Galaer on 19/1/2020 at 20:55
AUTO-EQUIP CHALLENGE FOR THIEF 2
Played on Expert, Newdark
My previous challenges were all about restricting some movement abilities. This one is more about mechanic. In other words you can only use weapons/items via auto-equip. This means you can only use it by grabbing weapons/items during the mission. Scrolling weapons/items and using binds is forbidden.
This means that using sword, blackjack and lockpicks is also forbidden, because there is no way to grab them. At least not in Thief 2 at any point. After reloading game our weapon/item vanish and in order to use it again you will be forced to grab another one. This means that I'm gonna need to transport my weapon/item without saving.
Weapon's advantage is they don't vanish when I pick some object (crate/body). Item's advantage is that most of them can be dropped. This way you can create checkpoints for yourself. Except flash bombs. That's why you can use it only nearby it's finding spot. There are also some special keys/items that can't be dropped. I will need to preserve them to the place where I want to use them.
In other words this challenge will have a little of ghost challenge, a little of ironman with some restriction with weapons/items usage. This will be interesting. And I'm playing Thief 2 first, because last time I barely even spoken about backward challenge for Thief 2.
MISSION 1 - RUNNING INTERFERENCE
First of all, I can't go to the basement, because there is no water arrow to find anywhere nearby. In fact I couldn't find any in the whole mission. So instead I went to 1st floor. Here is annoying to avoid guard on short patrol.
Getting key from Dining Room requires sending elevator down and quickly grabbing key from guard's belt. Then you need to transport it into 2 places: east door of 1st floor and to the basement to get access to pair of guards (you will also need to avoid guard on short patrol with a key, this may be annoying).
Then you will need to use blackjack to KO 8 guards (bust #1). Prioritize guards on the Basso's path and don't save during this objective. Then you need to go outside and use birdcall (bust #2).
STATS:
Time: 30 min 3 s; Loot: 1285/1285
Pockets Picked: 5/9
Back Stabs: 0; Knock Outs: 8
Damage Dealt: 8; Damage Taken: 0; Healing Taken: 0
Innocents killed: 0; Others killed: 0
Iron Beasts Destroyed: 0; Disabled: 0
Secrets: 3/3
Busts: 2 (blackjack + birdcall)
Galaer on 19/1/2020 at 20:56
MISSION 2 - SHIPPING... AND RECEIVING
First mission with lockpicks, which I can't use. Archers have broadhead arrows. I'm grabbing one and shoot in a few wooden boxes around Building A. It will be useful when I will need to shoot into spiders.
I'm using back door to get to Building A. I never knew that guard inside must be triggered by going on stairs. Otherwise he will stay upstairs. From counter I grab Building A key and transport it to the bottom of chute. Then I'm going to main office and grab white key. I transport it to the bottom of the chute too.
In Lord Porter first I grabbed broadhead arrow from archer. I could also use one of arrows I shot in wooden boxes. I shoot arrow into wooden floor inside and close hangar. Now I can safely save. Thanks to this arrow I'm grabbing 2 secrets.
Looks like I didn't need Building A key. I can drop Shipping Label like every other item and easily transport it to Gilver.
When I searched for my broadhead arrows stuck in wooden boxes, I noticed that they all vanished. I discovered that after around 1 min if you go away, arrows disappear. This doesn't happen if you always look at them. But looks like it's better to grab them from archers or placed where they were placed by creators. Otherwise I need to be very quick with my business. Still shooting arrow in wood is good way, because it let me save game and make a checkpoint. I just need to be very quick with my business.
I had weird situation at Kilgor. I went there. Nobody outside, so somehow I missed conversation, door opened and on the other side there were Hammerite and noble. Maybe they got alerted by me failing to kill spiders next door. They spot me, so I reloaded. This time door were closed and there was nobody inside. Not like there was anything for me to gather. I can't use lockpicks in this challenge.
