Speed-running - boss rush

[CossonWool]

This paragraph is more about the state of dst speedrunning rather than the run itself, skip it if you just want to read about the run - A while back I had a lot of interest with speedrunning, and the forge made me think of it in the way of dst however when I visited speedrun.com there was no submissions for anything dst. There still aren't and I'm not even sure what the categorises imply you need to do if I'm honest, as far as I'm aware apart from single boss runs there is no speedruning for dst currently. Recently on the r/dontstarve there have been a few really good boss speedruns posted, specifically the one that made me think more about them was French Tomahawk's bee queen speedrun which starts the fight just before day 3; less than 16 minutes into his run. source. The amount of randomness that can stuff boss runs up for dst is mind boggling, for dragon fly specifically, the current record is a seeded run, most likely because there is such a high chance of simply not stumbling across the correct desert in time for a record chance. Seeding the worlds eliminates almost all randomness (boon loot equipment %)but it also totally changes how the speedrun goes; it becomes a game of regenerating till you get a better seed or using the current best seed and trying to shave seconds or less off the current record because there's so little opportunities to improve. I don't think there are many people who'd enjoy just regenerating and hoping for a better speedrun compatible seed, or doing the same run over and over to save a second or two. All this lead to me thinking of a boss rush speedrun/challenge style run.

Boss rush is a speedrun/challenge where you rush one of each available boss until there are none left at that time. The run requires a minimum of 6 bosses killed so hopefully with that requirement a lot of randomness is removed.

For bosses, toad, bee queen, ancient guardian, the shadow pieces and fuel weaver, and dragon fly, are all available from day 1, kill them before any more become available and that's the speedrun done. The loot sack spawns randomly between day 21-23, so if the run isn't over by the start of day 24 then Klaus is added to the list. If it's still going by night 30 clops is added (if you're in the caves or log out and miss its spawn then you have to wait for next year, gg. There's a chance it'll try and spawn again late winter but don't rely on it). Day 36 and Goose/Goose is available. Day 56 is Antlion (unless there's no sandstorm yet, it's added once it spawns). Then finally Bearger would be added once it spawns, it's spawning time changed an update or two back so it's now closer to the end or autumn rather than first day, if I remember correctly it's day 87 (similar to clops if you miss it's spawn being in the caves it's still added to the list and you get to wait another year, gg). If you miss the opportunity for a boss it isn't removed from the list (missing clops or klaus in winter, shadow pieces on the new moon, etc.), you have to wait till it becomes available again.

Any character is allowed. Seeding the world, mods, taking boon loot (skeletons/failed adventurers), and custom world gen aren't allowed. Cheeses and logging out (for breaks and such, it's a long run) are allowed.

I intended to post a run of it with this comment but haven't had enough time to dedicate to such a run recently. Now I just want to share the idea before I forget.

If anyone has any completes a run or has ideas for improvements/variations it'd be interesting to hear. To be honest I'm still not sure about a few things I said such as nightmare pieces at night 1 and allowing any character. It would probably be good to limit the character selection to streamline the runs, but I can't tell if ruling only wolfgang or only wes would be better.

[Cyberboy2000]

If you haven't already you should check out Joeshmocoolstuff 

 

[MondayNight]

I'm not quite sure what you actually desire by your post: people posting speed-runs here (with what fixed parameters you come up with) in this thread? Why?

There are on Y!T a lot of speed-runs involving bosses (pretty much all of them) with all of the characters cast, yet by the nature of this game (primarily not being a competitive one) such stuff isn't that popular - probably that's why DST is not in your aforementioned site (speedrun.com). Also, as you yourself pointed, there is a lot of randomness involved (from WorldGen) thus speed-runs need seed-tinkering and vast majority of people don't do that (or even know how-to), or even care for that matter. All-in-all, as stated, not a speed-runs oriented game and is ok, it's survival "make your own adventure" sandbox.

 

PS: if you yourself want to share your speed-runs here, props to you, and ignore my first sentence

[CossonWool]

21 minutes ago, xxVERSUSxy said:

I'm not quite sure what you actually desire by your post: people posting speed-runs here (with what fixed parameters you come up with) in this thread? Why?

It's not so much that I want anything from starting this thread, it's more just sharing the idea of the run. Something possibly enjoyable and easy to setup with no need for seeding or extreme luck. I don't think anyone would bother completing a run like what I said before this thread gets buried so I doubt we'd get to see a completed run here either.

It's more a post just to share a concept at this point I guess. As I said, initially I'd intended to complete a run and post it at the start but I simply haven't had the time. I won't be able to complete a run any time soon either (most likely) so I just wanted to share the idea of it before I forget, I'm unaware of another challenge that is speedrun-like without high randomness.

I was curious how it would be received and if anyone would be interested. Speedruns are interesting to watch and try, but the game isn't speedrun oriented (as you said). Having tried a few single boss speedruns and often not find the boss before the current record time has passed kind of puts me off trying them more.

I was also wondering that if such a run were to become a thing, how would people want it? I gave parameters for how I intend to do it if I ever get around to it, but there are lots of things to adjust. One main thing could be pushing the shadow pieces back to night 21, making it possible to complete it in less than 20 days theoretically.

50 minutes ago, xxVERSUSxy said:

All-in-all, as stated, not a speed-runs oriented game and is ok, it's survival "make your own adventure" sandbox.

Yeah, I recommend playing it as a sandbox, the game was made for it. However, it's also a game that has a finite map with semi predictable generation and bosses. I can't think of a way to word this without it possibly sounding mean, but I mean it in a literal sense; trying to play the game as a speedrun is a way to make your own adventure.