<Username> on 18/8/2022 at 15:31

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Having played v3.0, v2.0 and v1.1 of The Blue Rose, I think I like this version the best. Some areas are improved or added in later versions, but all the mandatory secrets and superfluous extra areas that annoyed me in v2.0 and v3.0 are absent here.

The only remaining download location of v1.1 seems to be (http://downloads.ttlg.com/download.aspx?id=2183) TTLG. A few mirrors could prevent this version from disappearing from the WWW.

Stats:
* Expert difficulty
* 68 minutes
* 92% loot
* 0 hints needed
Elements in v1.1 than I think are better than in v2.0:
* This version has loot glint. (Loot glint later reintroduced in v3.0.)
* This version does not have forced ghosting.
* This version does not have either a fence or a shop. (Fence and shop later removed again in v3.0.)
* This version does not have any doors or swirling blue clouds that teleport you around the map.
* This version does not force you to exploit an engine glitch to climb over the flying buttress to the balcony of Master Blanfor's study. (v3.0 does force the player to do that either.)
* More Enforcers are patrolling near the starting location. This makes the beginning more challenging, which I thought was good. I don't know why Savar later decided to reduce the number of Enforcers in the area. I thought it was fine.
* There is no Enforcer on the balcony above the main entrance, directly across the starting location. This area had no proper in v2.0. (Enforcer later removed again in v3.0.)
* The entrance to the Forbidden Library is more obvious because the bookshelf that conceals it has no books in it. This is better in my opinion.
* The Forbidden Library is smaller and looks better in my opinion. It is more difficult to get all three Enforcers in this area, but as usual you can draw them out with noise and then pick them off one by one.
* The Enforcer Alphabet is at a more logical location.
* There is a neat loot location where you can spot a ring gleaming in the distance from a balcony.
* Several corridors lined with doors to sleeping quarters were added in v2.0, but these detracted from my enjoyment of the mission due to their repetitiveness. They felt superfluous during my playthroughs of v3.0 and v2.0. Now I know they were tacked on later.
Elements in v1.1 that I think were improved from v2.0 onwards:
* The library has an upper area with beds that that you can only get to by climbing on a bookshelf. It feels a bit out of place. I can see why Savar wasn't happy with it and removed it.
* Three Enforcers in the south garden is a bit too challenging. Good on Savar from removing one of them in subsequent versions.
* The refectory hall was completely redesigned, and its upper area was removed.
* The central hall was completely redesigned. I miss the side room with Martin's dagger from v1.1, but overall, I prefer the redesign of this area in v2.0 onwards.
* Some of the upper floor areas with their brown walls and sparse decorations look a bit ugly.
Other architectural differences between v1.1 and v2.0:
* V1.1 does not have the belltower. Instead, the bell can be found in the north garden.
* There are much fewer balconies on the outside of the building and the railings of all balconies are solid objects.
* Eric the Architect's room and the secret area below it do not exist.
Bugs:
* An Enforcer in the central hall carries a candle that does not fall from his hand when he is knocked out. The candle cannot be extinguished either. If you knock him out, other AI will always spot him due to the light. After a few attempts, I got lucky: His hand along with the candle went through the floor when he went down. This meant the light from the candle was not visible to me or any AI anymore.
Keys:* In the Forbidden Library, on a desk next to readable book.
* In a room with three Enforcers next to a large table with the map of the City on it. I got a key from belt of the bald, unmasked Enforcer. This key unlocks the room on the upper floors where you find the book with information about the Enforcer Order.
* Key on a bookshelf in the room with the journal "I often dream of that great night..." Unlocks a door in the same room.