T2 FM: "Acquiring New Ventures" - 15 August 2025 -- *UPDATED TO v1.2*

ultravioletu on 12/9/2025 at 15:29

Just posted my ghost report, including a lootlist, here: (https://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150710&p=2529885&viewfull=1#post2529885)

Ghosting obviously failed, and for Supreme I had to take further busts. Only once I heard the "found secret" sound, but the stats show 4/5 (don't know which were the others, and which I missed, I might try to figure out with some older saves and CTRl-ALT-SHIFT-End after 'usual suspects').

Very interesting mission, I liked the creativity - custom assets, new mechanics. It has a definite Dark Mod vibe, at least in the starting area (but also at places in museum). Perhaps the adjusted mantling sound played a role... Also: reaching the manor with that music, coming from the undead area, made me think of The Overlook Hotel... don't know why, mr. Kubrik :)

It's rather linear - museum and mannor can be reached in alternate ways (altough the second path into "museum" involves property damage, so out-of-bounds for ghosters), but otherwise the experience seems quite 'guided'. Some big empty areas (like the 'release the dogs' section) may look like a wasted opportunity, but on the other hand it's realistic to expect that not every place has something valuable in it... So fine with me.

Some pieces of loot are quite challenging for Supreme ghosting. I spent hours trying to reach, via mantling and w/o alerts, the balcony above the big exhibition room - I had no vine arrow yet. Ultimately, I had to accept a ton of first alerts... After finding where the arrow is, I reloaded an older save and tried the approach of getting the vine before going into this area - and yes, it made it possible to supreme this peice of loot (but not much easier, I still had to come down and retrieve the vine, all while evading the three enemies). Lady's bedroom was quite puzzling until I figured out the proper way. Some shortcuts are useful, but not all for supremers (e.g. the guard hears the grate between kitchen and 'secret' passage to bedrooms). The spice bag in water was devilishly placed, you must be very close to highlight it, and I was rather lucky with it...

In any case, congratulations for your first mission! Well-made!

Kubrick on 12/9/2025 at 15:42

Thank you, ultravioletu. I did not design the FM with ghosters in mind other than at least having ONE possible route. But not the AI placement themselves, since I've read supreme ghosters say they enjoy a FM more when it wasn't designed with them in mind.

But I wonder, what do you mean with the "adjusted mantling sound"?

ultravioletu on 12/9/2025 at 15:51

It seemed to me that the sound made while mantling is not the original Garrett sound. Was I deluded? :)

PS: no problem, there is absolutely no expectation that authors design the missions for ghost. We have fun playing them anyway, if there are good!

Kubrick on 12/9/2025 at 15:55

Oh, no, all the player sounds related to mantling, damage, etc. have been changed since it's not Garrett, but that's only an aesthethic change.