Tips on how to do multi-hour runs?
6 years ago
Georgia, USA

So I'm practically a newborn at speedrunning (still trying to get my first single-segment recording done).... But the game I've chosen, Ballad of Solar (a mobile/PC friendly time management game), seems to be a 2-4 hour run (estimated), and I'm having trouble doing the entire game in one sitting in order to record a run.

I know many games have multi-hour runs and especially 100% runs are typically long. So I'm here to ask, any tips or tricks for completing multi-hour runs?

Since I need to get a full single-segment run done in order to submit a game request, I'm really struggling. The game would be really good for IL's and such though, since you can replay any level you've already beaten at any time. And there are only 30 levels.

Oxknifer likes this
Antarctica

What are you exactly struggling with? We can probably provide more specific advice if we know what exactly is the sticking point for you. But in general, the biggest things are in what Racingmonster mentioned - have some food and a drink nearby and get anything like bathroom breaks or other things out beforehand. Ive done multiple 10-13 hour runs and most of what helps me is finding time to stand up and walk around a bit when I get some time, helps keep me from getting too stiff or tired by just sitting for the whole time.

I'd also recommend trying to do long practice sessions. Whether it's ILs or just random practice, try to practice for a whole 2-3 hours to see if you can manage that before trying a full run. That will get you more accustomed to doing the game in the time you'd need for a full run. Over time you might find it easier to manage runs that are longer like that.

Georgia, USA

thanks alot!!

To be more specific, I'm having trouble with the stamina part... playing a game, while being focused on being fast, for more than a half hour or so. And your tips on a longer practice session make sense! So thank you!

Food and drink would be important too. lol. The loading screens are only at most 10-12 seconds long. but i guess that's enough for a tiny break.

Texas, USA

Did you make a Twilight reference in your first post or...

Nevermind. So, yeah, the longer practice sessions is the biggest thing. You have to think about it like training for any other marathon; you can't just walk on and expect to do well. One of the challenges of speedrunning is not taking that time to sit there and think about your next move; you always have to know what the next two or three moves are at any given point and your backup strategy if that fails. It's the challenge that most people who don't do this don't understand- that we have to know everything about everything so we can be prepared for anything without skipping a beat.

Along the same line, it helps to have a set of notes or something you can glance at so you don't forget anything. For these marathon runs, it's pretty easy to forget little details that can ruin the whole thing. A couple of weeks ago, I killed an HM64 photos run because I forgot to get a certain amount of money by a certain date. It wasn't hard to do; I just forgot to do it, but that's all it takes.

Edited by the author 6 years ago
Georgia, USA

Notes! got it! was trying to just run the game first without notes just to see what happened.. but the levels are short enough that i could spend a day making rough notes.

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

I did a 100% run once and got 6:35:24 and I didnt even eat anything and didnt go to the restroom (I didnt need to anyway)! I just went to drink some water during the unskippable cutscenes. (I had no life during that time :P )

Montana, USA

I improved my time on a run by over 2 hours faster than my previous best because I spent two weeks writing notes about what to do and when. I'm sure there was some general Gitting Gud involved that made it faster than my previous best too by all means, but the notes cut down on my number of mistakes dramatically and made me more aware of what was going on before it happened. Definitely have notes even if you have to make them yourself.

A tip I haven't seen mentioned yet is to try not to restrict your physical self. This is probably easier for things that use controllers than mouse and keyboards, but you're not limited to sitting in one spot. Get up and stretch your legs while you play. You'll do much better if you keep your comfort level up and it'll be far less stressful.

You can take breaks during cutscenes, sure, but more in general, you can do whatever you want when control is taken away from you for any reason. If there is a lot of dialogue happening that just requires you to press a button to continue, and you don't have to pay any attention, you can find out how long it takes and know that you can take a break of that length as long as you can continue pressing that one button while on the break.

Turn off your phone. It isn't going to help you during your run and it may distract you.