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Let's Play Thief: The Decline Project! (Finished!)
- Thread starter Peter
- Start date
anus_pounder
Arcane
How does the Rope Arrow work in this gem?
Peter
Arcane
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2009
- Messages
- 1,544
Bad news. Today I completed the next 4 quests in the game. Problem is, it didn't save the screenshots for the first of those 4. It's sort of a minor quest, so I thought I might skip it. Should I do that, or are you actually going to force me to make a new character and replay the game up to that point?
Nah, just skip it.
Peter
Arcane
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2009
- Messages
- 1,544
Intermission 1: Explaining rope arrows (poorly)
I was thinking of doing it if I'm not too tired with the game by the end of the Thieves Guild questline. Though it doesn't really go hand in hand with the character of Garrett n' shit. Then again, neither does asking people how to steal their stuff and saving lizard men from vampires. Also, I've already done the initiation quest to get the nice stealth armor, but I guess that's not too important.
Since people keep asking for it, here's a (poor) explanation of rope arrows. I will also be posting one of the random thief missions from the Thieves Arsenal mod.
Intermission 1: Explaining rope arrows (poorly)
The rope arrows in the Thieves Arsenal mod can be best described as buggy. They will not work if you shoot an arrow directly into a wall. They only work on edges. Even then, they only work on certain edges. You're guaranteed to get onto rooftops in the Imperial City, as well as on indoor balconies. They don't work on overhead passes and balconies in dungeons. You have to be very precise about shooting the arrows into the most outer point of the edge.
I tried shooting some onto a building in Cheydinhal, but it didn't work. This can probably be explained by the fact that the wall wasn't a nice, flat surface, instead being covered in boards. None of these shots worked, even though I was aiming for the right point:
Here's a shot that did work, though:
Simply approach the rope and and look up to move up:
You can jump off of it in any direction as if you were jumping off of the ground to make getting up the ledges or across gaps easy.
To move down the rope, you simply look down. You stop descending once you reach the bottom of the rope. You can either move away or jump off to get off the rope.
Here you can see a successfully created rope on a rooftop ledge, and me trying to shoot one into this arc. I'm guessing it doesn't work because of how close to a wall it is:
Tl;dr
Usually don't work, but when they do, they work flawlessly. No real use for them in most quests, though, mostly just for dicking around.
I'm aware that I didn't explain them too well, so post if you've got a question about something. I'll add answers to this post.
lightbane said:
I was thinking of doing it if I'm not too tired with the game by the end of the Thieves Guild questline. Though it doesn't really go hand in hand with the character of Garrett n' shit. Then again, neither does asking people how to steal their stuff and saving lizard men from vampires. Also, I've already done the initiation quest to get the nice stealth armor, but I guess that's not too important.
Since people keep asking for it, here's a (poor) explanation of rope arrows. I will also be posting one of the random thief missions from the Thieves Arsenal mod.
Intermission 1: Explaining rope arrows (poorly)
The rope arrows in the Thieves Arsenal mod can be best described as buggy. They will not work if you shoot an arrow directly into a wall. They only work on edges. Even then, they only work on certain edges. You're guaranteed to get onto rooftops in the Imperial City, as well as on indoor balconies. They don't work on overhead passes and balconies in dungeons. You have to be very precise about shooting the arrows into the most outer point of the edge.
I tried shooting some onto a building in Cheydinhal, but it didn't work. This can probably be explained by the fact that the wall wasn't a nice, flat surface, instead being covered in boards. None of these shots worked, even though I was aiming for the right point:
Here's a shot that did work, though:
Simply approach the rope and and look up to move up:
You can jump off of it in any direction as if you were jumping off of the ground to make getting up the ledges or across gaps easy.
To move down the rope, you simply look down. You stop descending once you reach the bottom of the rope. You can either move away or jump off to get off the rope.
