rules stuff

I’ll go in order of importance from my perspective.


1) Consistent Definitions for categories

I would recommend the following 4 well defined, solid definitions which we can then use freely among all categories to keep the boards consistent.

i) “BEATING” a level - You “BEAT” a level when you unlock the next level (or when the counter for having beat the game goes up in the final chapter). This definition is strictly based on the intended meaning of what it means to beat  a level in the code.

ii) “COMPLETING” a level- You “COMPLETE” a level when you perform the last action that results in its fadeout screen. These are different actions in each level, but as a whole this definition is completely consistent as it is practically the last input a player needs to make before they can leave down their controller and wait for a fadeout.

iii) A “SKIP” - A “SKIP” is anything that allows the player to bypass/avoid intended combat or object interactions.

iv) “OUT OF BOUNDS” - “OUT OF BOUNDS” is any area of the game located outside the programmed walls that specify player route. These can be distinctly seen by using wireframe on gvk’s mod for most levels, and for the final few are the  literal walls of the lab.

Using these 4 definitions we can construct proper definitions for each category, using consistent terminology.

Any% - COMPLETE every level. No other restrictions (outside fps stuff which I will mention later). In the case of ILs, COMPLETE the specific level.

No Skips - BEAT every level without performing any SKIPS. In the case of ILs, BEAT the specific level with no SKIPS.

Inbounds - BEAT every level without going OUT OF BOUNDS. In the case of ILs, BEAT the specific level without going OUT OF BOUNDS.

Skill-Less - Adds the restriction of using no skills, then the above apply in the same way.

All Artifacts - I will talk about this later.


2) FPS stuff

Easy way to solve this. Split into Uncapped and Capped. Capped contains all 3 consoles and allows gvk mod. Uncapped is only for pc and does not allow gvk mod. Delete the current phrasing of “External manipulation of FPS is not allowed (exception to gvk's Bad graphics mod).” since it cannot be enforced, and replace it with this: “Manipulating FPS outside of the game to do SKIPS that would otherwise be impossible is not allowed.” This is directly enforceable since you can tell when people do those specific skips. FPS being mandatory to be shown on pc is fine, delete all that stuff about caps if we split like mentioned above.

Options (1) and (2) actually solve the majority of problems.


3) Runs that already exist

Be redefining runs this leads to an issue of existing runs. None of the pre-existing runs actually become invalid using the definitions I’ve mentioned above, they would just need to be moved to the proper fps categories, that is all. In case some runs do become invalid, we could make a legacy misc category to show them off, imo deleting runs off the board is not a good idea.


4) Difficulties

Make difficulties subcategories, not informational categories. An eclipse run will always be slower than a normal run, so having difficulties as information categories is pointless since people always run normal. For no skips allowing harder difficulties could be fun.


5) Horde %

“Horde%”


6) All artifacts

All I will say for this one is to avoid falling in the loop of arbitrary definitions. Basically every major speedrun ever includes “BEATING” their game in their “All collectibles” run. I see 2 possible well defined ways for this category. The first is to collect every single artifact and beat the game (levels can be replayed if needed and you only need to beat each level once). The second is like “True Ending” which might become its own thing which is obtaining the special ending that plays when you get 30 artifacts. I know some people will disagree, but in my opinion collecting 40 artifacts without really beating or completing any level in the game feels kind of pointless, arbitrary, and random and goes against the common trend of how collectible speedrunning categories work.


These are just thoughts, I’m down to discuss anything.