Are the load times significantly different between different PC hardware? There probably is some difference but I don't know if it is significant enough. There are advantages and disadvantages to using RTA vs IGT. If the game becomes more competitive (i.e at least 2 top runners with close times), then I'd be happy to do a comparison but right now, I doubt anything significant would change as a result of going to IGT. If multiple people disagree with me, then I'd be fine with doing a comparison now as well.

Because not enough people run this game for the times to be competitive. HW1 was RTA when HW2 came out and this leaderboard was created and HW1 didn't need to be IGT until the PC version of the game came out. The first record of HW2 didn't get set until 1 year after the game came out. I haven't looked into load times of different people running this game because not enough people are running it in general to determine if the game needs to be IGT instead of RTA. If you want to do an analysis of the current runs, I can look at the data and make a decision (and possibly make you a mod if you want to be so active in managing this leaderboard).

I didn't add rules because I didn't know how new games and how each level worked for Co-op. How does the new game start work? Probably start timer once you click to start the first mission with both players. Does it keep you in the same session in between each level? Timer can end similar to Any% single player where it ends once the timer on Hold Out reaches 00:00. Also similar to Any% single player: No Skulls.

You could also submit a run and since it's the first run ever, I can adjust the timer if necessary.

I have been thinking about making all runs use in game timer since load times can vary between levels. But for now just use real time.

It's due to triggering something (I forgot what exactly, there's a certain point that when you walk over it or trigger it) before the elephant get's "taken over" by the flood.

1. Yes
2. We've always run it without skulls.

Ya it's a softlock, if you see my IL WR, you see that I pause for a certain amount of time at the start of the mission.

I've added the Legendary Co-Op run category. Ideally you should have both people record but don't worry about it too much. Good luck on the runs, Legendary is brutal in this game.

As much as I'd like to skip these levels, they should not be able to be skipped. The whole point of any% is a run of the whole game, not 2/3s of the game.

If you make that argument then you could argue skipping Cleansing as well as it's an autoscroller as well.

If you want to make those levels interesting, you could play them on legendary ;P Arcadia City is arguably the hardest level on legendary.

People speedrun RPGs where 80% of the time is just button mashing through text. It's part of the whole game run unfortunately. I just use the time to take a break.

I just manual enter using live splits in game timer.

I personally think it is ok, you do have most of the run recorded and the final time at the end. Obviously try to get the whole level recorded in future runs. This time has also been known to be possible (actually an even lower time is probably possible). I would like to see what you do at the start of the level to see the strat.

This does not mean I would allow every run where time at the start of the level is cut off.

If anyone has any other opinions, please let me know.

I know there are quite a few differences but I've never listed them out. The softlock can happen on mission 8 on Solo though. If you watch my IL of the mission, you'll notice that I wait for a bit before I move my units at the start of the mission. I don't know the exact timing but if you get to the checkpoint before the elephants that you need to rescue get to their place, then you'll get the softlock.

Yup, added. Sorry I would have added them earlier, I just thought they were already on there.

Do you just want the expansion missions added to the IL Leaderboard? Or were you thinking of like a separate category for the DLC? or Main game + DLC?

The game going forward is going to be switching to using the IGT. This is because due to load times, consoles cannot compete with PC. Since IGT is accurate in the game, we are able to just use that for accounting for the load times.

I have timed and calculated everyone's IGT from their posted video. Timing using will not be 100% accurate but your final time should be within 1-2 seconds of what your actual IGT would be for that run. In places where the rounding was close, I rounded down to give you the benefit.

If you have any issues with the timing, please let me know and we can try to figure it out and your time can be updated if needed. Note: IGT is not counted during in-game cutscenes.

Going forth during a run, the runner must either show the IGT at the end of each mission. An auto-splitter is available but it is in beta stages so we cannot currently confirm that it will work as expected. When we can confirm that it will work as expected, the auto-splitter can be used to calculate your IGT.

Let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Thanks, AP777

I just don't wanna verify a run where someone pauses every 30 seconds to check their time or the run where someone pauses for 4 minutes in the middle of the run.

What do people think about pausing during IL runs? I don't think it should be allowed since it's against the whole nature of speedruns. If you do it you are kind of taking advantage of the fact that the game only counts IGT while you are playing it.

I don't want to dilute the runs across multiple categories while we don't have any of the main game runs completed yet. If the game becomes more popular and more people want some other categories, then I would consider creating them.

No skulls in any current category. If you would like to use skulls, I could make a separate category though I'd rather not unless there is more interest in there being one.

I updated the leaderboards with the information. Difficulty would be easy for Any% (you could do it on another difficulty if you want to though). No skulls since you start from New Game. Time starts when selecting the difficulty. Time ends when the timer at the end of Hold Out (the final level) reaches 00:00.

I have yet to play Co-op so I don't know what the menuing is like when starting a new game but if there is any problems with the above rules then we can update your time for the run accordingly.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Good Luck!

Yes, I don't see what advantages either one gives. The Definitive edition seems buggier than the original and the original seems to load better on the 360, so the 360 seems like the best version overall but I haven't extensively tested/timed.