Category idea
7 years ago
England

Can we add a category for extreme difficulty but with imported characters? The added level of preparation as well as the increased difficulty would be fun to run.

Failing that, just an extreme difficulty category would be appreciated.

dan__h likes this
Minnesota, USA

thanks for your interest, Mriddles! I replied on the other thread with my ideas, so make sure you check it out. There certainly could be categories for Extreme with an imported character, but only from a single run (no importing a character from an extreme mode file with beefed up weapons, etc.) We could also have a Level-1 extreme mode category, but I figured that would be pretty insane... Extreme mode playthroughs are difficult enough!

New Mexico, USA

I personally think while Level-1 extreme mode would be very difficult to do for sure, I think it would be fun to route it and run it efficiently. Although, whether you think it should just be a challenge run or an actual category is really up to you. I definitely like the idea Mriddles proposed as well.

Minnesota, USA

I've been mulling it over and I think I'll be adding the extreme categories over the next few days, cuz why not? I really wish I woulda noticed these posts on the forum earlier, but with a couple settings adjustments I should get notifications now... I honestly hadn't made any other categories because I wasn't aware there was interest, but hey, two people now! haha.

I think the extreme mode category would be pretty similar to the normal mode run in strategy... just sprint through the whole thing. But you would have to consider killing enemies early on to gather some gold for potions and weapons. The cool thing is, the extreme mode option would make the other characters relevant because the option to buy some really powerful weapons during Act I is there.

The Level 1 extreme category would favor Ysuran, IMO. As I recall, his Skeleton pet is incredibly powerful in the early going and you can stay relatively safe with it. Also the spell which he controls the undead is amazingly helpful. Add Haste, Shield, Ray of Enfeeblement and you get a nearly unstoppable machine. Getting to that point might be tricky, though, and deciding how to build him to deal out maximum damage to bosses would need to be considered. You're not going to have Shadow Spray because the upgrade quest would cost you a lot of time, so maybe a touch-based Necro?

TheSlayer27 likes this
England

Hi guys, thanks for replying.

Concerning a normal mode file only, some research would be needed as to the maximum level attainable in a normal mode run. I also think this would make Dorn the ideal choice as his feat to increase his movement speed would be helpful.

Perhaps we could try some other categories, like importing allowed but with only 1 item?

Also, regarding the level 1 runs, is that to be level 1 without items? or can we send in a stacked level 1 character?

Minnesota, USA

I agree that Dorn would be the top dog for the extreme mode speedrun. Vhaidra might be usable too because she needs no drops to be unstoppable, and she gets Stealth. The Flawless Throwing Knife with Hail of Knives would add an interesting element, but you would probably need to upgrade it to be most effective and the workshop will cost you time.

I would rather keep the categories simple instead of allowing weapons, armor and trinkets to start with. If we allowed an item, it wouldn't truly be a "start the game, finish the game as fast as possible" sort of thing. It would become more of a new game plus sort of thing, does that make sense? Probably 99% of the games on this site make you start the game with a fresh file. Maybe it's just me, but that's how I feel speedruns should be done: on a brand new file. This game is kind of unique in that you start Extreme Mode runs with an imported character (you even have to create a save file to import a level-1 character) and that is why I was hesitant to make an Extreme Mode category. But I think if we make a definition that the import has to come from a single playthrough and start with the basic equipment it would still have the feel of a "fresh file" run.

As for maximum leveling, I think I've got up to, or even past, level 30 on a Normal Mode playthrough. Lots of pearls in rings/amulets/boots. You could even get it higher if you did 2-player mode and used two characters that could buy experience. Or you could get Dorn to a higher level by going through 2p mode just for that added exp.

Should we even consider unlockable characters for the extreme mode categories? We could create a separate chart for level-1 (actually it would be 14) Extreme Mode I guess. But they're kind of similar to the rest of the characters once the others catch up in leveling, so it would be kind of pointless to make a separate chart for them. Would it be prudent to not allow unlockables for extreme mode runs or should they be included?

Once I get more input, I'll make the Extreme charts. Thanks guys.

England

Shall we limit it to level 30 at the start of the import then but also with minimal experience in level 30, as it would be easy enough to get it to level 30 with a couple exp from 31?

Minnesota, USA

I don't think there would need to be a "maximum level allowed" at all. I just THINK I got up to level 30 before, not 100% sure though because I haven't done a casual run in ages... I'm perfectly ok with however people want to set up the Extreme Mode run as long as it's a fresh file from a single run. I doubt it's possible to get to level 40 on a single run and that was my main concern for defining an Extreme run: could you import any character, even a maxed one? There obviously needs to be an element of trust involved for people submitting runs, but for the most part I think people would comply with the one playthrough rule without problem.