Here you can see a successfully created rope on a rooftop ledge, and me trying to shoot one into this arc. I'm guessing it doesn't work because of how close to a wall it is:
Tl;dr
Usually don't work, but when they do, they work flawlessly. No real use for them in most quests, though, mostly just for dicking around.
I'm aware that I didn't explain them too well, so post if you've got a question about something. I'll add answers to this post.
Peter
Arcane
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2009
- Messages
- 1,544
Intermission 2: Mod Mission
While I wait for a bunch some more votes, here's a randomly generated mission from the Thieves Arsenal mod. I must say, I had quite a bit of fun in this one, since you can't kill anyone and there isn't a 'perfect' solution, as there would be in a Thieves Guild quest, forcing you to use most of your tools. It actually plays like a legit stealth game. A shit one, but still a step up from vanilla Oblivion stealth.
===
As I walk through the Imperial City one day, a note is slipped into my hand.
Ah,this must be from Basso, my supplier. I like this guy's style. No prancing around pretending to be heroes like the Thieves Guild does.
Hmm, the fort is quite far out in the wild. I decide to start my journey from Skingrad.
This seems to be going- AH!
Everything is worse with bears.
That must be Kvatch up there. I wonder why the trees are barren.
Ah, there's the fort.
Looks like there's a necromancer and 4 or 5 undead here. The best course of action is to move around the outer wall, as close to the entrance as possible.
This is exciting.
The zombie guarding the door is moving away. It's now or never. Let's just hope the necromancer doesn't notice me.
Yes! I'm in.
A flurry of blackjacking ensues as I make my way through the fort.
It's all about just waiting for the right moment.
Oh man, I had really let myself go during my years in retirement.
Hmm, this guy doesn't seem to be bothering me. I'll just move around the statue and leave the guy alone.
Another guy up the stairs.
One last guy in this area.
We enter a new area.
Another necromancer, as well as an arrow trap. I'm somewhat tempted to lure the necromancer into the trap, but that is not guaranteed to work. I rather just stick to the blackjack.
What's that other body doing there?
Oh my. The guy seems to have killed himself by standing in the arrow trap.
We continue into the next area and- Ah!
Opening a door to see someone that near still makes me jump after all these years. Nonetheless, I blackjack the guy and keep moving.
Interesting.
Alright, one necromancer in the room to the left and one at the top of the stairs to the right. There's also one under the bridge. The one on the right seems to be the only one that might spot me as I move across, so I just wait for him to move further into the other room.
I come to this hall at the end of the overpass.
Simple enough.
I end up in the eastern part of the room with the overpass. As I said, there's one necromancer here.
This looks promising.
Right I am. This is probably what Basso wanted me to get.
Time to make my escape.
Hmm, this is problematic. The guy down there is sure to see me. I have an idea, though.
I shoot a noisemaker arrows under the overpass. While they are under it, I can safely move across.
This has sadly put a lot of the necromancers on high alert, though, as well as awoken the ones that I had knocked out.
This one is moving too erratically for me to pass or blackjack, so I lay down some grease for her to slip on with the grease arrow.
I manage to slip past the nearest one. The one further away, however...
Ah, back at this room. Again, there are two necromancers quite near to one another. The best course of action here is to...
...drop down on the other side of the room and...
... put out the lights.
Now I am able to move around and flank one of them, and leave the other there.
Getting past this one is proving to be quite hard, since she is moving erratically.
Still, with a bit of luck, I make it past the intersection.
Let's hope she's moving all the way across the intersection, as I'm making my way to the exit.
Nope, she saw me!
Might as well run now. Not like they'll catch me anyway.
Light is shining down on an altar.
I've almost lost them.
Yes, I've gotten away.
Time to head to Basso's to collect my reward.
While I wait for a bunch some more votes, here's a randomly generated mission from the Thieves Arsenal mod. I must say, I had quite a bit of fun in this one, since you can't kill anyone and there isn't a 'perfect' solution, as there would be in a Thieves Guild quest, forcing you to use most of your tools. It actually plays like a legit stealth game. A shit one, but still a step up from vanilla Oblivion stealth.
