Because of the recent rule change regarding S&Q, and because IOTR uses mainly the same rules as SRL, it has become a popular (and obviously the best) strat to S&Q when taking a hit in a dangerous room as the lost.
Obviously it's better to waste 10 seconds redoing a room than to die and have to start over. There is a certain amount of judgment involved as to just risk finishing the room if you think you can complete it without taking a hit.
However, I believe the rule change was intented to allow certain strats like procing speedups, spawning super-greed, and the grey block clip. I don't believe this strat was intended by the rule change.
Further, I believe this strat immensely cheapens the Lost. He effectively becomes a cannon, as opposed to a glass cannon. He can take unlimited devil deals, and with S&Q has virtually unlimited health. In my opinion, it removes all skill from Lost races.
For these reasons, I propose banning S&Q strats ONLY from the lost, or in the alternative banning S&Q strats for the lost ONLY AFTER losing your holy shield (this way the intended strats could still be utilized).
I proposed the change in the IOTR general chat, and I propose it for SRL as well. I'll refer the IOTR chat to this post for discussion. Obviously a rule change in IOTR won't bind SRL change or vice versa, but I think it should be consistent. I understand it's a little fucked to change the rules mid-tourney, but I think it's for the best to do so.
P.S. full disclosure - yes this post was prompted by Moon and Scav's race, but I think it's a valid rule change regardless of that race, and I had been considering proposing the change before the race. The outcome of the race IS what prompted me to post this, in all fairness.
I do not think there should be any rule changes mid-competition, because the evaluation of skill for previous weeks is going to be different than future weeks which cheapens the efficacy of a swiss style tournament. People have won and lost based on this strategy and the rankings reflect that. I feel like there is opportunity to tweak this rule before the bracket tournament.
tODD
PS EDIT: I support this rule change in the future. I think there is a common consensus on Lost not being considered for S&Q strats when the rule was implemented (and now many oppose the S&Q for mantle refresh), but I think the biggest issue is a mid competition rule change. I feel like discussions should explain the validity of a mid competition rule change.
I haven't followed the tourney at all so I can't comment on that but I fully agree that S&Q on Lost to prevent a death is a pretty cheap strat that takes away from the natural challenge of the character. So, I'm in favour of adjusting the rules so that this loophole is closed (be it banning S&Q on Lost in general or just in specific situations).
I have always been against save and quit for the reasons of the holy mantle, but changing it mid league I am against if that makes sense?
I myself agree on bannning S&Q only on that particular case: Lost (or any character on one-hit and with holy mantle) having their mantle gone.
As a quick thought, maybe the same could be applied to people with the Scapular being on half heart + soul/black heart? Not sure if the effect actually resets on S&Q, but if it does then it's basically the same as the Holy Mantle "strat".
I honestly don't think it will matter too much, if you s & quit as the lost you loose time anyway so I don't think we should ban it for racing since it allows you to push faster and makes the lost more consistent imo.
