Alpha Protocol

2013-01-01 01:56:00 am

Yeah - the problem isn't the difficulty as such. If I was playing casually I'd just clear the soldiers. I don't want to do that because it takes time. I also don't want to stop to take cover. That's also time.

I'm cool with knocking them down but if the shotty fails on me - they don't get stunned and they hit me - then missile > face.

It's just a pain in the ass - I think I have a strat though. (Which missile launchers to get and in which order - it seems to work. You go truck > 1st bunker > the one in the open > bunker to the left > bunker to the front. I tried a few times and seemed to have decent success. Only downside is that in the 1st bunker - I have to beat a guy to death - doesn't take too long though!)

Softman25

2013-01-03 06:31:05 am

Cutting this time down like a samurai warrior. New PB is 1:57:32

http://www.twitch.tv/softman25/b/353585249

- I managed to kill Marburg this time. I just did suave responses for the entire game up until Marburg - bar a few. (Where I knew there would be a -1 with Mina - long dialogue in unskippables etc.)
- However - I failed to join Halbech. I accidentally pissed Leland off...it turns out that Suave responses work really well - except in Taipai when they piss him off. I'm going to remember that for next time!
- Helicopter still trolled me. I managed it perfectly in practice - of course the trolls come to play in the run. I lost 50 seconds on the split - which is a total of about 4:50 on that helicopter alone. I can't wait to ace that thing! Also - it turns out that if you don't blow up the heli with the missiles (I put every missile into it's body - didn't explode) you can just shoot it with the pistol and it will explode. I'm not even joking!
- 3 deaths bar the heli. Embassy, Grand Hotel and Memorial. (Stupid, Stupid, Troll turrets - respectively)

Managed to pull off most of the tricks really well. Saudi was great overall - Moscow was really good, Brayko was OK. Rome was excellent all around and Taipai was...OK at best. I think that a deathless and stupidless run could actually maybe skim around 1:50. I know I keep revising that figure but eh, I was never good at estimating! Tongue

Cutting this time down like a samurai warrior. New PB is [b]1:57:32[/b]

[url]http://www.twitch.tv/softman25/b/353585249[/url]

- I managed to kill Marburg this time. I just did suave responses for the [i]entire game[/i] up until Marburg - bar a few. (Where I knew there would be a -1 with Mina - long dialogue in unskippables etc.)
         - However - I failed to join Halbech. I accidentally pissed Leland off...it turns out that Suave responses work really well - except in Taipai when they piss him off. I'm going to remember that for next time!
- Helicopter still trolled me. I managed it perfectly in practice - of course the trolls come to play in the run. I lost 50 seconds on the split - which is a total of about 4:50 on that helicopter alone. I can't wait to ace that thing! Also - it turns out that if you don't blow up the heli with the missiles (I put every missile into it's body - didn't explode) you can just shoot it with the pistol and it will explode. I'm not even joking!
- 3 deaths bar the heli. Embassy, Grand Hotel and Memorial. (Stupid, Stupid, Troll turrets - respectively)

Managed to pull off most of the tricks really well. Saudi was great overall - Moscow was really good, Brayko was OK. Rome was excellent all around and Taipai was...OK at best. I think that a deathless and stupidless run could actually maybe skim around 1:50. I know I keep revising that figure but eh, I was never good at estimating! :P

NMS

Edit history:

NMS: 2013-01-05 04:19:00 am

NMS: 2013-01-05 04:18:06 am

2013-01-05 04:13:03 am

I haven't watched all of your latest run yet, but I have some advice based on earlier runs and my new research. I may try to do some runs soon, so I thought I'd level the playing field.

Bosses in general: I haven't found that pistol damage stat, skill points distributed, or steel core vs. normal bullets make any difference when using Chain Shot against bosses. I suspect that when it doesn't work, it's just because some of the shots are missing. Tranq rounds are worse though.

Graybox: I think choosing "Distraction" is fastest. The door unlocks and you have to beat up (or takedown) one guy before you enter the next room (otherwise the alarm won't trigger, which you need). You only need to defeat the Marines who come out of the locked doors before the truck bay, not the agents to get the doors to unlock. And you can use Chain Shot on the guys in the room with the computer hack if you have the points in it (skills are locked until the truck bay, unfortunately).

Bug Al-Samad Airfield: You can EMP through the first gate at ground level rather than climb and jump over. And it may be faster to take the left entrance to the tower building. You can EMP it or begin lockpicking and click "break open" instead (probably what I'll do to save trips to the clearinghouse).

Intercept Shaheed and Recover Missiles: After the plane graveyard, the left (zipline) and right (unlock gate) routes are equally fast if the enemies don't get in the way. But the left route is much more reliable. The Lieutenant can be defeated from ground level with basic Chain Shot using normal bullets. But the glare makes it hard to aim. The trick is to activate it just as you take damage and it clears the glare. Aggressive responses are the fastest in the unskippable scene with Mina.

Assault Lazo's Yacht and Retrieve Data: Aggressive to Albatross is fastest.

Intercept Surkov at US Embassy: I think it's worth shooting your way past the guards to save time. I find Room Sweep is really helpful for getting through the tough part on the third floor. There's a shortcut into the stairwell after the computer room if you have an EMP. I haven't come up with a good plan for the end. Probably a mix of Chain Shot, shotgun, and grenades. I think you need to kill 8 guys. Too bad you can only get the sniper rifle if you do Contact Albatross.

Assault Brayko's Mansion: It's really worth doing Contact Steven Heck first for the tainted cocaine, even though you need to leave Taipei and come back.

Madison: The middle-reputation version of the final conversation (or at least the way you did it in the previous run) turned out to be a few seconds slower than either high or low rep. Low rep (where she attacks you) may be slightly faster than high. But high gets you the Gentleman perk (faster Endurance recharge), which could save your life, so maybe that's worth it.

Investigate Ruins Transmission: I haven't figured out a good plan for the end here either. Setting enemies on fire turns out to be kind of a slow way to kill them. Plus sometimes it causes the game to not detect that you've killed them all and you can't win the mission and have to load the checkpoint.

Investigate Delivery at Warehouse: The cutscene here is slightly longer if you've been to Moscow (they talk about you), which is another advantage to finishing Rome first.

Intercept Marburg at the Museum of Art: When Marburg starts talking over the loudspeaker, if you load the checkpoint, the doors open immediately. This makes the run SS with resets, but you might end up using it anyway, so it's worth considering. If you do Rome first, Marburg can be beaten with one Chain Shot, leaving Brilliance available for the second round. But this leaves you with very few points to spare for anything but Pistols and Technical Aptitude, so it might be safer to spend the points elsewhere and wait for the cooldown or use regular gunfire to finish him.

Investigate Warehouse District Data Trail: There's intel for this mission that lets you plant only one bug instead of three. So if you happen to be in the clearinghouse in Taipei, that's probably worth it. Otherwise don't bother. You can also destroy the jammer with grenades and/or gunfire, but it's less reliable and won't save more than a couple seconds.

Intercept Assassination Plans: You can fast-forward the dialog with Mina after Omen locks you in. It may be faster to wait for the door to open than to jump down and take the ladder. In the area where you jump or zipline down, then climb a ladder, you can just run around the catwalk to the door on the same level. Also, instead of rushing the guy at the end, you can turn around and EMP through a door to escape the train. Not sure which is faster.

Stop Omen Deng at Memorial Rally: There's an intel that gets you a zipline to skip the "Clear Gate" area. But to get to it you have to kill 5 or 6 guys, so I don't think it's worth it unless you do it perfectly.

Alpha Protocol Safehouse: The high rep version ending with the "Get Out" option is a couple seconds faster than the low rep version. But there's also a medium rep version that may be faster. I'll probably go for that one because I'd rather not have to use nonlethal force on civilians in Taipei (I'll only have a worse perk on a couple missions). If you get the medium or low rep versions, Aggressive, Aggressive, Professional is the fastest dialog.

Infiltrate Alpha Protocol: Because of the variable number of missiles needed to kill the helicopter, I always suspected that it has weak spots, but I couldn't figure out what they were. Some googling turned up a forum where someone pointed out that there's a hint in the game:

Unfortunately, missiles pass through the rotors except for a little bit in the center, but the fuel tanks near the top of the sides work well if you run sideways and shoot before it turns to face you. In theory you can kill it with 2 missiles, but more often it takes 3 (and maybe some gunfire).

I haven't watched all of your latest run yet, but I have some advice based on earlier runs and my new research. I may try to do some runs soon, so I thought I'd level the playing field.

Bosses in general: I haven't found that pistol damage stat, skill points distributed, or steel core vs. normal bullets make any difference when using Chain Shot against bosses. I suspect that when it doesn't work, it's just because some of the shots are missing. Tranq rounds are worse though.

Graybox: I think choosing "Distraction" is fastest. The door unlocks and you have to beat up (or takedown) one guy before you enter the next room (otherwise the alarm won't trigger, which you need). You only need to defeat the Marines who come out of the locked doors before the truck bay, not the agents to get the doors to unlock. And you can use Chain Shot on the guys in the room with the computer hack if you have the points in it (skills are locked until the truck bay, unfortunately).

Bug Al-Samad Airfield: You can EMP through the first gate at ground level rather than climb and jump over. And it may be faster to take the left entrance to the tower building. You can EMP it or begin lockpicking and click "break open" instead (probably what I'll do to save trips to the clearinghouse).

Intercept Shaheed and Recover Missiles: After the plane graveyard, the left (zipline) and right (unlock gate) routes are equally fast if the enemies don't get in the way. But the left route is much more reliable. The Lieutenant can be defeated from ground level with basic Chain Shot using normal bullets. But the glare makes it hard to aim. The trick is to activate it just as you take damage and it clears the glare. Aggressive responses are the fastest in the unskippable scene with Mina.

Assault Lazo's Yacht and Retrieve Data: Aggressive to Albatross is fastest.

Intercept Surkov at US Embassy: I think it's worth shooting your way past the guards to save time. I find Room Sweep is really helpful for getting through the tough part on the third floor. There's a shortcut into the stairwell after the computer room if you have an EMP. I haven't come up with a good plan for the end. Probably a mix of Chain Shot, shotgun, and grenades. I think you need to kill 8 guys. Too bad you can only get the sniper rifle if you do Contact Albatross.

