ArclightBorealis on 4/10/2012 at 04:11

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Well this level ended up being a bit more of a challenge than the last two. Actually took some damage, mostly from clumsily falling from high places and surviving, and the occasional Burrick toxic breath attack.

One part that was new for me was I had to go after the Mystic Soul, one of the two Mystic treasures that are heavily guarded with traps. The traps I wasn't worried as much about compared to the fire spirit or whatever that I ran into. The confusing part was whether or not I could kill it, because I had several water arrows ready, and after dousing him 3 times, it ran away super fast. It did drop some fire arrows though, but I had plenty of them already. After getting the Mystic Soul and returning to the room where the fire spirit was, I ran out of the room and made my way to the third level, only to catch out of the corner of my view that he was after me. Not sure about you all, but that scared the shit outta me. So much so that I accidentally ran off of the ramp I was running on into a body of water below (very fortunate of me). I reloaded my save, did the same routine, but that time it didn't follow me, so I must have gotten out before it noticed me on its patrol.

And apparently that thing isn't in The Dark Project but was added for Gold. Kinda wish it was just the zombies I had to worry about rather than a soot covered man on fire who runs super fast in a way that sort of unnerves me.

Before facing the fire spirit and getting the Mystic Soul, I went after the golden bones, which turned out to be a very smart decision as 1 water arrow in my inventory wasn't going to last me against the above mentioned fire spirit. Similar to my habit of blackjacking every human guard or Hammerite I find, I feel the need to eliminate all zombies wandering around the vicinity so they don't bother me when I least expect it, hence why I was stuck with 1 water arrow and no holy water vials. Again, the golden bones helped in that respect.

Like Cragscleft, I did not get all the loot, and I probably could have gone out of my way to get it, but everything I read about the traps behind it, particularly the statues with the death gaze, makes me not want to attempt it until an expert playthrough forces me. It reminds me too much of the segment in Half-Life where you're stuck in a building rigged with trip wires that mean instant death if you trigger them, and I did it the first time despite not liking it, and no clipped my way through in subsequent playthroughs because that sort of scenario is too tense for me. Always feel like the slightest wrong movement will result in a very loud and startling bang.

I do like the level design, and the idea of using the sound of the horn to find its location. But like my first time playing the game, I'm not as fond of going against the enemies that aren't human. Thankfully, Assassins will have me back in territory that I like the best in the game, and I look forward to working my way through that tomorrow.

Stats from the level

Total Time: 53 Minutes 45 Seconds
Found 1465 Loot out of 2215
Back Stabs: 0
Knock Outs: 0
Damage Dealt: 123
Damage Taken: 14
Healing Taken: 13
Innocents Killed: None
Others Killed: 6

Campaign Totals
Time So Far: 2 Hours 31 Minutes 4 Seconds
Loot So Far: 4382
Total Damage Dealt: 395 and Received: 24

DJ Riff on 4/10/2012 at 06:43

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Just a small hint of how to deal with it without wasting any resources:
http://djriff.front.ru/FireShadow2.jpg

And another hint:
http://darkfate.org/files/library/fireb/00.jpg http://darkfate.org/files/library/fireb/03.jpg
And a warning: be sure to throw the corpses far away from the explosion area lest they would eventually penetrate into walls and make a very nasty glitch.

ArclightBorealis on 6/10/2012 at 03:47

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Forgot to do my regular Thief playing last night, and while I would do two missions in one day to make up for the absence of one, Thieves Guild needs its own day because of how big and long that level is from when I last played the game.

Anyway, this is the kind of mission I like best in this game. No zombies, no magic, nothing of the sort. Just being in the city, breaking into a guarded manor and looting the place. Playing this mission on hard was more interesting because of a mistake I made resulting in a new objective. How I got into Ramirez' manor was I swam against the current in the moat and entered the 2nd floor from the south. After looting the place, I decided to exit the same way I came, though a bit more dramatic by jumping off the south balcony into the moat. Unfortunately, this had alerted two guards patrolling the perimeter, and my new objective after getting out was to make it back to Garret's home. I didn't mind it that much because I still got to do some more sneaking in the city streets, and even with so many swordsmen and bowmen walking around looking for me, it was easy for me to slip from shadow to shadow, either blackjacking them or letting them pass, all while referring to my compass and map to find the way back home. Aside from one wrong turn that had me doing a quick reload, I got through the streets without any difficulties. Felt satisfying, getting through an objective that's sprung upon you like that.

As always, I did not end up with all the loot in the level. Got more than enough for the level requirements, and that was just from looting the second floor and the stuff in Ramirez' counting room. Again, it's a fun level, the type that I really like best in this game, and the kind that makes me want Thief II a lot because it is pretty much those sorts of mission. Damn me and my lack of money.

Stats
Total Time: 39 Minutes 16 Seconds
Found 1930 loot out of 2705
Pockets Picked: 4 out of 9
Locks Picked: 8
Back Stabs: 0
Knock Outs: 14
Damage Dealt: 14
Damage Taken: 0
Healing Taken: 0
Innocents Killed: None
Others Killed: 0
Bodies Discovered By Enemies: 1

Campaign Totals
Time So Far: 3 Hours 10 Minutes 20 Seconds
Loot So Far: 6312
Total Damage Dealt: 409 and Received: 24

ArclightBorealis on 8/10/2012 at 05:00

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Another day, another Thief mission completed. This time I went through Constantine's mansion in order to steal his sword. Like a lot of the previous levels I've played so far on Hard, I've been trying to explore every bit in the level that I can looking for loot. That applies to my run through of The Sword, and man...that level has some wonderfully weird level design. I already knew that the first time playing, but exploring every nook and cranny just solidifies that even further.

Things from the Little Big World, to the twisting corridor, to the "space room" for lack of a better name, and the upper floors of the mansion, very well designed and weird. And the thing that adds to the weirdness for me is the game's graphics. Things like the little big world or the twisting corridor would be great to see with more modern graphics, but the more crude and older graphics from that time I feel adds to the abstract nature of this level. I even find the twisting corridor in this more interesting than the one in Ocarina of Time's Forest Temple, which was smooth and not in increments like Thief. Again, looks and feels more abstract because of the graphics of that time.

The one spot that gave me trouble was on the third floor with three patrolling guards along the perimeter of the room where the sword is. Lots of water and moss arrows spent on that area. In fact, a lot of water and moss arrows spent in those areas with tile flooring and lit torches. In hindsight, going through the gardens and the little big world was a smart move, as those provided me with quite a bit more supplies than I started out with.

Stats
Total Time: 1 Hour 11 Minutes 53 Seconds
Found 1836 Loot out of 2656
Pockets Picked: 9 out of 10
Locks Picked: 6
Back Stabs: 0
Knock Outs: 17
Damage Dealt: 17
Damage Taken: 3
Healing Taken: 0
Innocents Killed: None
Others Killed: 0

Campaign Totals
Time So Far: 6 Hours 16 Minutes 56 Seconds
Loot So Far: 10422
Total Damage Dealt: 485 and Received: 27

ArclightBorealis on 8/10/2012 at 15:46

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Not that I noticed. I just jumped on the ring surrounding the sword, grabbed it, jumped back and made a run for the exit.