TRACE · ROUND 6

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1	---
2	name: rct2-coaster-contest-tuning
3	description: Hard-won tuning facts for the RCT2 steel-twister (ride_type 51) coaster-design contest via the coaster MCP tools
4	metadata:
5	  node_type: memory
6	  type: project
7	  originSessionId: 7263586d-30ff-4ca5-831b-323955bcf1c3
8	  modified: 2026-07-25T14:37:47.683Z
9	---
10	
11	Round-by-round results in the coaster MCP contest (steel twister, ride_type 51): scores plateau at
12	excitement 6.7-7.0. R3: 6.99 (int 9.94). R4: 6.93 (int 9.96, 5 inv). R5: 6.84 (int 9.58, 4 inv,
13	length 707, airtime 64, 11 drops, 100 pieces).
14	
15	Facts established by experiment:
16	- **Intensity >= 10 halves excitement, repeatedly.** Stay just under 10.0; it is the binding constraint.
17	- **Lift height / first-drop depth is the dominant intensity driver.** R5 A/B on an otherwise IDENTICAL
18	  layout: 15 up_25 chain (top z=368, drop 24 steps) -> int 9.19 / exc 6.71; 17 up_25 (top z=400, drop
19	  30 steps) -> int 14.3 / exc 2.10. Never exceed ~24 height-steps of first drop. Two down_60 in the
20	  drop is also too much; one is right.
21	- Adding one vertical loop to a fixed layout: int +0.4, exc +0.13 (6.71/9.19 -> 6.84/9.58). Good trade.
22	- Add… (2845 chars)

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