Challenge restart timing inconsistency

[ChallengeSY]

An inconsistency was discovered with respect to Challenge mode runs.

Time outs and fall outs do correctly count against the set time, but restarts of successful attempts do not; making them possible to abuse, especially on easier sets.

[parasti]

This is by design. If Neverforum was still around, I could probably find the link where this was discussed. I don't really understand what you mean by abuse. You can improve your whole-set run, but that's not really abuse IMO.

[ChallengeSY]

You can improve your whole-set run, but that's not really abuse IMO.

That is true, but improving a set run as a whole means starting fresh from the beginning.

Rather, it is restarting a single level to improve its time which "incorrectly" reduces the time of the whole set. For example, if I finish a "Level 10" with 0'15''99, but then improve it to 0'14''49 in the same run, the final set time factors in only the 0'14''49.

(Given that the Web Archive only seems to support the latest 4 pages worth of posts per forum, I have a feeling this piece has been lost to time.)

[parasti]

Yes, what you're describing is the intended behavior. Only the last playthrough of the level is included in the set time.

If you don't want that, you can set a personal, arbitrary rule of never restarting previous levels.

Maybe I'm missing something but I believe this is working as intended.

[ChallengeSY]

There was a discussion in the updated Nevercord's neverball-talk on Feb 25; resulted in a Medium speedrun being rejected because it included a "voluntary restart". Existing users can instantly jump to this link.

Ideally, such a run should one-shot each of the regular levels anyway; the rejected run had 4 fall outs throughout the set anyway.

[parasti]

Well, if a speedrun competition sets a rule that you can't restart completed levels, that warrants a disqualification.

On the other hand, restarting the level and getting a better result (without a fall-out or time-out in between) seems like a worthy achievement to me.

Do you get infinite restarts even if you fall out after the first restart?

[ChallengeSY]

Do you get infinite restarts even if you fall out after the first restart?

Nope, regardless of the outcome of the first try, a fall out (or a time out) on any subsequent attempt will still deduct a ball from the available stock. This makes the harder sets, well, harder to "abuse".

Anyhow, as far as this issue is concerned, I can't think of anything else. I might play around with the code sometime; just not at present.