T2 FM: The Night Falcon (Sep. 4, 2003) - by epithumia
Old Man on 24/9/2003 at 19:04
I suspect you don't really want to hear this, The Fire Eater. Especially after all the grief you went through in this crypt.[SPOILER]I had stated in an earlier posting that I had completely Ghosted this crypt. Those up on the nitty-gritty of Ghost Mode rules know that this is not true. The first bat at the bottom of the stairs alerts when the torch in that room is doused. I had just waited until this bat calmed back down to zero alert level and proceeded from there. Any AI alert that results in the AI changing it's behaviour is a Ghost Mode rules infraction. We generally refer to this as a 2nd level alert. 1st level alerts are accepted by the rules. These usually involve a pair of comments about hearing or seeing something but the AI's behaviour does not change.
Okay. That being said, I am now reporting that I did not lie when I said that I'd Ghosted the crypt. I have done it now. Well, in pieces anyway. I haven't finished this playthrough but I've gotten past all the tricky bits. So, I'm saying I've Ghosted it. Just need to clean up a few loose ends. And I have Ghosted the remaining parts in an earlier playthrough.
Here's the deal. This first bat alerts when the torch is doused. So, the only way to Ghost it is to not douse this torch. Either this or find a silent method of dousing the torch which I couldn't think of. Simple logic. Right? So, I gave it a whirl not really thinking I'd be able. Guess what? No problem. With my stealth increasing dagger in hand, and at times my light gem showing quite bright, this bat didn't bat an eye at my maneuvering through his little world. I've been able to pass through all four doorways into and out of his room without reaction. Furthermore, I've gotten all the way down to the Sceptre without spooking either bat. Of course the bats can't sense anything behind them just like most AI. I took advantage of this trait to run full-tilt through this first bat's room once right behind him and nothing.
So, the author's putting Water arrows handy at the top of the stairs is a ruse. It seems to be doable if no Water arrows are used. Do the bats not see or hear as well if they haven't been alerted already? Dunno, but that 's the way it seems to work out.[/SPOILER]
The Fire Eater on 24/9/2003 at 22:15
[SPOILER]You've got to be kidding...no water arrows used at all anywhere in these areas? How could that be possible if you don't put any out and these Vamps come by while your trying to hide somewhere..like me behind/along side a piller...and not get discovered? I don't think it possible...recalling all the times I got busted for even being anywhere near those entries...with the exception of ex-bat room doorway (but only in one doorway) and in doorway of Fire arrow room...(because they didn't go in there), etc. I did try the Dagger thing a bit but didn't really test it out completely. However, in reading the Diary once into the next level, it very clearly says to get the Sword as it has great power to make you less visible! Now they didn't say that about the Dagger so am wondering what's going on with that?[/SPOILER] Anyway, I know you are a great Ghoster and if there's a way, it's been said, you'll find it :D and I'm a little aware of some of those rules but not all of them/different methods. I congratulate you for your perserverance and your accomplishment to get it done in there and to find the method by which you can :) I'm just happy to get out of there!!! LOL It may not have been with finesse but I don't really concern myself with that...just get it done the best way I can and move on! ;)
[SPOILER]Actually, the first early run of this next Mission, I really blew it...I didn't seem to be doing things right at all..using some of my stuff too soon, getting busted when in-between those two large gates before you get to Cathedral...imagine my Oh...s...t not again when I was crouched down in front of the closed doors, in the middle, and the Guard on the other side..got alerted and started swinging at me through the doors??? He finally managed to get the doors open, which pushed me away some, then I tried running from him still taking damage but finally got my last gas arrow out, turned and shot him...but by then I only had one life point left :( So I decided, since I have an idea now what this area is all about, I started over from another save I had but after I had gotten the stuff from that girls house. Consequently, I did a much better job of getting in and have KO'd all the Guards outside (except the two at the first gate) and the one that comes in the Entry area. At this point I'm back in the Bell Tower room and trying to determine if I can and if worth the trouble to try and get what looks like an invis in a window shelf? Angle seems pretty difficult for rope to clear beams and stuff and also not able to see a way that I can get it at the proper angle to allow me to mantle on the beam so I can reach it :( I found the slo-fall so that I wouldn't have to use another moss arrow and save my rope too...but it's just too straight up a shot I think? Hah, I did manage to jump up and get statue on top of the cabinet without alerting those two inside patrolling but got to figure something out since I need to get to the other side as well. I have the stairway darkened on the bottom and wondering if I should be going that way first? I did see some Hammers up top when passing by the door in that area
:( Seems pretty busy up there :([/SPOILER] None-the-less, it's eventually what I need to do soooo....tally ho!!! LOL
Ta and Good Hunting!
