Ontario, Canada- Seeded runs: Could work if there was a seed created and distributed that contained that Jail setup, for example, already. At that point, I would suggest as Teo mentioned, forcing the runner to display that seed number while running.
If, however, someone is not using a seed and fishing for that setup, I can see where days could be wasted trying to get it. I likened that to Greater Rift fishing in D3 because it's conceptually the same. You want a map with a good layout and hopefully a decent mob mix so you can finish faster and execute a meta strategy. Many hours can be wasted and attempts can be total non-starters.
As a whole, I think that would lead to the first sub 1h runs because of the RNG manipulation.
- PlugY Runs: I'm assuming 'BNET style' is just talking about how it brings down runewords to single player. In a true NG+ scenario where you start with everything and if the quests could just be reset, that would be a crazy thing to watch. If we're talking about fishing gear beforehand grailer-style, then it would come down to mapping and player ability. Also things that aim at meta gameplay, but altogether more interesting.
Hero editing is an issue here, for sure, but I don't think that level of modding should be allowed anyway. It would be easy to tell who edited something to be unreasonably good though. The runner would probably have to take a pause before or after and hover for a few seconds over every item to verify it's stats which brings up another aspect of it. How do you enforce that as a verification step? How many runners would just forget ti display something or submit to the wrong category? Something to think about, but probably solved with some primer rules.
If this happened, I'm sure a race meta would come out of it for sure, probably matching some very late-game builds.
- Challenge runs: I agree with LaV on this one.
Overall, I think it would mess up D2 to have something like Super Mario World happen where there's like 100 ways to submit a run, and multiple separate game categories because there's so many.
Really nice post. I think it's not worth fighting over the ownership of another domain simply because it's another layer of bureaucracy we don't need. It would be nice to just integrate high scores into this site, knowing that the name could change somewhat.
I agree that a full-on delete approach is extreme, but he's free to handle his records and accounts as he wishes. Whether you or I would handle it the same way is, at the end of the day, irrelevant. It's a game, and he can come back any time to reclaim his spot, but he'll have to grind it out again because he basically trashed all the evidence. That said, if the admins want to take action and go to an archive, It should go through Slimo first, in my opinion.
Sometimes we just need to step back and recharge. I hope this break serves him well.
Wow, that sucks... I hope he turns up soon. His runs are pretty legendary.
Now, this is coming from someone who has been involved with D3 during beta, and I've played every season being in high GR meta since about Season 5.
I've considered this as well, but I've concluded in my own view, that there isn't enough to necessarily fuel a good commentary unless you're doing a guide during the run. The way Diablo 3 is structured, you're supposed to make it through the Campaign relatively unhindered especially since the mobs scale with your level. Drops have also been tailored to this end. Rarely is there a point where you're necessarily out of place either because the drops will maintain you through the run. Yes, there is RNG, but there are also a lot of small predictable events you can take advantage of such as the crown drop on Leoric during your first pass through. I've done runs in both Softcore and Hardcore campaign mode as well, and it's really not that hard.
If there is to be a category for this, I would submit that doing a D3 Vanilla run, as crazy as that sounds, would be better. Content is gated and there are legitimate challenges to getting through various areas. A struggle that, over time, RoS has virtually eliminated since the goal is endgame. Sometimes threads pop up on reddit about this as well. The current leveling strats in a seasonal group take advantage of those predictable points I mentioned above, and again, provide little challenge.
The items in D3 have changed pretty significantly over time as well as the game modes, and it's almost unfair to consider them as equals. It may be worth adding a patch level (ie: 2.4) to submissions as well.
Strictly speaking, they are different games. The balance and skills are separate from the PC version altogether. There's also a console divide because PS3 does not receive updates and PS4 does.
I don't think there will be a 100% category because the definition would be solely on Campaign Mode and very closely resemble something like the Sprinter conquest as well as existing categories.
It may be worth changing up the categories here because it doesn't seem like there's separation in the right places.The D3 leaderboards themselves don't separate whether the run was MP or not. Just that it was completed and who was included in the group.Whenever Blizz decides to include the Sprinter/Speed Racer Conquest.
It may be better to just add a 'Players' column to that and list them as being part of the same time. That said, the MP boards can be taken out.
As for HC, it represents a much more entertaining run as either NG or NG+ for obvious perma-death reasons. The classes really don't make much difference in NG+ because there's always a way to get a speed bonus through gear like Warzechian Armguards, Krelm's Buff Belt, Wreath of Lightning, and Boon of the Hoarder as examples.
My/Anyone's support for a community shouldn't be defined strictly by the choice to use (or not) an AdBlocker. I chose not to be hounded by ads for whatever they're peddling, and instead enjoy the content being presented. I have subbed to Twitch streamers in the past, and would gladly donate as well. Ads are a huge time waste and it forces you into gimicky things like Twitch Turbo.
For New Game A1-5 Runs: It changes mostly on the end-game, so storyline play in a new game with the current rules has very little to no effect, and getting any of the speed enhancements is purely RNG along with the map layout.
EDIT: I should include here that item drops are based on your level. Legendary items won't drop until about level 6, and you don't have a town portal available until you get the broken crown and take it back to Haedrig.
For Sprinter/Spoeed Runner: The major change(s) that would've affected this run would be Kanai's Cube, and it's been out long enough for people to utilize it in getting Sprinter/Speed Runner. That said, the builds for this use generally the same collection of items like: Warzechian Armguards, Krelm's Buff Belt, Leoric's Crown, Firewalkers, Obsidian Ring (in some cases), Avarice Band and gems like Boon of the Hoarder and Wreath of Lightning.
Generally: That said, I only listed the items that are all-class, and the balance has improved dramatically. In prior seasons, it would've been reasonable to include some variance since over time very large patches came out, like a lot of the items listed above. This isn't the case in 2.4.1.
As well, any run under 1 hour is heavily weighted on RNG. A good insight into how this affects things is trying the 'Boss Mode' conquest. Only a handful of bosses have a fixed world position, and the rest need to be tracked down first based on how maps are rendered. It's the same sort of system with Diablo2 where a level is stitched together based on all of the different segments for that area.
EDIT2: The DH run doesn't follow the current rules of having to speak to Tyrael to end the run. The time is off.
I can post a guide to this for Wizard if anyone wants it. I also have a few resources for trying this in teams, and I can also create a diablofans build if necessary. Sprinter/Speed Racer aren't always included in the seasonal conquests, but they're fun to try.