Assault Brayko's Mansion: It's really worth doing Contact Steven Heck first for the tainted cocaine, even though you need to leave Taipei and come back.

Madison: The middle-reputation version of the final conversation (or at least the way you did it in the previous run) turned out to be a few seconds slower than either high or low rep. Low rep (where she attacks you) may be slightly faster than high. But high gets you the Gentleman perk (faster Endurance recharge), which could save your life, so maybe that's worth it.

Investigate Ruins Transmission: I haven't figured out a good plan for the end here either. Setting enemies on fire turns out to be kind of a slow way to kill them. Plus sometimes it causes the game to not detect that you've killed them all and you can't win the mission and have to load the checkpoint.

Investigate Delivery at Warehouse: The cutscene here is slightly longer if you've been to Moscow (they talk about you), which is another advantage to finishing Rome first.

Intercept Marburg at the Museum of Art: When Marburg starts talking over the loudspeaker, if you load the checkpoint, the doors open immediately. This makes the run SS with resets, but you might end up using it anyway, so it's worth considering. If you do Rome first, Marburg can be beaten with one Chain Shot, leaving Brilliance available for the second round. But this leaves you with very few points to spare for anything but Pistols and Technical Aptitude, so it might be safer to spend the points elsewhere and wait for the cooldown or use regular gunfire to finish him.

Investigate Warehouse District Data Trail: There's intel for this mission that lets you plant only one bug instead of three. So if you happen to be in the clearinghouse in Taipei, that's probably worth it. Otherwise don't bother. You can also destroy the jammer with grenades and/or gunfire, but it's less reliable and won't save more than a couple seconds.

Intercept Assassination Plans: You can fast-forward the dialog with Mina after Omen locks you in. It may be faster to wait for the door to open than to jump down and take the ladder. In the area where you jump or zipline down, then climb a ladder, you can just run around the catwalk to the door on the same level. Also, instead of rushing the guy at the end, you can turn around and EMP through a door to escape the train. Not sure which is faster.

Stop Omen Deng at Memorial Rally: There's an intel that gets you a zipline to skip the "Clear Gate" area. But to get to it you have to kill 5 or 6 guys, so I don't think it's worth it unless you do it perfectly.

Alpha Protocol Safehouse: The high rep version ending with the "Get Out" option is a couple seconds faster than the low rep version. But there's also a medium rep version that may be faster. I'll probably go for that one because I'd rather not have to use nonlethal force on civilians in Taipei (I'll only have a worse perk on a couple missions). If you get the medium or low rep versions, Aggressive, Aggressive, Professional is the fastest dialog.

Infiltrate Alpha Protocol: Because of the variable number of missiles needed to kill the helicopter, I always suspected that it has weak spots, but I couldn't figure out what they were. Some googling turned up a forum where someone pointed out that there's a hint in the game:
[hidden]
[img]http://imageshack.us/a/img803/2972/hinthint.png[/img]
Unfortunately, missiles pass through the rotors except for a little bit in the center, but the fuel tanks near the top of the sides work well if you run sideways and shoot before it turns to face you. In theory you can kill it with 2 missiles, but more often it takes 3 (and maybe some gunfire).
[/hidden]

Softman25

2013-01-05 07:42:03 am

OK - like...many thanks for all of that NMS - I'll try and comment on all of it in a sec - but first - new PR - 1:53:20

http://www.twitch.tv/softman25/b/354206835 (Skip to 12 minutes for run)

- Died once (Train Station! I was being a stupid head...) and twice on Helicopter. It was a decent helicopter...
- Solid run but lacked in many areas. Brayko was an ass - I was just kinda...generally slow in areas. It wasn't sloppy...but it was like....semi-sloppy.
- All other strats went perfectly. Joining Halbech is great. It costs approx 40 seconds extra before - but Westridge's cutscene is slow - and you can one round him with Chain Shot - whereas Leland takes two rounds. (CS>Brill>CS) Only thing is - I have to stop the timer slightly later - since the ending cutscene has a player choice in it...but it's not that bad overall - maybe overall saving of 30 seconds-ish.

Now then - again thanks for the all the info!

Bosses - Most bosses seem to go down in the "required" shots anyway. I'm convinced that Steel bullets do a little more damage though. 5 shots to Darcy with normals will almost kill him - but steels will. (If only 5 rounds for Darcy - I have to put another in him - just normal fire)

Graybox / Bug Al Samad - Funnily enough - I actually use those strats already! I figured them out today because I was so stubborn to change them before! The side entrance to the tower is new - I'll try that out for sure!

Intercept Shaheed - I'm going to keep going right. To be honest - I just think that it's a faster route. That also includes the "cinema skip" thing where I hold the cinema in the large room. (If you don't know about it - when you go through the gate - straight ahead is a lockpick door - EMP - run through and bash the door opposite - the cinema talking to Westridge conducts itself in the large warehouse area with no guards. Apologies if you already knew about it!) I don't know about the zipline - it just feels a lot slower. I'll certainly blow away the Lt. from the ground floor. I didn't think it would be close enough - but again - I never tried - #stubborn.

Assault Lazo - Aggressive sounds great.

Embassy - Shoot past the marines? Damn - now there's a challenge! I'm game. Room sweep sounds good but tbh I'm not willing to pump 15 points into Shotguns. It mucks with my points a little too much. (I've started getting three points in Toughness for the bonus 50 HP. I've also stopped getting as many Martial Arts points.

Brayko - I've already edited my splits - I'll just head on over to Taipai before doing Brayko - then pop back to finish it off.

Madison - Damn - I honestly didn't see that coming. I'm happy to be all nice though.

Ruins - I think it seems to just work if I run around and shoot people with the pistol. As long as I don't get so unlucky as to have bullets bending around bad guys - it works. Also Chain Shot some fools!

Warehouse - Yeah - I don't want to do Rome first though. I dunno - I just feel safe with the route as it is. I don't disagree that it could save time. I probably should do it first. I'm thinking about it.

Museum - I didn't know about the load. I already use a load in the Embassy to re-position some guards. (After you hit the security computer - if you reload the save you get more favourable spawns) Loading here should be good. Cheers for that. Also - I manage to one round Marburg w/ Brill at the moment. So yeah...I also think if I did Rome first - I certainly wouldn't be high enough level to get it. (Unless I went and specced into tech...which I'm not doing)

Warehouse - Eh, doing all three bugs isn't so bad anyway. They're not that far out of the way. Also - the jammer is EMPable so I'll just keep doing that. You have to wait until the door opens anyway!

Assassination Plans - I've started FFing the dialogue with Mina. The door takes a while to open - and it may be a tight squeeze between the guards but I'll try it for sure in a run. The EMP > door may be faster - but I don't know about cinema.

Omen Deng - Eh, I'll pass thanks.

Safehouse - I've started using "Get Out" - however if mid rep is easier...I could probably blast some innocents on the Plans (Subway) level.

Graybox Finale - HOLY CRAP THAT IS AMAZING. WILL BE USING. HOLY CRAP. YES. YES. YESSSSSSS.

But seriously, that is amazing. It's so obvious but so hidden. Hopefully I can blast it in one and save even more time. <3 you so much.

So overall - yeah, thanks. Hopefully I'll be able to scrape out a deathless run soon - might switch Rome for Moscow - it seems to save some time. However no Brilliance for Marburg could be problematic...we'll sort something out! Smiley

OK - like...many thanks for all of that NMS - I'll try and comment on all of it in a sec - but first - new PR - [b]1:53:20[/b]

[url]http://www.twitch.tv/softman25/b/354206835[/url]   [i](Skip to 12 minutes for run)[/i]

- Died once (Train Station! I was being a stupid head...) and twice on Helicopter. It was a decent helicopter...
- Solid run but lacked in many areas. Brayko was an ass - I was just kinda...generally slow in areas. It wasn't sloppy...but it was like....semi-sloppy.
- All other strats went perfectly. Joining Halbech is great. It costs approx 40 seconds extra before - but Westridge's cutscene is slow - and you can one round him with Chain Shot - whereas Leland takes two rounds. (CS>Brill>CS) Only thing is - I have to stop the timer slightly later - since the ending cutscene has a player choice in it...but it's not that bad overall - maybe overall saving of 30 seconds-ish.

Now then - again thanks for the all the info!

Bosses - Most bosses seem to go down in the "required" shots anyway. I'm convinced that Steel bullets do a little more damage though. 5 shots to Darcy with normals will almost kill him - but steels will. (If only 5 rounds for Darcy - I have to put another in him - just normal fire)

Graybox / Bug Al Samad - Funnily enough - I actually use those strats already! I figured them out today because I was so stubborn to change them before! The side entrance to the tower is new - I'll try that out for sure!

Intercept Shaheed - I'm going to keep going right. To be honest - I just think that it's a faster route. That also includes the "cinema skip" thing where I hold the cinema in the large room. (If you don't know about it - when you go through the gate - straight ahead is a lockpick door - EMP - run through and bash the door opposite - the cinema talking to Westridge conducts itself in the large warehouse area with no guards. Apologies if you already knew about it!) I don't know about the zipline - it just feels a lot slower. I'll certainly blow away the Lt. from the ground floor. I didn't think it would be close enough - but again - I never tried - #stubborn.

Assault Lazo - Aggressive sounds great.

Embassy - Shoot past the marines? Damn - now there's a challenge! I'm game. Room sweep sounds good but tbh I'm not willing to pump 15 points into Shotguns. It mucks with my points a little too much. (I've started getting three points in Toughness for the bonus 50 HP. I've also stopped getting as many Martial Arts points.

Brayko - I've already edited my splits - I'll just head on over to Taipai before doing Brayko - then pop back to finish it off.

Madison - Damn - I honestly didn't see that coming. I'm happy to be all nice though.

Ruins - I think it seems to just work if I run around and shoot people with the pistol. As long as I don't get so unlucky as to have bullets bending around bad guys - it works. Also Chain Shot some fools!

