Galaer on 4/7/2021 at 17:23

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SWING (TDM)

GHOST RUN

This is parkour mission without any enemies. Lots of moving platforms, you will also get catapulted high into air twice. Very tricky to proceed, but also very impressive. I barely completed loot objective (get 8/10 bottles) I didn't found 1 bottle and other bottle I skipped is at the very bottom. I tried to jump down on rope arrow, but it hurts me, so I abandoned this one bottle. I also had big problem with noticing crown hanging on chain. Also I left 2 rope arrows, so I failed supreme. No idea if it's possible to get back all rope arrows.

STATS:

Time: 0:22:41; Loot: 800/1000
Damage Dealt: 0; Received: 0; Health Restored: 0
Pockets Picked: 0
AI Killed: 0; AI KOed: 0; Bodies Found by AI: 0
Stealth Score: 0 (Alert 1 = 0; Alert 2 = 0; Alert 3 = 0; Alert 4 = 0; Alert 5 = 0)

GHOST: SUCCESS
PERFECT GHOST: IMPOSSIBLE? One of bottles is under swing and falling on rope from high place will hurt you.
SUPREME GHOST: IMPOSSIBLE. You need rope arrow to descend to 2nd catapult to use it and return back to path leading downward. So you must leave at least 1 rope arrow and leave 2nd catapult used.

SUPREME GHOST RUN

Ah, screw it. I decided to try to supreme ghost this mission anyway. I have some idea how to deal with 2nd catapult. Also I learned where is located last bottle. Supreme ghost challenge really starts after grabbing 3 rope arrows. It's impossible to drop them on table and they are necessary to beat this mission. So my 1st target is getting to 2nd catapult.

ROPE TUTORIAL

Ropes in this game are more reliable. They are easier to grab and you don't drop from them when you descend too low. Also you can descend much lower than in Thief (it actually feels like you are levitating in air). To get out of rope you can hold crouch to fall down and crouch at the end or jump. Unlike in Thief games you jump downwards.

GETTING TO 2ND CATAPULT

Shoot rope arrow into wooden beam. Not too high, so you will manage to grab it and not too low, because you must jump and mantle on metal square of top carousel. Afterwards quickly crouch and drop on pipe. Here is really hard part, because you must shoot 2 rope arrows above 2nd catapult: one to the highest spot of wooden beam, so later you will manage to mantle on it, second rope should be shot at the bottom of this wooden beam. You will need few rounds around to make shots, then drop on higher rope. It's not easy, because momentum of carousel is really strong and it will push you in it's direction. Descend and jump on lower rope, descend to the bottom and jump down on stairs. Use catapult and grab fake crown.

ROPE TUTORIAL 2

You can grab rope when it is shot to the top of ledge you are standing on. Method is the same like in Thief, but more reliable. You just crouch and go backwards to rope. Frobbing range is very short in TDM, so in order to retrieve rope arrows you need to shot other rope arrow much closer to 1st rope arrow than in Thief. Also from what I noticed, it's impossible (or much harder) to jump out of rope and quickly grab rope arrow. It's probably because of short range of frobbing and downwards jump. What's interesting is you can actually lean while on rope.

RETRIEVING ROPE ARROWS

Return to top carousel. From there you should easily grab lower rope arrow. Drop on higher rope and mantle on wooden beam. Grab 2nd rope arrow. Now you need to return to 1st shot rope arrow. You must shoot one rope arrow close to the rope arrow you want to pick up and 2nd rope arrow. Pick 1 rope arrow, then return to higher rope and climb to wooden beam. Shoot rope arrows until you will manage to grab rope arrow from higher rope. Afterwards grab last rope arrow.

RESETTING 2ND CATAPULT

Go on wooden beam part above 2nd catapult. You must shot rope arrow into tiny switch below. Crouch and strafe to the side as close to the edge as possible. Thanks to that you will not need to lean to the side. Tiny switch operating catapult is very far away and occasionally your shot may be blocked by top carousel. Distance is much larger than in Training Mission and you need 2 rope arrows for bottom bottle, so you can use only 1 rope arrow here. After shooting switch, rope arrow will break in half and drop on ground. It may look ugly, but after discussion this method has been allowed.

Shot is very precise. I had a lot of luck managing to shoot it relatively fast, but when I was checking my previous save if catapult really got reset, then instead of loading save after hitting switch, I overwritten it. It really made me cry. I needed another 30 min to achieve the same task. Really frustrating and the hardest challenge in this mission.

GOING DOWN

Time to get out. My target was to descend on platform with red pipes. It's slightly higher than platform with 3 rope arrows on table. I shot rope arrow on top of wooden beam above said platform and used this rope to descend on platform. Then I shot other rope arrow slightly lower, so I could retrieve higher rope arrow and I kept doing that until I could retrieve both rope arrows and fall on platform without taking any damage.

