NM-Lite Contest: Scythe 2

[Plut]

September, 2023

The NM-Lite Contest is a competition in which participants aim to survive for as many levels as possible in the given map set, preferably in one sitting, playing on skill 1 (ITYTD) with -fast and -respawn flags (NM-Lite). Unlike Ironman League, there are no different categories: it doesn't matter if you play blind, played the WAD before or watched it being played, if you examined it in an editor. The only thing that matters is that you haven't played it on NM-Lite.

 

In September 2023 the competition will take place on Scythe 2: a classic 2005 megawad by Erik Alm. Runs will be accepted until 4 October.

 

Essential Info:

• Doom II (doom2.wad)
• Complevel 2 (only complevel 2 compatible demos are accepted)
• 32 maps

dsda-doom -complevel 2 -iwad doom2.wad -file scythe2.wad -skill 1 -fast -respawn -record nmlite-scythe2-yournick.lmp

 

Download Scythe 2

 

Rules:

Spoiler

• Continuous recording.
• When submitting a run, provide this information: your time of death (or your totaltime if you survived till the end), the map you died on and the killcount after your death.
• Complevel 2 compatible demos are the only accepted proof (you can record them in Crispy Doom, DSDA-Doom, Prboom(-Plus) or any other port that records demos you can play in DSDA-Doom -complevel 2). You must link to these runs in the thread.
• No additional WADs may be loaded. Cosmetic WADs are fine if they're purely cosmetic.
• Freelook is forbidden.
• You do not have to play the secret levels in order to register a complete run. However, a player who finishes the game having completed more secret levels than their competitors will rank higher than them.

• If the recording of your official run is interrupted due to technical difficulties, you are not permitted a second attempt. Any surviving recording may be used to register a DNF result.

• Accidentally restarting a level before a death exit takes you to the tally screen will stop your run immediately. You will still be registered as entering the next map (i.e. the one which you never entered) using a calculation to figure out what the intermission time would have been.

• You may post a run here if you've already played the WAD on NM-Lite, but it's going to be out-of-contest and you will not show up in the leaderboard.

• If there are multiple participants who survived the same number of maps, the shortest totaltime (after last survived map) wins.

 

Thanks to 4shockblast for the idea.

Edited September 4, 2023 by Plut

[DuckReconMajor]

Maps completed: 3

Death at: 14:43

MAP04 kills: 25/34

 

Saw skill 1 and couldn't help myself, pretty much immediately had a go at it

Some familiarity with Scythe 2 from playing it a couple times over the years.

Panicked on map04 and lost control of the situation lol

 

nmlite-scythe2-duckreconmajor.zip

[Pseudonaut]

Dead on map03 at 1:22 with 9/27 kills.

scnml-pseudonaut.zip

 

edit: oops wrong wad

Edited September 4, 2023 by Pseudonaut

[Plut]

Maps completed: 21

Dead at: 48:58

Kills on MAP22: 91/92

This was superbly fun, I loved it so much! Definitely gonna do this more with other classic megawads.

 

Spoiler

Didn't know the map well, got lost with no health and monsters respawning all around me. Knowing the maps through-and-through is extremely important with respawn.

 

@Pseudonaut We could include your run if we ever run Scythe :). Of course you're still welcome to participate in this one.

 

nmlite-scythe2-plut.zip

Edited September 4, 2023 by Plut

[SCF]

Maps completed: 11

Dead at: 29:03

Kills on MAP12: 21/75

 

NMLite_23-09_scythe2_SCF.zip

 

This was a fun idea. I never really play on nightmare or ITYTD, so I had no idea know what to expect. It helped that I knew Scythe 2 well enough not to get lost (but not well enough to know all the important secrets, let alone being able to find them in the middle of all the chaos).

 

Spoiler

Apparently, barrels are my mortal enemy this month.

 

I didn't know you could survive the map 5 crusher exit, which made the second episode a breeze.

 

[Pseudonaut]

Dead on map04 at 17:54 with 89/34 kills.

sc2nml-pseudonaut.zip

[Andromeda]

Softlocked on: MAP08

Kills: 9/78

Time: 13:03

 

Fell inside a illusio-pit, like I expected.

 

nmlite_andromeda_scythe2.zip

[mancubian_candidate]

Ouch, dead on Map 2. I haven't played in years so forgot everything past Map 1!