===
As I walk through the Imperial City one day, a note is slipped into my hand.
Ah,this must be from Basso, my supplier. I like this guy's style. No prancing around pretending to be heroes like the Thieves Guild does.
Hmm, the fort is quite far out in the wild. I decide to start my journey from Skingrad.
This seems to be going- AH!
Everything is worse with bears.
That must be Kvatch up there. I wonder why the trees are barren.
Ah, there's the fort.
Looks like there's a necromancer and 4 or 5 undead here. The best course of action is to move around the outer wall, as close to the entrance as possible.
This is exciting.
The zombie guarding the door is moving away. It's now or never. Let's just hope the necromancer doesn't notice me.
Yes! I'm in.
A flurry of blackjacking ensues as I make my way through the fort.
It's all about just waiting for the right moment.
Oh man, I had really let myself go during my years in retirement.
Hmm, this guy doesn't seem to be bothering me. I'll just move around the statue and leave the guy alone.
Another guy up the stairs.
One last guy in this area.
We enter a new area.
Another necromancer, as well as an arrow trap. I'm somewhat tempted to lure the necromancer into the trap, but that is not guaranteed to work. I rather just stick to the blackjack.
What's that other body doing there?
Oh my. The guy seems to have killed himself by standing in the arrow trap.
We continue into the next area and- Ah!
Opening a door to see someone that near still makes me jump after all these years. Nonetheless, I blackjack the guy and keep moving.
Interesting.
Alright, one necromancer in the room to the left and one at the top of the stairs to the right. There's also one under the bridge. The one on the right seems to be the only one that might spot me as I move across, so I just wait for him to move further into the other room.
I come to this hall at the end of the overpass.
Simple enough.
I end up in the eastern part of the room with the overpass. As I said, there's one necromancer here.
This looks promising.
Right I am. This is probably what Basso wanted me to get.
Time to make my escape.
Hmm, this is problematic. The guy down there is sure to see me. I have an idea, though.
I shoot a noisemaker arrows under the overpass. While they are under it, I can safely move across.
This has sadly put a lot of the necromancers on high alert, though, as well as awoken the ones that I had knocked out.
This one is moving too erratically for me to pass or blackjack, so I lay down some grease for her to slip on with the grease arrow.
I manage to slip past the nearest one. The one further away, however...
Ah, back at this room. Again, there are two necromancers quite near to one another. The best course of action here is to...
...drop down on the other side of the room and...
... put out the lights.
Now I am able to move around and flank one of them, and leave the other there.
Getting past this one is proving to be quite hard, since she is moving erratically.
Still, with a bit of luck, I make it past the intersection.
Let's hope she's moving all the way across the intersection, as I'm making my way to the exit.
Nope, she saw me!
Might as well run now. Not like they'll catch me anyway.
Light is shining down on an altar.
I've almost lost them.
Yes, I've gotten away.
Time to head to Basso's to collect my reward.
anus_pounder
Arcane
Crooked Bee said:
anus_pounder said:Crooked Bee said:
Peter
Arcane
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2009
- Messages
- 1,544
Part 8: Meeting the man
Damn, I forgot. Before getting the amulet for Basso, I also did another Thieves Guild assignment. Since Hieronymus Lex was disrupting the Guild activities in the Imperial City, and Lady Umbranox of Anvil was looking for a new Watch captain, I was asked to forge a recommendation letter with Lex as the best candidate. That way, he could not interfere with the guild and Lady Umbranox, whom the Gray Fox seems to be fond of, would have a loyal captain by her side. It's all very personal and stupid, and I'm glad I don't remember the details.
