Post by troubledspar7an on Feb 13, 2021 21:55:30 GMT
Hey all, Just dropping this down from the discord, but recently there's been a bit of competition for speed running Road to Immortality, which is always fun.
I posted my guide there, but I figured I'll share it here as well! (Note that certain parts of this may be unoptimized as route experimentation is still ongoing) Let me know how you do if you do try this out!
Thanks to Aple for providing feedback on the route!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Every dialogue, tap enter and press shift (to prevent sticky keys/filter keys). The intermediate enter presses prevent the shifts to be pressed in series, preventing sticky keys.
On occasion, scenes are marked as 'Reset'. This is because the cat moves to a location for you to talk to them (specifically certain spots during tour/Moonpool). Exiting and re-entering the scene will place them at their final destination, so certain places the fastest option is to quickly exit the area and re-enter.
Fastest paths
Fastest way to Lake WC border is Outside camp -> Small Lake -> Cave Hill -> Lake WC Border
Fastest way to Training Clearing is Sky Oak side (and also easier to efficiently navigate).
DAY 1:
Immediately after first cut scene (At Twolegplace), go to menu->settings and turn on instant text/turn off battle animations. This will make the run go faster throughout and save time.
First Clan meeting - Spam, it auto selects stay in Clan.
Chat to Duskpaw near highrock and immediately enter app den. After conversation, go to bed.
DAY 2:
Do camp tour normally. Don't visit any dens (including Blackheart - you don't do his task).
Go through tour of territories. Must talk to Thrush outside camp clearing, Sky Oak (reset),
ShC border (1st, resetable), ShC clearing, ShC lake (reset), Mossy Thicket (reset for the
battle), Mid-WC border (not worth reset), and finally Training (talk to the Wasp/Nettle)
Doesn't matter where you tell Nightkit to go because we want them dead (skipping apprentice ceremony/etc.). Default option is Sky Oak, which is fine to do. Just make sure to not do 'Nowhere' or else Nightkit won't leave and you won't get the skips.
After getting in camp, give mouse to Flame and then Dove to Mosstail (tell him to just eat it).
Ignore Badgerpaw's questions.
Dual Strike Kestrel/Heroic Assault Duskpaw Tempestpaw fight
Day 3:
Skip finding Nightkit. The 5 XP doesn't do anything, really.
For training, use basic attack on Trushfeather (fastest selection). For apprentice spar, take on Nettlepaw and just basic attack and let yourself be beaten (Will nearly always get 2 round or 3 rounds).
Accept going to Mossy thicket (a lot less dialogue)
For Kits, doesn't allow you to instantly call off search. Wait 2 minutes before talking to cancel, otherwise you'll get yelled at and get minused loyalty (a very bad thing for the run). I recommend you set an in-life timer. Remember that pausing causes the game and the timer to pause. However, the check doesn't happen until you confirm you want to call off the search, so you can sit in dialogue.
Skip Vigil, get stance training from Nettlepaw and go to sleep.
Day 4:
Remember to use skill points. Not needed yet, but abilities we want in the run:
Marking Strike, Counter-Attack (Get these two first), Berserk Stance, Mighty Stance (To be gotten from Voideyes dream skill point)
Regarding Hunting, just don't overthink it and you'll probably catch both mice. Just don't be stupid with it, either. Getting both mice are moderately important, however.
Sleep over fox & Kestrel vigil (Just step off bed and immediately step back on it and sleep).
Day 5:
While heading for Thrush, make sure to catch the rabbit at Sky Oak along the way (very critical). If miss the catch, get a mouse from Mossy Thicket.
I personally often do Combat Training (60 XP). Don't need any extra skill pts, etc.
We don't do the Abandon Twoleg den patrol
Throw catch on pile and report finished patrol/hunt to Foxclaw. If rabbit, can also quickly pick it back up after it's on the pile and gift it to Nettlepaw(?).
REMEMBER TO ENABLE OFFENSIVE STANCE AT FIRST BATTLE OF MOONPOOLFOR NETTLEPAW, BESERK FOR KITTYPET.
Don't bother healing before entering Moonpool. Once entering it, you get healed back to full.
Quick reset Moonpool walk when first entering.
For the second wave of rats after first entering Moonpool, just guard everyone. Avoids time for damage numbers, and just use Tempestpaw to wipe it instantly after they come in second turn.
*LAST CHANCE TO USE SKILL POINTS FOR BATTLE*
Reminder: Marking Strike, Counter-Attack, Berserk Stance are what you want.
Set Beserk Stance on.
