20 games or less. There is no guarantee, but the more groups you click per game, the more trophies you will win in the long run. If you find your patience wearing thin, check out Part II of the Random Trophies thread for some insight into how long it may take. For Cash Cow, the news is pretty good!

Hope that helps you Cash in a trophy or two.

[TheLittleWildKat]

Do you ever NOT amaze? Another great guide!! Thank you so much AGAIN, for your time, effort, and thought put into this! I can't wait to try to get one!

[legnon5]

I know you say there isnt any magic number but I got various trophies in this game by hitting a 100 group and it gives me a trophy everytime. I hope this also can help

[williamson_39]

Originally Posted by legnon5

I know you say there isnt any magic number but I got various trophies in this game by hitting a 100 group and it gives me a trophy everytime. I hope this also can help

That's great, but the ONLY firm requirement currently in the game script is to click a group greater than or equal to the minimum size for that level. Other factors do not affect your trophy odds.

---------- williamson_39 added 1391 Minutes and 52 Seconds later ----------

When you click a group, the game compares its size against the current minimum, and also calculates a random chance against the defined odds (1 in 100). If the group is greater than or equal to the minimum, and the random chance is true, you win the trophy.

[rybugsmom]

thanks for the detail! I heard about the "getting 20" yesterday and spent 30 minutes last night playing my favorite game trying to get myself a trophy to no avail. but it is interesting to hear that there really IS a random generator deciding if I get a trophy even if I have the required 20 blocks! this might have to be my new goal!

Susan:pgn:

[JALW]

I have gotten a lot of trophies on this game but only on levels 1-3. Last week I got two trophies on the same game (didn't know you could do that!) Has anyone gotten a trophy past level 3?

[williamson_39]

Originally Posted by JALW

Has anyone gotten a trophy past level 3?

I won my first on level 7 (before I found out it was hard, LOL). I've seen one other WI report of a winner on level 8. At that point, you only need a group of 12, but I rarely get far enough to earn a chance up there.

[smiley7000]

thanx for helping me som much!

---------- smiley7000 added 0 Minutes and 21 Seconds later ----------

so much i mean! lol

[elidawn2]

Sweet Thanks, I played this way on my first game and got a trophy.

[rybugsmom]

I tried again last night and couldn't get it........will it interrupt your game to give you the trophy or do you have to wait until the end of the level or game?!!?? I am going to get this! I am determined! lol!

Susan:pgn: