Hey Howdy Hey My Elfish Tappers!
Well….unless you’ve been partying a little too hard you know that Elves have taken over Springfield! Elves work hard and party even harder…so much so that even Santa bailed on Springfield! It’s your job to contain the Elves and send them back to the North Pole. In doing so you’ll earn Elf Bells..which will give you some awesome prizes!
With this event EA is repeating a similar prize structure to what they did for Halloween, only more prizes, and releasing the event (and prizes) in stages. For the second phase, which lasts until the event ends (Jan 13th), you can win 8 prizes by collecting Elf Bells. The Seventh prize awarded at 17,700 Bells is the Spruce Caboose.
Let’s take a closer look at train car and just what happens when you win it it your Springfield…
WARNING Mild Dialogue Spoilers Ahead
Once you’ve collected 17,700 Elf Bells the Spruce Caboose will automatically be awarded to you and you’ll see this popup:
Much like Friendship Prizes, if you’re visiting a neighbor when you hit the 17,700 Bell mark this message will still popup and the caboose will be waiting for you in your inventory once you get back to your Springfield.
The Spruce Caboose will automatically be placed in your inventory, so you’ll have to go into your inventory to retrieve it. Just tap the “use” icon to place it in your Springfield.
Before you place it in your Springfield some dialogue will appear between Mr. Burns and Smithers. This will prompt a short 5 minute task to use the Spruce Caboose, where you’ll need 3 plant workers. Here’s the full rundown:
Caboose on the Loose
Mr. Burns: Time to throw our annual Holiday Dinner for our valued plant workers. Let’s go back to that delightful restaurant we went to last year.
Smithers: The “Spruce Caboose”? Last year fort-seven plant workers came down with food poisoning.
Mr. Burns: For which the restaurant cut the bill in half. That’s how you earn customer loyalty.
Place the Spruce Caboose
Make Plant Workers Attend a Holiday Dinner at the Spruce Caboose- x3. 5m, Earns $10, 3xp
Mr. Burns: Feast at my expense, bumpkins!
Homer: Uh, I’ll have an unopened packet of crackers.
Carl: That sounds safe. Make it two.
Lenny: Looking around at the other workers, I’d say you better make it two hundred.
Completed Task Earns 100 Bells and 10xp
So here’s the deal with the Spruce Caboose:
-Building for Springfield
-10×10 in size
-Earns $200, 20xp/12hrs
-After initial questline no character interaction with it
-Conform-o-meter: Vanity +600
So that about covers all the details on this food poisoning enduing restaurant!
What do YOU think of the Spruce Caboose? Have you earned it yet? Where have you placed it in your Springfield? Sound off in the comments below, you know we LOVE hearing from you!
Just curious if this has happened to anyone else…it’s happened to me on 4 separate occasions.
Start TSTO and I hear the elves crashing. It’s been 3+ hours, so I’m expecting 18 or so. Game freezes. Close the app, restart the phone, and log in again. Elves are gone…oh well. Click on the cannon, which is ready to fire, and the fuse goes away, but the cannon shoots nothing. Cannon resets to 2:30 waiting time.
Fortunately, I think that I’m still on schedule to get to the final reward, but I’d probably be much closer if this didn’t keep happening. It’s just very odd that the behavior keeps repeating.
Please report it to EA
Hadn’t the problem of crashing or missing elves, but the fuse gone, cannon reset and no bells I had. Luckily, it does not take away 36 elves. EA response to my error report was, that I should check if I didn’t accidentally tap the cannon and forgot that I got bells… Yah, as if that happens three times in a row after logging in…
I just earned Sir Putt-a-lots and didn’t see where it fit into my Springfield but the Spruce Caboose came along right behind it, bundled that with my Santa float and moved my Krustyland shuttle over for good measure. Now it makes a whimsical transition from my seedy side of Springfield to my Millionaires Row and commercial district. I’m pretty happy with it!
all day I can not connect to the game. and it is already often the case! Since the commencement of the second round of collection, it is the fifth time that it can not connect to the game all day. Therefore, I will not be able to collect all the prizes. I’m angry about it!