Warehouse - Yeah - I don't want to do Rome first though. I dunno - I just feel safe with the route as it is. I don't disagree that it could save time. I probably should do it first. I'm thinking about it.

Museum - I didn't know about the load. I already use a load in the Embassy to re-position some guards. (After you hit the security computer - if you reload the save you get more favourable spawns) Loading here should be good. Cheers for that. Also - I manage to one round Marburg w/ Brill at the moment. So yeah...I also think if I did Rome first - I certainly wouldn't be high enough level to get it. (Unless I went and specced into tech...which I'm not doing)

Warehouse - Eh, doing all three bugs isn't so bad anyway. They're not that far out of the way. Also - the jammer is EMPable so I'll just keep doing that. You have to wait until the door opens anyway!

Assassination Plans - I've started FFing the dialogue with Mina. The door takes a while to open - and it may be a tight squeeze between the guards but I'll try it for sure in a run. The EMP > door may be faster - but I don't know about cinema.

Omen Deng - Eh, I'll pass thanks.

Safehouse - I've started using "Get Out" - however if mid rep is easier...I could probably blast some innocents on the Plans (Subway) level.

Graybox Finale - HOLY CRAP THAT IS AMAZING. WILL BE USING. HOLY CRAP. YES. YES. YESSSSSSS.

But seriously, that is amazing. It's so obvious but so hidden. Hopefully I can blast it in one and save even more time. <3 you so much.

So overall - yeah, thanks. Hopefully I'll be able to scrape out a deathless run soon - might switch Rome for Moscow - it seems to save some time. However no Brilliance for Marburg could be problematic...we'll sort something out! :)

Softman25

Edit history:

Softman25: 2013-01-06 06:52:06 am

2013-01-06 06:51:35 am

Alright...this is just...it. New PR is 1:48:07

EDIT: http://www.twitch.tv/softman25/b/354550634

- Only deaths were on the Stryker (I shot a missile into my face) and 2 on the helicopter. (One of those was shooting a missile into my face.) However I made a save file on the heli - so I can practice it now. The fuel tank/missile launchers seem to be the best places to aim - as they are hard to miss. I tri-missiled the copter on the third try.
- I still went Moscow>Rome>Taipai. The cutscene in Rome may save like...10 seconds. And even then - you would end up with no brilliance for Marburg and a harder Embassy! Dear god the thing is hard enough man!
- I blasted away at the Marines in the Embassy. It's a little trickier but the ones just before Surkov despawn if you can reach him. In my PB - the marine was fighting a VCI - so perfect distraction!
- Sorry - but the neutral Mina conversation (Before Graybox) is 3:20 - whereas the high rep "Get Out" is 2:27. It's a huge difference. If you're worried about civs in Taipai - in the Grand Hotel you can shoot once or twice then punch to death - doesn't count against you - chain shot with Tranqs for the NSB dudes - then in the Subway you can do the shoot-punch thing. It seems to work.
- Going to Heck for the spiked coke...worth it. So badly worth it. Besides the Neutral Mina - every one of your strats was dead on perfect. Door in the subway etc. Cheers again!

I don't really have any new strats to share. Only one I've come up with is the damn cinema thing in the Shaheed level. I feel a bit bad leeching so many strats off you! :S

In summary though, I'm really looking forward to seeing what you come up with NMS! Smiley

Alright...this is just...it. New PR is [b]1:48:07[/b]

EDIT: [url]http://www.twitch.tv/softman25/b/354550634[/url]

- Only deaths were on the Stryker (I shot a missile into my face) and 2 on the helicopter. (One of those was shooting a missile into my face.) However I made a save file on the heli - so I can practice it now. The fuel tank/missile launchers seem to be the best places to aim - as they are hard to miss. I tri-missiled the copter on the third try.
- I still went Moscow>Rome>Taipai. The cutscene in Rome may save like...10 seconds. And even then - you would end up with no brilliance for Marburg and a harder Embassy! Dear god the thing is hard enough man!
- I blasted away at the Marines in the Embassy. It's a little trickier but the ones just before Surkov despawn if you can reach him. In my PB - the marine was fighting a VCI - so perfect distraction!
- Sorry - but the neutral Mina conversation (Before Graybox) is 3:20 - whereas the high rep "Get Out" is 2:27. It's a huge difference. If you're worried about civs in Taipai - in the Grand Hotel you can shoot once or twice then punch to death - doesn't count against you - chain shot with Tranqs for the NSB dudes - then in the Subway you can do the shoot-punch thing. It seems to work.
- Going to Heck for the spiked coke...worth it. So badly worth it. Besides the Neutral Mina - every one of your strats was dead on perfect. Door in the subway etc. Cheers again!

I don't really have any new strats to share. Only one I've come up with is the damn cinema thing in the Shaheed level. I feel a bit bad leeching so many strats off you! :S

In summary though, I'm really looking forward to seeing what you come up with NMS! :)

NMS

Edit history:

NMS: 2013-01-07 08:43:03 pm

2013-01-07 03:57:54 pm

Ok, the problem with Mina is that you picked the Dossier option, which is a lot slower in that version. If you pick one of the other ones, it's within a couple seconds of the high rep version with "Get out".

Edit: Did a run myself tonight. I got a little under 1:51, counting loads but not the part where it kept crashing and I had to watch a cutcene repeatedly. Apparently I was trying to go from Rome to Moscow too quickly after defeating Marburg.

Other major issues:

I ran out of EMPs on Intercept Shaheed. I need to recount where I'm using them and maybe make an extra trip to the clearinghouse.

I totally missed the al-Samad Lieutenant with Chain Shot. The guys on the ground ran away for some reason, so I had trouble using Chain Shot while getting hit. I thought I could see well enough, but apparently not.

I failed to hit the shower button soon enough when entering the Taipei safehouse and wasn't able to skip the end of the dialog.

I died 4 times: Marburg's villa (using Room Sweep too early and getting blocked in the doorway leading back inside by the two elites), the Museum (failing to use a medkit and getting gunned down by the turrets), Marburg (Chain Shot didn't kill him the first time but did the second time even though it did the same amount of damage), and Moscow Embassy (failing to use a medkit on the way to the computer). The first two might also have had something to do with not having any points in Toughness yet, but I think it's manageable with better planning.

I forgot to buy the tainted cocaine.

I beat the helicopter on my first try, but it took four missiles due to bad shooting and I had to spend a while hiding in the building because I was hit so much and ran out of medkits. I ought to add more to my inventory after I get the extra slot from Technical Aptitude. Maybe I could do it automatically by picking up the one at the end of Ruins Transmission.

Also, I'm going to have to return the computer I'm borrowing in the next few days, so if I don't finish a run before then, I'd have to switch to a lower resolution and frame rate.

Ok, the problem with Mina is that you picked the Dossier option, which is a lot slower in that version. If you pick one of the other ones, it's within a couple seconds of the high rep version with "Get out".

Edit: Did a run myself tonight. I got a little under 1:51, counting loads but not the part where it kept crashing and I had to watch a cutcene repeatedly. Apparently I was trying to go from Rome to Moscow too quickly after defeating Marburg.

Other major issues:

I ran out of EMPs on Intercept Shaheed. I need to recount where I'm using them and maybe make an extra trip to the clearinghouse.

I totally missed the al-Samad Lieutenant with Chain Shot. The guys on the ground ran away for some reason, so I had trouble using Chain Shot while getting hit. I thought I could see well enough, but apparently not.

I failed to hit the shower button soon enough when entering the Taipei safehouse and wasn't able to skip the end of the dialog.

I died 4 times: Marburg's villa (using Room Sweep too early and getting blocked in the doorway leading back inside by the two elites), the Museum (failing to use a medkit and getting gunned down by the turrets), Marburg (Chain Shot didn't kill him the first time but did the second time even though it did the same amount of damage), and Moscow Embassy (failing to use a medkit on the way to the computer). The first two might also have had something to do with not having any points in Toughness yet, but I think it's manageable with better planning.

I forgot to buy the tainted cocaine.

I beat the helicopter on my first try, but it took four missiles due to bad shooting and I had to spend a while hiding in the building because I was hit so much and ran out of medkits. I ought to add more to my inventory after I get the extra slot from Technical Aptitude. Maybe I could do it automatically by picking up the one at the end of Ruins Transmission.

Also, I'm going to have to return the computer I'm borrowing in the next few days, so if I don't finish a run before then, I'd have to switch to a lower resolution and frame rate.

Softman25

2013-01-07 11:30:08 pm

1:51 with that much crap...that's really neat.

OK - not picking dossier is the trick...alright. I'll remember that.

I'm not sure how much time doing Rome first saves...but I'd love to know. I think it's only about 10-15 seconds in regards to that Warehouse cutscene. I mean with that many deaths - 1:51 seems like a dream run. I had 1:53 with three deaths! Although I guess I also had 1:48 with three deaths so go figure. I guess I have to ask - how smooth was the run in general?

Also - I'm not sure about Room Sweep. I haven't used it and really never felt I needed it except maybe Brayko...is it worth the 15AP? Also - where would I cut out AP? Right now I believe that until the end of the run when I'm flush with AP out every orifice - my skill route is down to the point.

A trick in Marburg's villa - I have chain shot 5 by then so I chain shot the turret and one elite - slips me by every time! I guess you don't have that - but chain shot three works as well - just put all three in the turret and pop another round in for the kill. Turrets are way worse than guards!

With the Al-Samad Lt. - just use the pistols critical marker to gauge his head - sometimes I just don't get hit and do that. It works in a pinch.

Also - on a humorous side note - if for whatever reason you mess up the Stryker fight - just rush with the pistol! I did that last night and it is legit! Tongue

To be honest with you - I've been streaming the last couple of nights recording - with the intention of submitting. (Assuming I get a dream run. I had two last night that failed...one the game crashed on Embassy and the other I missed the Al Bara shot. Protip - the banister will happily screw you over!)

I'm going to ask - do you think you can beat 1:45? I ask this because that's where my run is headed - assuming a dream run. (I died three times - plenty of sloppy. I was a minute up at Embassy in one failed run - that allows 50 seconds back on the Mina cutscene - and about a minute thirty back on the heli - assuming a good kill) My apologies if I'm being forward, I ask this because I don't want to bust my knackers out getting a properly recorded run if you think you can whip my ass. I mean I'll still run the game till I'm happy with it - I can just have mates on Skype and have a really good time with it! Tongue

1:51 with that much crap...that's really neat.

