What is an NTOP?

[Murky]

Here's a tip for new players: Hunt for N Tops.

Our family (3 players, 4 accounts) has coined this new term for our favorite type of toon. It stands for: New Toon, Old Player = N.T.O.P. Old refers to experienced, not old in age necessarily, but N Tep didn't sound right to us, since they really are the best of all, absolutely "tops".
These players are worth hunting for. They can be discovered by certain common characteristics. Enbrace the challenge of looking for them like a treasure hunt in the tt streets. When you have found one, you have found "gold".
Common Characteristics:
1. They are lightning fast with their speed chat. They manage to combine their speed chat phrases, connecting the thought to say a multitude of things. You'll find yourself laughing out loud at their hillarious comments. (Remember how long it takes a brand new player to locate a phrase and click on it? N Tops are dramatically different.)

2. They have no fear of building elevators. They do not whine about finding other toons when they lack a full elevator of 4 toons. They confidently charge right in and stay put, often saying,"Hi everybody" at the same time. They won't be jumping at the last minute in panic.

3. They play intelligently with their gags. They maximize the team point value while minimizing the toon hits from cogs. They will join forces to kill a cog so it can't hit back, or will take one out completely. They "do the math", no "oops, sorry" type surprises. An N Top with laff pts in the 30's can assist you in successfully taking a 4 story bldg, while a 70 laffer may send you to the playground sad and green from a 3 story.

4. They may guide you in gag choices using speed chat phrases. They will suggest the best gag for the situation. They may tell you what they will be using so that you have time to make a wise choice to cooperate with their gag.

5. Last characteristic and the least trustworthy for finding an N Top at first glance is their name. N Tops often have names that are short and memorable, very funny, or similar to the names of their big, strong toons.

My advice: Be the warmest, most friendly toon that you know how to be. Help them with as many tasks as they will permit you to help with. Prove yourself to be a worthy friend. After playing together, ask to be their friend. You have the best chance if the N Top is much smaller in laff than you are, but be confident that you will be the winner in this relationship.

Ways that you will win if you succeed:

1. They can teach you gag strategies that you may not know. These strategies would take you months to discover on your own.
2. They will grow their toon very rapidly so you will soon be the same laff and working the same tasks. You will be challenged to keep up, and your own growth will pick up the pace as you work together.
3. They are more likely to forgive your mistakes. They've made many themselves and might not view themselves as "perfect" or "know it alls". They will be saying, "no problem" when you goof up rather than, "you stink".
4. They know the streets and buildings and tasks. They might help you find where you need to go faster than you can look it up.
5. They know what they can successfully accomplish and what they can't. If it is really necessary, (like a 5 story in ddl) they have a strong toon available to bring on line. You may be very surprised when they say to you, "wait here" and suddenly a maxed toon appears to come happily to your assistance.

LOOK FOR N TOPS
Join the treasure hunt in the streets for these fine players. After you've become friends with a small toon you may be invited to his estate where you'll find houses and doodles of many powerful toons, also raised by that same player. Never, ever, look down on a small laff toon as though he is inferior. He may be an N Top, and you are the beginner in the game, not him.
If you gain his friendship, you are the winner; your fun in the tooniverse will be greatly enhanced by spending time with him. Think of it as a puzzle to solve: "who is this toon, really?"
Forget about wasting your time begging strong toons to be your friend. Their fr list is full, and there is no chance of them deleting a good friend to put a stranger on their list. However, there is probably space on the list of their brand new toon. They might even be pleasantly surprised that a higher laff, like yourself, wants to be friends with a smaller toon.

Value the player behind the toon not the number on the laff meter, which will change by next week.

Special appreciation goes out to Cool Bananna. He's big today, of course, but he was the greatest N Top a toon could be fortunate enough to find. He was about 30 and I about 40 when I found him soloing a DD bldg and I was smart enough to join him in the elevator. A player like that makes ya set your alarm to be on when he is.... yup, it's that good.

[Aero]

Nice thread mods can you sticky this?

[Miss Clover Doggendoodle]

i like what all u said bout an NTOP!! iv found quite a few ntops of farmiliar toons by their names. the names of their big toons r short already, so it's easy to membr, and the names of their small toons r like ___ jr. or something. it's fun being a big toon that wants to be on the small toon's fr list, and i can tell it makes them feel good . iv also met some ubers that r succesfully maxed and r holly's already. those toons tend to be NTOPs cuz they have fr's that have helped them get to where they r.

anothr thing is that some NTOPs seem to be workin w/ 1 or more big toons. and they tend not to play at their house very much at all, but work on tasks much more. if they go to their house, it's for jellies, catilogs, or fish.

anyway, just wanted to confirm how good NTOPs r!!!! they r awesome!!!

clover

[youstink]

Hey this is an awesome guide! I, myself have an NTOP, Dot Com

We should make a list of NTOP's!

[Murky]

A list?
The challenge is the mystery of hunting for N Tops and finding them by their characteristics. It is a treasure hunt, a "who dun it" to solve. A list would not be a "hide and seek" game and would lack the intrinsic reward of the victory when one is found and added to your friends list.

[LadyZippyBoingenpretzel]

Love it!! I have an NTOP, who is not listed in my sig, and whose name is nothing like any of my other toons.... I laughed when you talked about bringing out the big toon to help! I did that once in the fac...had just done one with my NTOP and her friend wanted to go again so brought out my big toon who needed merits (after telling her sorry, I can't) I caught up to her in the fac and said "Howdy" (my trademark way of saying hello) and "that was fun"! Unfortunately she was on a full elvator as I got there but she had time to say "Have you been here before?" I think she got it...can't be sure as she is a non-sf...

Here is another clue to NTOPS, at least for me. If I remember when I log on, I turn off my "accepting friends requests". But if I forget I am not shy about saying no. Reason is I want to fight with you FIRST before accepting a friends request. NTOPS I believe are far more selective in who they have on their list. I am quick to ask someone myself if I fight with them and they are good - by good I just mean willing to be a team player, I don't have any criteria other than that! Perfection not required or even desired....hope that makes sense!! So if someone declines to be your friend as you ask them without any "introduction", fight with them, then ask! They just may be an NTOP......

[Popcorn Peppermuffin]

Well said! I never thought of it in these terms, but you are spot on 100%.

Another benefit of befriending an NTOP. If you become SFs with them, you might just end up being a friend with their bigger toons. I became friends with a toon, became a SF, and after a few weeks was a SF with two other of her toons.

They are usually there to help you when you need it, and they will "switch toons" to help you build up gags, or complete a task. They can be your best resource.

Popcorn