Wynne on 25/9/2003 at 08:39
ARRRGGGHHHSWITCHES!
Wonderful AI. I felt sad that I couldn't kill them all (I like to play super undead stealth assassin, which loud exploding vampires don't allow), but there was great use of different kinds of enemies that never quite strayed into unbelievable frustration territory (like the first version of "Mages' Area" did, when the haunts were unkillable and you couldn't get past that haunt on that tiled floor where that candle was patrolling because you had no water arrows in the small cramped space etc.) I usually don't like city areas all that much, but Christine really knows how to make them interesting.
Christine and company, you did an absolutely fabulous job. The whole mission pack had a great feel to it and there were some beautiful areas, but by far, the end mission had it in terms of beauty. The castle! Oh, my! :eek:
The vampires were some ugly sons of mothers, the bats were nasty/impossible to get past if alerted, and the dark knights were quite cool. The frost burricks were odd but interesting, and those ice beasts were pretty freakish. Good, good job. Nice atmosphere and solid work all around. The only blight is those blasted switches, and overall, they still weren't enough to stop me playing. :D
The Fire Eater on 26/9/2003 at 23:45
Didn't want this to get lost in the shuffle...
I'm now in Mission #4 and just starting the Cyrpt in that one. [SPOILER]What I wanted to say was that I have tested the Dagger out a bit more and find that, yes indeed it also does apparently help your cover of shadow :) Don't know if the "Sword" will do it even more so but the Dagger is limited. I find that if I'm in more direct light it doesn't help but in subdued lighting or far enough away from bright light source...it does darken you! How about that....so you do have to be careful where and when you use/switch to another weapon or you could find yourself revealed :D Thanks for the tip about that and now at least I can get a little more help here and there :) My only problem now is "all" the "Z's" that come walking by :eek: and I thought there were a lot of Hammers patroling around earlier! LOL![/SPOILER] Ta and Good Hunting!
Old Man on 27/9/2003 at 08:05
You are now the expert on weapon special properties in Night Falcon, The Fire Eater. I didn't even notice anything unusual until the last mission, The Brotherhood of the Falcon. And I don't remember making use of it at all in my original playthroughs. It wasn't until I went back in to follow you around that I fooled with it a bit.
This is not the first time it's been included with a Fan Mission, either. I can't recall them all but Calendra's Legacy included a similar capability. You may want to play with it a bit more and see if it has other characteristics. It may also inflict more damage per swat than the game's regular melee weapons. Dunno.
I don't recall the crypt in The Cathedral and I wouldn't be much help with Zombies anyway since I really don't like them much and probably just ran hard past them all not worrying whether they noticed me or not.
Thanks for the update. Enjoy.
The Mike on 28/9/2003 at 05:07
BUMP!
(sorry, my thread was getting low and I got scared....):erm:
Orobas on 28/9/2003 at 14:39
Has anyone tried the Rogue's Brown Bars recipe in "Christmas Shopping"?
I'm a cook in the real world, and was just wondering.
:cheeky: :D
Orobas on 28/9/2003 at 17:13
I'm in the area with the three snow beasts, with the gate that separates me from the castle. There are some guards outside and a floating snow (elemental?) how do i get past the gate. I've tried frobbing it, searching, but to no avail.
Nightwalker on 28/9/2003 at 17:29
If you're by the front gate [SPOILER] you can't get in that way. You need to go find another way in. Look around for a tunnel in the snow. [/SPOILER]
AlexDaGreat on 29/9/2003 at 00:48
Fighting those vampires is one of the most enjoyable challenges Ive faced in Thief in a while, Ive saved every piece of ordnance for them and Ive got it saved with all but three dead. I may start over and just douse the bastards with all my bulbs at one time. I did that when I killed the first six or so, the front area of the crypt looked like a fourth of july fireworks show. If I only had one more noisemaker arrow I could nuke em I think. The crypt is incredibly scary, the first time I walked down the stairs my heart was racing. .I like the new burricks but was kind of hoping they would be like a veloci-burrick and attack with their teeth. that would have scared the schnitzel out of me. I dont know crap about Dromed, so forgive an innocent question, would a flying burrick be possible? Or even a DRAGON?!? Mmmm, dragons....That would be a fanstastic mission to play, robbing a dragons lair. Ooo, there could even be a ring of invisibility to find in a submission. I wouldnt be foolproof though, noises could reveal you of course and maybe the dragon and other animals could smell you. Can AIs be made to "smell" Garrett? To balance out the tremendous advantage of extended invisibility it could slowly drain Garretts health, gradually speeding up until it kills him. Anyway, thanks to everyone responsible for this top flight FM, Im looking forward to working on it tonight.
AdG