OK - not picking dossier is the trick...alright. I'll remember that.

I'm not sure how much time doing Rome first saves...but I'd love to know. I think it's only about 10-15 seconds in regards to that Warehouse cutscene. I mean with that many deaths - 1:51 seems like a dream run. I had 1:53 with three deaths! Although I guess I also had 1:48 with three deaths so go figure. I guess I have to ask - how smooth was the run in general?

Also - I'm not sure about Room Sweep. I haven't used it and really never felt I needed it except maybe Brayko...is it worth the 15AP? Also - where would I cut out AP? Right now I believe that until the end of the run when I'm flush with AP out every orifice - my skill route is down to the point.

A trick in Marburg's villa - I have chain shot 5 by then so I chain shot the turret and one elite - slips me by every time! I guess you don't have that - but chain shot three works as well - just put all three in the turret and pop another round in for the kill. Turrets are way worse than guards!

With the Al-Samad Lt. - just use the pistols critical marker to gauge his head - sometimes I just don't get hit and do that. It works in a pinch.

Also - on a humorous side note - if for whatever reason you mess up the Stryker fight - just rush with the pistol! I did that last night and it is legit! :P

To be honest with you - I've been streaming the last couple of nights recording - with the intention of submitting. (Assuming I get a dream run. I had two last night that failed...one the game crashed on Embassy and the other I missed the Al Bara shot. Protip - the banister will happily screw you over!)

I'm going to ask - do you think you can beat 1:45? I ask this because that's where my run is headed - assuming a dream run. (I died three times - plenty of sloppy. I was a minute up at Embassy in one failed run - that allows 50 seconds back on the Mina cutscene - and about a minute thirty back on the heli - assuming a good kill) My apologies if I'm being forward, I ask this because I don't want to bust my knackers out getting a properly recorded run if you think you can whip my ass. I mean I'll still run the game till I'm happy with it - I can just have mates on Skype and have a really good time with it! :P

NMS

Edit history:

NMS: 2013-01-08 02:28:07 am

2013-01-08 02:22:53 am

I feel like it went pretty well other than the things I mentioned. I got meleed here and there, the end of Ruins Transmission could have been better, Westridge's minigun blew up the fuel tank and knocked me down, the usual. I'll encode this one overnight and put it on YouTube or something.

I think we're probably looking at pretty comparable times. We could both start serious attempts and whoever gets a really solid one first can submit, or you could wait and see if I get one in the next couple days.

The difference in the warehouse cutscene is only a few seconds. I like Rome first anyway so I can stop worrying about how many suave choices I'm making, plus I'd rather be higher level for Moscow, but it's not a big deal.

Thanks for the advice, too. I should probably use Chain Shot in a few more places, but I need to decide where it's worthwhile so I can switch weapons ahead of time. I'm liking having Room Sweep for most of the game, but I also don't put any points in melee, so there are definitely trade-offs.

For al-Barra, I try to line up a shot that I'm confident will go between the bannisters, but if I can't before he appears, I'll just aim above the railing and wait for him to walk a bit farther.

I feel like it went pretty well other than the things I mentioned. I got meleed here and there, the end of Ruins Transmission could have been better, Westridge's minigun blew up the fuel tank and knocked me down, the usual. I'll encode this one overnight and put it on YouTube or something.

I think we're probably looking at pretty comparable times. We could both start serious attempts and whoever gets a really solid one first can submit, or you could wait and see if I get one in the next couple days.

The difference in the warehouse cutscene is only a few seconds. I like Rome first anyway so I can stop worrying about how many suave choices I'm making, plus I'd rather be higher level for Moscow, but it's not a big deal.

Thanks for the advice, too. I should probably use Chain Shot in a few more places, but I need to decide where it's worthwhile so I can switch weapons ahead of time. I'm liking having Room Sweep for most of the game, but I also don't put any points in melee, so there are definitely trade-offs.

For al-Barra, I try to line up a shot that I'm confident will go between the bannisters, but if I can't before he appears, I'll just aim above the railing and wait for him to walk a bit farther.

Softman25

2013-01-08 02:44:57 am

Chain shot is the best thing in the game - period. I'm just saying! XD

Any scene with turrets where you can't just leg it through - I chain shot. Pretty much a rule.

Also - I think I came across I thing in the game earlier - which may or may not be useful - or already known about. I was in the Graybox at the end and used Steel Core rounds on Darcy as usual - leaving me 7 for Westridge - more than enough. I went through, loaded Steels again before the load screen for Westridge - and it gave me a full mag - even though I had none in reserve. I don't think this will help me - but if you're doing Marburg early - if you can pick up some Steelys and abuse the full clip thing - it could help. He's a bitch without huge amounts of Chain Shot. (Like I have :P)

I'll let this forum know as soon as I get a good run - so we'll see what happens after tonight. I say in b4 Embassy crash, heli troll, Al bara troll, turret troll, EMP kit troll, all the trolls in trollville, trollville infinity etc.

NMS

Edit history:

NMS: 2013-01-08 11:52:04 pm

2013-01-08 11:37:20 pm

Just got a bit under 1:48 real time. Sorry I haven't been able to show you a run, but I don't feel like getting streaming set up and Anri sometimes fails in the middle of encoding.

Still 4 deaths, but in different places:
-In Moscow Embassy on the way to Surkov I was hit by the explosion and the VCI shotgunned and turreted me to death.
-Then after reloading I felt like I needed Room Sweep to get past the marines, so I used Brilliance before the hard parts on the third floor, Chain Shot to get into the computer room and on the way to the stairwell there were 4 guys waiting for me in the room with the double doors and all my abilities were on cooldown. Neither of those things has ever happened to me before. I can see why reloading there could help.
-In Brayko's arcade I got meleed from behind just as I was about to shoot the guy in front of me and it went downhill from there. I usually don't have trouble there, but I guess it's worth popping Room Sweep for safety and to save damage.
-In Infiltrate Alpha Protocol I got shot up on the way from the computer to Parker's room.

I also had to reset the second stage of al-Barra because I kept missing the first guy and he got out of my range. Marburg didn't die to Chain Shot, but I finished him with the shotgun. I realized that the first stage ends when he reaches 1/3, so a tiny bit of damage before or after the Chain Shot seems to be enough (maybe the times when it works in my plan are because he's been hit by friendly fire?). Omen didn't quite die to Chain Shot, but I immediately finished him with one more unaimed pistol shot. And Darcy didn't die either. That was costly. I guess the last two are because I put a bunch of points in Toughness but didn't get Master Chain Shot. I guess the fastest thing is to stop at 3 Toughness. Total, these deaths and errors cost me over 3 minutes.

On the other hand, the helicopter went nicely. Two missiles and three shotgun blasts. And I headshotted guys really quickly on Graybox. The pistol may actually be more accurate unaimed. Against enemies who are standing up, it fires at just the right height.

I'm actually thinking that if we're going to use checkpoint resets, it's worth using a lot of them. On top of resetting ability cooldowns and starting your Endurance recharging, I'm pretty sure it refills your sprint. After taking out load times, that might make it worth using at practically every checkpoint. The issue is knowing where they are, since the notification may not appear right away. For the same reason, it would be hard to time correctly. You might get the time between the actual checkpoint and the notification or opening the menu included. EDIT: I guess it doesn't actually refill your sprint, it just recharges some during the loading, the same as Endurance. So it's maybe not worth resetting just for that.

Just got a bit under 1:48 real time. Sorry I haven't been able to show you a run, but I don't feel like getting streaming set up and Anri sometimes fails in the middle of encoding.

Still 4 deaths, but in different places:
-In Moscow Embassy on the way to Surkov I was hit by the explosion and the VCI shotgunned and turreted me to death.
-Then after reloading I felt like I needed Room Sweep to get past the marines, so I used Brilliance before the hard parts on the third floor, Chain Shot to get into the computer room and on the way to the stairwell there were 4 guys waiting for me in the room with the double doors and all my abilities were on cooldown. Neither of those things has ever happened to me before. I can see why reloading there could help.
-In Brayko's arcade I got meleed from behind just as I was about to shoot the guy in front of me and it went downhill from there. I usually don't have trouble there, but I guess it's worth popping Room Sweep for safety and to save damage.
-In Infiltrate Alpha Protocol I got shot up on the way from the computer to Parker's room.

I also had to reset the second stage of al-Barra because I kept missing the first guy and he got out of my range. Marburg didn't die to Chain Shot, but I finished him with the shotgun. I realized that the first stage ends when he reaches 1/3, so a tiny bit of damage before or after the Chain Shot seems to be enough (maybe the times when it works in my plan are because he's been hit by friendly fire?). Omen didn't quite die to Chain Shot, but I immediately finished him with one more unaimed pistol shot. And Darcy didn't die either. That was costly. I guess the last two are because I put a bunch of points in Toughness but didn't get Master Chain Shot. I guess the fastest thing is to stop at 3 Toughness. Total, these deaths and errors cost me over 3 minutes.

On the other hand, the helicopter went nicely. Two missiles and three shotgun blasts. And I headshotted guys really quickly on Graybox. The pistol may actually be more accurate unaimed. Against enemies who are standing up, it fires at just the right height.

I'm actually thinking that if we're going to use checkpoint resets, it's worth using a lot of them. On top of resetting ability cooldowns and starting your Endurance recharging, I'm pretty sure it refills your sprint. After taking out load times, that might make it worth using at practically every checkpoint. The issue is knowing where they are, since the notification may not appear right away. For the same reason, it would be hard to time correctly. You might get the time between the actual checkpoint and the notification or opening the menu included. EDIT: I guess it doesn't actually refill your sprint, it just recharges some during the loading, the same as Endurance. So it's maybe not worth resetting just for that.

Softman25

Edit history:

Softman25: 2013-01-09 05:00:37 am

2013-01-09 12:40:16 am

Yeah - reloading helps - and you forgot about item cooldowns. You can pop an extra F-Aid for the tricky bits. However the main place I ever need "help" like that so to speak is the Embassy - so it's the only place I use it.