 

Kills: 20/42

Time: 3:25

 

nmlite-scythe2-manc.zip

[Anima Zero]

Dead on map 23 at 42:05.  Sucking big time at glides did me in when I gave it up in favor of trying to do the map the intended way and ran into the firing squad post BK bars.

 

Really fun concept I must say!

DWNMLite_Scythe2_AnimaZero.zip

[RonnieJamesDiner]

Dead on map 19 at 35:29, kills were 21/66.

 

nmlite-scythe2-RJD.zip

 

Dead to my own rocket in the face, no less!! Agh. That was good fun, and there's a few embarrassing moments of me forgetting where to go lol (map07 was shameful). 

Edited September 8, 2023 by RonnieJamesDiner
Wrong time

[Asbadagba]

dead on map22
dead at 43:28
107/92 kills
nmlite-scythe2-asbadagba.zip

commentary edition:

Spoiler

 

 

[4shockblast]

Dead on map 24 at 51 minutes or so. Don't know Scythe 2 all too well, so there were a lot of failed trick attempts and other nonsense. Overall, though, tried to play at a decent pace. 24 is the first map where that seemed unviable. :^) Went through map 31, could not get the secret exit there. Very fun gameplay style overall for a challenge like this. :D

scythe2_nmlite_shock.zip

[kmc]

Dead on map 27 around 33 minutes due to cockiness.  The map felt really empty until it didn't, and then I forgot to use the free BFG.  Too bad, really wanted to finish.  Also forgot you're supposed to take the secret exit on 15 to avoid losing weapons, but it didn't really matter I guess.

nmlite-scythe2-kmc.zip

Edited September 17, 2023 by kmc

[Horus]

Dead on map 8 because I didn't know where to go (I've played Scythe 2 before, but didn't remember a lot of the progression). An absolute miraculous save at the end of map 4, very lucky not to die there.

A fun concept! Compared to Ironman/Ironeagle, it (to its benefit) forces much more aggressive play, but definitely also more significantly favours foreknowledge.

horus_nmlite_2023_09.zip

Edited September 30, 2023 by Horus

[LadyMistDragon]

Dead at Map 04 at 10:37 thanks to infinite height nonsense at the red key ledge

lmd_scythe_nmfast.zip

[SleepyVelvet]

Dead: Map14 (Good at Doom)

Arrived at: 45:54

Time of Death: 49:03

Kills: 25/62

Demo: nmlite-scythe2-NoisyVelvet.zip

 

I've only played a little of Scythe 2, so figuring out where to go almost tripped me up a few times.  Thankfully, the levels flow really nice.  The pyramid level with a billion imps was fun...  My wrists were cramping up a bit so I'm glad I died there.

[NaZa]

Was a bit of an idiot, thinking the blast damage would be better. Oh well.

 

Dead on MAP09 with 69*/132 kills, 21:39.

 

nmlite-scythe2-naza.zip

 

Was very uncomfortable playing like this, faster projectiles (not to mention respawns) even on the easiest difficulty make me shit bricks. I'm a very slow and cautious player, used to the "normal" behaviour and the predictability each fireball and enemy position has. Here, I had to play recklessly, take a fair amount of risks, because monsters respawn on their original locations, not where you killed them, so I had to resort to throwing hypothetical dices every corner not knowing what I see. This all coupled with not knowing this WAD very well (though having played it as Ironman practice last year - a fun fact is I died to the very same level). But, if this becomes a thing, I'll submit a run every month. Maybe I'll become a quicker player? :P

 

^{* - played with prB+, which calculates kills differently, so the number of respawned kills may be a bit larger. Not by a lot, because I didn't have the chance to kill many respawned monsters.}

Edited October 1, 2023 by NaZa

[SilentD00mer]

Dead on: Map04

Time: 8:43

Kills: 17/34

 

nmlite-scythe2-SilentD00mer.zip

 

Not very used to play with -fast parameter, but I like the challenge. Well, I don't remember details of the maps so I waste some time trying to remember the right way to progress. Maybe I can perform better next time?

[Pierrot]

Dead at 1:18:06, map22, 98/92 kills.

Some moments were pretty tense, like in the end of ep3, but it was a fun play overall!

