Advanced Merging Techniques

Forging 101: Advanced Merging Techniques
By Matty and Iv0ry Snak3
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The aim of this guide is to illustrate some of the newly discovered techniques to aid you in merging objects cleanly and reliably. Since merging came into use, there has always been an element of controversy over when and where it should be used. Despite this, the fact remains that merging is a very powerful tool, and if the player has the power and will to do so, there is little reason why they shouldn't.

These 4 techniques can be applied to many different situations. In some cases, you may have to try 2 or 3 of these until you find one that will suit the kind of merge you are trying. Do not forget that you can also use these techniques simultaneously. For example, you can merge with a 'save and quit' using Mancannons as braces, and then apply 'Nodes' if it happens to be slightly uneven.
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Save and Quit

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What:
The use of a save and quit can quite reliably merge an object to the exact amount that you desire. In most cases, the merge will be completely successful. Although more dependable than other techniques, tougher merges can require a few goes. Where you grab the object and how long you wait before saving and quitting can also affect the location of the object after the merge.

How:
This technique is only really useful for difficult merges, that are either very difficult because of the location or because the object will constantly shake or sink and disappear through Foundry. To use this technique, you must first have your object setup ready for the merge. When ready, you must tap A, to grab hold of the object, and then hit start, save the map and quit out. It is always a good idea to 'save as new map' because of the unreliability. As said earlier, where you grab the object and how long you wait before saving and quitting can also affect the location of the object after the merge.

When:
This technique can be one of the longer, more strenuous ones, often requiring many save and quits just to get objects set up to brace, and then demanding multiple save quits to get it right. Because of this, you should only really use this technique when most other things you have tried have failed, or you are confident that they will. This merge is most successful when you are merging an object that would sink and disappear through Foundry if you wait too long.

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Teleporter Nodes


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What:
This technique entails the use of 'Nodes' to merge objects by small increments, in specific places. When placing a 'Node' on an object, you may have noticed that it sinks slightly into the object. This can be used as a method of merging, or evening out an object in very small amounts. This technique is only successful on an object that is already merged.

How:
The requirement for this technique is an object that is already merged. While keeping the object braced, you can place 'Nodes' on the side of the object that you want to be changed. A double-tap of the object will straighten it, in accordance to the placement of the 'Nodes'. Now you will push the 'Nodes' back into the object, but only the areas of the object that you wish to be lower. Another double-tap on the object will again straighten the object in accordance to the placement of the 'Nodes', but the ones that you re-placed will be lower into the object, so those areas of the object will sink lower. This process can be repeated indefinitely until your object is at the appropriate orientation.

When:
This technique is very versatile, and can be applied to many situations where the object you have merged is only slightly crooked, and you don't want to have to merge it all over again. The technique is best applied when you wish to lower the object slightly, not when you wish to raise it.

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Mancannons


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What:
Merging with Mancannons is a relatively new and unknown technique that helps prevent objects from sinking through Foundry. It can also help on smaller merges to reduce the number of times you double tap a box to get it to the correct height.

How:
Simply brace up the object you wish to merge as you would normally, then place Mancannons facing in the opposite direction of the direction the object will be pushed, and merge it as usual. The Mancannons will push the object up towards the doors/pushing object because the object will be considered movable for a short amount of time after you tap it. This will lessen the force applied to the object you wish to merge, increasing reliability.

When:
Mancannons can be used at anytime effectively, but are most useful when you find the object you are trying to merge is constantly sinking through Foundry. The Mancannons will hold the object up to prevent that and will make your merge more accurate.

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Going Under The Map

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What:
This technique requires you to travel out side of the map boundaries to place braces for the object you are trying to merge so that it stays completely parallel with the floor. This technique is very effective, although sometimes tedious, way to make sure that objects will merge at the same height each time.

How:
First, spawn a Double box anywhere on the map and set it to 'Set on Start: No', then start a new round. Travel to where the double box will spawn and place a teleporter receiver node on the default floor somewhere towards the centre of the double box, then stand in the centre of where the box will spawn. Once the box has spawned, jump and you will subsequently be pushed underneath the map. As soon as you get under you must turn into a monitor or you will die. This step can sometimes take a few attempts. Once you're down there, look up and target the teardrop that represents the recevier node. you should be able to grab it, do so and it should be pushed under the map with you because of the double box on top of it. Fly over to the object you are trying to merge and hold the receiver node up to it. 'Save and quit' the receiver node in that position and repeat as needed.

When:
This technique is extremely useful when one end of an object that you are merging constantly sinks into the ground. Having bracers beneath the map will prevent it from sinking, and will allow it to slide into the default geometry easily. A great time to use out of map braces is when merging stairs into walls, as one end will generally sink into the ground quite easily on it's own. Another time to use this is when you want to merge multiple objects at the same depth. If you make sure your braces under Foundry are the same height as each other, then the objects you merge will be too.

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