I'd agree 100% with getting Tough 3 only. It's really the most useful out of it - and Master Chain shot is pretty much the best thing ever.

I'm going to try tonight to get the first Room Sweep - primarily for the Embassy but could be useful in other places - such as Brayko and the like. Hopefully I should be able to get some better times - because you are definitely going faster than me just in general. 1:48 with 4 deaths - and a couple of those seem bad - is insane to the max. We'll see what happens when my run actually comes through though!

(For the record - last night's runs were troll to the max. Every run I did just sucked harder than the last...then I figured I was running Fraps in 30FPS slowing me down heaps. That helped - then I just got trolled hard by the fact I'm bad. #Toinghtsthenight? :P)

And don't worry about showing me a run if it's going to be a pain in the ass - I'd rather waste time failing more runs. Tongue

Edit - Embassy troll x 2 and then the bannister for the Samad Lt. trolled me. Had no viewers and no one to talk to so I went to watch AGDQ. #Tomorrow'sthenight?

Yeah - reloading helps - and you forgot about item cooldowns. You can pop an extra F-Aid for the tricky bits. However the main place I ever need "help" like that so to speak is the Embassy - so it's the only place I use it.

I'd agree 100% with getting Tough 3 only. It's really the most useful out of it - and Master Chain shot is pretty much the best thing ever.

I'm going to try tonight to get the first Room Sweep - primarily for the Embassy but could be useful in other places - such as Brayko and the like. Hopefully I should be able to get some better times - because you are definitely going faster than me just in general. 1:48 with 4 deaths - and a couple of those seem bad - is insane to the max. We'll see what happens when my run actually comes through though!

(For the record - last night's runs were troll to the max. Every run I did just sucked harder than the last...then I figured I was running Fraps in 30FPS slowing me down heaps. That helped - then I just got trolled hard by the fact I'm bad. #Toinghtsthenight? :P)

And don't worry about showing me a run if it's going to be a pain in the ass - I'd rather waste time failing more runs. :P

[i]Edit - Embassy troll x 2 and then the bannister for the Samad Lt. trolled me. Had no viewers and no one to talk to so I went to watch AGDQ. #Tomorrow'sthenight? :P[/i]

Softman25

2013-01-11 06:56:22 am

If I was to submit - this would be the kind of beginning I would want.

http://www.twitch.tv/softman25/c/1829140

I got mobbed and trolled hard on Lazo's boat though...so I died - reset...But seriously - #sub6prologue!

In the prologue - the bit where you have to kill the two dudes - I think that if you shoot one of the dudes while he's in the doorway - the door will stay open. It would be a lucky shot but save a little time.

I'm not sure if I've ever discussed the lockpick glitch. In the tutorial for the lockpick - if you mash left click on the "start lockpick" button - sometimes - the game will instantly abort your pick but open the door. It makes sure you don't have to actually do the pick - but I haven't found a way to make it consistent - it just kinda...sometimes happens and sometimes doesn't.

Also - I'm being trolled by AI recently more than before - so I dunno. I think that I can pull out a good run - I just have to keep F. Aid equipped and use them a little more liberally than I do now. My luck has been poor but my times are getting constantly better...so hopefully I'll be posting a full run soon enough!

P.S. Are you using an SSD for the game NMS? Just being curious. Smiley

If I was to submit - this would be the kind of beginning I would want.

[url]http://www.twitch.tv/softman25/c/1829140[/url]

I got mobbed and trolled hard on Lazo's boat though...so I died - reset...But seriously - #sub6prologue!

In the prologue - the bit where you have to kill the two dudes - I think that if you shoot one of the dudes while he's in the doorway - the door will stay open. It would be a lucky shot but save a little time.

I'm not sure if I've ever discussed the lockpick glitch. In the tutorial for the lockpick - if you mash left click on the "start lockpick" button - sometimes - the game will instantly abort your pick but open the door. It makes sure you don't have to actually do the pick - but I haven't found a way to make it consistent - it just kinda...sometimes happens and sometimes doesn't.

Also - I'm being trolled by AI recently more than before - so I dunno. I think that I can pull out a good run - I just have to keep F. Aid equipped and use them a little more liberally than I do now. My luck has been poor but my times are getting constantly better...so hopefully I'll be posting a full run soon enough!

P.S. Are you using an SSD for the game NMS? Just being curious. :)

NMS

Edit history:

NMS: 2013-01-11 07:01:45 pm

2013-01-11 06:57:54 pm

That was a great start. Right after Lazo is definitely one of the places I'm glad to have Room Sweep. Bear in mind you can open the mission selection screen with "m". You can also close most menus with right click and select the default choice in some with space bar. And there are stairs leading back up to the door out of the truck bay in Graybox.

The lockpick glitch happened to me once too, but I couldn't figure out why.

I was using a borrowed computer with an SSD, but I had to return it yesterday. I'll see how well recording works on mine.

On the upside, I figured out why I wasn't able to encode before - the audio sample rate was too high for the programs Anri-chan calls. I found a workaround and I'm encoding my 1:48ish run now.

And it seems like weapon accuracy is actually the same whether you're aiming or not.

Softman25

Edit history:

Softman25: 2013-01-12 12:04:59 am

Softman25: 2013-01-12 12:03:05 am

Softman25: 2013-01-11 11:36:36 pm

Softman25: 2013-01-11 11:35:01 pm

2013-01-11 07:44:00 pm

Damn - stairs? I've never even seen them...but when I think of the layout...it's so obvious. Once you've said it though!

Also - the fact you were using an SSD kinda explains why your real time was better than mine even with that many deaths. I'm only using an HDD to do it. So you gain with an SSD, some unfigured time in load times. I'll watch your run and see if I can kinda figure out how much.

Also - if I go through areas too quickly (yeah I know right) the next area will have to load and I get a "mini" load screen. (Screen frozen and AP logo in bottom right corner) So you might gain time on that as well, I dunno. I think that a smooth deathless run is what we're looking for in general.

Weapon accuracy seems to be the same...interesting. I wouldn't disagree but having crosshairs certainly helps with aiming.

Alright, #tonightsthenight? Tongue

EDIT: Turns out I can't record the game. Using ANY video recording software - in the transitional load from Rome> Taipei - the game will crash. I was 2 minutes up on my splits just then, probably looking at a low 1:43, and the game crashed with Fraps. Tried again with Dxtory just to do the transition, and it crashed again. So it looks like I have to move on from this game, at least in regards to submitting. I'm still going to try get the best time I can, but I can't submit because I can't record the damn thing. Ball's in your court NMS.

EDIT 2: Perhaps I could do Taipai when I'm there for Heck? It doesn't crash then. Is there a reason why I shouldn't? What I'd do is go over to Taipei - and just do the entire Taipei, then after that, go to Rome, then finish Moscow. It would be dodgy as hell, but I could record. (I'd also have Chain Shot 5 and Brilliance for Brayko - which would speed up the fight even more. (I'd kill him when he's on the ground)

Damn - stairs? I've never even seen them...but when I think of the layout...it's so obvious. Once you've said it though!

Also - the fact you were using an SSD kinda explains why your real time was better than mine even with that many deaths. I'm only using an HDD to do it. So you gain with an SSD, some unfigured time in load times. I'll watch your run and see if I can kinda figure out how much.

Also - if I go through areas too quickly (yeah I know right) the next area will have to load and I get a "mini" load screen. (Screen frozen and AP logo in bottom right corner) So you might gain time on that as well, I dunno. I think that a smooth deathless run is what we're looking for in general.

Weapon accuracy seems to be the same...interesting. I wouldn't disagree but having crosshairs certainly helps with aiming.

Alright, #tonightsthenight? :P

EDIT: Turns out I can't record the game. Using ANY video recording software - in the transitional load from Rome> Taipei - the game will crash. I was 2 minutes up on my splits just then, probably looking at a low 1:43, and the game crashed with Fraps. Tried again with Dxtory just to do the transition, and it crashed again. So it looks like I have to move on from this game, at least in regards to submitting. I'm still going to try get the best time I can, but I can't submit because I can't record the damn thing. Ball's in your court NMS.

EDIT 2: Perhaps I could do Taipai when I'm there for Heck? It doesn't crash then. Is there a reason why I shouldn't? What I'd do is go over to Taipei - and just do the entire Taipei, then after that, go to Rome, then finish Moscow. It would be dodgy as hell, but I could record. (I'd also have Chain Shot 5 and Brilliance for Brayko - which would speed up the fight even more. (I'd kill him when he's on the ground)

NMS

Edit history:

NMS: 2013-01-12 12:28:38 am

2013-01-12 12:25:32 am

Are you sure the difference is whether you're recording or not? I had an issue with crashing after Rome and I think it had something to do with having leveled up but the skills screen not having appeared yet. I waited for that to come up after the fade in and it worked.

The only major reason to do Moscow first is the roughly one minute cutscene with Albatross after Investigate Warehouse District Data Trail.

Softman25

Edit history:

Softman25: 2013-01-12 12:38:10 am

2013-01-12 12:27:41 am

Oh bollocks...

Well - you've fixed my problems I think - I'm going to try that and then edit this post here.

EDIT: Genius. Can't really say how much I'm grateful that you mentioned that. It wasn't even having to level up - but I need to let the fade in go - otherwise it crashes...The route is back to normal - here's hoping for another run tonight!

NMS

2013-01-12 03:28:28 am

My best run should be on YouTube in about 4 hours.

In addition to the stuff I mentioned before, the end of Ruins Transmission was awful and the end of Moscow Embassy could have been better with Brilliance and a second Chain Shot.

Softman25

Edit history:

Softman25: 2013-01-12 05:13:07 am

2013-01-12 05:12:52 am

OK - I got a deathless and (mostly) screw-up-less run. The time - 1:44:21

http://www.twitch.tv/softman25/b/356270871

In my opinion - there were 2 main screw ups in the run.

- I missed two missiles on the heli - costing maybe 15-20 seconds. I then had to chain shot the heli...so eh. It wasn't too bad though.
- The Westridge fight made me want to kill myself - I lost 34 seconds. However, it wasn't so bad.

