Hey folks, I'd like to do an All Difficulties Episode 1 - Ver.2 Glitchless run, but I wanted to check with you about the rules. If we're doing All Difficulties Glitchless, are we allowed to grind a character to full stats first? Seems like it would be impossible to do from a brand new save file if you aren't weapon stacking. I've put 214 hours into a character and I still have trouble with Ultimate Ruins.
Also, quick aside, there's a typo in the title of the All Difficulties Episode 1 - Ver.2 Glitchless category. It says "Ver.2 Gltichless", note that the "t" and "i" are transposed.
Simple answer: No - all categories assume you are starting from a fresh file
"All Difficulties Glitchless" is on the leaderboard for some reason but I wouldn't say there is a great one.
You have found the problem with doing an Ultimate run: it requires an absurd amount of grinding (I have no idea how viable it is in v2, but v3 it's theoretically known that you spend a dozen hours or more just leveling/grinding for HP units). There are also issues with your proposal to use existing files. In my experience in speedruns, when there is the option to start from something other than a new file, there are two options: have a standard file, or anything goes. For PSO, both options seem burdensome or fairly inaccessible.
In the case of the Standard File, what makes sense for what's on the character, and who decides? When it comes to something like this, less is more, but that doesn't exactly work for PSO because you're expected to have a lot of things to run in Ultimate. Also, how difficult is it to make a file up to standards? I suppose you could get to level 200 and ditch all your gear except the starting gear, but you'd have to also be material-less. Seems obnoxious or require extraordinary setup.
In the case of anything goes (e.g. true NG+), then the run becomes "I grinded ___" or "I constructed this file with perfect loot.." which may be interesting, but fairly inaccessible.
Categories with low accessibility/very burdensome requirements don't have much meaning and therefore probably shouldn't be on the leaderboard as a serious category. Contrast this against most speedruns where you just need the game and you're set.
Don't let me tell you what to do, but here are my recommendations:
- You can play whatever you want to play.
- Personally, I would not recommend pursuing the category "All Difficulties Glitchless" as defined
- It sounds like you are interested in running "Ultimate Time Attack" where anything goes for what your character already has, but it would not be appropriate for this leaderboard due to the issues above. "Speedruns" generally put people on equal footing.
- There is a separate Time Attack community around that handles these types of runs (existing characters) better so you may find better advice seeking them out.
- Consider another category. Ver2 doesn't get a ton of attention but All Missions Glitchless is a stable*, if long, run (~8 hours). Any% Glitchless is probably ~3.
*Well, remember to save and quit at some point...
