Alex the Gray on 11/5/2006 at 15:20
Robert E. Howard rode horses, climbed mountains, and fenced. Fritz Leiber told me in a letter that occasionally his characters Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser influenced him to sail, climb, or learn about fencing.
Since playing the first Thief game years ago I have taken up kettlebells, for the type of strength/endurance you'd need, resumed Iyengar yoga, took up Kempo-jutsu, rock-climbing, kayaking, started puttering with locksmithing, took up sabre in a local fencing school, free-running, etc. Haven't actually done any breaking and entering, (they frown upon that here, locally), but I actually look upon this as a positive thing, and it helps keep me in shape, sharp, and active. Also, thinking about the aforementioned authors, also in good company.
I've read some posts about people puttering with locksmithing, but wondered if anybody else got off the sofa and actually experimented with the "how WOULD you do that?" aspect of the game.
Stay dark......
Hewer on 11/5/2006 at 15:52
You're 48 and you do all that stuff? Man, I'd like to, but I've got two jobs just to keep a nostril above water. The best I can do is commute to and from work 20 miles one way by bicycle. Not a very thievish activity, however. And since when did Garret ever kayak? :p I used to fence european broadsword style, but the group broke up under bad circumstances. too bad. It wasn't SCA.
Fig455 on 11/5/2006 at 16:08
I am a certified lock-smith and was a security guard for a long time, but I started both before THief. They helped make the game cooler when I finally got into it, though.
Alex the Gray on 11/5/2006 at 16:30
That's part of my point! I can work circles around people half my age, and my immediate supervisor is younger than me, but looks older. It way beats sitting in front of the boob tube. I got a kayak to paddle around in- not for rapids. I wanted a 'little boat" too- and also took up occasionally snorkeling during summer, for those "aquatic approaches." My wife and I like to go through a roving archery course at the local Isaac Walton league- I have a takedown recurve, of course. She outshoots me, but it is great fun. Think about kids- play all day, never get tired, can do anything. I think that is important- kids crosstrain. They never specialize. Garrett may not be as strong as a Hammer, or as good a fencer as a professional guard, but his assortment of skills gets him through. I try to remember those dreaded words "repetitive trauma". You can have great fun doing a lot of things, practiced when you can. You'll avoid a lot of overuse injuries that way, too.
I enjoy trying to duplicate things Garrett has to do, or try to fugure out how I would do them. You want a goal for this summer? Learn how to mantle! Full upper body excercise- free hanging pull-up, followed by a "muscle up" to your stomach, then a dip. Took me a year and a half.
z-vap on 11/5/2006 at 17:25
Quote Posted by Alex the Gray
I've read some posts about people puttering with locksmithing, but wondered if anybody else got off the sofa and actually experimented with the "how WOULD you do that?" aspect of the game.
Maybe setup some fake doors in your house, with various locks on them. In Thief3, you can see Garrett had a lock on his wall that he (no doubt) used to keep himself sharp.
Goldmoon Dawn on 11/5/2006 at 20:52
Quote Posted by Alex the Gray
Since playing the first Thief game years ago I have taken up kettlebells, for the type of strength/endurance you'd need, resumed Iyengar yoga, took up Kempo-jutsu, rock-climbing, kayaking, started puttering with locksmithing, took up sabre in a local fencing school, free-running, etc. Haven't actually done any breaking and entering, (they frown upon that here, locally)
I've read some posts about people puttering with locksmithing, but wondered if anybody else got off the sofa and actually experimented with the "how WOULD you do that?" aspect of the game.
Stay dark......
I totally understand what you are saying, but it's probably because I myself am a lot like Garrett. When I was a kid, I too was taken in by Keepers. :p
Seriously, ever since I was a kid, I was always fascinated with "hiding in shadows". Mostly to see what all my relatives were up to at parties and whatnot. I've always been a loner, yet popular with the "Rogues Gallery". I break Garrett's in-game thieving approach into two different movements. The first is the setup. This is where Garrett/me-you takes in all the surroundings, "AI" movements, and loot placements. The second one is obviously the grab. My entire life has been kind of like one big setup, as I have yet to make a grab. I have no intention of stealing anything, but I truly believe that the magic lies in the journey, not the destination.
Kettlebells, you say? I hadn't considered that until now. I do work 6 days a week for the local Italian bakery as a route driver. While on the route, I move quietly and swiftly, am rarely noticed and when I am, quickly forgotten. I start at 2:00 a.m. and finish at 10:00 a.m. Throughout my "day" I often come across little baubles and trinkets, that would be very easy to grab. I never do. Seriously. :)