I didn't need Building B key, but I needed Davidson's key. On expert I need to gather 5 bags of spices. I gathered 3 from warehouse in Building B. One require some precise strafe jumping+mantling. For other I destroyed glass with arrow stolen from 2nd floor archer (glass destruction second alert everyone, so stationary archer may stop moving inside after reload) on roof and dropped with key. Yes, in this mission I need to do crazy stuff while carrying key. That's annoying. The easiest bag is in office on 2nd floor.
On the ship I grabbed 3 bags of spices: from box in bedroom, from thief and from spider storage. I didn't kill the spiders. I let them attack thief and the result was quite funny. First thief dropped under deck. Second thief that came destroyed nearby crate, then felled into water together with 1 spider and both of them died. Last spider attacked third thief on pier. Thief felled into water, but it wasn't deep enough to cover his head and drown him. While in water he slashed spider and killed him. And he became the only survivor.
Mission completed, but it's impossible to get all loot and secrets. I can't get rope arrows, because I need lockpicks to open chests with it, that also counts as secrets. 2 spices on ship require slashing banners.
STATS:
Time: 1 hour 26 min 53 s; Loot: 1500/1665
Pockets Picked: 8/18; Locks Picked: 0
Back Stabs: 0; Knock Outs: 0
Damage Dealt: 30; Damage Taken: 0; Healing Taken: 0
Innocents killed: 0; Others killed: 4 (spiders in Myne Steaks Warehouse)
Iron Beasts Destroyed: 0; Disabled: 0
Secrets: 8/14
Busts: 0
Galaer on 19/1/2020 at 20:57
MISSION 3 - FRAMED
I can't enter Bar and sewers. So in order to enter Police Station I am forced to use the same route like during my backward run. Mantle on generator near canal and then to the walls and drop on balcony. Then I ride on service elevator to Mess Hall. Then I go west to Basement. Morgue is available via east stairs.
East side of Basement is blocked by doors opened only with lockpicks. Here I can only grab statuette and 3 water arrows. I'm using them to douse torches on 1st floor.
To Sheriff Truart's Office you can get from Training Room without rope arrow. Just mantle on training dummy, then mantle upstairs.
To get back to 2nd floor I'm using service elevator in Mess Hall. For Moseley and Hagen Offices you need 2 different lockpicks, so that's bust #1-2. I'm leaving handkerchief in Hagen's Office and instead transport Moseley key to Archives on 1st floor. Of course I doused torch there. I steal key from guard and open door, then I sneak to Archives with Moseley key.
After getting code leave via secret passage. And don't forget Mosely key, because it also opens Vault. You need to take all the way to Warden Affairs on 2nd floor and open door leading to Vault. You also need key from nearby patroller. Leave all door open on the path. Because now you need to grab strong box and take it all the way to Hagen's Office.
Problem with stron box and also with handkerchief is these items can't be used, they can only be dropped. So without dropping they become inactive after 15 seconds. So you need to drop them before that happens. Otherwise you will need to select them again, which will be another bust. Plus strong box drops louder than handkerchief. Luckily you don't need Moseley key anymore.
After dropping strong box in Hagen's Office take his handkerchief to Vault. Afterwards you can leave via Reception on 1st floor. This challenge is becoming tricky. Also I got more loot than I expected. There was so many chests locked.
STATS:
Time: 52 min 58 s; Loot: 1103/1378
Pockets Picked: 3/3; Locks Picked: 2
Back Stabs: 0; Knock Outs: 0
Damage Dealt: 0; Damage Taken: 0; Healing Taken: 0
Innocents killed: 0; Others killed: 0
Iron Beasts Destroyed: 0; Disabled: 0
Secrets: 9/9
Busts: 2 (2 lockpicks needed to open Moseley's and Hagen's Offices)
Galaer on 12/2/2020 at 21:03
MISSION 4 - AMBUSH!