I used metal beam to get on the other side of swing and returned to 1st catapult. I hit switch to reset it, then I ride elevator to top (that's where it was located. I descended to the bottom and used roof of house as a shortcut. The last challenge was getting bottle under swing. I needed to shoot rope arrow on top of wooden floor and 2nd rope on the bottom of wooden platform. This way I could descend on stairs, take last bottle and return to top while grabbing both rope arrows. Then I just went to exit.

STATS:

Time: 0:36:03; Loot: 1000/1000
Damage Dealt: 0; Received: 0; Health Restored: 0
Pockets Picked: 0
AI Killed: 0; AI KOed: 0; Bodies Found by AI: 0
Stealth Score: 0 (Alert 1 = 0; Alert 2 = 0; Alert 3 = 0; Alert 4 = 0; Alert 5 = 0)

SUPREME GHOST: SUCCESS
PERFECT SUPREME: SUCCESS

marbleman on 14/7/2021 at 16:51

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Game: The Dark Mod
FM: Crucible of Omens: Behind Closed Doors

Ghost - Success
Perfect Thief - Success
Supreme Ghost - Success
Perfect Supreme - Success :D
Time - 1:12:39
Times saved - 59
Damage dealt - 0, Damage received - 0
Health restored - 0
Pockets picked - 2
Loot - 7838/7838
Killed by the player - 0
KOed by the player - 0
Bodies found by AI - 0
Alerts - 0 suspicious, 0 searches, 0 sightings
Stealth score - 0
Consumables - none

Behind Closed Doors is a prologue mission to what would have been a massive campaign titled Crucible of Omens, which unfortunately never saw the light of day. However, the one mission we got to play is incredible, and one ultimately good thing about it is that it doesn't end on any cliffhanger, and as such doesn't feel incomplete like so many other missions from unfinished campaigns do.

Our goals in this mission revolve around dealing with a local thieves guild leader, a woman named Lazarova. Additional objectives are added as the mission progresses, but to begin with, the only objective related to the main plot is to break into the Old Mill Tavern and search for information about Lazarova's whereabouts. We also need to steal 5500 loot, and there are two optional objectives: breaking into a Builder storehouse and into the local inventors' guild.

Immediately went up the ladder east of the Great Staircase, which quickly led me to the Builder Storehouse. Checking off my first optional objective right away, continued north along Canal Walk. The underpass at the end of Canal Walk can be accessed quite easily from the north side through a pickable door, which was my only “unnecessary” picked lock in the mission. The only other way of reaching this underpass requires going through water and, naturally, making a lot of noise. Even if it's possible, it's more trouble than it's worth.

(https://www.imagebam.com/view/ME1Z2XL) https://thumbs4.imagebam.com/12/94/ec/ME1Z2XL_t.jpg

Going through Balakin Manor, arrived at the inn. There were several potential ways in, but most involved picking a lock. Straight ahead was an open window leading to Leonard's room. I had to enter it to get a piece of loot inside, but the door leading to the rest of the inn was locked, so I went back outside and proceeded to another window. This one allowed me to access the entire inn without any lockpicking. Interestingly, the objective to learn Lazarova's whereabouts checked off as soon as I entered the inn, which doesn't seem quite right. I haven't actually discovered anything yet. I also got a new objective: find and steal the thieves' stash.

(https://www.imagebam.com/view/ME1Z2XO) https://thumbs4.imagebam.com/86/10/e1/ME1Z2XO_t.jpg

My main goal inside the inn was to get into the hidden basement, where both the stash and the information I need are found. There are two ways to access it: a pickable hatch and a secret door opened with a coathook lever nearby. Needless to say, I chose the latter. The bar area was chock full of guests, so I had to avoid it and the hall right outside, but I could navigate the rest of the inn quite easily. I also had to pick two keys here: the jewelry box key and the cash box key. These open two containers with loot, and since there are keys, I had to re-lock them. All of the keys in the mission cannot be dropped, so they remained in my inventory. I was also glad that the loose brick in the basement (not to be confused with the secret basement) was easy to put back in once I took the piece of loot behind it since it didn't make a lot of noise. Having cleared the secret basement, I got my next objective: access Allodric Manor. Before I would get to it though, I still had to loot a few city blocks.