All I can suggest is to try some troubleshooting to see if it helps. Then contact EA if it does not.
http://tstoaddicts.com/2014/01/16/troubleshooting-101-basic-troubleshooting-steps/
Quick Question: the countdown on the Part 2 Prize List is at 4 days, about to be 3+ days. When I tap on the tiny question mark next to my gear icon on the bells/jars/gears tally spot, the running countdown there is at 9 days. Is that a mistake, or was EA letting the update go longer to make up for the server crashes? Thanks!
We are still waiting on EA to confirm that one.
a restaurant that improves vanity and not Gluttony ??
why?
why?
whyyyyyyyyyy?
That would have made sense with the Sushi place, but this?
dont see why this prize has anything to do with christmas
It doesn’t really. The dialogue is what ties it in…
The quest line was fun, but I wish the 5min task stayed around. I think i’ll put it in my hill billy area with the woods, Cletus’ farm and the Muntz house. The run down train cars just seems to fit there.
So this seems to be my final goal. At this elf rate I probably will get this. Island is far away, but I bought a small one 🙂
But is this event going to end on 13th? It would be fair to extend this especially because of the server problems.
For now… go with the 13th. It’d be nice if EA extended it but there’s nothing indicating it and I’d hate for tappers to miss out.
Meh, disliked the short interaction, very disappointing after elf Ralphie. I guess Ralphie was the top prize, the rest is bonus.
For me it’s going to be the backyard of the spuckler farm
Ditto on Ralph’s new skin being the best prize — I like the look of the island, but Ralph’s new tasks are awesome, and I like his costume. I am very glad they didn’t make him the most expensive prize, since more people are likely to win his new skin than are likely to win the island.
It’s sad that they use another prize like this and there’s no further interaction. Nice that it earns $/XP though.
Just got the island tonight too!
can I ask a dumb question?
I am reaching a point where I am launching more elves than I am getting.
By tomorrow, I’m not going to be able to to do three launches before running out of elves.
Any advice for increasing the number of elves available to tap?
I just got my Spruce Caboose but my rate of bell-acquisition is going to drop significantly… So the island may be tougher than the Caboose
If you are in your game hourly…wait. Let them build. You don’t HAVE to fire it all the time or loaded. It’s fine.
I don’t think it’s a dumb question, I have been having the same problems. I have been lucky because i have had quite a few days when I could play all day so I have got my bells, but elves, thats a different matter.
We are told that they spawn 6 per hour and up to about L11 cannon they did but after that, some hours I only get 3 or 4. It was the same in my B game when I reached L11 and sometimes in both games the elf cave doesn’t give the 4 elves. It takes me at least 15 mins every time to collect all the elves with the zapper in my A game even though I’ve rearranged the whole town to try and make it easier. B Game is smaller so much faster
I have also not had my cannon fire when it has been ready but with so few elves it doesn’t really matter if you look at the math.
The math is 6 elves per hr x 24 hrs = 144 elves
plus 4 elves per 8 hrs(from elf cave) = 12 (in a 24hr period)
Total = 136 elves
That means (from L14) you can only fire your cannon 12 times in a 24 hr period
i.e. 4 times a day of 3 shots
I haven’t contacted EA, they didn’t do much last time I did, and because I think with all these bugs, the way EA are now programming the game and the fact that at least half of my neighbours have stopped playing, I may not stay around for the next event.
So a big big big thank you to the Addicts team because without their excellent work I would probably have left a long time ago. They have helped everyone so much. I think EA should give them a reward.
sorry typo – TOTAL = 156 elves
So I’ve got about 19000 bells but ive ran out of elves completely, what do I do to get enough points to get to the last prize? And are the small islands only available for a limited time too? And is there anyone who got the rediculously high level 20 Canon prize? Im level 12 not even half way toward level 13…
Lots of neighbor visits and fully utilizing the taps allotted.
http://tstoaddicts.com/2014/12/29/math-of-earning-bells/
My cannon is level 14 — It will probably reach level 15 before the end of the event, but it will take a lot more cogs dropping to get higher than that.
