Having been a moderator for about a year now, I have put together a list of changes I would want to see to the setup of Categories and Variables on Gunman Clive. This is not an absolute definitive proposal, just a list of my issues with the categories as they are right now and how I think they should be changed.

First, let's go over some issues I see with the category system as it exists right now:

Double Platform Dipping: As the Categories exist now, every run submits its platform twice, for the category and for the speedrun.com built-in platform function. Having the Categories set as the platforms has rendered the platform feature nearly useless. Unpreparedness for new versions: Building off the last issue, speedrun.com is built to make adding new versions of a game fast and simple using the platform feature, just add a version in the settings. As the Categories exist right now, every time a new version is added (Such as the PS4 Version Recently), the number of Subcategories grows exponentially. We now have 25 Subcategories in a game with 4 Active Runners. Negligible Version Differences: Between the Major Full Game Releases of Gunman Clive, on current game understanding, with the exception of between HD Collection and Non-HD Collection Versions Gameplay differences are negligible between PC and 3DS, and non-existent between the different HD Edition Versions. Unused Variable: 97% (63/65) of full Game runs on the leaderboard use “Easy” and with good reason, in terms of gameplay and strategic differences, the only difference between Easy, Normal and Hard is the Level that RNG can Randomly end your run, there is no gameplay or frankly skill differences.

Now, let's go over my proposal for Leaderboard Reform.

Individual Levels

• Remove difficulty entirely
• Split by Category into “Classic” and “HD Collection”
• “Classic” would Include PC, 3DS and New3DS runs
• “HD Collection” would Include Switch, WIIU and PS4 runs

This will Reduce the Number of IL Categories from 12 to 8, while more fairly splitting where gameplay differences actually exist, versus by difficulty where they do not.

Full Game Runs

• Remove difficulty entirely
• Make the Characters + 2 Special Runs the Categories, that would make the categories as follows.
• Clive
• Duck Mode
• Ms. Johnson
• Chieftain Bob
• All Characters
• ANY% WW
• Each category should have the Subcategories of “Classic” and “HD Collection”
• “Classic” would Include PC, 3DS and New3DS runs
• “HD Collection” would Include Switch, WIIU and PS4 runs
• “Platforms obsolete each other” should remain off, allowing for a player's best run on each platform to appear on the leaderboard together.

Other

• This Proposal does not recommend Changing The “GBA” and “SNES” Categories

They essentially function as their own unique entities on the leaderboard, without much connection to the rest of the leaderboard

Here is a chart of what the New Category list would be, (Down from 25 Subcategories to 13) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X9bl1OHta3aRKIYOPVGc2RStFeNK3bTiFVAvePTFzHI/edit?usp=sharing

What Would this Accomplish.

To start, a few Statistics. On the Leaderboard right now, 84% of Subcategories have less than 5 Players having submitted runs, 64% have 2 or fewer. And 20% have 0 Runs Submitted. This Subcategory bloat is massive for a small game.

My Proposal would change those numbers respectively to 62% of Subcategories having less than 5 Players having submitted runs, 38% have 2 or less. And only 1 having 0 runs submitted (ANY% WW - HD Collection)

Merging Leaderboards would serve to make HD Collection Runs more Competitive, with them currently being thinly scattered across multiple categories. It would serve to actually bring many more subcategories to having competitive leaderboards. And would overall massively reduce bloat on the leaderboard, while future-proofing the leaderboard for potential future HD Collection Version Releases.

Thank you for reading through this.

all old new% runs are now in any%, new% is now 1.9 forward

all old new% runs are now in any%, new% is now 1.6

For all of who who dont like the current “how fast can you click” meta, ive got a new category for you. In Game time. Have fun with this

I dont use twitch, but had a run rejected that used youtube gaming, and was told to use twich’s highlight tool, i dont have a saved recording of the run. And in the submission and the description of the video i state the time to skip to. Can i please have a reason for this?

In the timespan of two days, Biwit now has the WR in every single catergory

Basically im trying to split all the runs for the game i moderate (hearts of iron IV) into allowing a mechanic and not allowing a mechanic, but it deletes all of the existing runs. is there a way to add the subcategories without deleting all of the runs?

As i have had some people say to me they feel that the use of paratroopers is to powerful in the current patch, as such, i will be adding categories without them this will apply to Both Sea Lions and Poland 1936. (currently adding subcategories deletes all existing runs, witch i dont want to do so give it a bit while i figure it out)

As i feel that the forums are a bit disorganized, i've created this. feel free to come up with strats for runs and such in there. https://discord.gg/PZvRgk6

congrats on submitting two WR runs an hour apart

I suck at coding but want to run this game.