(https://www.imagebam.com/view/ME1Z2XP) https://thumbs4.imagebam.com/e7/2e/43/ME1Z2XP_t.jpg

First was the Hoarders area. Getting loot around here was pretty straightforward, but one place is quite interesting: the thugs' house in the middle. There are two doors leading in, both pickable. There is also a thug who uses both of them once in a while. In Thief, I would have waited for him to unlock the door for me and halted it, but in TDM, this trick doesn't work. What's interesting is that picking a lock on either door doesn't even matter as the next time the thug uses them, he would re-lock each, without giving any remarks on them being unlocked. I guess this would have been a sufficiently fine method for Supreme, but there is another way in: a window on the third floor. It can be reached by picking two vent gratings, but also by doing a bit of tricky climbing. That last jump involving mantling a fence on the rooftop is especially inconsistent, but it is possible to pull off. There is also an apartment between Rattlebones Way and the Hoarders, but I was only able to access it from the former's side because the Builder guard overlooking the Hoarders was nigh impossible to fool.

(https://www.imagebam.com/view/ME1Z2XR) https://thumbs4.imagebam.com/cc/28/7d/ME1Z2XR_t.jpg (https://www.imagebam.com/view/ME1Z2XT) https://thumbs4.imagebam.com/bc/2b/a9/ME1Z2XT_t.jpg

Next, I made my way to Shingle Plaza, which I expected to be quite tough. The guard you see walking into a wall on the screenshot is supposed to be patrolling in and out of the guardhouse on the left, which makes both pickpocketing him and getting the loot inside the guardhouse really tricky. This time, he got stuck, however, which made my life a lot easier. I will say though that I ghosted this place without any alerts before, so I know it's possible. Then, I entered the inventors' guild, which checked off my second optional objective and immediately added a new one: to find something of value on the upper floor, which I did soon afterwards.

(https://www.imagebam.com/view/ME1Z2XY) https://thumbs4.imagebam.com/32/64/d7/ME1Z2XY_t.jpg

Now it was finally time for Allodric Manor. My preferred entry point is the top floor bathroom as it's really close to the master bedroom. Checked off the objective to get inside and got a new one: to follow Lazarova around and to see if I can find anything to use against her. This objective is misleading though, as it's not necessary at all to follow her around. Additionally, entering the bedroom triggers a comment about there being something useful there from the player character, which is untrue as well. All I had to do is pickpocket a safe key off a noblewoman wearing a night gown, who I assume is Lazarova. Right next to the bedroom is the library, where I could find a secret passage into a room where the safe is. Inside was a gold ingot worth 800 and a readable, taking which checked off my main objective.

(https://www.imagebam.com/view/ME1Z2Y2) https://thumbs4.imagebam.com/b0/fc/2e/ME1Z2Y2_t.jpg

Now I just had to loot the rest of the manor and finish the mission, which was pretty easy. There were a few lit gold candlesticks, which I could take without actually putting the candles out. Had to take a cupboard key to access a piece of loot inside. Finally, I also got a bonus objective simply by picking up and reading the Tome of Pagan Folklore in the observatory. This felt a bit random, and I tried for a while to figure out whether there are any other bonus objectives as a lot of readables go into the inventory, but I couldn't trigger any.

marbleman on 14/7/2021 at 21:38

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Oh, you've written some reports too? I'm dying to read them (or at least know which missions you did :D).

Do play Behind Closed Doors, it's amazing.

klatremus on 15/7/2021 at 16:22

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Lol, I started playing this mission last night! Dont wanna read too much, but a Melan mission in TDM was too tempting to pass up.

Galaer on 25/7/2021 at 21:38

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GODBREAKER

MISSION 1 - SLIPPING AWAY

The only problem is getting to Tumble Gate. You don't have any rope arrows in this mission, so you can't go from North Tower. You can't go through priest's apartment, because priest is standing on top of stairs and he's impossible to ghost. From roof leading to priest's apartment jump to tiny ledge at north and then jump+mantle on west roof. Priest can't be nudged, but you can shoot water arrow into light switch, go along left wall and grab loot. To escape this part, from Tumble Gate roof drop+mantle on wooden beam leading to North Tower.

STATS:

Time: 0:23:22; Loot: 1822/1862
Pockets Picked: 5/5; 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

GHOST: SUCCESS
PERFECT GHOST: POSSIBLE

MISSION 2 - IMPIOUS PILGRIMAGE

This mission is giant swamp. To get all secrets and complete all objectives you will be forced to do a lot of journeys back and forth. Mission also has "cleaning whole areas from enemies" objectives, which can be solved by fights between monsters. That's the reason why I score Body Discoveries stat. From enemies the hardest is to dodge eyeball plant. In this mission it's hostile and can throw poison balls at you, so it must be avoided at all cost.

