Hello new runner! Here are general rules to follow during any given run you may be doing for this game, including co-op specific rules near the bottom. Everything here applies across all categories unless the rules button popup for a specific category specifies otherwise. Please make sure to check those rules for each new category you try to be sure there isn't anything different. I dropped this in a thread to help clean up the rule pages and avoid the same long wall of text being everywhere.

NOTE: All Category Extension runs must be on Newest only!

Timer starts when your HUD appears in the first map. Ends on the last frame your HUD can be seen during the escape in the final map. Entering the rescue during the finale of each campaign must fully fade to black to count as completed.

For runs that have multiple campaigns, they can be played in any order you'd like, but each campaign must be played in a single server, from its first map to its last. You cannot switch Realism on or off mid-run, you must commit to what you started with.

All addons are banned from use. Video must be a live recording (not demo playback) and audio must be enabled and clear enough to confirm no addons were used.

Console commands protected under "sv_cheats" are banned during the run as well as the following: z_difficulty changelevel - added 27th Dec 2016 kick - added 19th April 2015 thirdpersonshoulder - added June 2017 jointeam - added August 2017 report_entities - added February 2018

The following console commands are allowed: map cl_viewmodelfovsurvivor cl_glow commands (for highlights) cl_crosshair commands cl_interp/ratio, cl_update/cmdrate cl_showpos

It is highly recommended you have the Livesplit autosplitter shown in your recording comparing to Game Time or have your recording set to capture the mouse cursor for most accurate load removal. Alternatively, you can accept a slight time loss by leaving the red "4" loading icon in the upper-right unobstructed to use instead. The autosplitter that removes loading times is available in the "Resources" section, or a tutorial on how to calculate a without loads time manually is available in the "Guides" section.

Milliseconds are used only as a tiebreaker, leave it 000 in all other instances.

Co-op specific: Video perspective of the first-loading player is required (likely the host). Can be completed with any number of 2, 3 or 4 players. Only players who were present at the start of the run and completed at least one whole campaign can be credited in the record.

See this other thread for a much deeper explanation on these various rules and why we came to the decisions we have: http://www.speedrun.com/l4d2/thread/wlk68