Thief Games

I intend to put some of my thoughts regarding the Looking Glass Studios' Thief games here. I don't own Thief: The Dark Project but I do have both Thief Gold and Thief II: The Metal Age which has been patched to version 1.18. They each have their own endearing qualities and I'll try not to show any preference for one or the other. The mission links here are not walkthroughs and unless noted otherwise have been played on Expert difficutly. If you want walkthroughs or loot lists check out TTLG's The Keepers' Chapel. And while you're there have a look around the host site, Through The Looking Glass, the granddaddy of all Thief fan sites. In fact, rather than walkthroughs, these documents should be considered spoilers. What I'll put here is what I had the most difficulty doing. My earlier trips through the missions were without any style and I noticed that blackjacking everyone made them a bit too easy to complete. Fortunately several of the veteran leaders of playing these games have developed other styles of play intended to extend replayability. My interest is playing Ghost/Perfect Thief style and I'll chronical some of the more interesting endeavors of these.

Ghost mode is a style of playing the Thief games that attempts to avoid any notice by the AI while satisfying the missions' objectives. There are further restrictions outlined in the Clayman post in the Thief Modes of Play: Final rules to suggested styles of play topic of the EIDOS Thief Series Forums. This style leaves some missions incomplete. That is, they have not been Ghosted for one reason or another to date. I have no predefined fallback playing style in this case except, of course, to try to come up with a way to Ghost them.

In addition to Ghost mode there is Perfect Thief mode. This is Ghost mode plus getting all the loot. I also try to include getting all pickpockets and all items. As well, I try to minimize the use of what I refer to as consumables. That is, inventory items like Water Arrows, Moss Arrows, Potions, etc. I don't bother worrying about Rope and Vine Arrows and Scouting Orbs as long as I retrieve them. This is my style and I haven't attempted to name it yet but perhaps Material Thief or Frugal Thief or McThief?

If you position Garrett behind but touching a stationary AI the AI will slowly move forward to get away. This I refer to as the Snudge. It was originally discovered and developed by Sneak of the EIDOS Thief Series Forums. When there is no other way to get by an AI, I will resort to this method if possible. It is also possible to direct the AI's movement but always forward and also left or right by positioning Garrett slightly to the AI's side. It seems to encourage more rapid movement if Garrett is crouched also.

Thief Gold
Down in the Bonehoard
The Sword
Mages Towers
FM Calendra's Cistern
FM The Order of the Vine

Thief II: The Metal Age
Shipping ... & Receiving
Life of the Party
Kidnap
Casing the Joint
Masks
Sabotage at Soulforge
FM Calendra's Legacy: A Winter's Eve