Prospector

Quickie Version:

Shoot the left orbit to get the gold bonus up to 100K and get the #5 and #6 standups for double bonus, then spinners all day.

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Go-to Flipper:

Right until Gold bonus maxed, then balanced

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Risk Index:

High; see key feed

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Full Rules:

Built by Sonic [Spain], and playing a lot like a Williams, Prospector is a frequent favorite for Classics tournaments. It has two major strategies: Gold Bonus [primary] and Lit Spinners [secondary]. The gold bonus maxes at 2 times 100K. Build it by shooting the left orbit [or nudging the ball to fall down through that lane from above]. You can also advance it by hitting any lit gold star rollover - - at the top of the machine, when lit, either on the Skill Shot or from bumper action kicking it up from below, or two on each side of the playfield. Don’t bother shooting the playfield star rollovers, though, especially the left side ones. The ball rebounds too randomly off these. Shooting the two on the right is okay, but you’re generally better off shooting for the 5-6 if you don’t have them yet, or the spinner [see below]. The 2X bonus is achieved by hitting the number 5 and 6 standup targets on the middle right side of the machine. Targets 1-4 are for lighting EB, which will almost always be turned off. Silver bonus is built up mostly via the two center spinners: spin them enough and the bonus goes up to 10K, collectible in the center saucer or far upper right saucer. But try NOT to collect it! Once the silver bonus is maxed, one of the spinners will always be lit for 1000 per spin. That’s more valuable than collecting it and relighting it. Either spinner can be hit from either flipper. Light it and rip it! General order of business is any time the ball is in control on the right flipper and your base gold bonus is less than 100K, shoot the left orbit gold lane. From the left flipper, shoot for the 5-6 targets. Once you’ve completed either task, change your shot with that flipper to the silver spinners to light them and them spin them lit. Most left gold shots will continue across and into the scoop on the upper right side. This adds 5K and a silver bonus advance, making this dual shot worth at least 15K plus whatever improvement that gets you on silver. The scoop then kicks out into the bumpers. Ball control: you can’t shatz up the return lanes due to the sharp corner in the wires, but you can use the move to transfer the ball to the other flipper. Some players choose to shatz left to right to max out the gold bonus at 100K before going for the 5-6 targets as a safety play. Be careful shooting the 6, the rebound may hit the post to its left; shots at the 5 usually continue up top. Side drains are much preferable to center: 10K plus a gold advance, worth another 10K if you’re not maxed, 20K if doubled. If you’re playing last, or after your main opponent, keep that in mind if that would be enough to win. Key feed: left gold lane. When the ball comes down it, does it go safely to a flipper at all speeds, only some speeds, or never? Learn when to nudge this, if needed.

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via Bob's Guide