Overall, the run was really good. Things were pretty optimised and all that. Embassy could have been better but it could have been much worse. Other things were a little eh, but nothing noteworthy that I can specifically remember, besides as above. The main thing I'm proud of is the deathless and failless nature of the run. It's taken me ages and ages to do it, but I did it.

Show me your moves NMS. Smiley

Softman25

Edit history:

Softman25: 2013-01-17 10:45:57 pm

Softman25: 2013-01-16 05:58:36 pm

2013-01-14 08:23:52 pm

Hey NMS - I've started to watch your run that you put on Youtube. Due to my limited internet quota - I just flicked through a couple of levels, but I'll watch it fully tomorrow - and edit this post with full notes. But in the meantime - here's what I have so far. I'm going to give notes assuming that you haven't thought about anything - so you'll probably read most of it any think "Yeah I know" - my brain just works better if I put everything down! Smiley

(I'll use abbreviations for Chain Shot and Room Sweep and all the other stuff... CS=Chain Shot, RS=Room Sweep etc etc)

Intercept Shaheed:

- Some of your uses of RS would be more suited to CS. For example - in the air control tower thingy, you use RS up the top, but you take more time than if you were to just blow them away with a couple of headshots.
- That left route isn't as bad as I thought! Nice Cutscene Skip by the way.
- Nice Lt. fight, but I'd use the right click "zoom" thingy just to line up the shot a little easier.
- That's a dangerous missile launcher strat! Probably a little faster - but damn risky!

Moscow Embassy:

- When exiting the elevator, you run through the marines into the explosion. I'd hang back a little just to make sure it doesn't get you.
- This level is the reason I'm not a big fan of RS. The problem is that you can't really get kills, just knockdowns. Also, when bad dudes are knocked down, their hitbox is messed up. You get screwed by this a couple of times.
- As you said, reloading in THAT SPOT is a real help. The three guys that ganged you is the exact reason I reload. I have enough trouble with that section while those bastards aren't there!
- During the protect - you use RS to knock down a couple of dudes but keep shooting. I'd probably just stomp them. It's much more effective. However the overall nature of the protect was pretty solid. Having CS 5 there is a huge time saver.

Again, I'll edit this tomorrow with full notes.

EDIT: Sorry, life has decided to be an ass to me. I'll do this..tomorrow...I hope. EDIT 2: One more day...stupid life.

Hey NMS - I've started to watch your run that you put on Youtube. Due to my limited internet quota - I just flicked through a couple of levels, but I'll watch it fully tomorrow - and edit this post with full notes. But in the meantime - here's what I have so far. I'm going to give notes assuming that you haven't thought about anything - so you'll probably read most of it any think "Yeah I know" - my brain just works better if I put everything down! :) (I'll use abbreviations for Chain Shot and Room Sweep and all the other stuff... CS=Chain Shot, RS=Room Sweep etc etc)

Intercept Shaheed:

- Some of your uses of RS would be more suited to CS. For example - in the air control tower thingy, you use RS up the top, but you take more time than if you were to just blow them away with a couple of headshots.
- That left route isn't as bad as I thought! Nice Cutscene Skip by the way.
- Nice Lt. fight, but I'd use the right click "zoom" thingy just to line up the shot a little easier.
- That's a dangerous missile launcher strat! Probably a little faster - but damn risky!

Moscow Embassy:

- When exiting the elevator, you run through the marines into the explosion. I'd hang back a little just to make sure it doesn't get you.
- This level is the reason I'm not a big fan of RS. The problem is that you can't really get kills, just knockdowns. Also, when bad dudes are knocked down, their hitbox is messed up. You get screwed by this a couple of times.
- As you said, reloading in THAT SPOT is a real help. The three guys that ganged you is the exact reason I reload. I have enough trouble with that section while those bastards aren't there!
- During the protect - you use RS to knock down a couple of dudes but keep shooting. I'd probably just stomp them. It's much more effective. However the overall nature of the protect was pretty solid. Having CS 5 there is a huge time saver.

[i]Again, I'll edit this tomorrow with full notes.[/i]

[i]EDIT: Sorry, life has decided to be an ass to me. I'll do this..tomorrow...I hope. EDIT 2: One more day...stupid life.[/i]

NMS

2013-01-18 11:16:08 pm

Unfortunately this game just can't run smoothly enough on my laptop for me to keep running it right now. I have been considering getting myself a gaming desktop though.

I agree there are some places where Room Sweep often leaves guys lying in the way. It's riskier in general than killing guys, but faster when used properly. That guy in the control tower is annoying. If you can get him to move, you can run past and EMP the computer, but usually he just stands and shoots, so Chain Shot is probably best.

I realized CS is also amazing for the end of Moscow Embassy. The guys seem to spawn as fast as they're killed, so CS, Brilliance, CS should probably do it.

And I might have found a slightly quicker route for Bug al-Samad Airfield. In the hangar right after the machine gun tower, if you climb the ladder and go out the door, you drop down right by the back entrance to the control tower. It only takes about 20 seconds to run there, so it's probably not much faster, but it's worth checking.

Regarding starting classes, Tech Specialist starts with 4 EMPs, which does save a clearinghouse trip. And he does start with shotgun and pistol equipped. But it's the UC .73 gauge, which has terrible accuracy and recoil control compared to the Hamilton 12 gauge that other classes start with. So it's still effective at point blank range, but basically useless otherwise. I'm used to shooting enemies from a bit farther away sometimes to stagger them or kill them in 2 shots, but that's totally ineffective with that shotgun.

Unfortunately this game just can't run smoothly enough on my laptop for me to keep running it right now. I have been considering getting myself a gaming desktop though.

I agree there are some places where Room Sweep often leaves guys lying in the way. It's riskier in general than killing guys, but faster when used properly. That guy in the control tower is annoying. If you can get him to move, you can run past and EMP the computer, but usually he just stands and shoots, so Chain Shot is probably best.

I realized CS is also amazing for the end of Moscow Embassy. The guys seem to spawn as fast as they're killed, so CS, Brilliance, CS should probably do it.

And I might have found a slightly quicker route for Bug al-Samad Airfield. In the hangar right after the machine gun tower, if you climb the ladder and go out the door, you drop down right by the back entrance to the control tower. It only takes about 20 seconds to run there, so it's probably not much faster, but it's worth checking.

Regarding starting classes, Tech Specialist starts with 4 EMPs, which does save a clearinghouse trip. And he does start with shotgun and pistol equipped. But it's the UC .73 gauge, which has terrible accuracy and recoil control compared to the Hamilton 12 gauge that other classes start with. So it's still effective at point blank range, but basically useless otherwise. I'm used to shooting enemies from a bit farther away sometimes to stagger them or kill them in 2 shots, but that's totally ineffective with that shotgun.

Softman25

Edit history:

Softman25: 2013-01-19 08:19:37 am

Softman25: 2013-01-19 08:19:26 am

2013-01-19 01:08:46 am

OK - I'll still post the notes (above) but if this is the case, I'll submit my run.

Maybe by the time you get a desktop - you'll have broken the game in half! Tongue

EDIT: I've done the notes up to (the end of) Rome, and will finish tomorrow. Sorry for taking so damn long...but yeah, I've just been doing plenty of stuff which means I can't watch a 1:45 video while making notes!

Softman25

Edit history:

Softman25: 2013-01-20 06:27:23 am

2013-01-20 06:26:42 am

I'm just going to put the notes here, instead of editing. I re did both the levels I already put, I was in the mindset, so eh.

A disclaimer as above, I just wrote down everything, so you'll probably read and just be "yeah I know". There's a lot of redundant crap as well, but I think some of it is useful. I hope! I was also writing most of these notes past midnight - so yeah...forgive any spelling errors or stuff that just sounds stupid.

OK, here are the notes, finally.

CHARACTER CHOICE / SKILLS:

- As discussed...Soldier is eh. Interesting choice of skills, 2 on shotguns early does allow you RS though so I can't argue.

PROLOGUE:

- Interesting that you get a black screen with Mina...never happened to me.
- First guard illustrates why having Martial Arts is great.
- Nice bypass Smiley

- Nice kills on the two guys in the big room - very nice.
- Dangerous CS strat before the hack, I would go to the side tbh.
- That hack man...gotta improve those skillz!
- Standard fare for the rest of it, nothing noteworthy.

BUG AL SAMAD AIRFIELD:

- Having to equip other weapons...ewwww Tongue

Also, clearinghouse Tongue

Just as a note, I seem to be able to click around the menus at least twice as fast, so yeah, not saying anything, but I am if you know what I'm saying.- Try to go around that first camera, it spawns an extra dude who has rushed me in the past, it's annoying tbh.
- Should try to sabotage the weapons, free +1 with Mina for about .5 second loss.
- Use CS for the guard up top. It just...works. I'll assume you know he despawns if you get him off the console, he just...NEVER...get's away from it! The bastard Tongue

INTERCEPT NASRI:

- First use of RS is for sure worth it.
- Up to dropping into the base, nothing noteworthy, solid play.
- I wouldn't have used RS before the "kill dudes" room. Saving it is worth it imo.
- I would forget about grenades tbh. Way too inconsistent. Just blast away with the shotty. Worked for me. CS use was perfect.

INTERCEPT SHAHEED:

- Another clearinghouse trip! Tongue

- I would consider using CS up top in the tower - or using RS for both guys...the bodies may prove problematic...
- As you exit the building, try bash the door into the dude, it's about 50%, but it shuts that sumabitch down!
- Going left isn't my perfect strat, but it is also 100% consistent. I dunno, it just may be a mite faster tbh.
- Perfect Lt. shot. I would have used F. Aid after for safety, but you lived so I wouldn't complain. Tongue

- Loving that missile launcher path. Risky as balls. Not using F. Aid. during the fight... Too badass for me.

SPECIALISATION:

Choosing your own skills - I never even thought of it. But - it's a damn good plan. Not doing it still works for my progression though, yours however...not so, you need Brill faster than myself for Marburg! Would probably help Brayko for me, but eh, I'll live.

STEVEN HECK:

- Had to put him in as his own point - because if I skip him, he may kill me.

