I'm still working on the run. Managed to resync up to 2nd last boss, and also decided to time each map in terms of input. Input is done on the earliest frames you are able to move, and stops at the last frame needed to reach the next area.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/135odGXTdEpMx455atPVrGcSG3I2el6C7vNt9r3CVPGU/edit?usp=sharing
From my notes, I got this mess:
Bandit hideout: 39+23+47+28+7+2+3+4+1+11+14
Desert: 372+22+1(wtf,ruins)+3(map 78; npc suddenly moved differently wtf)+16(ruins again)+1(fucked up a bit on Scrippa run, map 108)+9-3(map 109, worse luck)+0(map 78 suddenly cooperated. ok)+59(rival fight)
17379 frame diff with scrippa v rupicola so far now
Uraani: 5+7+4-4(map 68 luck)
17324 frame dif with scrippa v rupicola by map 24
Mountain: 2+1-12(shit luck)-8(map 91; bee npc wont move), +8(map 31)
-1(map 29 lag),-1(npc moved late),+6 (map 31), +5 (map 36), +2 (map 31), +1(less lag), +3(map 29),+6(map 33), +2(map 34), +2(map 35),+2 (map 31),+1 (map 32),-2(map 90; more lag + wierd npc shit)+274(map 37 + 8 due to jump)
outside: +3 (map 133)-2(map 6 shit luck),+5 (map 7)
Karatsumu Cave: +7(map 116)+343 (didnt get drink, map 120)+3(map 123),+8(Map 127),+12(map 126),+1(122),+4(map 119),+5(map 117),+24(map 118),+9(map 121),+23(map 125)+9 due to jump,
Annoyingly enough, I ended up losing 300+ frames due to waiting during the Ryuugu fight, but it appears I'm still ahead. The run was improved from AFTER the Hermit fights, since optimizing movement from Map 25 (Hiero Loophole) ended up only saving 2 frames, but completely changes the Hermit RNGs.
Edit: Run so far is 288634 frames (
1:20:10.57) but can probably be improved.
Edit2: Ok, in case anyone wonders why I havent submitted it, I'm trying to redo the 2 rival fights to get them to drop drinks. So far, the 2nd fight requires 125 frames of delay at best.
Edit3: Common pitfalls to while TASing
1. Do not hold A/B, nor spam them during dialogue. Doing so loses 1 frame per new dialogue box, and this game talks a lot.
2. For sanity sake, only move during allowed inputs. The game occasionally lags an extra or so frame during transitions during movie splicing, so just holding down a direction can easily confuse the hell out of you when splicing improvements
3. If you're not familiar with the game's RNG, do not try to gamble and manipulate all the DP drinks in the latter fights; the beginning fights often only need to take account into a critical hit, followed by a drop, while the last fights need a series of lucky events all at the same time.
4. When running through caves, be sure to avoid "bumps" on the ground which slow you down once you unlock the ability to jump.
5. Be sure to check what ally your denjuu has once recruited; only 2 allies have the ability to 2TKO Ryuuguu; the rest are useless in a TAS
6. Be sure to have at least 70 attack stat for Cotta, since you won't be able to 2TKO Ryuugu.
7. Sometimes, it's worth getting hit just to have less delay waiting for a crit or some event.
8. Getting hit, missing an attack, and NPC choosing a non-damaging move all advance the RNG differently, so make sure to try all 3 if possible
9. Write down how many drinks used so far, and how many more are needed. It's very easy to mistrack them, and end up getting stuck
Final nonspecial :
04:51.38 (17,483 frames) slower than with special.
