Since non-glitched runs don't really have a resource at the moment I thought I would go ahead and start one. :)

This can serve as a general resource for this run layout and for general questions if people have them. This also isn't platform specific (most platform specific time saves are in the glitched department anyways so it doesn't really matter)

So if you have any: -Time saving strategies -Questions about certain parts of the non-glitched runs -Issues with certain areas -Questions about skills management -Etc This is a good place to ask.

That said questions like best way to record and more technical stuff such as that should really be brought up elsewhere.

I think a good way to start would be listing off some basic FAQ/Facts about the game. If you have any other things you think should be listed here I can add them. But here are some basic stuff to know:

Jumping and rolling (requires lightfoot) is the fastest way to move, especially traversing snow or up slopes. Jumping and scrambling (without lightfoot) is slower and seems about the same speed as running except it is still faster on snow and up slopes. The pistol is the worst weapon of the four you receive. The assault rifle and shotgun are the fastest and most reliably ways to kill sections of enemies and the bow still retains use for ranged stealth kills. The pistol has bad damage output non-upgraded and takes forever to rechamber rounds, outside of some particular areas or sections where you are low on ammo avoid using it. Fire arrows are next to worthless. Poison arrows and blast arrows are very potent however and managing their ammo throughout the run can lead to some big time saves. Expedition mode is a great tool for practicing sections, seriously definitely use it. Just be mindful that you may not have the same resources or skills in that area you would normally have playing through a run. The only incentive for playing non-adventurer level difficulty is not having aim assist which isn't enough to sacrifice easier combat sections and easier times skipping some areas. Jumping and regrabbing onto climbable walls with the pickaxe is much faster than regular climbing. It should be avoided during curved sections of climbable walld since it is really easy to fly off but for vertical or horizontal flat sections it saves a lot of time. Doesn't have a dedicated name but I normally call it cliff hopping.

There are not many runners of this game but I expect that will change a bit now that the game has had a multi-platform release. Hope this helps.

Some of the starting tips here in your post are useful to know, as I intend to start speed running this both glitched and glitchless soon (once i've finished it casually..I dont own a XB1 :) ), definitely looking forward to it!

So I am not 100% certain (maybe someone can back me up) but I am fairly sure some areas of the game have been tweaked regarding enemy AI/Range to make it harder to just run past.

Not the best example but it showcases it a bit.

This area used to be pretty simple you could just run along the right side and silently take down the guy in the destroyed house and the guy walking towards you in the middle of the road would never see you unless you were horribly slow getting there. But now he seems to detect you almost everytime and the area seems several times harder now. Notice how in the 2nd clip despite him being way farther away to me and I take him out behind cover (kinda) I am detected despite the opposite being the case in the 1st clip where no one even was suspicious.

I've repeated this like 25 times today because I don't remember there being a patch or update but it definitely seems harder. I am having a similar experience at the soviet gulag, people who never used to give me issues now seem to detect me consistently.

Oh and this speaking on my experience on Xbox One btw so idk about other platforms

1:26:38

This is the route I have always taken and by the time you reach the next passageway the guard is just coming out and you have to wait for him or kill him.

My run in general minus some sloppy play has implemented a lot of good strats for Glitchless (PC) and I say PC because I noticed there are pretty significant differences in each console and then PC with AI movement, spawns, etc. I do notice quite a bit of weird RNG that happens in this game and I'm still working through how to manipulate some things.

Wow yea I will definitely give that a try thanks. Considering that also cuts out the box jump it seems much more consistent. I'd be interested in hearing about some of the differences on PC and maybe some of the RNG you are talking about. Here on console every npc and enemy AI follows pretty much the exact same route every single time you load an area with no changes. The only major RNG sections are combat but even then spawns are always the same etc.

Oh and congrats on the PC world record :D

Patch 3 went live on the 22nd of January in prep for the Campaign DLC and included a handful of stuff. There's no patch notes about this (they never mentioned the Narnia skip patch in Patch 2 either), but I also experienced the same issue. what I do now is the same route, but headshot the guy that sees you, then turn and headshot the next guy that you normally stealth.

