Goldsla on 13/7/2007 at 07:19

---

* * * * * * *
U P D A T E D
* * * * * * *

Thanks to a questioning of the ghostability of this mission by Klatremus, I have replayed it (Sept 19, 2008), and with a better understanding of the (http://forums.eidosgames.com/showthread.php?t=30310) ghosting rules than I had in my earlier run, I now withdraw my prior claim to have ghosted this mission.

There are two problems with ghosting Ominous Bequest, and both of them fall within the purvue of the following statement from the official ghosting rules:
[INDENT]It is not acceptable, however, to incur a ghost bust that the player thinks is "necessary" to meet another objective. For example, it is not allowed to KO an AI or slash a banner simply because they stand in the way of meeting another objective, such as stealing something.[/INDENT]

There are two places in the mission which bust the ghost beyond my ability to stretch the rules (not for lack of trying :tsktsk:):


* Cutting the wire to turn off the security system
* Blowing the horn to open the trap door

The 1st is a clear property damage, and the second clearly alerts some AIs (the burricks). You can get into the alcove without alerting them, but blowing the horn clearly busts the ghost when they alert.

If I had read an earlier (http://forums.eidosgames.com/showthread.php?p=245061#post245061) ghosting report by Vanguard (at EIDOS) I would have known. But I didn't, and so didn't. In it he says:
[INDENT]"However, to turn off the power requires you use the sword to cut a wire. This would be similar to the author forcing you to slash a banner. To satisfy the objective you have to commit property damage but that is not allowed for ghosting. Busted."

and

"When caught in the burrick trap, you can sneak to the exit without alerting the burricks. However, you have to use the horn to open the exit floor panel and this alerts the burricks. Ghost busted again."[/INDENT]

I have to agree. This mission cannot be ghosted. It is still a GREAT mission though!


Ghost - FAILED
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
E N D O F U P D A T E
* * * * * * * * * * * * *


Perfect Thief - Failed

Stats:
Difficulty: Expert
Total Time: 4 hrs 31 min 15 seconds
(I enjoyed the scenery & had to loop back often looking for loot. Still did not find it all.)
Found: 7695 Loot of 8000
Pockets picked: 7 of 7 Locks picked:17
Backstabs: 0 KOs: 0
Innocents Killed: 0 Others Killed: 0
Iron Beasts: 0 Disabled: 0
Bodies Discovered: 1
(!?! I think this was when I [SPOILER]sliced the book, before Kadar dies he may see 1 of the Haunt bodies that result from the book being destroyed.[/SPOILER] Is this a bust??? I did not KO anyone; should I be responsible for a body inadvertently created completing the primary objective? Inquiring minds want to know your opinion.)
Secrets: 8 of 8

Consumables used: Only those required for plot. No torches doused. No moss arrows. No potions.

Question: is flipping a switch or opening a door which causes an AI action without an alert a bust?? There are a couple of places where I did so to get an AI out of the way, but only one that I think is unavoidable: [SPOILER]getting the loot from the interior balcony.[/SPOILER] The other time I did that was [SPOILER]getting by the guard in front of Benny's locker, before I found the passage behind him. Turns out you can open the nearest locker, and he comes over to close it without alerting, you can then sneak behind him and ...[/SPOILER]

Absolutely awsome game. I have just discovered the FM scene and the TTLG Forum, and thought I would add my thanks to and praise of Eshaktaar, the team that created this FM, and all the beta testers. Awsome job one and all. Thank you. This is the 4th FM I have played so far (I have also completed Calenrdra's Legacy, L'Arsene, and Benny's Dead) (besides TX2, which is in a league of its own!), and this is right up there with them. I understand there are now more missions in this universe by Eshaktaar. I am very much looking forward to finding them and trying them out.

* * * An Unpaid Public Service Announcement * * *
For all of you out there who have considered ghosting missions, but think it is too hard . . . go for it! Not all missions can be ghosted due to their design, but most can. And the feeling you get when you completly ghost a mission is wonderfull. After you have got your ghosting feet wet, try for Perfect Thief. Less missions allow this, but it is great when you can do it.

A Personal note on Klepto-Thief, Loot Lists, and Walkthroughs:
I try for Perfect Thief everytime out, and all "goodies" (i.e. non-loot, storable items) too (aka "Klepto-Thief"). [Klepto-Thief is harder to be sure of though, as there are not always lists of everything to check against. And even when there are, they are not always complete. I try to contact the authors of the loot lists whenever I find a goodie not included on their list. Seems a way of giving back.]

After completeing a mission to the best of my ability, I always try to find a wallkthrough, or read through a thread like this one. I like to see how other folk solved the problems of the mission. Was their way better or worse than mine? There is a lot to learn about how to approach a mission just from reading someone else's walkthrough or comments. My hat is off to the dedicated folk who create the loot lists and walkthroughs. [I may try my hand at one someday, but only if I think that I have something unique to contribute. There is no point in my rehashing something that has already been well done ... like ffox's walkthrough <above>. Good work ffox! Thanks. I learned from it.

I know that some consider walkthroughs and loot lists EVIL, but I think that the EVIL is in misusing them to get through a game without having to wrestle with the puzzles set by the mission authors. Use them only after you have conquered the game to learn how to do it better in future missions. You'll become a better Thief if you do.

End-of-Soap-Box

Thanks again to Eshaktaar & co. GREAT JOB!