This mission is short. I searched canal for purse, but couldn't find it. Then went to my apartment to get loot from previous mission and key to Shalebridge. And that's where challenge starts. I use canal to return to Marketplace. Whore spots me and guard with purse go into search mode. I dropped the key and took his purse (the only loot I found in this mission). I escaped from guard via nearby ladder and went in direction of Police Station.
There is 3 guard patrol that I dodged. Under wooden planks is another guard. I can't go inside house to dodge her, because I can't equip lockpicks. That's why I just run around her, she alerts and other patrollers spot me and shoot arrows. But final gate is very close. I quickly opened gate and ran away from guards.
Navigating through this city without compass was a bit troublesome.
STATS:
Time: 13 min 25 s; Loot: 1203/1695
Pockets Picked: 1/8; Locks Picked: 0
Back Stabs: 0; Knock Outs: 0
Damage Dealt: 0; Damage Taken: 0; Healing Taken: 0
Innocents killed: 0; Others killed: 0
Iron Beasts Destroyed: 0; Disabled: 0
Secrets: 0/0
Busts: 0
Galaer on 12/2/2020 at 21:04
MISSION 5 - EAVESDROPPING
This mission I started from running to Karras and listening to conversation. Deposit key spawn very close in Acolytes' Quarters. I took it to Workshop to make copy and then return to Acolytes' Quarters. That was easy.
Loot wasn't challenging either. I thought I will need to run a lot with unnamed keys, but key from Workshop opens little outside lab with a secret. I closed doors behind me, but later when I was leaving I noticed that these doors vanished.
To Catacombs I entered via tomb. There I noticed few locked chests that I needed to skip. Key from there let me return to Workshop. The rest of this mission was easy.
STATS:
Time: 37 min 50 s; Loot: 1904/2119
Pockets Picked: 1/1; Locks Picked: 0
Back Stabs: 0; Knock Outs: 0
Damage Dealt: 0; Damage Taken: 0; Healing Taken: 0
Innocents killed: 0; Others killed: 0
Iron Beasts Destroyed: 0; Disabled: 0
Secrets: 1/1
Busts: 0
Galaer on 12/2/2020 at 21:04
MISSION 6 - FIRST CITY BANK AND TRUST
I entered to bank via balcony near locked window leading to basement. New mantle is really helpful. I entered basement via north stairs with watcher above. This mission doesn't have loot objective and that's good, because I encountered a lot of locked safes and doors. On floor 2 can be found white key on few patrollers. It opens most of doors. Great Hall had patroller that mostly get stuck, but this time he was patrolling normally. Until later when I noticed he got stuck again.
I had no problem with Archives. To get to west side of bank I went to west balcony above Reception, dropped 2 crates, dropped on them and quickly went west. Though it's possible to jump from one terrace to another above bot. But to do that you need to perform very hard strafe jump and you also need to hold white key. So that's really difficult.
In west side archer got stuck on the bottom of the stairs, so I jumped twice to let him go into search mode and get unstuck. Next I need to go to Main Office, but door to it is locked and I don't want to use lockpicks. I decided to steal arrows from archer and destroy glass in the office. This way I got Master key.
Unfortunately after stealing arrows, archer spotted me and attacked me, bots also got alerted. I barely managed to shoot glass above bot's head, then jumped to window with 3 locked doors and hid from arrows. That was really scary moment. Then I got Master key and bots got alerted again. Then I got recording. Sadly I needed to search my inventory for Deposit key (bust #1). Now it's time for me to find a way to 3rd floor.
I get there via north stairs near Great Hall with 2 watchers and 2 small bots that get alerted. Oh, well. Getting secret is easy. Then I took Master key to Security Office to disable watchers in the Reception. Also I dropped key on floor in order to grab 2 pieces of loot from nearby bar. I went to staircase guarded by archer and just dropped all the way to 1st floor.
I checked 2 locked offices. In one of them I took accidentally crate, my key vanished into inventory and I needed to reload game. That's the first of this kind mistake and probably not a last. Then I went to Reception to grab all the loot from under the counter. In the end I opened front door with Master key and left bank.
