Hi all,

So further to previous threads, we have now updated the Game Rules section to provide a list of basics we expect from all submissions. I'd say it's currently a work-in-progress, as we don't know all the potential issues that might come up with speedruns, but if you do have any thoughts on the rules please discuss them here.

Additionally, I've added a couple of new Categories to the leaderboard. The All Missions category has now been split into Any% (for obtaining any medal per mission) and All Gold (for obtaining Golds for all missions). This will mean notable route changes on several missions in the run for the latter, so should be an interesting challenge.

Also, I've added the 100% category I've been threatening for a while now, which requires completing All Trainings, All Missions (All Gold) and Deathmatch in one sitting. I suspect this one won't have a huge number of applicants (I do plan on running it at some point), but on the upside you're more likely to get WR in this one for that very reason!

Anyhow, if you have any questions, let me know below.

Interesting number crunches kh.

On the flipside, I was quite interested in this article that SRC posted a few months ago:

https://www.speedrun.com/news/651-2021-4-7-the-perks-of-a-no-reset-run

It's perhaps a little more geared towards more - for want of a better term - extroverted runners (streaming, mic, webcam, interaction with chat etc.), but I've been trying on stream at least to aim for completing runs of the games I do more often, as there is a satisfaction for both viewer and runner in finishing a run regardless of whether it ends up being a PB or not. Although with W:A you don't necessarily lose out on practicing later levels as I have a buttload of completed teams I can use for practice if necessary.

It's a tough one to figure out what your cut-off point is regarding what constitutes a worthy run. For the first couple of maps I always want 1 and 2 mins (IGT) respectively so I tend to reset if I don't get those. Beyond that though, it becomes difficult because for every dodgy early map you receive you could potentially get a bunch of nice later maps that make up the time back.

We did a little bit of number crunching on some of the leaderboard runs in my Discord a while back but it didn't really lead to a definitive answer. So if anyone finds the magic formula for when a run should be ditched, I'd like to hear from them!

That's good to know, thanks!

Hey. Thanks for the questions. Here's my current thoughts:

1. I have to admit being fairly ignorant about these modules up until now, but the ones you've described don't appear to provide any significant advantage over people not using them as they just seem to refer to menu layout and key mapping if I'm not mistaken?

The byline really is whether there are any modules that could significantly help a runner cheese All Missions in some way. If there are, we may consider updating the rules accordingly.

2. Again, I don't think many of these things drastically affect the run. I use Windowed Mode and Vsync, and as far as I can tell Offline Rope Knocking doesn't actually affect All Missions, only Offline Multi-Player and Quick CPU games.

3. Yes, resetting is fine, although at some point I would actually like to split All Missions into two categories: Any% and All Gold. The former would go by the current rules (any medal allowed per mission), whilst the latter would require gold medals for all missions.

I'm also considering adding a 100% category that would require completion of Deathmatch (Elite), All Missions (All Gold) and All Trainings (All Gold) in one go, although I suspect that might not be the most heavily subscribed of speedruns...

4. Yes, it's required for all runs.

Thank you kindly. I have to admit I was amazed I managed WR considering how many mistakes I made in this run, but I guess that's the nature of such an RNG-heavy game. Anyhow, the more other people want to beat it, the more I'll be inclined to try and get a better run in, so go for it!

The only reason I would advise against measuring the end by the victory cheer is that I believe if you do an Alt+F4 reset during the cheer at the end of the Elite battle you would still be demoted to Superstar. Measuring it by the congratulations message afterwards is at least a firm confirmation that the battle has 'finished' in that regard and the only way you could drop a rank then would be to start and fail another battle. I'll check the reset thing though just to be sure.

Just wanted to weigh in on this point, having done a few Deathmatch runs myself:

"3) The team being new/old represents no advantage as long as its rank is correct at Absolute Beginner. If all that above is agreeable, then removeing the word 'New' would just be a disambiguation."

This depends on how you've reset to Absolute Beginner. If you reset whilst on the Absolute Beginner battle then I see no need to create a new team, as this doesn't appear to affect the reset dynamic.

However, for all battles between Absolute Beginner and Elite, the game will (as far as I can tell) demote you for every odd-numbered reset you do and retain rank for every even-numbered reset. So by that reckoning you would potentially have an advantage if you reset a run whilst on Beginner battle, as this means you would then have a demotion-free reset ready to go that you could use in the run tactically (for example, if you got a map that just looked too difficult and decided to gamble on a better one).

That said, I guess if you submitted a run with no failed battles or resets in it then this wouldn't be an issue.