I received a note from Methredhel to meet the Gray Fox in person. Oddly enough, I don't really remember this encounter particularly well. The only thing I remember him saying is:
TEMPLE OF THE ANCESTOR MOTHS. SAVILLA'S STONE. MAEK IT HAPEN BRO. OMG IM SO DRUNK LOL
A person like that being in charge actually explains a lot of things about the guild.
The Temple of the Ancestor Moths is in the far North-East of Cyrodil, north of the city of Cheydinhal.
Time for some hiking.
On my hiking trip I come upon a bandit camp...
... as well as a shrine. I best leave these kooks alone. I think we all know what happens when I get involved with religious fanatics.
Ah, now I just have to move to the East a bit more.
What.
That must be the place.
Indeed it is. I talk to one of the monks in the little cottage.
Can you tell me about Savilla's stone?
Fuck. I think I know where this is going.
: x inigame: : x
He's willing to risk banishment because I played Relationship Roulette with him for 20 seconds.
Can you show me where the Catacombs are?
: x :Admire, Boast, Coerce, Joke: : x
Let's just follow the asshole.
Thanks bro. Have fun being banished!
Holy shit, is this guy asking for it.
This will prove useful.
Woah! Just sit tight, guys.
This is odd.
Meh, not bad.
I turn around to-
Oh shit. That caught me off guard. Could it be? May I actually have to be careful for the first time in my Thieves Guild assignments?
Probably not. Let's move onwards.
[Intelligence]This must be where they sleep.
Caverns? Why would they be keeping the stone in caverns? Oh well, it's the only way forwards.
A swinging mace trap? Who do they think they're fooling with this? Protip: if you're protecting an ancient, magical stone, invest in some better defense systems.
Never gets old.
[Intelligence] Spikes hurt me.
I take another tunnel.
A hidden passage? I must be getting close.
A rolling log trap. Seriously, only a sloth could get hurt by this.
The pressure plate triggers the swinging log. Again, very easy to avoid.
Damn, a ghost. I can't attack him since I don't have any silver arrows or enchanted weapons, so he's effectively blocking my way.
There is, luckily, another tunnel, though.
Yep, I'm very close.
Looks promising.
This is the place. Salvilla's stone is the glowing pink one on the right table. Now to get rid of the guardian.
As I move in, it becomes apparent that the black floating stone is, in fact, a defense mechanism.
I quickly grab the stone and run out of the pit.
What's this?
Ah, an exit. Excellent.
I find a parchment next to the ladder.
[Intelligence]This is about the cowl the Gray Fox is wearing.
Time to leave.
Can't get back down.
I confront the guy about his cowl.
You think this is Nocturnal's Cowl? Where did you hear about that?
Read it in a book, dude.
I see. I suppose there's no hiding it from you. No hiding. What a joke! My whole life is a joke.
Oh, god damn it, here we go...
You and I have even met before, when I was not wearing the cowl. To your clouded memory he and I are two different people. My own family doesn't even know me. I would give much to be rid of the Gray Cowl and its curse.
Indeed I do.
Capital! Now I can see past the palace defenses. It's a good thing the Emperor didn't know thay had this stone. He would have had it destroyed or taken it from them and kept it under lock and key in the palace.
Wait, by the palace, you mean, like, the Imperial Palace? We're robbing the Imperial Palace? That might actually be a job on par with the ones I did in the past.
Damn, I forgot. Before getting the amulet for Basso, I also did another Thieves Guild assignment. Since Hieronymus Lex was disrupting the Guild activities in the Imperial City, and Lady Umbranox of Anvil was looking for a new Watch captain, I was asked to forge a recommendation letter with Lex as the best candidate. That way, he could not interfere with the guild and Lady Umbranox, whom the Gray Fox seems to be fond of, would have a loyal captain by her side. It's all very personal and stupid, and I'm glad I don't remember the details.
I received a note from Methredhel to meet the Gray Fox in person. Oddly enough, I don't really remember this encounter particularly well. The only thing I remember him saying is:
A person like that being in charge actually explains a lot of things about the guild.
