keido on 14/4/2008 at 16:09
Hey
My interest in the Thief games has been rekindled as of late but I remember how I really wanted the game to be more challenging after a period of playing them non-stop. I searched the ttlg website and found the ultimate difficulty mod and thought this could do the trick. I'm just wondering whether anyone thinks the Thief games are better with the ultimate difficulty mod installed and whether it makes the gameplay more challenging. I've played both games to death, although not for a long long time (I'm probably a bit rusty actually), so I'd like to know others' opinions on it and whether it is worth playing the game again with it installed.
Does it enhance the experience of Thief? Does anyone play using this mod? Thanks.
Yandros on 14/4/2008 at 17:56
I've never tried it, so can't say, although knowing what it changes, I can say it should make the game significantly more challenging. However, if you've played the OMs to death and haven't yet delved into FMs, then what are you waiting for? There are over 700 to choose from now. :thumb:
keido on 14/4/2008 at 20:53
Thanks for the reply.
Oh yes, I've seen the amount of FMs! I've gotta get playing them soon. That's another point: would the mod work on FMs? I was just wondering whether the mod would enhance the original missions' experience...
Anyone else had a go at it? I would try it right now but I need to get the game working properly first. Just wondered if it was worth a look.
EmperorSteele on 15/4/2008 at 00:40
I think the ULD reconfigures all the AI in the game, giving them superior sight, hearing, and combat senses, so i think it WOULD affect most FMS, except in specific cases where certain AI have their values over-ridden by the FM author. I think it also makes stone surfaces "noisier". Like normally you can run on stone behind most AI and they won't flinch half the time... but i think ULM fixes that.
And yeah, check out FMs. You commonly won't find more difficult AI, but more complicated loot objectives and puzzles.
SlyFoxx on 15/4/2008 at 02:31
The UD mod is a game system modification. It won't change FM's because they either use the original game system (dark.gam) or a custom game system (xxxxxx.gam).
So you can think of the UD mod as a custom game system for the OM's. It makes getting blackjack happy very tough for one thing. No more running and thumping heads. You have to approach slowly or set up in a shadow and lean-n-jack. It's certainly a nifty take on the OM experience.
EDIT: actually now that I think of it....I can't remember how the new game system is implemented....If it's just a new file with the same (dark.gam) name FM's that use the original dark.gam would comply.
Don 't worry though....NV or Otto or R Soul will be along soon enough to clarify things further. :o:
Yandros on 15/4/2008 at 13:54
..or Yandros. :p
I recall that the UD mod is just a tweaked dark.gam (default gamesys), so it works with the OMs and any FMs that use the default gamesys. That would include a significant number of FMs. You'll know if the mod will be in use because Darkloader has a checkbox for "Custom Gamesys". If it's checked, the mod won't be in effect.
keido on 17/4/2008 at 15:35
I apologize for bringing this up again but I have ran into a problem regarding the mod.
I managed to get Thief Gold and all the videos working correctly on XP. I downloaded the 1.3 version of the mod and replaced the DARK.GAM file in the TG directory. Now, the game crashes whenever it loads a level, be it the training level or Bafford's. There is no error message apart from 'this program needs to close'. I restored the original and it worked fine again. Do you think this is a bug with the mod (this specific version, maybe?), or is there another problem? I reckon it's the mod.
Anyone have any solutions/suggestions or should I just forget about it?
Yandros on 17/4/2008 at 18:25
That would probably happen if you drop the T2 version of the mod file into your TG folder. Are you sure you're using the right file? They're both named dark.gam so it would be an easy mistake to make.
keido on 17/4/2008 at 19:07
Actually, I just re-installed the game and that seems to have fixed the problem. The game comes on and a few minutes of play shows that the mod is in effect.
I'll go and play it now. Thank you very much for the help, I appreciate it.
Body500 on 29/4/2008 at 06:37
If you should use UDM or not depends on your playing style. If you plan to play according to the standard objectives then it definitely makes for a more fun experience. As said previously it makes it harder to take out your opponents. Surfaces become louder than without UDM when you walk or run on them, and more quiet than usual when you sneak. This force you to use a more sneaksie style.
If you plan on playing by some sadistic custom rules however the situation is different. I played through TG using UDM Lytha style ones, and let me tell you, it was more annoying than fun. I guess the same applies to most specialized play styles. Let me give you a simple example. Take the guard at the thrown room in Baffords. With UDM you can't sneak past him anymore (actually kind of makes sense) and if you play Lytha-style you can't whack him over the head. So you have to run past him, grab the scepter, and run out again dodging all other guards. Since distracting him with an arrow will cause him to sound the alarm that would have the same effect. This isn't very sneakish at all.
However you choose to play it, it wouldn't hurt if you could add a little review of your experience here in this thread when your done. Could help others who are thinking of using UDM.