Very interesting mission. Mostly ghosted. I thought it will be worse with loot, because I skipped a lot of locked safes.
STATS:
Time: 1 hour 25 min 3 s; Loot: 1774/2284
Pockets Picked: 7/17; Locks Picked: 0
Back Stabs: 0; Knock Outs: 0
Damage Dealt: 0; Damage Taken: 0; Healing Taken: 0
Innocents killed: 0; Others killed: 0
Iron Beasts Destroyed: 0; Disabled: 0
Secrets: 2/2
Busts: 1 (Deposit key)
Galaer on 12/2/2020 at 21:06
MISSION 7 - BLACKMAIL
Beginning in small city is easy. I entered Truart's Mansion via side door with Balcony key. Checked Dining Room and dropped to basement via fireplace. Then I went outside and visited Church. Getting to secret underground is easy. There is arrow on the wall. But there are banners that for now I need to skip.
I also took 3 vases from 2nd floor of main entrance. Stationary archer only noticed my return downstairs, but very quickly calmed down. I returned back to basement, nudged archer near stairs and went on 1st floor to Kitchen. I stole Estate key from servant and Metal Gear from one of patrollers. To be honest I always thought that gears can't be dropped. I was wrong, they can. I moved 2 keys to 2nd floor and I stole another Metal Gear from patroller.
On 2nd floor is guard on a lookout. I dropped keys on carpet close to other side and ran in front of passageway. Guard only first alerted. I found patroller with another Balcony key here. I used invisibility potion from nearby closet to steal golden bottle from Bar. I returned to Bathroom for water arrow, which I used to clean mess on the floor and get secret necklace.
Then I ran to disable watchers. I used Estate key to enter Armory. I took moss arrow to open cache with gas mine. Speaking about mines I later found out that it's possible to transport mines. You need to drop it and immediately grab before it will become active. Anyway, I used active moss arrow to moss way to another gear in basin. I transported keys to passageway to 3rd floor.
After hearing about Truart's death I grabbed orange gear and purse and opened shortcut to 1st floor. I went left and used Estate key for last time and Balcony key for last 2 times. I got Mosely keyring and Truart's body. I decided to drop to the ground from balcony and use dead body as a cushion. Then I buried him and finished this mission.
STATS:
Time: 1 hour 3 min 32 s; Loot: 1810/2100
Pockets Picked: 9/23; Locks Picked: 0
Back Stabs: 0; Knock Outs: 0
Damage Dealt: 0; Damage Taken: 0; Healing Taken: 0
Innocents killed: 0; Others killed: 0
Iron Beasts Destroyed: 0; Disabled: 0
Secrets: 6/6
Busts: 0
Galaer on 16/2/2020 at 21:35
MISSION 8 - TRACE THE COURIER
There is no challenge in this mission other than I can't use weapons. I managed to complete pickpocket objective on Mosely route, so I didn't need to return for it. Also I completely ghosted this mission. Bumping into Mosely made her skipped her observation points.
STATS:
Time: 19 min 31 s; Loot: 500/830
Pockets Picked: 7/14; Locks Picked: 0
Back Stabs: 0; Knock Outs: 0
Damage Dealt: 0; Damage Taken: 0; Healing Taken: 0
Innocents killed: 0; Others killed: 0
Iron Beasts Destroyed: 0; Disabled: 0
Secrets: 1/1
Busts: 0
Galaer on 16/2/2020 at 21:36
MISSION 9 - TRAIL OF BLOOD
Beginning of this mission is easy, but end has the hardest challenge so far. Getting 2 rubies and using it is easy. You need to grab fire arrow from one of the houses.
