The Night Watch. Mission 2: Elicitation Jan. 28/07

Martek on 11/2/2007 at 05:28

Quote Posted by Fidcal

Sluggs: I'd like to know how you killed the skeleton as I think you did it the hard way!

I killed the skeleton differently too.

I had the key (curious key, whatever it is called), and noticed the lock in the alcove with the skeleton. You can see it without skelly seeing you. So I readied the curious key and quickly ran up and unlocked the lock and then ran back down the dark hall. Skelly came looking and then gave up. I ran back, over the bridge and ducked under the gate that had opened with the key. Skelly came running after me and died by itself against the gate. I picked up its eyes and went on my merry way... :)

So I have several objectives ticked off from that area now, and am still stumbling and fumbling around the rest of the place.

Cheers,
Martek

Fidcal on 11/2/2007 at 05:48

Gloria : Yes, Nightwatch has been massively beta testing; any rough bits left are entirely my own fault. Sorry. Yes, you should be having fun and that is my fault as I did not realize how players would play until too late to do massive changes! But I'll learn if there's a next time I hope!

Regarding jumping up to frob that lever behind the rounded stone, did you not stand on the stone? It is sometimes awkward to place because of the tight space but just stand on it like a crate or get the chair from the upstairs cupboard (or both!)

You're not finding this bit fun because you are not remembering the hints and clues in-game? And possibly using clues from this thread (like the code) without knowing what they mean? Remember the orders that the spiral stair guard was carrying? At the end it says "one of the duct fans sounds erratic - as though a blade has broken. Get Heaves to have a look when he returns. But put the code in yourself of course." which should tell you that the code turns off the fan. You might have heard its erratic sound turn off when you entered the code but did not know what it was. So where is the fan? The air duct above. You need to get up through that trapdoor (metal hatch) in the ceiling. Yes where that horrible 'hunterthing' (hoverbot) comes from. Now there was another clue in the Guards log book in Mission 1 which Garrett wrote down in the 'My Notes' you have in your inventory in Mission 2 (on Hard and Expert) - the line # Ex-Mech machines setup, light + sound sensitive which are the watcher camera over the Book which sees and the hoverbot which is sensitive to sound. Cover that floor with 3 moss arrows and it will be no trouble down there. To get up through the hatch you can jump and frob it open else stand on the stone or chair. Once open, rope up there and a bit more moss up there can help! (See also my reply to Lynx67 if you have trouble getting by the fan.)

Regarding the book, examine all round the case more closely.

You will find out how to get in the door on the stair as you progress.

Good luck! And remember you can always come back here for help.

Lynx67 : Read my above reply to Gloria and assuming you have done that you can just squeeze by the fan on the left. Some of the gaps in Nightwatch are tiny but you can wriggle through (there are one or two more later in the missions to remember)

Fidcal on 11/2/2007 at 05:57

Martek : Yes, that is the more 'normal' 'legitimate' alternative back up plan to get by if anything else fails. Never intended as first choice of course as the player should normally follow the in-game instructions. BTW you do understand the correct way presumably? And why the Horath dies like that? :thumb:

ss1f on 13/2/2007 at 00:55

I'm also wondering if this was properly beta tested. I'm giving up trying to get to the fan because I'm in the space, have closed the ceiling hatch to protect myself from the hoverbot, and now can't mantle onto a small shelf in front of me, or move into the space with the fan. If this is all supposed to be done with the grate open, operating from a rope arrow, then don't make it possible to close the grate.

Anyway, beautiful mission, but missions that can't be finished won't be long remembered.

Sorry.

Stephen Spear

Nightwalker on 13/2/2007 at 03:34

This mission was very, very thoroughly betatested, I can assure you. A number of us spent several months testing numerous versions. The things you are considering to be "bugs" are not, in most cases. Somethings could not be fixed and others were left the way they are by the author of the mission. It was his perogative and he was aware that some people would perhaps have problems with it, which is why there is a very long, detailed explanation on the Readme page.

Despite the fact that a few people are finding it too difficult to complete, the majority seem to be enjoying finding their way through the missions. They really ARE worth the effort, I assure you. I've played them many, many times and still don't find them boring in the least.

Fidcal on 13/2/2007 at 07:26

ss1f : Sorry for these irritations. Yes, as NW said, it was rigorously betatested for a very long time so any flaws remaining are my fault. Total testing time including alpha and beta testing was 5 months. The more complexities and innovation in a mission then the more there is to go wrong I guess. Now as to your particular difficulties:[spoiler]There is a small switch up on the east wall to open the first grid. It is a bit fiddly sometimes to get in there when open but I always found pulling back a step and trying again I always got in with two or three tries. The high shelf at the back of the vertical shelf is best jumped to from the rope. It can be used to hide from the hoverbot if it is below in the Book room or as a platform to shoot moss into the main airduct once the grid is open.

One 'good' way into the main airduct I found was:
. Rope up from below and stay on the rope
. Look for and frob the switch on the west wall near to the grid
. Jump on to the edge and try to move in.
. If any difficulty, turn and lean over and close the hatch in the floor.
. Put down moss on the hatch and move out on to it.
. Turn and put moss down into the duct to the big fan
. Jump to make sure you are not 'embedded'
. It should now not be too difficult crouching to move into the duct.[/spoiler]
Probably different players have their own routines. It can be awkward which is why I made it optional except on Director's Cut. That is, you do not necessarily need to go that way on Hard and Expert but I hope you persevere and enjoy it.

Elentari on 13/2/2007 at 11:12

Ok, this is stupid. I'm dead-ended stuck. Probably have overlooked something simple, but darned if I can find it.

[SPOILER]I have gotten the golden egg. I've got a gold key. I have my blackjack. I have some oil. I have stopped the gas coming in the glass dome, but I can't get the dome open. I can get back to Gwen, but there does not seem to be anything between the spiral staircase and her tower, except one unconcious guard. (Oh, I had fun slapping him around a bit. He so had it coming after that last mission! :laff:) I've been through the astronomer's room, the store room next to him, I've been in the room with the golden egg and past the fan. But I can't for the life of me find anywhere else to go. And all the doors along the big long hall to the eastern gate are sealed. [/SPOILER]

What've I missed??

Great work, though, Fidcal. :) I'm rather scared to continue now, since apparently poor Garrett's expected and those notes says he's got a nasty surprise waiting. Don't suppose we could convince him to just get the girl out and go home now? Nice, cozy home where its safe?

SinisterShadow on 13/2/2007 at 11:25

Elentari,
[SPOILER]you probably overlooked a thin wire comming out of the glass dome. Follow this wire and have a look where it leads you to.[/SPOILER]

Elentari on 13/2/2007 at 11:35

Ahah. I knew it was something simple.

I thought that was a crack or a texture error. lol I didn't think to look closer.

Thank you! :) Back on my way now.

YONTY on 14/2/2007 at 21:22

think i have done everything but i cannot get back to eastgate help please