Rga_Noris on 30/5/2011 at 20:43
So the 'New Tech'... All Thief sequels have it. TMA had the robots that needed a new approach to be defeated, and TDS had the walking statues and puppets.
For Thief 4, I was thinking about some guards using a steam-punkish, primative radio system. Certain guards would be wearing obvious backpacks with antennas. There are a multitude of ways to do this, but here are a few ideas:
Basically, the back pack would feature a small port similar to the burners on the bots in TMA. The player could fire a water arrow to disable the radio pack. This could either cause the guard to be alerted to the players presence, or perhaps even distract him as he takes off his pack to investigate why it is broken, or possibly to re-light it.
Taking a guard out could either simply mean he/she is done for, or cause other, non-radio guards (or maybe ONLY radio guards) from a central location to be dispatched to see why Benny hasn't checked in. Levels with radio guards could also require a control room that could be disrupted by the player.
If a player is caught, the guard could call other radio guards, or sound an alarm.
Anywho. Thoughts?
Goldmoon Dawn on 30/5/2011 at 21:59
Im still waiting for a guard to spot Garrett and run off to get another guard, and have both guards actually come back to investigate. lol
Rga_Noris on 31/5/2011 at 00:00
Not really practical though. From the guard's perspective, he sees a guy he can likely take in a fight. Now he can either fight him, or get help. But if you were playing and the guard ran away to get help, how likely is it that you would still be there when he returns?
SubJeff on 31/5/2011 at 01:53
Nah, radios are unnecessary as shouting at night would carry far enough and the tech is just a bit too much. I'd be all for a supernatural enemy that can communicate telepathically in a way you cannot disable though.
In fact I suggested to The Dark Mod that the Revenant should be able to sense you telepathically even if he can't locate you, and that he could threaten you telepathically. If he sees you all undead know where you are and come hunting. This approximates the radio idea somewhat.
Guards may not run for help but they'll know each others' locations so they if there is someone to shout for.
Rga_Noris on 31/5/2011 at 02:51
Well, think of larger missions, where another guard could be a ways off. Also, the tech is well within Thief tech... remember the radio towers to trigger the servants in the last level of TMA?
The issue I have is that, as of now, any guard you run into can be flash bombed and KO'ed, to no ill effect. Have a guard that will radio as soon as you are spotted, you have an issue. Sure, you can knock him out, but others will come looking, or an alarm will sound because the main dispatch knows you are present...
Also keep in mind this would be a rare enemy, used sparingly up until the final levels, where they may be more common. Would add an extra challenge.
I think if the Thief Universe can have mechs walking around with a radio(ish) ability to catch a signal and detonate, then I don't see how a clunky back pack style radio would not fit in.
jtr7 on 31/5/2011 at 03:44
Players do play where they intentionally attract AIs and snipe 'em, even though it's not in character, there are missions that don't fail if the player does it. It's more realistic that if a guard does run to get another guard, that they both return to the area, as opposed to the second guard looking for the intruder in the immediate area, not just becoming alerted. TDS had nobles and commoners running to get a guard, and had both coming back. It was sometimes odd when they'd try to run past a visible Garrett to the area.
Xorak on 31/5/2011 at 06:04
I like the idea that the guards are in communication with each other, but the guards carrying radios seems too modern. Kind of like what Subjective Effect mentioned, I'd rather have guards like the mechanical-servants who are mentally connected and basically act as scouts. They can either fight Garrett or set off alarms or whatever. Imagine if when they spotted Garrett, they could intelligently determine where Garrett might go next depending on his direction of travel, and thus have guards arrive at that location even before Garrett gets there.
GlasWolf on 31/5/2011 at 14:50
Hmmm... speaking tubes...
Or maybe they could just bang a big gong or something.
Surreal Imposter on 31/5/2011 at 18:15
Or use a signal flare to summon other guards to their position. This would cause some interesting shadow creation if the flare has a trajectory and changing intensity levels. Not a very Thiefy idea though.
Tomi on 31/5/2011 at 18:48
Quote Posted by Surreal Imposter
flare
Quote Posted by Surreal Imposter
Not a very Thiefy idea though.
Inline Image:
http://i52.tinypic.com/2dgpb4p.gif :p
