hey there,

the last run of wilderjoe got me thinking a lot. it shows that the fastest way to do a all stronghold run is by using tactics from any%. I don't want to lessen his achievement but this strats turn "All stronholds" in "any% + a few extra missions" what is not what was the intend of this category.

the intention was to show the most exciting parts this game has to offer, which are the special stronghold missions. to beat them fast ment a fast time in the category. the problem is one single rule that I even added to the category later:

"If an AI-player takes over another stronghold it must still be conquered"

on paper this doesn't sound so bad but as wilderjoes latest run shows the fastest way to go is then: get pavonis and 1 or 2 more regions, let the AI kill each other, quickly conquer all the already defeated AI-stronghold and then the last stronghold.

I was thinking a lot the last few days on how to improve the rules so that all stronghold would become a more unique category again and the only way I can come up with is the following: delete the rule above and make it clear that the player has to do all the special stronghold missions himself. As you may expect this has some serious implications.

Pros:

• the category would be more interesting to play and watch
• the category would be more unique instead of being any%+X
• all runs done by other players than me or wilderjoe would still be valid and comparable
• less frustration / resets as the category isn't as reliant on the AI behaviour anymore

Cons:

• a lot of runs would be invalid or count as "any%" runs instead
• more frustration / resets when the AI conquers another stronghold
• run times are longer

as for my opinion: I would rather do all the runs that become invalid again to have better and diverse categories in the long run. any% is a frustrating category and when all stronghold becomes the same I don't see many people being interested in running this game.

please tell me what your opinions are as this change would affect a lot. I am very interested your opinion wilderjoe as this mostly affecty you and me.

Sorry i havent got to this sooner ive been without my pc for a few days and will still be for a week or two , now for my actual response.

It will be a hassle since there will be a few runs that drop off the face of the earth and RNG could turn from annoying to run killer but that said i agree that all strongholds should be our best foot forward, its supposed to be more in depth and thus engaging then any% but much shorter and sweeter than 100%, so reforming the category seems like a good idea, makes it cleaner like with 100% changes so i can see where your comming from.

So lets get to the meat of the matter, all the previous runs , my first thoughts would make it another category but that runs into a problem of why split the categorys even more when the difference is so little especially when as of now the community is so small , so without just straight up removing the runs turning them into Any% is the right move as much as it feels like pulling teeth.

On a personal note, this is technically the 3rd time that ive done a run and rules change threaten it the 1st was DoW2, the situation got so out of hand the old mod was banned and i became mod but here with 100% and now AS you've talked with the group and thus me to find a resolution together to make the game better as a whole and because of that i dont feel salty about removing or changing the runs so dont feel like im gonna hunt you down or anything cause i no longer have WR at something, id rather sacrifice that to bring more people into the game and grow it , a WR only means as much as other people acknowledge it anyway. Besides i just have to find a new way to beat you, wouldnt be the first time i tried my friend.

I am really really happy to hear that you understand my reasoning! I feel kinda dumb as I myself brought this rule onto the site without really thinking of the consequenses it could have...

with this (hopefully last) rule change we end up with 3 very different and easy to understand categories. I will change the rules and move the runs within the next days.

One last question for the rules: what if an AI-player conquers a stronghold the player posesses? Must it be reconquered or is it enough to just have done all the special missions? I can see pros and cons for both options ...

In that case i would let them recapture it as long they have all strongholds at the end, they have done the mission , feels bad enough the time loss retaking the place anyway. Its a unlikely scenario anyway as i found that on easy with max guards ive never lost a stronghold to auto fight anyway, could happen tho.

I have changed the rules and moved all affected runs to any%. If I have forgotten a run or put one there falsely please let me know.

The records for sm, ig and chaos are again up for grabs again. Happy hunting! :D

As soon as my PC is back up and running i wilm be happy to dive into them and maybe some more 100% runs