For another week Horheristo was dominate in his leadership of the challenge. However as challenges progress various individuals appear to be gaining in skill... I'm sure it's totally a fluke. I should also note that almost all the Strong Spirit/Rhino Skin runs were better than the runs without, but the difference is not too dramatic in most cases. I would like to see some reports from players on how many runs end early without Strong Spirit, however it may not be quite as OP as some people have claimed.


Hello. For those who missed the update announcement I will now reference the important changes.

Originally posted by RamiRNG:

Balancing

• Started sipping beer while trying to adjust loop difficulty.
  
• Big one: You can no longer start dailies (and co-op) with a crown. 
  
• Made it so that vans can spawn other vans.
  
• Chicken now loses 2 max HP when decapitated. 
  
• Nerfed Strong Spirit so it is now only refreshed when entering an exit portal.
  
• Slightly less random enemies on loops. 
  
• Had a third glass of red wine.
  
• Tweaked the spawn sets for loops. 
  
• Reduced the benefit of Rhino Skin down to +3 HP.
  
• Less statues on 7-3. 
  
• Made it so your own explosives will not trigger your own explosives.
  
• Guardians behave a bit less chaotic on 7-3. 
  
• Increased the size of vans.
  
• [CLASSIFIED] with Chicken deals less damage when [CLASSIFIED]. 
  
• Implemented the sound of a baseball hitting a bat for every time a melee weapon hits a 'grenade'.
  
• Super Fireballers wait longer before attacking. 
  
• Downed a series of cinnamon flavored shots.
  
• Flies drop slightly fewer weapons. 
  
• Realized the bat sound effect Joonas created was just a silent sound file.
  
• Less HP for the Elite Inspectors. 
  
• Reversed explosive weapons buff because they might be useful and created a random chance for the weapons to spawn their shots in a nearby wall and instantly kill the user.
  
• Ultra Revolver costs more ammo but less rads. 
  
• Started chugging rum and coke without any coke.
  
• Super Flak Cannon deals more impact damage. 
  
• Made ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ panic fueled flails resulting in the nerfs to Strong Spirit and Rhino Skin being redacted.
  
• Created an alternate parallel universe inside of an IDPD van where the new van buffs are not in effect and where the game now takes place; made vans deal less damage to enemies to keep reality from imploding.

Before things get too far out of hand I think it might be worth our while to inspect some of the survival mutations.

The person who posts the runs with the most kills during a single player recording of a Nuclear Throne run before September 19th, 2015 will receive a game via steam (note the rules below).  Additionally any person who posts a videos doing the challenge while getting over 1,500 total kills in the current update will be offered a game. 

Run Specific Rules: 

• Players must select Robot.
  
• All runners must do 2 runs; one run with Strong Spirit and/or Rhino Skin and one run without Strong Spirit and Rhino Skin.
  
• Use of the proto chest is prohibited until after getting into loop 2.
  
• Players must start with Crown of Curses and have it active for the entire run.
  
• Victory is based on total number of kills between both submitted runs.

Save Edits:  The guide on Steam for save edits is very helpful.  Additionally there is a mod created by 24gz with the blessing of Vlambeer that will assist in save edits.
Seeds:  The guide on Steam for seed edits might help.  The Nuclear Throne Wiki might also be of value.[nuclear-throne.wikia.com] 
Wiki: Weekly and monthly questions are on the wiki for the community.[nuclear-throne.wikia.com]
Recording Rules:  The run must be done with update 90.  After the run ends please leave the death screen up for at least 5 seconds so the kills can be confirmed; the kills during run will be determined by the death screen assuming it appears accurate and will determine who wins.  If the run is cut short the last visible load screen will determine the kills of the run.  The run must be done on a version of the game that all Nuclear Throne players have access to.  The video must also be view able in the U.S. so that the run can be confirmed; strongly suggest Youtube or Twitch.  The videos must be embedded in responses to this post or have a direct link to the video in the response to this post.  Do not put any visual or time related edits, aka cuts, into the video during the duration of the run.  Overlays may be accepted as long as most of the game and UI are visible; Solid will intercede if there are any questions.  Audio edits and voice overs are fine.  If you pause or go afk during the run just leave it in the video.  If needed the run can be posted over multiple videos, but it must be apparent that it is the same run; no part of the run may be left out.
Player Win Rules:  Players can post as many runs as they want as submissions as long as there is no obvious spam; players are also encouraged to post their best runs even if they do not win.  If there is a tie I will give the win to the earliest unedited response to this post; it will be based on when the response is made through Steam and not when the video is made.  If the post is edited after I have seen the video in an unedited post then it will still be accepted.  Previous challenge winners can still win this challenge.  Members of the Nuclear Throne Dev Team and people associated with the Dev Team can win the challenge.  Whoever wins will have to accept their game through steam by using the friend system.  This means Solid will friend the winner to pass over the gift, no you are not required to keep Solid on the friends list after the exchange.  Winners may take their games and pass them on to other people.  The player who does the best in the challenge will be offered a game from Solid's inventory or a game from Steam worth $10 or less in the US. 
Additional Win Rules:  All runs other than the highest will be offered a game from Solid's inventory. The standard rules and dates still apply to all runs. The same runner can win multiple times.
Solid's Rules:  If there are any concerns or complaints Solid will have the final say.  The rules for the challenge are subject to modification within the first 24 hours.
Dates:  The official end time for responses to this post will be at 11:59 pm on Friday, September 18th, 2015 (right before it becomes September 19th, 2015 ) based on the GMT time zone.  However Solid is a stupid American and MAY accept runs that are posted shortly after the posted time.  Solid should claim the victor and try to contact them around September 19th, 2015.

Horheristo; Kills: 2775 + 2617 = 5582
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0pJjsc1ENo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDYL5WDVV7g

Boss; Kills: 1425 + 98 = 1523
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ99yh3Sk00


Post additional questions,
clarifications, and ideas in the comments.