There is a simple version of code for all star tower defense and a complete version. Both are here, in that order.
Details that seem cosmetic occasionally are not, which is why the order is specified. If you are short on time, the first section alone is usually enough. Doing this without understanding it works fine until something changes, which it will.
The one-paragraph version
If you only do one thing from this page, do the first step properly.
Doing it faster once you know the method
The result is consistent once the inputs are, which is less obvious than it sounds. Terminology differs between communities more than the underlying behaviour does. Expect the second attempt to go noticeably better than the first, and plan around that. Interfaces move between versions; the underlying logic almost never does.
Most guides are written once and never revisited, which is worth remembering when one does not match. The second time takes a fraction as long, which makes the first attempt worth doing carefully. There is no hidden trick being withheld here; the method is simply less exciting than a shortcut would be.
- Do the simple version first, even if you intend to refine it.
- Note your version number before starting.
- Set aside enough time to finish, since stopping halfway causes most of the confusion.
- Check which version you are on before trusting any specific numbers.
If your situation is slightly different
The complicated explanation and the simple one usually describe the same thing at different zoom levels. Consistency beats optimisation until you are comfortable, and often after that too. Anything described as a known issue is worth checking before assuming the fault is yours.
How to check it worked
The version number is the single most useful thing to note before following instructions. Two answers to code for all star tower defense circulate online, and both were correct at some point. It helps to know why a step exists, because then you can adapt it when your situation differs slightly. Most of the disagreement online here comes from people describing different versions.
The straightforward version
The optimal approach and the reliable approach diverge more than people expect. The simplest explanation that accounts for what you are seeing is usually the correct one. Where two methods both work, prefer the one with fewer places to go wrong. Small details matter more than they should here, so read the order of steps carefully.
What goes wrong most often
- Optimising before the basic version has worked once.
- Reading only the summary and missing the condition it depended on.
- Spending an hour on preparation for a step that takes two minutes.
- Following the detailed method when the simple one would have done.
Anything else?
Where should I look if this does not cover my case?
The official notes for your version first, then a community thread from the same version. Both together beat either alone.
What if it does not work for me?
Go back to the first step and confirm each assumption instead of retrying the last one. The failure is almost always earlier than it appears.
What should I do if I get stuck partway?
Note the exact step, then re-check the one before it. Almost every report of being stuck traces back to a skipped precondition.
If you take one thing away about code for all star tower defense, make it the preparation step; everything after it becomes much easier.