Unlockable character Extreme category? yay or nay

England

I'd try an unlockable character extreme category, sure. As for importing characters, I'll see what the absolute maximum level I can reach is on a single playthrough with full wisdom boosting gear etc and let you know.

Minnesota, USA

Categories created! I put the level-1/14 extreme challenges under the Miscellaneous area, just to keep the page fairly clean. Do we dare create a 100% category?

England

What would the 100% category entail? Would it be multiple characters or just the 1? Multiple difficulties or not? etc.

Minnesota, USA

A single run with any character, complete all side quests, kill all enemies, open all chests, search all weapon racks, including those found in multiple acts such as Wood of Sharp Teeth and Skull Gorge. I think it would take about 8-10 hours. The toughest would be the foundations. Fire is really tough to navigate and Air has all those islands with tornadoes throwing rocks at you... I'm not gonna include it, I just mentioned it as a lol sort of thing.

Minnesota, USA

So just got done going through a run on Normal with Dorn and got him up to level 32. Equipped +4 wisdom boots/rings/amulets in Act II then upgraded them all to +5 in Act III. Every passive feat and attack that I wanted are fully leveled, so all I need to do is run Extreme Mode! It'll be interesting to route that mode. I'm thinking I'll kill a bunch of the guys on the first screen just to get some potions and gold, then buy two Imperial Morning Stars and the Flawless Throwing Ax and just take weapon upgrades as they come. Probably the lowest weapon that will replace the morning stars will be Superior Great Sword and Grand Great Ax, both of which are common enough on Extreme Mode. So anyway, we'll see how it goes. I'll probably do about 5-10 runs just to get a semi-acceptable time. Maybe this mode will be more fun, but I'm guessing it will just be a lot of sprinting.

Minnesota, USA

Just did two Extreme Mode runs and finished with 1:58 then 1:51.xx.... It was a lot of fun and a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. Had to buy and use a TON of potions. Also only bought one Imperial Morning Star cuz lack of gold... Also ranged weapon is completely meaningless, lol. Once you're at Act III you can buy Flawless Great Swords for 64,000 gold. I only bought one because I needed so much money for potions.

The bosses aren't nearly as tough as a Normal Mode run. Diptolpt is tough but has a pattern you can exploit. Aizagora can one-hit kill you with a Fire Blast, but you can somewhat anticipate that. Illudra is no where near as dangerous as on Normal cuz the ice cubes don't do much... Nightwalker's purple mist is about half as dangerous. And the final 4 bosses are hard to hit, but don't one-hit kill you and you really shouldn't get hit by them anyways...

Anyway, very fun run that I hope to optimize in the next 30-50 tries or so. The enemies around the maps, especially in the Oceanic Urn mission and Orb of Thunder mission are the biggest health potion drains. 90 potions will only take you so far, lol.... I hope one of you guys can try it out soon.

My second run of this was interrupted by crappy internet. Thanks Mediacom. I'll do a run that's satisfactory to me and also a single segment on twitch video soon enough.

Minnesota, USA

got a 1:38 with several deaths. 1:29.xx is the goal.

Minnesota, USA

I've done a couple Level-1 Extreme Mode runs with Ysuran now, and wowza they are tough. Got a 2:55, though, so that's pretty satisfactory for me. I bet I could still save around 3-5 minutes on the run, especially since I died twice to Mordoc and had to kill Xanhast 3 times, ugh. I'm going to post my level-up strats for the extreme mode runs pretty soon.

Germany

Hey not sure if this would be the right Topic, but a friend of mine and I had been thinking about doing coop runs in this game, because we loved the game and played through it multiple times in our chilhood. He got some freetime on his hands and I was looking into running this game so we wanted to have a go at coop runs in this game. We could use all the help we can get, because we really liked this game, but neither of us have speedrun it before I'll make sure to go through the normal route first for some hints, but after all a good coop route could greatly differ.

Minnesota, USA

The more runners the merrier!

The only thing I'd have to say on a co-op run would be that you shouldn't mix a normal with an unlockable character, just to keep with how the site is set-up so far. It can always change as there becomes more interest (or any interest, lol).

As for characters, I'd guess that Dorn + Vhaidra would be the best because of their massive melee output. Ysuran could come into consideration because of Haste, but why limit yourself to one character doing damage when you can have two?

Germany

Well we were thinking about allesia for buffs/heals and either dorn or vhaidra as front, but dorn + vhaidra also sounds good. Ysuran sounds interesting since he loves to play Ysuran^^

Minnesota, USA

Allesia is strong enough melee-wise that she would be viable. Bless and Divine Strength would be a nice little addition. However, her potential is only realized after her upgrade quest when she gets Combat Reflexes, Improved Critical and Sunder (you CAN obtain ComRef and ImpCrit through gems in gloves though). An Extreme Mode Co-op would be a great spot for Alessia, tbh.

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