First challenge is sneak the monkeys protecting the passage to Spring Village. I just strafe run along left wall, so I managed to ghost these monkeys. I nudged monkey on lower level of Summer Village, so I could loot it. Next challenge is in upper part of Summer Village. There is monkey observing beehive and patrolling this room another monkey. I quickly ran behind patrolling monkey and past it while it was turning, then hid on one of lower ledges of Autumn Village. Go down and right around trees.
Time for the hardest challenge. You need to grab fire arrow between monkeys and get all the way to Winter Village to destroy ice blocking your way. All that you need to do without saving!
Start from running behind monkey, crouch and grab fire arrow from fire. Other monkey will spot you, but all shots will hurt second monkey. Run right behind small tree and enter tree leading upstairs. Very quickly jump on ledges upstairs, because monkeys will shoot you if you are too slow. Upstairs go left to Winter Village. There is melee monkey in search mode. Dodge it and turn right to drop to lower level. Loot it, then wait for melee monkey to calm down and go away. Climb up and go to ice barrier. You need 2 fire arrow to shoot left part of ice. This will destroy the whole barrier and allow you to save.
But treebeasts in the next area are in search mode and they are very sensitive right now. I ended with one treebeast behind me. If you want to end with first objective completed, then run around Pagan's body. Otherwise you will end with first objective unchecked.
Also I barely managed to get bonus objective.
STATS:
Time: 31 min 34 s; Loot: 1590/2000
Pockets Picked: 0/3; Locks Picked: 0
Back Stabs: 0; Knock Outs: 0
Damage Dealt: 0; Damage Taken: 0; Healing Taken: 0
Innocents killed: 0; Others killed: 0
Iron Beasts Destroyed: 0; Disabled: 0
Secrets: 0/0
Busts: 0
Galaer on 23/2/2020 at 16:02
MISSION 10 - LIFE OF THE PARTY
This mission starts easy. I'm taking vine arrow from chest near wrecked house and shoot into different wooden surfaces in order store it. It helps me to get out to the roof after angering guard to kill thieves. I also shoot vine arrow to Castle Carlysle, but I couldn't find any loot there, so it was pointless.
In Bank I managed to get to Manager's Office, but I need lockpicks to open safe with lever opening other safe with diamonds. So I need to skip it. In Shemenov Estate there is again stucked in floor archer. I pass him and dodge his arrow, then climb up to Astronomer's house. I use secret fire arrow to destroy 2 planks blocking shortcut to the beginning. This alerts everyone, so I need to avoid another archer. When returning to Shemenov Estate I notice that archer flying above outside door, which allows me to leave this place unnoticed.
Angelwatch has many chests that sadly I can't open. Also it's here where I complete loot objective. I use secret gas arrow to gas office guard and one patroller. One woman get stuck on leading upstairs from my position. If I pass her, explore next floor and return to stairs, she appears on even higher stairs than before. So in order to get to top floor and get Office key I needed to third alert her. After getting Office key I noticed that she returned and get stuck again on stairs. So I scared her again and went to office.
I needed to use 2 lockpicks to open safe with New Scripture of Master Builder (bust #1-2). When I returned to 2nd floor via stairs I noticed many guests and servant passing me and getting stuck on stairs leading upstairs. Why is this happening? When I left shadow, they got scared and ran to big bot. So I needed to quickly evacuate from Angelwatch.
Then I had situation with 2 ladies on the road to Angelwatch. I scared them about 30 min ago, but I noticed that red lady was just returning to her position in front of window. Weird. Other than that I had no problems to return to Bell Tower via Astronomer's House.
STATS:
Time: 1 hour 22 min 12 s; Loot: 2081/2853
Pockets Picked: 14/24; Locks Picked: 1
Back Stabs: 0; Knock Outs: 0
Damage Dealt: 0; Damage Taken: 0; Healing Taken: 0
Innocents killed: 0; Others killed: 0
Iron Beasts Destroyed: 0; Disabled: 0
Secrets: 7/7
Busts: 2 (2 lockpicks needed to open safe with New Scripture of Master Builder)