The Temple of the Ancestor Moths is in the far North-East of Cyrodil, north of the city of Cheydinhal.
Time for some hiking.
On my hiking trip I come upon a bandit camp...
... as well as a shrine. I best leave these kooks alone. I think we all know what happens when I get involved with religious fanatics.
Ah, now I just have to move to the East a bit more.
What.
That must be the place.
Indeed it is. I talk to one of the monks in the little cottage.
Can you tell me about Savilla's stone?
Fuck. I think I know where this is going.
: x
inigame: : x
He's willing to risk banishment because I played Relationship Roulette with him for 20 seconds.
Can you show me where the Catacombs are?
: x
:Admire, Boast, Coerce, Joke: : x
Let's just follow the asshole.
Thanks bro. Have fun being banished!
Holy shit, is this guy asking for it.
This will prove useful.
Woah! Just sit tight, guys.
This is odd.
Meh, not bad.
I turn around to-
Oh shit. That caught me off guard. Could it be? May I actually have to be careful for the first time in my Thieves Guild assignments?
Probably not.
Let's move onwards.
[Intelligence]This must be where they sleep.
Caverns? Why would they be keeping the stone in caverns? Oh well, it's the only way forwards.
A swinging mace trap? Who do they think they're fooling with this? Protip: if you're protecting an ancient, magical stone, invest in some better defense systems.
Never gets old.
[Intelligence] Spikes hurt me.
I take another tunnel.
A hidden passage? I must be getting close.
A rolling log trap. Seriously, only a sloth could get hurt by this.
The pressure plate triggers the swinging log. Again, very easy to avoid.
Damn, a ghost. I can't attack him since I don't have any silver arrows or enchanted weapons, so he's effectively blocking my way.
There is, luckily, another tunnel, though.
Yep, I'm very close.
Looks promising.
This is the place. Salvilla's stone is the glowing pink one on the right table. Now to get rid of the guardian.
As I move in, it becomes apparent that the black floating stone is, in fact, a defense mechanism.
I quickly grab the stone and run out of the pit.
What's this?
Ah, an exit. Excellent.
I find a parchment next to the ladder.
[Intelligence]This is about the cowl the Gray Fox is wearing.
Time to leave.
Can't get back down.
I confront the guy about his cowl.
Read it in a book, dude.
Oh, god damn it, here we go...
Indeed I do.
Wait, by the palace, you mean, like, the Imperial Palace? We're robbing the Imperial Palace? That might actually be a job on par with the ones I did in the past.
It doesn't get more retarded than this.
Do go on.
anus_pounder
Arcane
hoverdog
dog that is hovering, Wastelands Interactive
i have a real love-hate relationship with this lp.anus_pounder said:
Brother None
inXile Entertainment
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2004
- Messages
- 5,673
This plot is pretty deep guys. He's like, way conflicted and deep, man.
ironyuri
Guest
hoverdog said:i have a real love-hate relationship with this lp.anus_pounder said:
We need a new smilie with the glasses half on that says FFFFFFUUUYYEEAAAAAAH for this LP
Peter
Arcane
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2009
- Messages
- 1,544
Part 9: Are you a wizard?
Part 9 is here.
===
Not you! : x
The Gray Fox has a task for you. Meet him at Malintus Ancus' house in Chorrol.
Alright, whatever. Let's go.
Chorrol is probably the most boring town in Cyrodil. And that's saying something.
The Gray Fox is waiting for us in one of the few small shacks in the town.
My work with Savilla's Stone has revealed that I need something special for my plans. It's a small item in the possession of a powerful court wizard. Will you do this for me? I will pay you well.
Aren't you like a master thief? Why aren't you stealing all this shit?
Whatever, I'll do it.
Capital! Bring me the Arrow of Extrication. It has a key shaped head. Bravil's court wizard, Fathis Aren, recently acquired this unique item. You may kill Fathis if necessary, but not in the castle. My soy network will tell me when you have it. Return here with the arrow when you do. Now we should get out of Malintus' house before we wear out our welcome.
I can kill the guy? So you just bend the guild rules as you please? And who the hell is in this spy network, and how do they know when I get the arrow? Why don't one of your spies get the arrow if they're following me anyway?
We head to Castle Bravil and the first person we ask about the wizard is, obviously, the count.
Dude, he's your court wizard. You should know what he's up to.
At least he tells us where we can find the wizard's room.
Hmm, can't really sneak past these guys. I do have a noisemaker arrow, though.
I enter the Private Quarters while they are distracted.
Here's his room. The arrow is nowhere to be seen.
Not in the only chest in the room too.
What's this?
Well, this is interesting.
Daedra. The count was right.
Ah!
Horrible creatures.
More of them!
Might that have been the court wizard?
No.
How I know that this apple is poisoned is beyond me. Not that I'm complaining.
Wait. Actually, I am complaining.
I don't find the arrow here. Time to head back down into Mudcrab Ponds.
First mudcrabs, now rats. This place will be the end of me.
I'm back at the beginning.
Ah, haven't explored beyond that big pool of water.
Damn. Looks deep. I've come prepared though.
Knew I had to dive in.
More daedra.
Getting close.
So many choices.
Nothing in the room behind the door, so we head upstairs.
I take out the wizard and his pet and...
This must be the place.
There he is.
Ah, we've found what we came for. Time to return to the Gray Fox.
Hmm, the caverns took us quite far away from Bravil.
Uhh, only the arrowhead, not the whole arrow.
Hmmm. I had hoped for the whole arrow, but that is not your fault. I will have to have it repaired. This arrowhead advances my plan to... nevermind.
Drop it, dude. We all know you're planning on robbing the Imperial Palace.
I may have need of you again in the near future, if my plans hold.
Crooked Bee said:
Part 9 is here.
===
Not you! : x
Alright, whatever. Let's go.
Chorrol is probably the most boring town in Cyrodil. And that's saying something.
The Gray Fox is waiting for us in one of the few small shacks in the town.
Aren't you like a master thief? Why aren't you stealing all this shit?
Whatever, I'll do it.
I can kill the guy? So you just bend the guild rules as you please? And who the hell is in this spy network, and how do they know when I get the arrow? Why don't one of your spies get the arrow if they're following me anyway?
We head to Castle Bravil and the first person we ask about the wizard is, obviously, the count.
Dude, he's your court wizard. You should know what he's up to.
At least he tells us where we can find the wizard's room.
Hmm, can't really sneak past these guys. I do have a noisemaker arrow, though.
I enter the Private Quarters while they are distracted.
Here's his room. The arrow is nowhere to be seen.
Not in the only chest in the room too.
What's this?
Well, this is interesting.
Daedra. The count was right.
Ah!
Horrible creatures.
More of them!
Might that have been the court wizard?
No.
How I know that this apple is poisoned is beyond me. Not that I'm complaining.
Wait. Actually, I am complaining.
I don't find the arrow here. Time to head back down into Mudcrab Ponds.
First mudcrabs, now rats. This place will be the end of me.
I'm back at the beginning.
Ah, haven't explored beyond that big pool of water.
Damn. Looks deep. I've come prepared though.
Knew I had to dive in.
More daedra.
Getting close.
So many choices.
Nothing in the room behind the door, so we head upstairs.
I take out the wizard and his pet and...
This must be the place.
There he is.
Ah, we've found what we came for. Time to return to the Gray Fox.
Hmm, the caverns took us quite far away from Bravil.
Uhh, only the arrowhead, not the whole arrow.
Drop it, dude. We all know you're planning on robbing the Imperial Palace.
And consequences, yay!
anus_pounder
Arcane
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