T1 mages area help (spoilers) - 2000.01.13

fortuni on 12/4/2015 at 19:07

Clarification

There are 3 versions of 'The Mage's Area' available for download, however the ONLY one worth downloading is the 1.1 version available at taffers paradise (http://www.taffersparadise.net/thief1mission/MagesArea,The_ENG.zip)
Darkfate (http://download.darkfate.org/fan-missions/Thief1/Mages_Area/)
wayback (http://www.komag.net/missionst1/MagesArea,The_ENG.zip)

When Madgod first released this mission (1.0 version) it was considered too hard, so he then released a 'lite' version that had more loot (2792 rather than 2522 in the original version) made the AI's easier to deal with, put in more power-ups and repaired a few issues, however it still had some serious bugs so he later released a 1.1 version.....the problem is that both the 1.0 version and the 'lite' version (also 1.0) have issues with Newdark and it is highly likely you will NOT be able to finish the 1.0 version with Newdark

The 1.1 version is basically the 'lite' version with yet more loot (2852) and this plays SO much better, new voice acting (so you can actually understand what is being said), books and scrolls that you can actually read, and most bugs removed and best of all this version LIKES Newdark. There is not a 'lite' version of 1.1

Please note: The version on cheapmission is 1.0.... even though CM says it is 1.1
This version is by far the toughest one to play, but should only be attempted using Olddark

Edit: There is 1 major Newdark bug in both 1.0 and 1.1 versions effecting the Path of Enlightenment, see posts below for details

csamba on 14/4/2015 at 14:49

Quote Posted by fortuni

The 1.1 version ... plays SO much better ... all bugs removed and best of all this version LIKES Newdark

I'm just replaying this (1.1 version, TG with TFix 1.20a / NewDark 1.22, "impossible" difficulty) but my copy does not seem to know it should like Newdark: I'm past the "Enlightened Path" but the floor trapdoor leading to Mike does not open (I hear the opening sound, but nothing happens). If I still continue to the library, the bookswitch on the uppper level likewise fails (it moves and clicks, but does not open anything).

I've (re)played at least a dozen other T1/TG FM's recently, all worked flawlessly. I'd be thankful for any idea...:confused:

fortuni on 14/4/2015 at 15:35

you have found the only (i think half-bug in the mission)..... try again, but this time jump from a couple of feet back from the start of the trap floor and it should give way, the only problem is that likely or not you will hit the stone floor below and so die instantly, so you have to get the jump just right and you will land in the water below.......if that does not work you can do the next area backwards by collecting 3 crate's from the Mage's living area and stack them so you can jump up to the ladder in the ceiling on the other side of the trap floor.....one potential problem with this path is when you come from the caves and past the spiders to enter the Lost corridors where Mike is, when playing 1.0 version i came across a head-bob issue and could not reach the switch to open the secret door panel to access the Lost corridors

so try the jump again, but if that fails and if you do decide to go the alternative route could you let me know whether this head-bob issue occurs in 1.1 version....thanks

csamba on 14/4/2015 at 16:10

Quote Posted by fortuni

you have found the only (i think half-bug in the mission)..... try again, but this time jump from a couple of feet back from the start of the trap floor and it should give way

Thanks fortuni, the jump worked - but it's definitely a bug, because how would you ever come to this idea of jumping around if you didn't know it must be there? Now I'm going to try the bookswitch in the upper library...:idea:

fortuni on 14/4/2015 at 16:22

Ok so its a bug....but blame the Mage's...they have not quite got around to making mechanical things work as well as the Hammers have :D

csamba on 14/4/2015 at 22:24

Quote Posted by fortuni

Ok so its a bug....but blame the Mage's...

Well, to complicate the Mages' blunders further: it was actually the original v1.0 ("hard") version - from Thiefmissions - where the back-jumping (and everything else) worked. Strangely enough it does not work at all in the "Newdark friendly" v1.1 (from Tafferparadise) :(

Thanks for helping to sort this out ;)

voodoo47 on 14/4/2015 at 23:17

the dml from the other topic should fix the jammed trap door. also, if you've got more problems, share saves.

fortuni on 15/4/2015 at 01:45

i found that this 'jump a couple of feet back from the trap floor' worked for both 1.0 and 1.1 versions, the trap floor only worked correctly with Olddark...:confused:

The real deal breaker with 1.0 (Newdark) is once you get to the 'Word' puzzle the double metal doors on the other side of the lava pit do not open, thus the mission ends there. This bug does not happen in 1.1 version (Newdark)

as i said above, you can get around the trap floor issue by stacking crates but if anyone requires a quicksave if you post in this thread saying which difficulty level you are playing i'll replay the mission and post a save

downwinder on 15/4/2015 at 02:18

also when you enter the word puzzle room there is a switch on the left hand side next to the flaming floor torch,i am not sure what it does,as doing puzzle opens door and to get out from inside is with lever,so i got confused there,seems like the big door is on some kind of a timer once its open

fortuni on 15/4/2015 at 02:38

it opens a couple of panels on the right from where you entered (well it does with olddark, with Newdark they just turn insideout, but you can then mantle into the space behind the panel to collect a speed potion)