With you Samuraigeezer, same thing here. I think it was planned. I have tapped the maximum number of neighbors everyday and if I am short I will be mad because that tells me the only way to get the island is to spend donuts. I have no elves to shoot I am at 19,000 also. I also am at level 14 Canon. I do not see how level 20 will be possible unless you buy donuts and hope I just squeek in with the island but it is not looking good here. Bunny, like many others if tapping taps out and you can not get bells after a certain about than there is no other way to get bells without spending donuts.
The task was so quick I didn’t see if there was any animation to the building when in use. Is (Was) there any?
Not that I noticed…anyone else see something small I might have missed?
I don’t think they throw a animation on a one time 5 minutes interaction
They have done it time and time again on buildings.
I looked when it was in use earlier today. Nothing seemed to move or change or do anything. Zoomed in on a 7″ tablet and still didn’t see anything happening at all. That, plus the fact that it contributes to Vanity, plus the fact that there are no permanent tasks for it, make it a letdown in my book. Right now it’s in my holiday corner, but it will probably end up next to the mini-golf — it might be mistaken for an extension of that property. 🙂
103
I checked while my plant workers were there and nothing (Its a decoration but it gives money)
Thank you all for checking if there was any animation! I was busy trying to zap at least one more elf to launch before I noticed the task had already ended.
I’m so over them making things contribute to vanity when clearly they should contribute to other things. I guess because no-one can go there and it just sits there and looks pretty right? Lol.
I was excited for it, but now, if I need room I know what I’ll be putting away…
Just got the Island and a word of warning: whatever Elf Bells you earn on the tap that takes you over 22,500 do not count toward the bonus donuts. I had only one bell left to get when I fired the gun — which meant about 80 extra bell were wasted. It starts over at 0/4000. Should have just tapped a friend’s place for the one bell.
Perhaps a bit off topic, and I know there will be a poll, but I have to say, the Christmas prizes have been a let down. Primarily decorations. Very few every day action interactions. Next to no % bonuses. Meh. Overall…., a 3 out of 10. And that’s not counting the connectivity issue absurdities.
What’s the update on the Santa’s Sack contest??
We’re just waiting on a couple more responses and then we’ll announce the winners. If we don’t hear back from them by tomorrow they’ll lose their chance and we’ll have to pick new winners in their place. Once we’ve got everyone confirmed we’ll announce 🙂
This may be kind of mean, but I’m actually hoping that one or more of them don’t respond, because maybe then I’ll have another chance to win (since I know I haven’t received any notification, and therefore assume I wasn’t one of the lucky ones at this point)!
Does that make me a really bad person?
YES!!! Lol 😛
Is it safe to say that if I have not received any emails (other than the regular posts snippets), that I did not win anything?
Yes…but we’re still waiting for a response. If we don’t get it by tomorrow we’ll pick another winner.. 🙂
Wanted to look out for my tapper friends… GMAIL has updated the app, the new update does not show new email…… Might have to log in elsewhere to receive them…
Good to know. (Although we have 1 person we’re waiting on and the email isn’t gmail 😉 )
Fingers crossed it went to their spam! Haha 😉
Just got my tropical island:-):-)
sweet!
Awesome! What are you going to do with it once you’ve placed it? What is anyone going to do with it? And that’s the TOP prize!!!
Me too, on my A-game late last night after a long round of neighboreeno tapping. It’s quite pretty, although the implications of the flaming sleigh wreckage is a little disturbing.
Still on track to make it on my B and C games, but it’ll be close on that last one.
