SneakyJack on 10/4/2010 at 17:26
Quote Posted by Zontik
I don't think it's a good idea to put complete walkthrough into the mission ZIP. I'll tell you frankly: let me be a bit egoistic. After 4 years of making FM I want at least short feedback like this forum...
Would you post here if you have your pocket guide to finish mission as soon as possible? I doubt...
Here is my feedback on your mission: Its beautiful but the gameplay is frustrating, confusing and the pace of the mission is broken at best. Had I been given a walkthrough, a no doubt praise filled review would have already hit the review and discussion thread and I definitely would have posted how much I enjoyed the mission along with constructive comments from a player's perspective in the missions thread. I would have commented either way and I know many others would have too - you would have gotten your feedback.
After 4 years of making a fan mission you should no doubt be disappointed with how difficult your mission is and how many people are completely stuck or have given up out of frustration just in this thread alone. Throwing people into a pool without teaching them how to swim and expecting them to get a positive experience out of it is a misguided thought process at best. As it stands I really don't have any desire to revisit this mission, and your comment of how unlikely it is that you'll release a walkthrough for those of us that would enjoy one just furthers my distaste for giving it another shot. I've played nearly every fan mission released (the more complicated ones like T2X and Mission X multiple times) and I've never had nearly as much trouble proceeding in any of them. Take the lock on the gate at the end of mission one for example. A lock that resets itself when the wrong lockpick is used and had me cursing and ready to throw my keyboard out the window. A design move that seemed to only hinder gameplay and cause frustration with no reward.
Thank you for the mission - but I fear your "author" perspective has clouded your "player" judgment. Large portions of this mission set are overly complicated, badly paced, confusing, not well explained and just not fun. The parts that are, however, are great.
clearing on 10/4/2010 at 17:43
To all who is playing this mission: slow down! (like Broken Triad, Seven Sisters, Rocksbourg etc). Take your time. Enjoy the architecture, the atmosphere, the plot. Read clues you come across.
Dainem on 10/4/2010 at 17:52
Quote Posted by clearing
Read clues you come across.
I have to disagree. There are many situations where you have no clue what to do next. (why going back to the bride´s room? Why does the door to the attic open? Why is the doctor only coming when the horse is getting painted? How shall you know the door to the throne room has opened?)
242 on 10/4/2010 at 18:01
Finished the Overture on Largo.
It's simply outstanding, liked every second of it, and scenery was gorgeous. The camvator was nice. Great atmosphere and quite long and interesting travel to the castle, imbuing the feeling of its solitude. A big design achievement definitely.
At first, when I encountered the castle from the distance I though it was just a small model which I wouldn't be able to draw near ;)
It wasn't exactly hard by my standards, but challenging. I like alpinism in Thief ;)
Perhaps not for the people who are used to easy and straightforward missions, but for those who like unusual and not so easy stuff it's a welcome gift.
Haven't found the secret though, despite extensive search.
PS: It's all about the 1st mission only.
clearing on 10/4/2010 at 18:02
Dainem,
example
why going back to the bride´s room?
But there is a clue.
You probably missed it in Anger's apartments, lower level. Get there and send the elevator up, then look under it. It's a list of persons you have to check. You should know where to find them. And one person is more suspect than anothers...
etc
clearing on 10/4/2010 at 18:12
Quote Posted by 242
Haven't found the secret though, despite extensive search.
242 on 10/4/2010 at 18:13
Quote Posted by SneakyJack
Take the lock on the gate at the end of mission one for example. A lock that resets itself when the wrong lockpick is used and had me cursing and ready to throw my keyboard out the window. A design move that seemed to only hinder gameplay and cause frustration with no reward.
I for one welcome such sophistication. Come on, it wasn't really hard to figure out and unlock the gate, a small challenge that's all.
SneakyJack on 10/4/2010 at 18:35
If by "easy to figure out" you mean "absolutely no clue given other than 5-10 wasted minutes on trial and error" then you are correct. Lockpicking itself is already overused and brings many missions to a crawl - that lock was just silly. Getting a few stages in only to have it reset was frustrating, and alot of us want to enjoy the mission but don't have hours at a time to play through it.
I understand enjoying a challenge, but that is what difficulty levels are for. I'd go out on a limb to say that this mission on the easiest difficulty is far harder than most on expert. Well, other than ROTB of course :laff: Not because of too many guards or death - but because of frustrating gameplay design decisions.
Fidcal on 10/4/2010 at 18:42
Stuck once more. Part 1 Alegro(? 3rd option)
Near what I think is the dummy front entrance there is an open window. I made some screenshots from this game including this but where do they go? Keybinds show -_ keys and I've been pressing - and thought I saw a flicker but no new files in my Thief folder except gamesaves. Damn. Anyway, There is a vine. I have climbed it to different heights and tried mantling and jump mantling and mantling followed by crouch into the window but without success. 30, 40, 50 attempts. My screenshot shows a clear view practically inside the window, lined up and with Garrett mantle gasping. I can't get any closer.
Gave up on that and proceeded round to the west. Got a back door key. But where is the back door? The door there is the west door and appears to be a dummy door. Proceeded around to a dead end almost at the north side. Unclimbable boulder blocks the way. Multiple attempts but not even a mantle gasp to encourage me.
Use a slow fall potion to drop down to a ledge that is a trap.
Reload. All the way back and no door. Almost at the north side from the other direction but no door..
The views of and from the castle are beautiful but the gameplay is a series of frustrations for the last hour or so.
Brooklyn on 10/4/2010 at 18:43
Quote Posted by Fidcal
Stuck again and forum search is broken as well as thread search. Just hangs.
Largo difficulty. Part 1. Still in mountains.
Just after the waterfall I find a way up. I'm channelled to a long jump to cave but there is a tree in the way. I have no rope arrow and cannot make the jump nor anywhere near it. I doubt I could do it even if there were no tree. The only rope I had I had to use and I could not retrieve it.
Behind the waterfall I thought I saw a recess but was unable to reach it against the current. Maybe a rope there? Also found a door and room (werewolf's?) but found nothing in it of use. Did I miss something?That's where I'm at, sans the
place to be where I'm channeled next. I recall someone saying use the sword on the tree, but I have to get there first!