I think skills can match the Glitched run. General thoughts are: Lightfoot at the first camp, then thick skinned after the AR, maybe the ammo retrieval somewhere, then the camp before atlas you should have enough to get tier 2 unlocked to get the explosive expert (I think? I forgot its' name) to increase your crafted items blast radius. Also more resources looted will be good for specialty arrows (poison arrows are totally your friend).

Thank you for convincing me I am not crazy.

Yea so the approaching storm section is much more sensitive you have to either go around a different way to avoid both of them or silently take out both guys in the aforementioned sections or you are guaranteed to be spotted. Also Soviet Gulag is 100% changed as well the guy who walks down the road towards you spots you much easier. You can still take the same route but you have to be really fast and roll a bit to avoid getting the yellow indicator for suspicion.

As far the definitive Skill management for glitchless this what I believe it to be

1st Campsite Stop-Lightfoot http://imgur.com/y6gOOPD At your 1st visit to a campsite in the Siberian Wilderness where they give you the tutorial for upgrading the bow get lightfoot as soon as possible. Lightfoot is essential for moving as fast as possible.

2nd Campsite Visit-Thick Skinned http://imgur.com/1jHazFA I believe its the 4th or 5th campsite but the one above the cliffside that leads to the soviet installation get thick skinned here it helps ensure that when running through the upcoming section you won't die and the game forces you into this particular campsite anyways after the cutscene with the red headed archer.

3rd Campsite Visit-Iron Hide & Ammo Retrieval http://imgur.com/Y6QJyzl The campsite after getting the assault rifle but before going through the metal gate into the combat section grab these. Ammo retrieval is more important as being low on ammo during combat sections can put the player in a really bad situation. Iron Hide is nice for the section at the end of the copper mill with the burning building, random molotovs, and the fight with the flamethrower guy.

4th Campsite Visit-Dodge Counter, Efficient Killer, Breath Control, Rapid Crafting. Field Medic, Demolitions Expert, Naturalist/Survivalist/Dead Eye/DragonFire Shells http://imgur.com/UDVEOfY The final campsite visit is the one before the flooded archives fights before you get the Atlas and spends 7 skill points. At this point 4 more skills are needed to unlock tier 2 so most of these are just chosen to unlock tier 2. The final tier 1 skills Efficient Killer, Breath Control, and Dodge counter generally aren't that useful but they are better unlocks than useless XP bonuses. Rapid crafting is actually kinda useful though with molotovs. After this 8 points have been spent in Tier 1 so Tier 2 unlocks. Field medic is a must for speeding up bandaging and preventing deaths, Demolitions Expert is a must for increasing the radius of molotovs which is extremely valuable for the flooded archives. The last one doesn't matter much and mostly preference. Naturalist gives double healing herbs, Survivalist gives double of the ores needed to craft explosive arrows, Dead Eye can be somewhat useful for aiming for headshots, and dragon fire shells are kinda nice late game for shredding through deathless armor.

When you get to the gates of kitezh you actually have another like 5 skill points you can spend but they are generally not worth spending, you won't unlock tier 3 and the rest of the tier 2 skills are pretty useless.

I'm nopt sure if this would help some but during my casual playthrough I noticed a similar problem with the advancing storms thing, however if you let the guy as you start that bit walk to the right a little bit then take him out.. then take a slightly longer route round along the wall to the right, when you get to the hut and the guy is walking along side it, he should be virtually out and the patrolling guards don't notice you taking him out because he hasn't had time to call for help..its worth a try maybe but I;'m not sure if maybe having a few extra skills by that point makes a difference. I definitely notice some RNG going on though.

Sorry if I sound a complete newb (because I am) and disregard this if its of no help :)

Hey guys!

Just want to share something, I'm not sure if this was done in any other run but yeah I think this might be the fastest route for glitchless for the Prophet's Tomb in Syria. This was done on PC but it does work on Xbox One.

that wall jump is no fun. I had that in a few of my runs until a faster glitched version of the room was found, and I am grateful. it doesnt save too much time though, so you'll need to get it on your 2nd or maybe 3rd try at least to save time

There is some way to skip the dialogue before jumping in the water as well, I did it twice but never found a consistent way to do it but it saves like 10 seconds if done right.