Edit: after playing some more, I'm not actually concerned about this and don't plan on using any macros.

First of all mechalink, thanks so much for your runs! I loved this game as a kid and it's so much fun to see a speedrun of it.

I've never run any other game in my life, but I was thinking it could be fun to run this one, even if I can't touch the WR. I wanted to run something by you regarding the rules first.

One of the worst parts of the game is the repetitive keyboard stuff. I have a mechanical keyboard that can program simple macros, and I was wondering if it would be cheating (or a different category maybe?) if I created some simple ones, like creating specific wands, or casting specific spells.

It seems like an unfair advantage for people who don't have a keyboard, but it might save me from some repetitive stress injuries. I could even put in extra delay between key presses.

Anyway, thanks again!

First: thank you for your support! Look me up on twitch or discord if you want to talk more directly. If you have another catagory idea (all bosses, or just a shorter category like 'fastest complete the shareware version, so no leaving Module 1, defeat all bosses'), lmk and we can probably get it set up! If we get enough runners, splitting by class might also be a thing, or at least tagging runs with class. (A lot of people only got to play the shareware version, so the idea of doing a shareware-only category has always run in my mind as a possibility that might resonate with people who were small at the time and never got the full game.)

So for posterity: the issue with macros is that I am sure I could full-automate the entire run if I wanted if I was allowed to screen scrape, which would be indistinguishable from macros. Allowing macros would have to be carefully thought through, maybe a standardized set. The thing to cut against it, in my mind, is that RPG runs often consider menuing a skill, and this is menuing, so following their lead means not macroing menuing. So that's a soft no from me right now, but if more people show up with opinions about macroing, I'm open to discussion.

Thanks for the reply! I definitely understand now how menuing would be considered a skill, and the more I play the more enjoyable the menuing is becoming! I'm 100% ok with not allowing macros other than maybe in a specialized category.

If we get enough runners, splitting by class might also be a thing

What do you suppose the world record will be for fighter? Haha

But truly, I do think categories by class could be fun and interesting. But for now I'm going to focus on my Any% run!

Edit: I forgot to mention, my mechanical keyboard doesn't have arrow keys, so I have to hit a layer button to be able to move. I have the movement keys bound to ESDF. Do you see any issue with that? Really it means more button pressing for me.

Edit2: what do you think about increasing the allowed dosbox cycles? Is there any particular reason you chose 20,000?