On 2nd floor of prison there is coin in corner of 2nd room. I need to run near flies to grab it and it's easy to get hurt by it. In prison I freed crayman, because there is nugget in his cell. Crayman will start battle with ratmen, kill few and then die. This will alert all enemies from this area.

There is objective to destroy all enemies in Crayman Temple. I kill single craymen from entrance to temp[le and from basement. Other craymen shouldn't hear it. In basement is also urn with ashes. Take it to room on 2nd floor above throne room. Also earlier come closer to throne room, so braziers will get relighten. Lever will open throne room and spawn undead. Use ashes and flint on brazier and hide on top of chest. Wait for fire elementals to kill all undead. It will also alert craymen, but they will not come here. Afterwards douse brazier, so fire elementals will get killed (this is excused by objective of killing every creature in temple).

Edit: So looks like I misunderstood rule #5 of ghost rules. Looks like other ghosters understand it as causing AI to infight is forbidden. This rule could be better written. So looks like summoning fire elementals is still forbidden, because it leads to other Ai alerting to them (ghost bust). Is it impossible to ghost this mission, then? I don't remember this mission too much, but objective of killing all enemies in Crayman Temple is optional. So maybe you can just skip it.

Take 2nd urn of ashes from throne room. Since craymen are sensitive I went closer to Pagan Village and returned to temple. Then I went to 2nd floor to launch 2nd brazier and hid in room nearby. After couple of minutes fire elementals will kill all craymen, so douse brazier to kill elementals and complete objective. Destroy also craymen eggs for bonus objective.

In giant moths nest we have 2 objectives: to save girl (holding her make you run faster) and destruction of nest objective. You need to put explosive device and use flint on fuse, take girl, go south and right to exit. Most likely there will be moth stuck on crystal near exit. It turns, so you must time him when it doesn't look towards exit and leave. Explosion doesn't alert anyone, but it will kill all moths and bugbeasts inside and outside of nest.

STATS:

Time: 1:59:56; Loot: 4870/5230
Pockets Picked: 2/2; Locks Picked: 7
Back Stabs: 2; Knock Outs: 0
Damage Dealt: 60; Damage Taken: 0; Healing Taken: 0
Innocents killed: 0; Others killed: 2
Iron Beasts Destroyed: 0; Disabled: 0
Bodies Discovered by Enemies: 2
Secrets: 6/6

GHOST: FAILED, but I think it may be possible, because objective to kill all enemies in Crayman Temple is optional.

MISSION 3 - THE TRICKSTER'S TAIL

Short betrayal scene. No gameplay here.

STATS:

Time: 0:04:10; Loot: 0/0
Pockets Picked: 0/0; 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

SUPREME GHOST: SUCCESS

MISSION 4 - THE FINAL THREAD

Conall is poisoned, but guard offers help in exchange of his necklace. Because we are poisoned, during conversation with guard we will lose 5 HP, then guard will heal us 3 HP, then we will lose 1 HP. It's unavoidable damage. During run through mansion poison will attack few times. Poison is much faster than in Keeper of Prophecies and it's unavoidable (in KotP it was possible to reload game few times to avoid poison damage, in this mission it's not possible). Just like in KotP you shout when you get hurt by poison and it alerts nearby enemies. Also when poison will hurt you, you will randomly lose 1 or 2 HP. It's possible to complete necklace objective without healing yourself. You get antidote because of that. Since I have stated in objectives to drink it, I don't call it chemical run. Similar goes for healing potion used by guard during conversation. Since it wasn't me who used that, it's not chemical run yet.

Thief at the bottom of street is tricky. You can get to him, but to get out you must rope up to metal railing. Near this place is window near balcony. To dodge guard inside you must jump on top of fireplace. In red tower and area with balconies I kept hearing "That's a clever taffer in place. Gonna take you down! Ha, ha, ha..." from guard. Guard shouldn't see me, so A) it's scripted or B) guard alerts to somebody else.

In Library in Mages Hideout I'm forced to skip Scroll of Dispersal, because mage notice it's miss and alert others into search mode. And since this scroll is needed to obtain Veil of Illuz (item that deals you 4 damage and it's not connected to any objective or secret), I'm gonna skip it too. I waited with freeing prisoner under street until the end of mission, because I was worrying that enemies will alert to him. It wasn't needed worry, because he quickly vanish in city gate.

STATS:

Time: 2:10:40; Loot: 6473/6918
Pockets Picked: 20/26; Locks Picked: 24
Back Stabs: 0; Knock Outs: 0
Damage Dealt: 0; Damage Taken: 10; Healing Taken: 3
Innocents killed: 0; Others killed: 0
Iron Beasts Destroyed: 0; Disabled: 0
Secrets: 3/3

GHOST: SUCCESS
PERFECT GHOST: POSSIBLE