To get things started, I set up categories based on the main endings in the game: Good, Evil, Ultimate Good, Ultimate Evil, and Submit to Robert (partial Ultimate Evil). I'm considering adding a "Future" category, but need to think about how that would work (timing issues, mainly).

I've also added variables for Any% vs. All Dungeons (applies to all categories, though there are some where you can't do the hidden Crypt dungeon due to locking you into another ending) and for Classic vs Casual difficulty.

I'm 100% open to other ideas here! Whatever makes the game fun to run. Any routing ideas are welcome, as well. I would love to see a ton of people running this game! It's tough, but I think it will work well.

Categories look like a great start. I am looking forward to getting time to put together some runs.

Thank you! Looking forward to seeing what we can do with this game.

After some suggestions, I've done the following:

• Changed the difficulty variable to a sub-category -- that way, Casual and Classic are separate boards.
• Added a sub-category for character selection, since they each have different play-styles.
• Added a note in the rules about not using in-game cheats in a run.

I suggest adding a rule that the game screen must be unobstructed.

That I can do! I agree, and it's a fairly common rule in my experience.

The most recent WR posted today is obstructed, but because we didn't have a rule at that point, I don't consider it a problem for that particular run.

I also added a note that games should start from New Game selection; this is mainly for ensuring runs start "fresh", though I don't think there are any weird things that could happen from a "new but used Continue" file.

No it has to be New Game only because in casual mode the continue lets you keep gold and xp after death.

Hey, I would like a new category for the drowsy ending! I managed to get the credits screen in under 7mins and the time can be improved, I messed up a few parts lol

Since there isnt a category for this atm please just change the run I am submitting to the new one when it is up! <3

Planning on running the other categories, but I want to 100% the game first! Just got this game the other day and loving it :D

Here is my run under 7m for reference :)

The board is already separated into Good Any%, Ultimate Good Any%, etc, so I'm not sure why you're saying it needs to be changed. True Any% isn't listed, I'm guessing since it's a meme run really. Someone suggested the name Nope%.

Ah ya! I just read the board wrong, my bad! Thought good ending was the only one labeled as any%, I'll change my original post :)

Will there be a category for the future ending, or is that falling under good any%, obviously it's a bit curious as it requires having all other endings first, but I definitely think it's unique enough to be it's own thing, especially with having to get the Necronomicon before you can get to it. Also is there an existing discord? I personally find discord a little easier to discuss things like categories and rules etc.

Other category idea:

• coward% ending ? (new game, kill the zombie, leave the island). Would require millisecond

I'm working with the devs to get a/some Discord channels set up for us :)

For Future ending, I wasn't 100% sure about how to list that, honestly -- it requires a full clear of other endings, then use a character with enough abilities to get to Gregor to activate it. So ... how would one time that? Do everything including Future? Start on talking to Gregor? An open question, and one I'm happy to talk more about.

Regarding coward/sleep ending categories, I'm less inclined on those only because they don't highlight a decent chunk of the game. Funny? Yes. Engaging for viewers? A bit. Short? Too short to show off what makes this game great, I think.

I'm good to do what the community wants to do on this, but my feeling is that a longer "meme" or "goofy" category would make more sense. Something like activate coward ending, continue to get the two Castlevania easter eggs, finish with the sleep ending ... probably some other goofiness that I'm missing. In any event, I would want a clear idea of what the end result would be before setting up a category.

If we will be using the Dev discord can we link that, otherwise we could just set up our own for speedruns. My thoughts on future ending would be start a fresh file, obtain Necronomicon, go do future ending at it's most basic, timing works the same then and you still play the game to show as much off as possible. You could do it from a previous save but I think it loses a big part of it's value as a speedrun that way, but that's just feelings not a logical argument.

Agreed. You definitely want to start True Ending runs from a fresh file like other categories. The Library% is saved from all other files so there's no need to start from a pre-existing character to visit the future.

Great job Vertz! this game probably hit hard in terms of Speedrunning, it's good to see it in vanilla state, with rules in discussion and +1hour runs lol I'm start running it and making optimal routes to mix with the others known. A Discord channel would be the best place for the analysis

Discord is approved in the dev's discord! Two channels currently: #speedrun-general, and #speedrun-strats. Join here: https://discord.gg/berzerkstudio

Hello ! Wont it be a good idea to add to "Any%" and "All dungeons" categories : "All bosses" ?

Because of "Faceless one" (Hermit's boss) and "Crocell" (Dream boss). Well there is Mammon also but is needed (for now) to get "Precision Strike" that is needed to get to another boss.

Those are not in dungeons. That's why I wonder. Thanks for reading =)

I was thinking about that option last night! It could be fun, for sure, and provide some variety. We're seeing a LOT of action on Any% categories right now (unsurprisingly), but I know I personally plan to do some "All Dungeons" and possibly "All Bosses" runs at some point.

I've done one all dungeons run, I felt it worked out easier (not necessarily faster with practice) for the Ultimate Evil run I did, it's a nice change. Something like All bosses would make the basement boss more relevant across the board though!