INTERCEPT JIBRIL AL-BARA:

- Oh that fail was hilarious. I'm sorry, but I'll admit, I did laugh.
- Loved that Al-Bara Snap Shot. Too good. Not the fastest, but imo, consistency

is the name of the game on that shot.

INVESTIGATE MARBURG'S MANSION:

- First dudes - another reason to have a little bit of Martial Arts.
- Perfection could result in bashing down the first dude there coming through the door, try it maybe? I never pulled it off!
- LOL at bashing down those two elite guards. I was really wary at your strat for that...until they just...stood there!
- Got a little worried at the end, handled like a smooth operator though.

INVESTIGATE DELIVERY AT WAREHOUSE:

- Nice RS at the beginning.
- "We will see!" worst line of dialogue there... Also, I seem to lose about...6-7 seconds by not doing Rome first...I'll live. I'm cool with it for a little more easy on the Embassy!
- Solid play for the level.

INVESTIGATE RUINS TRANSMISSION:

- Getting knocked down. (Kappa)
- Entire level up to coming out of the catacombs was briliant. Then the guards just start trolling your face off.
- You need to learn the patterns of the guards spawning. It's a huge help - you just pop them with the pistol as they come down AFAIK, from the comm array looking out (front) it's left - right - frontright - left - front - front right (2 at the same time) - left - right...I think. I know the first half if right, can't comment about the second half. However overall it was pretty good, you disposed of them quite soundly.

INTERCEPT MARBURG AT MUSEUM:

- Nice route for the first room - I always went left through the guard! Silly old me.
- Elite load checkpoint strats. <3
- Perfect sprinting past the two turrets. I always screw that up.
- Activate RS before Marburg - hit no one - don't get interupted anyway - too good. Tongue

- I don't know why Marburg didn't go down with that CS. (1st phase)
- Perfect 2nd phase.

MOSCOW SAFEHOUSE:

- Journey just came on my musical shuffle...too good.

LAZLO'S BOAT:

- Yes I know it's Lazo, I mis-typed it in my splits, now it's my joke.
- LOL - nice Lazo kill. Never managed to do that.
- Nice use of the RS - until the dudes started trolling.
- Blew away Sis - 2g. Could have been a little faster, but you won't catch me

complaining.

INTERCEPT SURKOV AT US EMBASSY:

- Our favourite level - am I right? Tongue

- First Marine trolls and hits you - bastard always does that!
- You sprint straight into that explosion! You gotta hold back. IMO - it's what killed you more than the dudes. Not having armour is just a blow.
- Second try against the turrent was just great. Skirted straight past them all, and RS to get past the Marine. Good strat.
- After going up the ladder, nice use of RS, then CS for the turret. Both perfect. Could have been slightly faster, but the safety of the way you did it was well worth it.
- Those three pricks who kill you- the exact reasons why I reload!
- I never knew about that alternate route...I could probably not reload if that's there...GOD DAMN IT. That saves a lot of time.
- Having a high CS level here helps, as you demonstrate.
- RS should have been followed up with stomps, not shotgun shells. Shells don't have the same...punch? (Pun intended)

ASSAULT BRAYKO'S MANSION:

- I love how bad guys can't hurt you or bash you while you're on the rappel.
- Arcade room was definate troll. I've never had that many dudes rush me. It's always 2-3 max at a time. I was always convinced you had to kill them though? I don't know what's up there. He clearly says "Killing them all should solve everything" A reload thing?
- Solid bedroom play, room always trolls me.
- Nice strat for the Albatross room. I always use the shotgun, your way is better I think.
- Just get into the Brayko fight without dying. I honestly thought you were going to take a shotty shell to the back and die!
- Brayko fight is too easy with CS 5 and Brill. Just...too easy.

INVESTIGATE WAREHOUSE DATA TRAIL:

- I think the elevator is a more consistent strat - and faster I think - primarily because of the dude standing in the middle of the stairs.
- You're right, having the "only do 1 bug" thing does help a lot.
- Why does the machine gunner not carve you? He always blows my head off for some reason - you he ignores! Tongue

- Solid play on the exit.

RETREIVE NSB DATA FROM GRAND HOTEL:

- "Hey buddy, do you like those, TV cooking shows?"
- That door trolling your face off - too hilarious.
- You really don't care about these innocent security guards! Good play though, 11/10
- Going straight to the real exit - faster than me by alot...

INTERCEPT ASSASSINATION PLANS:

- These dudes are really trolling on the elevators.
- Wouldn't have used F. Aid when you did, you didn't get winged though and got endurance back, so you were fine. If you winged at all, could have been trouble.
- I always went down...why? I was so convinced you HAD to go down then up to the main subway area. But nope...you can just walk the catwalk...
- Loving all this killing of security guards. You monster. <3
- Going to the door to dodge the train seems to be a little longer, simply because of the cutscene...I don't have a side by side, but it feels longer. Maybe something to test?

STOP OMEN DENG AT MEMORIAL RALLY:

- The bit where you have to clear the "gates" with the turrets, you take it really dangerously. Try use CS back a little, then rush forward. It also displaces the dudes who burst through the door, I find it easier personally. With RS though, it's a little more moot.
- Nice job EMPing the door with the 2 turrets. Always troll that bit.
- I loved the bit on the scaffolding, it was pretty damn smooth. I always end up stopping 86 times to beat dudes up! You stop twice, which is pretty good.
- Deng fight was, as could be expected, pretty much perfect. I love shooting him when he's invisible! Seriously, why is every boss in this game a massive ass pansy.

GRAYBOX 2 - RETURN TO THE GRAYBOX (Facility)

- "The ghost of ass kickings yet to come!" starting this level with RS is great. I can't because I don't have it, but it really does wonders.
- Not chain shotting the turrets in the flooded room is risky, but that F Aid really saved your ass. I'd personally just CS the stuff! Also, that dude on the ladder is an asshole.
- "You've got exactly...not very long to shut em off" - and you do quite well, until the bastards blow your spine out. It was pretty troll. You could have popped F Aid, but it happened so quickly. Good call on RS the second time round, works for that section.
- Parker - the hardest enemy in the game clearly, you took him out well. He actually almost killed me once...only once. Smiley

GRAYBOX 37 - RESURRECTION AND REDEMPTION (Outside/Final Boss)

- "I paid extra for the insurance package!"
- I don't know why Darcy didn't go down in one CS - he does for me...but I also use Steel Cores...so I'm convinced there is a difference. You mop him up decently, missing the second CS was pretty eh, but I choked Westridge in the

same manner so I can't really talk too much smack. Tongue

- That helicopter dude...just...dude. Too good. Another use of RS in action.
- Just after the crashed heli, I'd honestly recommend CS off the bat. Or Brill into RS. Either works as far as I know.
- I still like the quote for Leland better. "Your choice Leland, prison, or you I kill you here."
- Good Westridge. He goes down in one cycle for me though...so...yeah. (Except for...THAT time...)

The main things I would have to say is that your route is superior to mine, but I gain all that time back by just being faster in menus. Ignoring the deaths, I think your time is faster than mine, but you also gain a lot of time in loading screens. (You were running off SSD, I was off HDD) Whereas I may have to wait say, 5 seconds on a load screen, you wait 2. It's not much, but every level...it adds up. Again though, I think your run is just a little faster. If you could record that would be sick. I'll submit my run, but once you get your gaming PC, I've a feeling you'll be erasing my time. Smiley

I'm just going to put the notes here, instead of editing. I re did both the levels I already put, I was in the mindset, so eh.

A disclaimer as above, I just wrote down everything, so you'll probably read and just be "yeah I know". There's a lot of redundant crap as well, but I think some of it is useful. I hope! I was also writing most of these notes past midnight - so yeah...forgive any spelling errors or stuff that just sounds stupid.

OK, here are the notes, finally.

CHARACTER CHOICE / SKILLS:

- As discussed...Soldier is eh. Interesting choice of skills, 2 on shotguns early does allow you RS though so I can't argue.

PROLOGUE:

- Interesting that you get a black screen with Mina...never happened to me.
- First guard illustrates why having Martial Arts is great.
- Nice bypass :)
- Nice kills on the two guys in the big room - very nice.
- Dangerous CS strat before the hack, I would go to the side tbh.
- That hack man...gotta improve those skillz!
- Standard fare for the rest of it, nothing noteworthy.

BUG AL SAMAD AIRFIELD:

- Having to equip other weapons...ewwww :P Also, clearinghouse :P Just as a note, I seem to be able to click around the menus at least twice as fast, so yeah, not saying anything, but I am if you know what I'm saying.- Try to go around that first camera, it spawns an extra dude who has rushed me in the past, it's annoying tbh.
- Should try to sabotage the weapons, free +1 with Mina for about .5 second loss. 
- Use CS for the guard up top. It just...works. I'll assume you know he despawns if you get him off the console, he just...NEVER...get's away from it! The bastard :P

INTERCEPT NASRI:

- First use of RS is for sure worth it.
- Up to dropping into the base, nothing noteworthy, solid play.
- I wouldn't have used RS before the "kill dudes" room. Saving it is worth it imo.
- I would forget about grenades tbh. Way too inconsistent. Just blast away with the shotty. Worked for me. CS use was perfect.

INTERCEPT SHAHEED:

- Another clearinghouse trip! :P
- I would consider using CS up top in the tower - or using RS for both guys...the bodies may prove problematic...
- As you exit the building, try bash the door into the dude, it's about 50%, but it shuts that sumabitch down!
- Going left isn't my perfect strat, but it is also 100% consistent. I dunno, it just may be a mite faster tbh.
- Perfect Lt. shot. I would have used F. Aid after for safety, but you lived so I wouldn't complain. :P
- Loving that missile launcher path. Risky as balls. Not using F. Aid. during the fight... Too badass for me.

SPECIALISATION:

Choosing your own skills - I never even thought of it. But - it's a damn good plan. Not doing it still works for my progression though, yours however...not so, you need Brill faster than myself for Marburg! Would probably help Brayko for me, but eh, I'll live.

STEVEN HECK:

- Had to put him in as his own point - because if I skip him, he may kill me.

