My Ideal First Stage (in the event of a Kanzen-Renewal)

[yusukeisthegoat227]

So after Sasuke 25, the Kanzen Renewal that occurred brought plenty of oldies but goodies back to the First Stage. I anticipate the same would happen the next time someone achieves Kanzenseiha. So, here's what I think would be a great First Stage, bringing back plenty of iconic old obstacles.

1.) Twelve Timbers/Junidantobi: It's basically the Quad Steps/Godantobi/Rokudantobi, but cooler. I especially love how the audience reacts to competitors leaping across each log. I'd love to see it brought back as the first obstacle.

2.) Big Boulder/Odama: Totally a random pick and it's probably never coming back, but for some reason I really like this obstacle. 

3.) Log Grip: One of Shin-Sasuke's coolest obstacles, it's basically the rolling log but better. It really tests grip strength, plus it has those 3 jolts. This would be the first real tough obstacle here.

4.) Jumping Spider: This is one I really wanna see come back. It combines the Jump Hang and Spider Walk, which are already two cool obstacles as it is.

5.) Tackle: This one should stay. It's a great strength-drainer before the Warped Wall. And speaking of which...

6.) Warped Wall/Soritasu Kabe: It's an iconic obstacle, you simply can't get rid of it.

7.) Tarzan Jump + Rope Climb: I feel like ending on the Warped Wall has been a bit anticlimactic in recent tournaments. I would love to see the Tarzan Jump + Rope Climb come back. And this is totally random, but I think the Captain's Cabin from VIKING was a very cool ending to the First Stage as well. We'll probably never see it again, but I would definitely be happy to see it come back.

So yeah, I think this course would be a good mix of old school (Odama and Rope Climb), as well as Shin-Sasuke (Twelve timbers, log grip, jumping spider). Add in a new school obstacle (tackle), plus the timeless Warped Wall, and this would be my ideal First Stage. I would give this stage a time limit of 85 seconds, as there is only 7 obstacles, and many of them are speed-based. Let me know what you guys would want in a Kanzen-Renewal First Stage!

[tns8597]

I’ll give mine for Stages 2 and 3 as I mostly agree with your Stage 1 anyway.
(+) means transition from previous to current obstacle with no rest.

Stage 2 - Time Limit = 135 seconds
- Rolling Escargot
- Swap Salmon Ladder (with no dumb DQ rule. You just can’t traverse directly upwards if you fail a jump)
- (+) Wave Runner
- Spider Walk with walls moving outwards and inwards.
- Balance Tank
- Wingnut Alley (but shorter distance to accommodate the shorter stature of Japanese competitors)
- Wall Lifting (with the bottom of the wall blocked off and replaced by Cliffhanger ledges)

I know a lot of people say Stage 2 should be shorter and sweeter but I’m being realistic and basing my choice on the pretence that Inui would keep a longer Stage 2 regardless. The time limit is high but with the Wingnuts I think it’ll be down to the wire

Stage 3:
- Roulette Cylinder
- (+) Floating Boards
- Curved Body Prop
- Cliffhanger Kai
- (+) Vertical Limit with 3 moving ledges
- Flying Bar

I agree that Stage 3 is too Cliffhanger centric so I prefer the Cliffhanger to take a back seat and instead tie it directly in with a new Vertical Limit, which I think would be as difficult as it gets without being OP (like Sasuke 32-33). I also advocate having the Flying Bar as the final obstacle as it was intended, with 5 jumps as opposed to the 2 in the massively watered down first obstacle. That would create huge suspense as even if a competitor has proven to get that far, nothing is guaranteed. One simple mistake and it’s over.

[yusukeisthegoat227]

Yeah, I like the idea of the Rolling Escargot starting the 2nd Stage. But, I do think it should return to being speed based. Here's what I'd do.
1.) Rolling Escargot
2.) Double Salmon Ladder + Stick Slider
3.) Balance Tank
4.) Metal Spin
5.) Gyakso Conveyor
6.) Wall Lift
Time limit: 70 seconds

The Double Salmon Ladder from 25-27 was a cool variant in my opinion. But instead of transitioning to the unstable bridge, I think the stick slider should come back to transition down into the balance tank. From then on out, it's all speed based obstacles. Which is how I like the second stage. 

[tns8597]

That’s a cool idea. I can’t work out if 70 seconds would be unrealistically tight as a time limit.

For reference Sasuke 27’s Stage 2 (which I feel like your idea is sort of based on) was 90 seconds and there were a lot of down to the wire clears. Also the Rolling Escargot would take longer to complete than the Slider Drop, and you’ve got an extra obstacle between the Metal Spin and Wall Lift, then again the Unstable Bridge isn’t there and that’s a big time waster.

That said I’m all for making Stage 2 tight in terms of time adhering to its speed stage origins. The only thing that Shin-Sasuke really messed up compared to previous iterations was that the time limits were just way too lenient, where we got people clearing with 20-30+ seconds without actually trying to go fast. Just not Sasuke 29 tight, lol.

[nekomi3]

ah it's been a while since the last time I designed a stage lel
here we go
1st Stage
(1) Step Slider
+(2) Prism Tilt
+(3) Rolling Hill
(4) Music Box
(5) Fishbone (latest version)
(6) Dragon Glider
(7) Double Warped Wall
Time limit would be 85 seconds, I guess

[sasukefinnja]

1) Rolling Hill
2) Big Boulder (Odama)
3) Fish Bone
4) Bigger Boulder (Super Odama)
5) Dragon Glider
6) Double Big Boulder (Double Odama)
7) Tackle
8) Warped Wall
9) Big Boulder Climb (Odama Nobori)

First Stage just doesn't have enough big boulders. This is completely random but I just wanna see this stage, lol

[Papa Strawberry]

1. Step Slider
+
2. Rolling Hill
3. Dragon Glider
4. Fish Bone Kai
5. Rolling Log (Sasuke 37~ version)
6. Dancing Stones
7. Warped Wall

[hoseasasuke]

Stage 1

1. Twelve Timbers
+
2. Rolling Hill
3. Log Grip
4. Fish Bone Kai
5. Dragon Glider
6. Tackle
7. Warped Wall

Time Limit: 85 seconds

Stage 2:
1. Rolling Log
2. Salmon Ladder Nobori
3. Salmon Ladder Kudari
4. Spider Walk(SSK 5-6 version)
5. Balance Tank
6. Metal Spin(Shin-SSK version)
7. Wall Lifting
Time Limit:90 seconds

Stage 3:
1. Roulette Cylinder +
2. Lamp Grasper(Shin-SSK version)
3. Planet Bridge
4. Cliffhanger Dimension
5. Flying Bar Kudari
6. Vertical Limit 3.0
7. Spider Flip
8. Pipe Slider

Stage 4:
Leave it as it is