demagogue on 28/8/2011 at 04:30

---

I don't know your situation, but you might be reloading a save at the start of the level, in which case: a conversation can break if you reload from a saved game (IIRC), so you might go to the previous level, complete it again, and restart that level from scratch. Or if you don't have a previous save, start over and use the key-combination to skip levels back to it.

Bruny on 9/11/2001 at 17:40

---

I am completely, REALLY, stuck:
[SPOILER]I've been as far through the mansion as I can except for all the doors I can't open. I have the front foor key and the storage room key and that's it. I figure I need to get into those locked rooms on the third floor somehow and also into the library. Lockpicks don't work, no keys, doors don't bash open. I've been pretty careful to check for keys on people's belts. A hint would be appreciated.[/SPOILER]

Northon on 11/11/2001 at 08:30

---

I've finished the mission (great ending BTW), but there were a couple doors I was never able to get into:
[SPOILER]The door across from the museum entrance and the metal door in the courtyard. Anyone know where to find their keys?[/SPOILER]

Toulomne on 10/10/2019 at 10:11

---

What a mission!

I know this is an old thread that hasn't seen any action in some time, but I only got around to play this FM in the Fall of 2019 so I thought I'd post my enthusiastic thoughts about how well this mission was designed. It still holds up many years later :) Some of my favorite aspects were:

1) the color palette seemed like it was very thought out and unique: the purples and rosy hues in the sky, the walls of the basement entrance, and even the purplish wood came together really nicely

2) some of the room layouts and design were outstanding; I particularly loved the kitchen for some reason (maybe my favorite kitchen of any Thief mansion I've seen) and the cozy library with the fireplaces.

3) the writing was fabulous; one of the biggest put-offs for some more mediocre FMs I've played is when the writing isn't good. It completely rips it apart for me when the writing is amateurish and instantly kills the immersion. This mission delivers!

4) I enjoyed the feeling of suspense some of the story points created: the voice of the haunted girl made me think some confrontation with a ghost girl was going to come; I also got really excited by the idea of the secondary objective to explore a haunted mausoleum below the mansion. As an aside, one of my favorite all time favorite Thief missions and most memorable on my first playthrough was the Bonehoard. Nothing quite like that feeling of descending deeply into the unknown, in a place full of traps, undead and mysteries. I was hoping it would end up being something like that, and wished it could have been longer in this mission, but nevertheless, it kept me very curious and interested throughout the mission. The mysteries of the "kidnapping," knocking out of the servant couple etc. also kept things interesting. I deduced from reading the guest list, which missed Serephina's name, and the writings in her room that Serephina is Alexandria; I think the mission did great at hinting things without giving them away outright.

5) Good initial loadout of items \ arrows and guard patrols & locations. I played this late at night, turned down the lights, and decided to go through carefully trying to do the mission without saving \ loading and taking my time. Some of the guards definitely gave me trouble and needed some patience \ careful observation to do on the first try blindly. I ended up successfully doing the mission without ever dying \ needing to reload (had some small gaffes like shooting a noisemaker arrow at my own gasmine and wasting it but never anything too disastrous). I only choked at the very end of act 2 because I could not for the life of me find the switch in the secret attic. I actually thought my mission was bugged because of the unfrobbable treasure chests (I just always expect chests to be frobbable I guess, so this is my only design complaint :).

I understand a part 2 was in the works to elaborate on some of the things left unresolved, like the daughter's death, who saves Garrett in the end, etc., too bad it was never released...nevertheless amazing mission and it gets 5 stars from me : ) I'm quite new to Thief FMs...I have only played T2X and the Inverted Manse last winter (which all get also glowing 5 star reviews), and now this mission, along with some less quality missions that weren't memorable enough to remember the name of and I never finished :p I just hope I am not ruining my FM experiences by playing all the best ones first!

PS: when I first learned of the mausoleum below the library, I guessed where the entrance was going to be and correctly guessed that desk was going to move aside :D

baeuchlein on 19/12/2019 at 08:11

---

So he farts and everyone nearby falls unconscious, including himself? Quite a toxic guy, this Brady!:laff: