============================================================= 17/12/2007 ============================================================= Title : Bad Debts Filename : bad_debts.zip Author : Melan (Gabor Lux) Contact info : gabor.lux AT gmail.com Date of release : 17/12/2007 Version : 1.0 Description: Sometimes you are so down on your luck, you have to take the smallest job, grab the slightest opportunity to stay afloat. I suppose it's better than picking pockets on Stonemarket, or breaking into warehouses - but when I moved into Downlock quarter, at least I imagined I was going somewhere. An apartment in an old fortress, right across a watch station where no one would look for suspected criminals, and a series of nice heists. I almost forgot about the ominous stuff the Keepers were sending me - guess they still think I am going to change my mind about their order... Unfortunately, money has become tight lately. My landlord, a greasy little opportunist, found out about my trade in a moment of carelessness. Now the rent has doubled and he is constantly dropping hints about the risks of sheltering one of my kind. What is more insulting, he now fancies himself an art collector, buying precious objects from the bonus he extorts from me. For all I know he may be buying stuff I stole myself! Even with all the shortages, he drinks the best wine, and regularly dines at a fancy nearby establishment. He is a thief like me, but a better one - little risk, steady income. While a few months ago, I was thinking of establishing a nice little retirement fund, I now owe him money, more than I could get with a few nights of thieving. In these circumstances, even a job from Timms, a diminutive and high-strung chap who gives others tips for a cut of the profits, was a godsend. Timms had given me wrong tips before, and after the last one involving a supposed coin-stamping business operated by some rich notable, I refused to waste more time and money on his promises. This time, at least, the offer seems genuine: apparently, a rich usurer going by the name of Markus has lent little Timmsie more money than he could conveniently pay back, and he wants his letter of debt stolen before the guy can collect. Appears easy enough. Markus lives in a rambling old house right here in Downlock quarter, and although the front gate guard is heavy, there seem to be other ways in - through his store by the canal, or a balcony overlooking a statue of the Master Builder. While I am out, I might as well visit the neighbourhood for some easy lucre. The people living here in Downlock may not be the richest, but at least they don't have enough to spend on serious security measures outside joining a protection racket. The best place to start is Short Lane, just next to my apartment... I have a friend who can let me in after sundown for a few coins. It would be nice to get out of debt, and maybe keep that letter for myself afterwards - the idea of other people providing me with regular income looks more and more appealing. ============================================================= * Notes * - This version of Bad Debts uses updated objects from the Enhancement Pack. A separate version without updated objects is also available. - It is recommended that you play this mission after a fresh boot. Hardware requirements may exceed the Thief2 baseline. - At the beginning, guards are neutral unless you go somewhere you are not supposed to be. - The game map may be challenging to decipher due to its low resolution. A higher resolution copy, suitable for printing, has been provided in the archive. - It is possible to ghost this mission and acquire all but one piece of loot. ============================================================= * Play Information * Game : Thief 2: The Metal Age Level Names : Bad Debts File names : miss20.mis Difficulty Settings : Normal/Hard/Expert Equipment store : Yes Map/Automap : Yes/No New graphics : Yes New sounds : from DEDx New conversations : No New models : from DEDx EAX Support : Yes Multi language support : No Briefing : No Ghosting : Yes ============================================================= * Construction * Base : None Build Time : 10 months from initial concept and starting to learn Dromed. ============================================================= * Loading Information * Runs from Dark Loader, leave the file ZIPPED. ============================================================= * Known Bugs * - A guard in the Highgate area sometimes refuses to turn hostile when he should. - Sometimes the guards in front of the usurer's house are slow to react to a threat. - A small number of AI have vision/hearing problems. - A few locked doors don't produce a noise while being picked. - Be careful with ropes, especially when trying to climb down. ============================================================= * Thanks To * john9818a: for setting up an event in the mission that was way beyond my abilities, as well as a few helpful suggestions. Thanks, John! My betatesters, who in addition to discovering a host of bugs, provided numerous suggestions to improve the mission: bikerdude dafydd (ghost-tester) Digital Nightfall Emerald Wolf flying_hope Kalman Farago lightningline Andras Lux maloo Winter Cat Also: Yandros for hosting the beta forums and a whole lot of good advice Komag and Spike14: beginners' tutorials Rob Hicks and the entire DeDx team: Dromed Deluxe; esp. bringing back those awesome Thief1 resources. Nameless Voice and the Enhancement Pack team: upgraded items Purah: textures, as well as the inspiration to start dromeding Vigil: textures, cobweb, railing and glyph objects, crates marshall banana: Marshall's Sword object R Soul: some great window textures Redface: T2 book pack Wille: distant art ...and everyone else who wrote a tutorial, posted advice in the Editor's Guild or otherwise furthered our understanding of Dromed's mysteries. ============================================================= * Copyright Information * This level is © 2007 by Gabor Lux Distribution of this level is allowed as long as the archive and this file are kept intact. This level was not made and is not supported by Looking Glass Studios or Eidos Interactive. =============================================================