personally i didnt find jan 17 to bad. just make sure you have blasters not hitting spores somewhere in your base and wait until the last moment possible to use it. meanwhile build out as far as possible and slowly add reactors. by the time the creep builds up you'll have more than enough energy to start pumping blasters.
i started out with 3 of the little turrets. then just always buy elevators when you can. 1 laser on each elevator will be needed for the last few levels. I couldnt tell if the cheap turret or expensive turret was better. It seemed like the more expensive turret was basicly +1 level over the small turret.
got the final badge. I found that the laser wingmen are much weaker on the final level. rockets got me a couple of powerups as i sat in the corner on the last level
To those who are struggling. When you get stuck there are a few things you can do. First, go to previous levels and get a higher score, this helps you level up. Second, dual gems are better than pure or multi-component gems so try and keep your gems 'cleaner' as this makes the more powerful. Third, max out dual gem mastery and high level gem mastery, they are the most useful skills once you get them.
What i found helpful from others: arcade modes and the badge: Use the umbrella at stage one AND two. Buy as much fuel as possible and get the best toggled boost you can afford afterwards. Set ramp height so its just above flat. Just tap your fuel the entire time so your just at the edge, but not in. $25000 = set Length=1, Height=4, Sleigh=2 Glider=4 Boost=8 Fuel=MAX. Also note: I.C.B.P - just fly over "The Wall", you will see alternate ending.
no way that last badge is a hard badge. I hate the rating system. You've got this badge which is not hard, but then there are hard badges that take days and days of intense play to get, and its not an impossible badge, its still hard. bull.
i found that if you bobb your mouse up and down your flock goes into a straight line left to right, and if you do the same but right to left your flock flies in a line up to down. this keeps them more orderly and makes it easier to dodge planes and such. maybe thats just me though
I really didnt think the medium badge was too difficult. Just make a maze with the cheap towers, put like 3 anit-air in the middle, and get a few squirt towers in the middle too ( i did 3 ). Max one squirt first while making sure your air turrets do enough damage, then the others.
I got the medium badge on my second time playing this game.
 "GemCraft chapter 0"){kind=icon}
 "Creeper World: Evermore"){kind=icon}
 "LethalRPGDestiny 2: Conquest"){kind=icon}
 "The Next Floor"){kind=icon}
 "Villainous"){kind=icon}
 "Frantic"){kind=icon}
 "GemCraft"){kind=icon}
 "Tyrant"){kind=icon}
 "Learn to Fly 2"){kind=icon}
 "Flight"){kind=icon}
 "Endless Migration"){kind=icon}
 "Elements"){kind=icon}
 "Epic War 3"){kind=icon}
 "Epic Combo!"){kind=icon}
 "Insectonator"){kind=icon}
 "Wings of Genesis"){kind=icon}
 "Desktop Tower Defense 1.5"){kind=icon}