It’s huge tho, had to buy more land for it
I have received all the prizes. When visiting neighbors only tap on the canon or the elf tunnel. You get more bells and so does your neighbor. Down side is you have to try to visit several times a day
I haven’t liked it much. I’ve placed it next to the toy shop and elf door as a whimsical restaurant part of the toy shop. I don’t like that there is no character interaction after the initial quest line. I love the ski lift, and the sequel stop will be fun if animated by characters. BTW, I don’t care for the island.
I also didn’t notice any animation, bummed it doesn’t add to gluttony
Its awesome looking!
I placed it in the Restaurant District of my town (the area of my town where all my bars and restaurants are located – I think I have OCD!!)
Happy Tappy!
I like it, and think it will look even better after the thaw. I wish it helped with gluttony instead of vanity, though.
I also was hoping it would go toward gluttony. I would rather not add lots of Krusty Burgers to fill it up.
I just added a few more Khlav Kalash Stands for gluttony. They’re cheap and if you don’t like them, you can hide them behind a building or large decoration. Although, I do agree that any restaurant should automatically apply towards gluttony. So much goes to vanity.
Thanks for the idea, bestie.
Yay! I was able to give a helpful hint! Makes me feel like a *real* addict now! *punches the air*. 😀
Not quite sure where to put this but…..
I’m curious if I’m the only one who is having problems collecting elves to shoot out the cannon? I have an hour and 30 minutes before I can shoot my Canon with only 16 elves
P. S. Thank all of you for your help… Appreciate it. Can’t thank yall enough. 🙂
Just means you are in your town a lot.
I was semi-excited to get to this one but now like most of phase 2 prizes it is a bit meh.
Can you please do an Island post soon so we can see if worth spending any donuts to get it? Still few days to go but I think I’ll be short some bells
Island is next 😉
Hi! I seem to have reached a stage where I can’t gather enough elves to make full use of my cannon….do you know if this is the same for everyone? Thank you.Debby
Same for all. Just means you are in your town a LOT
Thanks for the reply, perhaps I should stay out of town a bit and let them build up!!!! You know the friends leader board thing, some of my neighbours have fired 2000 or more elves than me….how are they getting the extra elves….do you have any idea. Thank you. Debby
It all depends on where they are in the game. Some may have hoarded all their elves and didn’t fire them til just now.
I really like it, probably in no small part because my three-year old son LOVES trains. I just wish that there was character interaction with it after the mini-quest. So many buildings in my town go entirely unused after the initial quest.
Its awesome looking!
I placed it in the Restaurant District of my town (the area of my town where all my bars and restaurants are located – I think I have OCD!!)
Happy Tappy!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks so! 🙂
I’m not collecting bells nearly fast enough to get this or the island before the event ends. I don’t know how anyone does it but I have 12,106 with 4 days and 19 hours left. I can’t see getting 5000 more in that time.
Check out my comment somewhere on this blog about getting the most bells from neighbors…. Hint: when you tap their cannon or elf tunnel thingy, it pays DOUBLE bells. So only tap those two items in each town. Instead of earning 5 bells for first 30 taps, youll earn 10each, or 150 more bells, and as the # of bells drops to 3, yoi actuall win 6, then 4, then 2 for the last group. It makes a big difference. Hope you see this.
Yeah, but if everybody’s doing it — which increasingly seems to be the case — you can go through nearly every neighbor without seeing an un-tapped cannon or elf tunnel.
When visiing other towns, ONLY tap on their Elf Cannon & Elf Cave. If those arent available, move to next town. Those two items pay DOUBLE bells. Instead of 5 bells for each of first 30 actions, you’ll get 10, or 150 more bells. And that continues for each payout level (10, 6, 4, 2). Really adds up. Try it. Hope you see this reply.
Yep, I’ve got it, glad to have it.
I enjoyed that there was at least a little questline, but it was nothing as nice as Little Helper Ralphie.
Curiously, Mindy did not seem to count as a plant worker. No option to send her for me.
Vanity?!? Really? >rolls eyes and chucklesshakes head< Oi.
I some how clipped out the part of my comments where I say I thought for sure it would be Gluttony, but oh well.