INTERCEPT JIBRIL AL-BARA:

- Oh that fail was hilarious. I'm sorry, but I'll admit, I did laugh.
- Loved that Al-Bara Snap Shot. Too good. Not the fastest, but imo, consistency

is the name of the game on that shot.

INVESTIGATE MARBURG'S MANSION:

- First dudes - another reason to have a little bit of Martial Arts.
- Perfection could result in bashing down the first dude there coming through the door, try it maybe? I never pulled it off!
- LOL at bashing down those two elite guards. I was really wary at your strat for that...until they just...stood there!
- Got a little worried at the end, handled like a smooth operator though.

INVESTIGATE DELIVERY AT WAREHOUSE:

- Nice RS at the beginning.
- "We will see!" worst line of dialogue there... Also, I seem to lose about...6-7 seconds by not doing Rome first...I'll live. I'm cool with it for a little more easy on the Embassy!
- Solid play for the level.

INVESTIGATE RUINS TRANSMISSION:

- Getting knocked down. (Kappa)
- Entire level up to coming out of the catacombs was briliant. Then the guards just start trolling your face off.
- You need to learn the patterns of the guards spawning. It's a huge help - you just pop them with the pistol as they come down AFAIK, from the comm array looking out (front) it's left - right - frontright - left - front - front right (2 at the same time) - left - right...I think. I know the first half if right, can't comment about the second half. However overall it was pretty good, you disposed of them quite soundly.

INTERCEPT MARBURG AT MUSEUM:

- Nice route for the first room - I always went left through the guard! Silly old me.
- Elite load checkpoint strats. <3
- Perfect sprinting past the two turrets. I always screw that up.
- Activate RS before Marburg - hit no one - don't get interupted anyway - too good. :P
- I don't know why Marburg didn't go down with that CS. (1st phase)
- Perfect 2nd phase.

MOSCOW SAFEHOUSE:

- Journey just came on my musical shuffle...too good.

LAZLO'S BOAT:

- Yes I know it's Lazo, I mis-typed it in my splits, now it's my joke.
- LOL - nice Lazo kill. Never managed to do that.
- Nice use of the RS - until the dudes started trolling.
- Blew away Sis - 2g. Could have been a little faster, but you won't catch me

complaining.

INTERCEPT SURKOV AT US EMBASSY:

- Our favourite level - am I right? :P
- First Marine trolls and hits you - bastard always does that!
- You sprint straight into that explosion! You gotta hold back. IMO - it's what killed you more than the dudes. Not having armour is just a blow.
- Second try against the turrent was just great. Skirted straight past them all, and RS to get past the Marine. Good strat.
- After going up the ladder, nice use of RS, then CS for the turret. Both perfect. Could have been slightly faster, but the safety of the way you did it was well worth it.
- Those three pricks who kill you- the exact reasons why I reload! 
- I never knew about that alternate route...I could probably not reload if that's there...GOD DAMN IT. That saves a lot of time.
- Having a high CS level here helps, as you demonstrate.
- RS should have been followed up with stomps, not shotgun shells. Shells don't have the same...punch? (Pun intended)

ASSAULT BRAYKO'S MANSION:

- I love how bad guys can't hurt you or bash you while you're on the rappel.
- Arcade room was definate troll. I've never had that many dudes rush me. It's always 2-3 max at a time. I was always convinced you had to kill them though? I don't know what's up there. He clearly says "Killing them all should solve everything" A reload thing?
- Solid bedroom play, room always trolls me.
- Nice strat for the Albatross room. I always use the shotgun, your way is better I think.
- Just get into the Brayko fight without dying. I honestly thought you were going to take a shotty shell to the back and die!
- Brayko fight is too easy with CS 5 and Brill. Just...too easy.

INVESTIGATE WAREHOUSE DATA TRAIL:

- I think the elevator is a more consistent strat - and faster I think - primarily because of the dude standing in the middle of the stairs.
- You're right, having the "only do 1 bug" thing does help a lot. 
- Why does the machine gunner not carve you? He always blows my head off for some reason - you he ignores! :P
- Solid play on the exit.

RETREIVE NSB DATA FROM GRAND HOTEL:

- "Hey buddy, do you like those, TV cooking shows?"
- That door trolling your face off - too hilarious.
- You really don't care about these innocent security guards! Good play though, 11/10
- Going straight to the real exit - faster than me by alot...

INTERCEPT ASSASSINATION PLANS:

- These dudes are really trolling on the elevators.
- Wouldn't have used F. Aid when you did, you didn't get winged though and got endurance back, so you were fine. If you winged at all, could have been trouble.
- I always went down...why? I was so convinced you HAD to go down then up to the main subway area. But nope...you can just walk the catwalk...
- Loving all this killing of security guards. You monster. <3
- Going to the door to dodge the train seems to be a little longer, simply because of the cutscene...I don't have a side by side, but it feels longer. Maybe something to test?

STOP OMEN DENG AT MEMORIAL RALLY:

- The bit where you have to clear the "gates" with the turrets, you take it really dangerously. Try use CS back a little, then rush forward. It also displaces the dudes who burst through the door, I find it easier personally. With RS though, it's a little more moot.
- Nice job EMPing the door with the 2 turrets. Always troll that bit.
- I loved the bit on the scaffolding, it was pretty damn smooth. I always end up stopping 86 times to beat dudes up! You stop twice, which is pretty good.
- Deng fight was, as could be expected, pretty much perfect. I love shooting him when he's invisible! Seriously, why is every boss in this game a massive ass pansy.

GRAYBOX 2 - RETURN TO THE GRAYBOX (Facility)

- "The ghost of ass kickings yet to come!" starting this level with RS is great. I can't because I don't have it, but it really does wonders.
- Not chain shotting the turrets in the flooded room is risky, but that F Aid really saved your ass. I'd personally just CS the stuff! Also, that dude on the ladder is an asshole.
- "You've got exactly...not very long to shut em off" - and you do quite well, until the bastards blow your spine out. It was pretty troll. You could have popped F Aid, but it happened so quickly. Good call on RS the second time round, works for that section.
- Parker - the hardest enemy in the game clearly, you took him out well. He actually almost killed me once...only once. :)

GRAYBOX 37 - RESURRECTION AND REDEMPTION (Outside/Final Boss)

- "I paid extra for the insurance package!"
- I don't know why Darcy didn't go down in one CS - he does for me...but I also use Steel Cores...so I'm convinced there is a difference. You mop him up decently, missing the second CS was pretty eh, but I choked Westridge in the

same manner so I can't really talk too much smack. :P
- That helicopter dude...just...dude. Too good. Another use of RS in action.
- Just after the crashed heli, I'd honestly recommend CS off the bat. Or Brill into RS. Either works as far as I know.
- I still like the quote for Leland better. "Your choice Leland, prison, or you I kill you here."
- Good Westridge. He goes down in one cycle for me though...so...yeah. (Except for...THAT time...)

The main things I would have to say is that your route is superior to mine, but I gain all that time back by just being faster in menus. Ignoring the deaths, I think your time is faster than mine, but you also gain a lot of time in loading screens. (You were running off SSD, I was off HDD) Whereas I may have to wait say, 5 seconds on a load screen, you wait 2. It's not much, but every level...it adds up. Again though, I think your run is just a little faster. If you could record that would be sick. I'll submit my run, but once you get your gaming PC, I've a feeling you'll be erasing my time. :)

NMS

2013-01-21 02:53:08 am

Thanks for the comments. I agree with most of them. I think this was my 4th attempt at a full game run, so there are definitely some rough spots. Sometimes I didn't know what I should be doing in menus or fumbled with my skills because the ones I was planning to use were on cooldown. Also I clearly don't look at my health bar very much.

I've always had trouble with the hacking game; good thing there's only one in a speedrun.

I tried to tell you about some of the shortcuts...

I never seem to have a problem with the machine gunner on Warehouse District. The satellite dish or the boxes block his line of sight a lot.

I'm pretty happy with my skill choices, except for getting too much Toughness/ not getting enough Pistols for Darcy. I could afford one point of Toughness or Martial Arts at the beginning as long as I get the Variable Approach perk (+2 AP for using Aggressive, Suave, and Professional in the same conversation 15 times) before Marburg. It's possible but tight, so I'd have to remember which conversations to vary my choices on. Toughness would be safer, but Martial Arts would be faster in the forced melee fights and maybe a few places where alternating punch and shotgun helps.

Thanks for the comments. I agree with most of them. I think this was my 4th attempt at a full game run, so there are definitely some rough spots. Sometimes I didn't know what I should be doing in menus or fumbled with my skills because the ones I was planning to use were on cooldown. Also I clearly don't look at my health bar very much.

I've always had trouble with the hacking game; good thing there's only one in a speedrun.

I tried to tell you about some of the shortcuts...

I never seem to have a problem with the machine gunner on Warehouse District. The satellite dish or the boxes block his line of sight a lot.

I'm pretty happy with my skill choices, except for getting too much Toughness/ not getting enough Pistols for Darcy. I could afford one point of Toughness or Martial Arts at the beginning as long as I get the Variable Approach perk (+2 AP for using Aggressive, Suave, and Professional in the same conversation 15 times) before Marburg. It's possible but tight, so I'd have to remember which conversations to vary my choices on. Toughness would be safer, but Martial Arts would be faster in the forced melee fights and maybe a few places where alternating punch and shotgun helps.

Softman25

2013-01-24 12:13:20 am

OK, I submitted the 1:44:22.

It's not perfect, it came attached with 10,000 words worth of notes, and you'll probably invalidate it once you get your gaming PC NMS.

I don't know what the rules are, but I'll slap down my run notes if anyone is interested.

NMS

2013-02-01 04:23:43 pm

I feel silly for not noticing this earlier, but simply opening the inventory refills your Endurance. It only takes a second or so if you spam right click to close it again. That could be a big help in a few dangerous spots.

I checked the alternate route for the airfield and it seems to be about the same time. But it's probably safer and lets you conserve more sprint, so I think it's better.

Also, you don't need to go all the way to your locker in Greybox before returning to the interrogation room. I'm not sure exactly how far you have to go. Even if you don't go to your locker, you still automatically switch to armor for Saudi Arabia.