 

nmlite-scythe2-pierrot.zip

[RjY]

dead on map10, 18/71 monsters dead / 17:48 on clock at point of death
 

Spoiler

  map  stat    dead     time  total  sec
MAP01  EXIT   12/29  1:56+11   1:56  155
MAP02  EXIT   15/42  1:37+25   3:33  116
MAP03  EXIT   24/57  2:35+12   6:08  196
MAP04  EXIT   16/34  2:35+04   8:43  144
MAP05  DEAD   13/26  1:58+02   8:43   97
MAP05  EXIT   14/26  2:01+19  10:44   97
MAP06  EXIT    5/16  1:09+00  11:53   63
MAP07  EXIT    9/15  2:16+34  14:09   75
MAP08  EXIT    6/78  2:13+34  16:22   87
MAP09  EXIT  48/132  1:26+24  17:48   64
MAP10  DEAD   18/71  1:44+09  17:48  125
MAP10  QUIT   17/71  1:49+14  17:48  125

 

On NM-Lite: I rarely play using fast monsters. Mostly I dislike it but I've enjoyed doing super old 1994 wads like WADPAK1A UV-Fast. I never play respawn because it violates my sense of completion. You never feel an area is clear and can be moved on from. So both of them together is right out, and it is with a certain trepidation that I approach this challenge. But with half damage maybe it won't be a total catastrophe? And I suppose the whole point is to play differently from usual. I tried warming up by playing some of Doom2 NM-Lite, then my own maps from cchest2/3 (in which I got horribly murdered, very quickly), before starting this recording.

On Scythe2: Well, it's been a long time since I played this famous wad, and I forgot where all the shortcuts are, and was actually embarrassingly lost several times. A far cry from the good old days when I used to impress people on Odamex co-op by skipping half the maps.

• 2: at least I got the key jump, didn't even try the super secret megasphere
• 6: I missed the key jump or forgot how to do it and panicked
• 8: the glide was harder than I remember
• 10: I was horribly lost, and shed too much health while running in circles. Still the super shotgun was the wrong choice of weapon to try to force through the imp horde at the bottom of the lift.

Nevertheless I do not feel I have acquitted myself too poorly. If you had said beforehand that I would reach MAP10, I would have taken it.

Thanks to 4shockblast for a fun idea and Plut for hosting. No hard feelings over booby-trapped teleporters, I hope? :)

 

 

 

[Plut]

The new NM-Lite contest topic is here! The results for this one will be up tomorrow as you can still submit runs until the end of this day.

@RjY, thanks for the amazing write-up!

[Plut]

RESULTS

+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| Place | Name                | Maps completed | Totaltime | Time of death | Kills at the last map |
+=======+=====================+================+===========+===============+=======================+
| 1     | kmc                 | 26             | 31:46     | 33:47         | 43/200                |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 2     | 4shockblast         | 23             | 50:20     | 51:13         | 53/635                |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 3     | AnimaZero           | 22             | 38:58     | 42:00         | 193/495               |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 4     | Asbadagba           | 21             | 40:05     | 43:28         | 107/92                |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 5     | Plut                | 21             | 45:48     | 48:58         | 91/92                 |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 6     | Pierrot             | 21             | 73:41     | 78:07         | 99/92                 |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 7     | RonnieJamesDiner    | 18             | 34:02     | 35:28         | 21/66                 |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 8     | NoisyVelvet         | 13             | 45:54     | 49:04         | 25/62                 |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 9     | SCF                 | 11             | 27:50     | 29:00         | 21/75                 |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 10    | RjY                 | 9              | 17:48     | 19:32         | 46/71                 |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 11    | NaZa                | 8              | 20:23     | 21:39         | 69/132                |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 12    | Andromeda           | 7              | 12:00     | 12:54         | 7/78                  |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 13    | Horus               | 7              | 18:40     | 24:55         | 110/78                |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 14    | SilentD00mer        | 3              | 7:34      | 8:40          | 17/34                 |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 15    | LadyMistDragon      | 3              | 8:39      | 10:35         | 25/34                 |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 16    | DuckReconMajor      | 3              | 12:05     | 14:43         | 25/34                 |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 17    | Pseudonaut          | 3              | 12:18     | 17:54         | 89/34                 |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 18    | mancubian_candidate | 1              | 1:53      | 3:06          | 20/42                 |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+-----------+---------------+-----------------------+

Congratulations to kmc, 4shockblast and AnimaZero, and thanks everyone for participating! All the demos are here - nmlite-scythe2.zip. Everyone is invited to participate in Speed of Doom NM-Lite.

Edited October 5, 2023 by Plut

[Austinado]

I have participated as well, but forgot to post here...sorry.

 

- Dead Map 03

 

* Pressing Play will start the run