UPDATED T2 FM: Finals at the Academy - v2.0 May 6 2012

nickie on 11/2/2012 at 16:49

You'll get to that in due course and it isn't puzzling to do. You'll find you now have access to gates that were locked before so carry on exploring.

cavador_8 on 11/2/2012 at 17:46

I need some help. The Hints and Spoilers is not really helping. I have an Exhibit Key and a Special Collections Unlocking Key and a Coil of Rope for a Rope arrow (which I don't have by the way). I need to solve the ritual objective. Where do I go? I'm not sure what gates need to be opened. The Hints and Spoilers says something about a stairway window. What stairway window? I really need specific instrucions on where to go next. thanks

LarryG on 11/2/2012 at 18:18

Quote Posted by cavador_8

Let's try it this way. First, if you frob the rope coil in your inventory, it will combine with a broadhead in your inventory and become a rope arrow. It's a skill Garrett learned in school.

Second, I think you don't have a Special Collections Unlocking Key but instead have a "Special Collections Unlocking Ring" similar in use to the "Librarian Unlocking Ring" that you found (you did find it, yes?) There is a lock in a stairwell, under a windowsill which is similar to the lock on the Librarian's office door. The "Librarian Unlocking Ring" unlocks the Librarian's office door, and the "Special Collections Unlocking Ring" unlocks the hidden door to the Special Collections area via the lock under the windowsill.

Thirdly, if you have the Ritual objective, then the gates to the necropolis are already open. Ohlm opened them when he escaped. There is a readable about the ritual which you should have found:

Question:
What are Aescha's Stairs and what is found at the top?

Response:
Aescha, Master Keeper and founder of the Delphanic Order of the Keepers, built the Endless Stairs for use in Keeper initiation rites.
The stages in the Delphanic rite of passage are three. First the initiate must pass through the Maze of Anharra unharmed. Second, the initiate must climb Aescha's Endless Stairs. Finally, the initiate must drink the Potion of True Dreams and have a mystic vision.
Only then does one become a Delphanic novice, ready to delve into the deeper Keeper mysteries.
Master Aescha was last seen climbing the Endless Stairs. Some say he waits there for the Unnamed Acolyte.

Instruction:
One path for the wise; one path for the scholar; one path for the strong.

There are other references to the Maze of Anharra and to where Aescha's Stairs are located.

LarryG on 11/2/2012 at 18:34

Quote Posted by Lady Taffer

The only criticism I can think of is concerning the readables. I generally like lots of readables when they add to the story or advance the mission, but I got really really frustrated at the readables that were just random nonsense that had nothing to do with the task at hand and would never be of use. . and these are the ones that always seem to be the longest. There seemed to be more than a few of these in the mission and I just ended up impatiently skimming through them without reading them.

Thank you for the thoughtful criticism. You may not have noticed that the readables with all the essential clues are only one or two pages in length. That was by design. The longer readables, the ones that the less patient players are likely to skim or skip, provide background, atmosphere, hints to optional things to do, and a few attempts as humor. They are intended as to reward those who do like those kinds of things, but not obstruct those who don't. To the extent that you could enjoy the mission without more than skimming them, and to the extent that other players could read and enjoy them, my goal -- to provide a multi-layered mission which could be played and experienced by each player in a different way -- succeeded. Not perfectly. But beyond my expectations. This is my first mission ever, you know. I mean, really my first. No previous practice throwaways even. This is it. I'm still just fumbling around trying to figure out what works and what doesn't.

Anyhow, The next missions in the campaign do not take place in the Keeper Academy, so not so many readables again. I just felt they were essential to keepers and to setting up the story I want to tell. If I had better knowledge of how to do conversations between AIs, I would have used that to expose, show, some of the background instead of having to rely on telling through reading. But I'm learning ...

Lady Taffer on 11/2/2012 at 19:13

Quote Posted by LarryG

This is my first mission ever, you know. I mean, really my first.

:eek:

If that's the case I can't wait to see your next missions. This one looks to me like it was done by a seasoned professional. (Gives me some hope about starting to learn Dromed and mission building. . . though in my case, not much. :cheeky:)

cavador_8 on 11/2/2012 at 21:13

Quote:

There are other references to the Maze of Anharra and to where Aescha's Stairs are located.

I am having difficulty finding Aescha's stairs. I have found the wisdom bell and I know what to do with it but I have no idea where these stairs are located. I am in the Special Collections room with the display cases. I can hear some spiders behind the crawl space with the crates inside but I have no idea if that's where I should go.

Nightwalker on 11/2/2012 at 21:29

You need to complete the other objectives first. You can't get to that area until later on in the mission.

cavador_8 on 11/2/2012 at 21:58

OK, I found the maze. This might be a mission ender right here. I HATE mazes. I mean I really can't stand them and this one goes on and on and on. I might just have to stop right there on this one.

Gloria Creep on 11/2/2012 at 22:27

:nono: It isn't as difficult when you use the map. You wouldn't want to miss out the baby part. :ebil:

:angel:

Catman on 11/2/2012 at 23:13

I'm no fan of mazes myself, but actually, it's one of the best mazes I've seen in a Thief mission, very logically designed. And as Gloria said, if you use the map, it's not particularly difficult.