Ratking: Want to finish in only 3 turns:
Marking, Triple, Fient, Sharpen Claws
Attack, Triple, Claw of Fury, Rib Stab (Rib Stab has highest power)
Attack Formation, Finishing, Attack, Rib Stab
Keep in mind if a cat fears, they will have trouble hitting and you will need to adjust accordingly. Badger and Kitty getting hit by fear is fine, but Tempest/Nettle can create problem if Feint/Marking Strike didn't land. If they did land, you're usually fine even if they're feared.
For the cats in Voideyes dream, simply don't pick them up and say not hungry. Eating the cat as well is fine, but faster to go through dialogue than to navigate the menu (real time). - Probably faster In-Game time
You will want to use the Voideyes skill point for Mighty Stance to help with Counter Attack. This move makes the tick battle an easy ~3 turn victory.
The ticks always prep their blood suck turn one, so simply basic attack and have Voideyes leech
Strat:
Basic Attack, Drain Hope (Or have Voideyes guard/etc. if need aggro. REMEMBER THAT USING COUNTER ATTACK AND EACH COUNTER ATTACK IS -2 AGGRO. YOU WANT KITTYPET TO HAVE 10 MORE AGGRO THAN VOIDEYES) (Often times want Mighty Stance)
Counter Attack, Remade (Or guard if aggro allows you to keep Voideyes alive while ticks attack Kittypet)
If needed, attack last turn to clean up as needed.
Dove:
The last mandatory battle of the run. Simply use Counter strat if can keep Void alive as well, otherwise make quick work with marking strike, double strike, and Drain hope. Remember the Dove will heal once you hit it to low HP the first time and the dove has significantly higher agi than your cats, so don't attempt a last aid execute - just keep on with drain hope.
Day 6:
Simply get assigned the patrol and head out until you speak with Duskpaw directly outside of camp. At that point, simply report back that you're done with the day and go to sleep to finish it.
Day 7:
The day after, you need to do the patrol. Just quickly run up and down it, doing 5 markings in the first section of middle WindClan border (Just go out to the border and mark all 5 items upwards before heading back).
For gathering, simply immediately ask Reedpaw to hang out and run to your leader to start the gathering.
Day 8:
For the battle, you don't have to fight Soot and fight the ShadowClan patrols instead. At this point, you are allowed to just escape so don't bother fighting.
And just blitz for the finish.
End time by the end of announcing relations/what you're known for after credits. (Done so far by simply saving menu screen).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Possible changes to route:
Does doing Blackheart Coltsfoot quest give enough loyalty to skip Day 7 patrol? (Costs two scenes that are not easy to skip through (due to movements))
Important to gift Nettlepaw the rabbit (Day 5) or should leave on pile instead?
I posted my guide there, but I figured I'll share it here as well! (Note that certain parts of this may be unoptimized as route experimentation is still ongoing) Let me know how you do if you do try this out!
Thanks to Aple for providing feedback on the route!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Every dialogue, tap enter and press shift (to prevent sticky keys/filter keys). The intermediate enter presses prevent the shifts to be pressed in series, preventing sticky keys.
On occasion, scenes are marked as 'Reset'. This is because the cat moves to a location for you to talk to them (specifically certain spots during tour/Moonpool). Exiting and re-entering the scene will place them at their final destination, so certain places the fastest option is to quickly exit the area and re-enter.
Fastest paths
Fastest way to Lake WC border is Outside camp -> Small Lake -> Cave Hill -> Lake WC Border
Fastest way to Training Clearing is Sky Oak side (and also easier to efficiently navigate).
DAY 1:
Immediately after first cut scene (At Twolegplace), go to menu->settings and turn on instant text/turn off battle animations. This will make the run go faster throughout and save time.
First Clan meeting - Spam, it auto selects stay in Clan.
Chat to Duskpaw near highrock and immediately enter app den. After conversation, go to bed.
DAY 2:
Do camp tour normally. Don't visit any dens (including Blackheart - you don't do his task).
Go through tour of territories. Must talk to Thrush outside camp clearing, Sky Oak (reset),
ShC border (1st, resetable), ShC clearing, ShC lake (reset), Mossy Thicket (reset for the
battle), Mid-WC border (not worth reset), and finally Training (talk to the Wasp/Nettle)
Doesn't matter where you tell Nightkit to go because we want them dead (skipping apprentice ceremony/etc.). Default option is Sky Oak, which is fine to do. Just make sure to not do 'Nowhere' or else Nightkit won't leave and you won't get the skips.
After getting in camp, give mouse to Flame and then Dove to Mosstail (tell him to just eat it).
Ignore Badgerpaw's questions.
Dual Strike Kestrel/Heroic Assault Duskpaw Tempestpaw fight
Day 3:
Skip finding Nightkit. The 5 XP doesn't do anything, really.
For training, use basic attack on Trushfeather (fastest selection). For apprentice spar, take on Nettlepaw and just basic attack and let yourself be beaten (Will nearly always get 2 round or 3 rounds).
