Deep Speed-Run Stage Mode on Difficult

[Shtrudel]

Hello to all! Sorry for the long post and thank to anyone who actually reads all of it!
I'm here to show you my Speed-Run attempt for the Stage Mode, done with Deep in 23:33.
It all began tow years ago, there was a competition for the Stage Mode in Difficult for 3 sections: shortest time, most damage-hit and least damage-taken. I managed to win with the same attempt at all 3 sections. I finished the game in 29:02 minutes.
Then I tried to get faster, and had the 2nd attempt.
Then the 3rd.
Then the 4th.
And this so far is the final attempt, with Stages 1 and 2 taken from the previous attempt. Total time is 23:33 minutes.

The rules for speed-running are simple:
* The Speed-Run may be done on Difficult.
* You may use Hero characters only, except for Rudolf and Henry. You must use the same character for all the Stages.
* You may drink milk or beer and free hostages as you wish. You can play with any strategy you want.

I play on the default speed of the game, which makes it really hard to run a Stage completely flawlessly. This is also the reason I've waited to show you my speed-run, because I know that someone who plays on slower speed will manage to run faster.

This is the link for the playlist on YouTube. I really want to thank Zelphir for recording and uploading this to his channel!
Link.
I also added downloads to the .lfr files.
I want to note that I'm shocked that the this recording of Stage 5 was my fastest, I really hate it. I screwed up alot here and I think I played better in other times.

If someone wishes to, I can wrtie guidelines for speed-running.

Here are the downloads, enjoy!

  Stage 1 2-38.lfr (Size: 11.6 KB / Downloads: 96)
  Stage 2 3-20.lfr (Size: 12.22 KB / Downloads: 82)
  Stage 3 4-30.lfr (Size: 13.27 KB / Downloads: 84)
  Stage 4 4-39.lfr (Size: 13.37 KB / Downloads: 86)
  Stage 5 8-26.lfr (Size: 16.01 KB / Downloads: 74)

[YinYin]

If someone wishes to, I can wrtie guidelines for speed-running.

I wish.

edit: why would you not consider Henry/Rudolf speed runs?

[Shtrudel]

If someone wishes to, I can wrtie guidelines for speed-running.

I wish.

edit: why would you not consider Henry/Rudolf speed runs?

It's just that we hate the range characters. they're either too broken and if you try to limit them, they're useless.

Should I post a new threat for the guide or post it here in the OP?

[YinYin]

It's just that we hate the range characters. they're either too broken and if you try to limit them, they're useless.

You've abused Deep pretty well - why would you want to limit other characters when you are fighting NPCs?

[Dr.Death]

Just look at the Fire Arrow that's probably the best attack for Stage Mode from all Random Characters.

[Boop]

Just look at the Fire Arrow that's probably the best attack for Stage Mode from all Random Characters.

It probably is, and that's the point. When you speed running you need to go for the shortest time. It makes no sense to just rule out a character because its best for speed running. Pokemon Gen I games are all run with squirtle as the starting pokemon because it's the best. Sonic & Knuckles 3(which has awesome glitches click meeeeeeee ) is run using tails. Dark Souls runs all start with the Wanderer class and go for Int builds.

There are usually separate categories for glitchless/100%/any% , but that doesn't really apply in LF2's case as there are no game breaking glitches. Henry speed runs should be allowed.

Edit:

I guess lf2.net locked characters and not locked characters can be two seperate categories, but that should really be it.

Edit 2:

Actually any runs played in slow motion would be considered TAS(tool assisted speed runs) and would have their own category. This would require there to be recordings made rather than just replays as its impossible to tell from a replay if it was slowed down or not.

[Shtrudel]

Well, Lord Silva got a point. You can't really tell someone "you can't use that character" or "you cannot use this attack for more than once"` Further more, if you think a bout it, Henry's Super Arrow is kinda slow. Deep does heavier damage and is able to do heavier combos more than Henry or Rudolf. Even if you spam flutes, it will just be too slow to actually co,pete with Deep.

As for Rudolf, I think he shouldn't be allowed to transform into other characters at all, because it raises a problem: When you hit to the next stage, Rudolf is still able to transform to the character from the prev stage. Than you have to decide what to do, which should we concider: the recording with with the transformation or they need to start a new one.

This one raises another option: to make a speed-run with lfr files and a single-segment which is recorded "live" and is runned from the beginning through the end,

I will make a guide for speed-running the stage mode on difficult for 1 player, hopefully this week.

[Dragon5]

The only understandable thing to why characters would be banned is that some may have faster times overall compared to others. Like Silva said, separate categories can be made to promote a variety of different ways to run the game. Separating Ranged characters from the others is a possibility if that really is a problem (somebody should be able to verify if it is a problem or not. I haven't tested stage mode that well to know). Making a category for each character would be redundant.

I personally expect Woody to be the best speedrunning character in all honesty. With a good Dash Attack, a move that has good cover and hits multiple people, and a quick yet strong attack that costs nothing which can be chained into the previously mentioned moves... I think he just needs proper MP management in order to be the most effective. He can also just Tiger Dash his way to the end of the stage when he's done since he'll just recover his MP back. That's just my opinion though. I could be wrong.

[Kevin]

I still think the best strategy for speedrunning with henry would be to lose good amount of hp to be able to spam .

I do think Woody has got good chance for speed-running, but not because he can spam D>J, but instead for his combo flexibility, so the key would be quick boss kills. Additionally, his teleportation might help a little especially in the easier stages where the enemies come from both sides. But imo Deep might outperform Woody since his combo can also be done from many situations, while his dash attack can finish certain waves quickly.

Ahaha I really like to make predictions like this.. it's probably more interesting than the gameplay :3 . I'll try it later, I'm enjoying Berlin~~ oh yeah I do prefer to forbid endless combos like Dennis' grab+D>J though :P . Happens only by a slight chance, but if you get like 10 seconds of private time with firzen/julian then it's....

I like zort's solution for Rudolf's transformation in the survival world records thread.

[Dragon5]

I don't think anything should be barred in a speed run. I've watched speed runs from both TASVideos and SDA. Speed running is all about exploiting whatever possible to make the fastest time you can do. In communities, people share whatever tricks they have found so others can utilize them in hopes of improving a run. Of course this would take the fun out of Stage mode, but it would open up competition (something we can always use). Dennis might be good against taking out bosses while Woody seems flexible, Deep is powerful overall, Rudolf can transform into other characters and use that against them, Davis and Henry would be good spammers at low health. Each person likely has a certain advantage that nobody else has. To find out who is really the best would mean for us to test it all out ourselves.