The patched ROM is working, but given the name is just "Pokemon Black Version.nds", I'm worried these might not be consistent, and we'll be fighting desyncs.
I'll try to WIP to hitting lv 6 or something, just to make sure we're not wasting time.
I'm on Desmume 0.9.9, and I don't want to deviate from it without a very good reason. I don't think the experience "bug" is because of emulator versions.
Do we know what ROM that Masterjun run is on? It sounds like that experience thing is usually fixed with a code (memory editing), or patched ROM. Given this is a TAS recording, the patched ROM is probably the only option.
Also, given this is a 3-hour run, let's start with ending at the Ghetsis fight. We can branch off a postgame "100%" run after.
Agreed. Excadrill is a BW2 strat, because where you get them in 1 is too low level, lacking moves like Dig, and just before the bug gym. I'll keep an eye out for possible improvements. I'm just more familiar with BW2.
RTA runs seem to end after N's speech, just before credits. It looks like last input on his speech, which is consistent with TAS timing anyway.
The biggest issue now is sorting out my setup, because I'm not getting experience after fights. I know that's a solved issue, but I'm not sure if I have the wrong ROM, or the wrong emulator (RTA runners are on 0.9.11).
There is plenty of documentation on IV manips based on date, so I'm not worried there.
Every GDQ, I wonder if I should take up TASing, and if no one else is running these games, maybe I can.
RTA speedrunners have already manipulated for IVs and encounters, so hopefully we can extend that indefinitely. But in-combat manipulation will take some experimenting.
But since I'm new at this, I think the first WIP would just be a loose proof of concept, following the RTA routes. I'm sure running that will give us more of the info I need.
The main route is a manip'd Tepig into manip'd Excadrill. We can try to guts route, but Excadrill's base stats and movepool are so good, we may not need it.
I'm not sure if there's a preference between this or B2/W2. W2 seems a few minutes faster, but both runs are about 3:10 to 3:20.
Challenge mode is considered a separate category because the added XP balances out the higher levels. Easy mode is actually considered harder, because XP is hard to come by.
http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/In-game_trade
I noticed an interesting in-game trade in this game. It's possible to trade a Emolga for a Gigalith on Route 7.
Gigalith has the same attack stat as Excadrill, the main battle Pokemon in Challenge Mode RTA. However, Gigalith's move pool is not as good as that of Excadrill, and Gigalith is one of the slowest Pokemons. What might make up for it is that this traded Gigalith is guaranteed to have 31 as attack IV and Adamant(+Atk -Spa) as nature. 20 as speed IV is not bad ether. Boosted exp might help a lot, and there is no need to worry about disobedience. It is possible to get a Quick Claw by catching either Sandshrew at Desert Resort or Zangoose at Route 7. It's probably a good idea to test whether using traded Gigalith is faster than using Excadrill.
Werster's new route consist of seed manipulation to force an Excadrill with IVs so high, he can skip the desert entirely. A TAS should be even better at manipulating things, as most of his lost time is either mitigating or dealing with bad luck, things that shouldn't be an issue in a TAS.
At the very least, that route would make a good starting point, and depending on how well we can RNG manipulate, perhaps run even riskier strategies if we can rely on good damage ranges and crits as much as we have in other published movies.
Unless we can find a TAS-only route, like abusing Guts like we did in 3rd gen, I think Excadrill is the way to go.
I'm no expert, but I am pretty familiar with the game mechanics.
- Critical capture is out of the question. The odds of it happening is 0 if you have less than 31 species caught.
- The new XP formula makes is very hard to overlevel mons, so two Lv X mons might be better than one Lv X+2. It would need more study, but this strategy seems sound.
- As for getting paralyzed, you need to rely on enemy attacks, and the plot occasionally heals you. Trying to get paralyzed more often means more encounters.
- Gurdurr is slow enough that it needs a Quick Claw even when healthy.
- TMs are a lot rarer because they became unlimited use, and the good ones are usually out of the way. That means to abuse Guts, the price is a poor movepool. Also, TMs don't restore PP, so they can't be used avoid healing. The second fighter also doubles as a second clip of PP to use.