Accept going to Mossy thicket (a lot less dialogue)
For Kits, doesn't allow you to instantly call off search. Wait 2 minutes before talking to cancel, otherwise you'll get yelled at and get minused loyalty (a very bad thing for the run). I recommend you set an in-life timer. Remember that pausing causes the game and the timer to pause. However, the check doesn't happen until you confirm you want to call off the search, so you can sit in dialogue.
Skip Vigil, get stance training from Nettlepaw and go to sleep.
Day 4:
Remember to use skill points. Not needed yet, but abilities we want in the run:
Marking Strike, Counter-Attack (Get these two first), Berserk Stance, Mighty Stance (To be gotten from Voideyes dream skill point)
Regarding Hunting, just don't overthink it and you'll probably catch both mice. Just don't be stupid with it, either. Getting both mice are moderately important, however.
Sleep over fox & Kestrel vigil (Just step off bed and immediately step back on it and sleep).
Day 5:
While heading for Thrush, make sure to catch the rabbit at Sky Oak along the way (very critical). If miss the catch, get a mouse from Mossy Thicket.
I personally often do Combat Training (60 XP). Don't need any extra skill pts, etc.
We don't do the Abandon Twoleg den patrol
Throw catch on pile and report finished patrol/hunt to Foxclaw. If rabbit, can also quickly pick it back up after it's on the pile and gift it to Nettlepaw(?).
REMEMBER TO ENABLE OFFENSIVE STANCE AT FIRST BATTLE OF MOONPOOLFOR NETTLEPAW, BESERK FOR KITTYPET.
Don't bother healing before entering Moonpool. Once entering it, you get healed back to full.
Quick reset Moonpool walk when first entering.
For the second wave of rats after first entering Moonpool, just guard everyone. Avoids time for damage numbers, and just use Tempestpaw to wipe it instantly after they come in second turn.
*LAST CHANCE TO USE SKILL POINTS FOR BATTLE*
Reminder: Marking Strike, Counter-Attack, Berserk Stance are what you want.
Set Beserk Stance on.
Ratking: Want to finish in only 3 turns:
Marking, Triple, Fient, Sharpen Claws
Attack, Triple, Claw of Fury, Rib Stab (Rib Stab has highest power)
Attack Formation, Finishing, Attack, Rib Stab
Keep in mind if a cat fears, they will have trouble hitting and you will need to adjust accordingly. Badger and Kitty getting hit by fear is fine, but Tempest/Nettle can create problem if Feint/Marking Strike didn't land. If they did land, you're usually fine even if they're feared.
For the cats in Voideyes dream, simply don't pick them up and say not hungry. Eating the cat as well is fine, but faster to go through dialogue than to navigate the menu (real time). - Probably faster In-Game time
You will want to use the Voideyes skill point for Mighty Stance to help with Counter Attack. This move makes the tick battle an easy ~3 turn victory.
The ticks always prep their blood suck turn one, so simply basic attack and have Voideyes leech
Strat:
Basic Attack, Drain Hope (Or have Voideyes guard/etc. if need aggro. REMEMBER THAT USING COUNTER ATTACK AND EACH COUNTER ATTACK IS -2 AGGRO. YOU WANT KITTYPET TO HAVE 10 MORE AGGRO THAN VOIDEYES) (Often times want Mighty Stance)
Counter Attack, Remade (Or guard if aggro allows you to keep Voideyes alive while ticks attack Kittypet)
If needed, attack last turn to clean up as needed.
Dove:
The last mandatory battle of the run. Simply use Counter strat if can keep Void alive as well, otherwise make quick work with marking strike, double strike, and Drain hope. Remember the Dove will heal once you hit it to low HP the first time and the dove has significantly higher agi than your cats, so don't attempt a last aid execute - just keep on with drain hope.
Day 6:
Simply get assigned the patrol and head out until you speak with Duskpaw directly outside of camp. At that point, simply report back that you're done with the day and go to sleep to finish it.
Day 7:
The day after, you need to do the patrol. Just quickly run up and down it, doing 5 markings in the first section of middle WindClan border (Just go out to the border and mark all 5 items upwards before heading back).
For gathering, simply immediately ask Reedpaw to hang out and run to your leader to start the gathering.
Day 8:
For the battle, you don't have to fight Soot and fight the ShadowClan patrols instead. At this point, you are allowed to just escape so don't bother fighting.
And just blitz for the finish.
End time by the end of announcing relations/what you're known for after credits. (Done so far by simply saving menu screen).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Possible changes to route:
Does doing Blackheart Coltsfoot quest give enough loyalty to skip Day 7 patrol? (Costs two scenes that are not easy to skip through (due to movements))
Important to gift Nettlepaw the rabbit (Day 5) or should leave on pile instead?