Board Thread:Troubleshooting/@comment-131.191.63.53-20150818004600/@comment-24668482-20150818084552

It depends on which plate board set up it is. Some definitely do have certain things that need to be done, but for most it is just down to chance.

For all of them you need to create special gems in order to get the big board clearing moves they do as there often isn't enough moves to just do simple matches of 3. Clearing rows or columns (or both) at a time is key, and to do that you need make matches of 4+ gems as much as possible to create special gems, and if feasible with the board set up you need to manouver the special gems towards each other to match them together rather than with gems of same colour, in order to maximise their power.

Sometimes you will not be able to make many matches of 4+ (some board configurations make it difficult) due to how the new random gems appear after you clear some and then you either fail the puzzle or use flying time tools to add more moves/time (personally I just let it fail, there is no big win streak trophy so just losing the energy). Other times the gems will fall in the right way, and you will be able to make the special gems and clear the board. There is an element of luck there. But you do need to practice making the bigger matches and manipulating the special gems towards each other, so there is also some skill required when you do have the right  luck. (the frustrating thing about the game is that skill alone isn't enough, some board configurations also need luck, with doesn't seem fair, and can't help but feel it is a purposeful mechanic to encourage people to spend money).

You could post a screen grab of that particular board, as maybe there is some advice that could help.

I'd recommend stocking up on Flying Times though - this will give you the chance to get past the current board configuration and play more, and the best way to practice is to play (and to do that probably need to get past the frustrating game you are stuck on).

There are collections that reward Flying Times, so you should not have to spend money to stock up on them. You could ask your friends for items from these collections or for help getting the right combining elements (Fixers) to combine these collections:

Valuable Cufflinks - flying time x2 - items can be won playing Mosaic

Legacy of the Olympians - flying time x3 - items can be won playing Ancient Cards

Ancient Treasure - flying time x5 - items can be won playing clothing store

Model Town - flying time x5 - items can be won playing Marketplace

Of these collections, you are better off concentrating on Valuable Cufflinks and Legacy of the Olympians.

The other 2 might give more tools but they will be harder to combine, as they require Fixers that are hard to come by (banishing difficult monsters that will require a lot of crafting just to get the right banishing item) and all the Fixers they as for will come out of friends inventory if they send them, so you might find that they do not send as many.

Valuable Cufflinks requires 3 Threads (won by playing); 3 Coloured Ribbons (won by playing); 4 Hairpins (won by banishing Living Shadow using Torches, which are won by playing) and 2 fangs (won by banishing Werewolf ranger using Hammer of Strength, which must be crafted using items won by trading/banishing things using things that can be won by playing... sounds complicated but actually one of less complicated things to craft).

Legacy of the Olympains requires 3 Threads (won by playing); 4 Hairpins (won by banishing Living Shadow using Torches, which are won by playing), 3 fangs (won by banishing Werewolf ranger using Hammer of Strength) and 3 Tar (won by banishing Strolling Silhouette using Fire staff, which must be crafted using items won by banishing things and crafting other things using items that can be won by playing, again one of less complicated things to craft).

For me, although the Valuable Cufflinks only give 2 Flying times, it is always going to be the easier and more economical collection to collect and combine. I don't mind playing mosaic, so think the items will be easier to collect than legacy of the olympians. And you can win most of the fixers needed to combine just by playing a few of the cheaper locations like Mayor's Office and Train Station. And playing those two locations will also give you the clubs and torches you need to banish the werewolf and living shadow to get the other fixers (hair pin direct from living shadow; fangs by using items from werewolf to craft hammer of strength). Legacy of the Olympians can also be combined using fixers gotten from the exact same approach, but there is more crafting involved and crafting can be expensive  - it will cost 8000 coins to get 2 fangs for Valuable Cufflinks but it will cost 21000 coins to get the 2 fangs plus 3 tar for Legacy of the Olympians....