Discussion Weekly challenge ideas - what would you want to see?

[Brad P]

The weekly challenges have been fun so far. I have been thinking about what other types of challenges would work well. Speedrun challenges are good but maybe some creative ones too - like building challenges in survival games or completing a game with specific restrictions. Drop your ideas here and maybe we will see them show up.

 

[Oliver]

The restriction-based challenges are the most interesting, I'd argue. No-fast-travel, melee-only, specific loadout — anything that forces you to engage with systems you'd normally ignore. The speedrun format is entertaining to watch but it tends to reward grinding optimised routes rather than actual skill. A harder-than-standard run with a clever restriction gives you a proper story to tell afterwards.

 

[Tyler]

Oliver's restriction format is the way to go. Melee-only, no-map, no-fast-travel — whatever it is, the constraint has to actually change how you play. Speedrun stuff is fine but it mostly just filters who's already cracked at the game. The restrictions force everyone to adapt, which is more interesting.

 

[Ryan]

The restriction format is growing on me. No-map runs specifically — that's the kind of thing that actually forces you to learn an area rather than just follow the marker. I'd vote for something like that as a monthly rather than weekly though. Some people have closing shifts and can't commit five nights in a row.

 

[Lukas]

The restriction format Oliver and Ryan are describing is the right direction. That said, it depends heavily on the game. For something like Crusader Kings 3 the challenge is almost always self-imposed anyway — no-alliances runs, ironman only, specific culture starts. A well-designed constraint should make you solve the game differently, not just make it harder. Those are not the same thing.