This thread is for any discussion or questions related to the mission Shadow Play by Schlock.
You can download the mission HERE or HERE.
The contest thread is HERE.
Please give clues instead of outright solutions when helping others and use the spoiler tag when you do this.
Remember that this mission, and by extension every mission made for the contest, is for THIEF GOLD. As such, do not load it with Thief 2! It is highly recommended you do not use the Enhancement Pack and/or HD texture packs to play this mission. It is also recommended you uncheck all optional features TFix comes with if you update to the latest version of the full executable.
Very good mission by schlock.Expert loot requirement is a toughie! Lots of it was hidden and I barely made it with 2100/2000 out of like 2900~!
Thanks! Not too long ago I cut down the amount of loot around the place because I thought it might be too easy, maybe not the right decision. I actually watched a bit of your stream earlier (I found your channel while watching speedruns on YT) and saw a point where you looked at practically every book on a bookshelf except the one that was a secret switch, which would have revealed enough loot to end the mission, but I've never bothered making a twitch account so I couldn't say anything.
well thenOriginally Posted by Schlock
This FM represents everything I was hoping for from this contest. A strikingly beautiful, angular, well-designed manor that absolutely oozes style and atmosphere. Totally unpretentious, while managing to really capture the unsettling ambiance characteristic of The Dark Project.
Personal highlights:
NO MONSTERS. This mission was unnerving purely through the use of lighting and audio; any supernatural beings would have cheapened the experience.
The dilapidated building with the Trickster/Pagan god face behind a locked door, complete with audio sting and a gold nugget reward. The setup and payoff here was perfectly executed in under a minute.
The music room. It takes real talent to make something so everyday absolutely chilling.
Rosenfield in front of his bedroom window, and the sword dumped unceremoniously in a storage room behind his bed.
No switch- or key-hunts, or even any readables with obtuse clues. Just straight Thief gameplay in a rewarding environment.
Time will tell, but this one feels like a real classic. Fantastic work.
3 download mirrors came out of the shadow so far:
https://www.thiefguild.com/fanmissions/7540/shadow-play
What a finely crafted little gem. Fantastic work man! I love the lighting and texturing work, and the way you've used ambiants. This mission has so much character.
You'd better keep doing fms afterward, you're gifted for that.
Glad you guys enjoyed it. I was worried the mission might be seen as insubstantial since it's pretty small and has practically no story, but sometime's that's just what you're up for.
I've already started working on the next one, though I'm taking a break from DromEd at least until the contest voting period ends.
Last edited by Schlock; 3rd Dec 2018 at 19:37.
I don't think the mission was small, it took me over an hour to beat. Enjoyed it quite a bit, in fact there was nothing about it I didn't like. Great job.
Congratulations on the release! This was an hour of pure, uninterrupted fun! A classic Thief experience (and very good one). What I liked most is the texturing and the non-symmetrical brushwork which made the interior of the mansion interesting to explore. Hope to see more FMs from you in the furute
Was this your first mission? If so pretty good stuff. Multiple entryways, some hidden loot, not overly long or difficult. Pretty good mission to jump in and finish in one sitting.
Finished this fairly quick, but missing a ton of loot. I was struck by how gorgeous the architecture is, that manor is a thing of beauty
Wonderful! The relatively small space was used up very well. I thought this extract of a city felt believable, in a way.
I've also made, like, 5 screenshots because some vistas are just pretty. I especially liked the taunting view onto the sword through a window, the kitchen corner and the swimming pool. You really have a hand for mise en scene.
I have never burgled a mansion I've wanted to live in more.
Brilliant, classic Thief style and gameplay - Bafford with a bigger budget.
I wanted to write compliments but others have already said everythingThis was the rare mission where I didn't mind getting lost a bit because it was so interesting to explore and get rewarded.
A very nice little manor mission! Stats: Expert, 1:23, mostly ghosting (guards started searching a few times, oops), and got 2310/2910 loot. Architecture of the manor was really great—though somehow I missed the stairs to the upper floor for the longest time! I actually went out and started scoping for a way in on the upper floor— perhaps the upper balcony, but that archer was never gone long enough. A lot of tile floor and quite a few very short patrols made things pretty touchy in places. My fault for trying to avoid using the blackjack, I could've had it much easier. Really enjoyed it!
Edit: Forgot to mention my favourite thing! The small rooms with the braziers to light up the stained glass windows in the pool! A lovely touch.
I also noticed a few small bugs, nothing very important: Cole's House can be unlocked with the manor master key. Some of the book textures in the library are upside down. And the grate over the fireplace in the kitchen can be frobbed and slides open onto the kitcher counter.
Last edited by vfig; 18th Dec 2018 at 18:21.
Short but very good.
You can also use a rope arrow to climb up the shaft with the indoor bridge. And you can make it up to the balcony by jumping off the perimeter wall at the right angle. That wasn't intended but there wasn't really any reason to prevent it.though somehow I missed the stairs to the upper floor for the longest time! I actually went out and started scoping for a way in on the upper floor
I didn’t discover that shaft until I came through it the other way
This was a great mission, but for the fact that there was essentially no story. I think it could have been significantly improved if even a couple of the frobinert books/scrolls had something on them; just enough information to get players more invested. The fact that the mansion is so well designed provides a certain level of investment on its own, but a little bit more story could make this mission a true classic.
The opera glasses near the start are cleverly hidden, so props for that.
Also, vfig has already pointed this out, but those fireplace grates really need fixing once you're allowed to put out a patch. A frobinert tag is all they need, but it will make a big difference in immersion.
When I read the mission was only going to take about an hour, I decided to ironman it on my first attempt. No saving at all.
This was the most fun I had with a mission in this contest so far!I was constantly on edge, knowing one or two mistakes could end my run. I actually got caught once - by a guard on the ground floor I hadn't heard and who opened a door right as I was crouching in beside it. Woah, that adrenaline rush as I jumped to my feet and took out my sword as he was charging at me, screaming bloody murder. It has been a while since I was this tense during a playthrough. Often fan missions are so long, difficult and filled with deadly traps you have no choice but to save often. Shadow Play managed to be both challenging and doable.
Finished on Normal in 1 hour and 13 minutes with 2063 of 2910 total loot.
This is a beautiful and fun mission. Thank you!
I finished it on Expert, ghosting, with 2311 of 2910 loot. The loot was tough. I went through it twice, taking 2:45.
Near the beginning and end, there an open window with pipes below. I could not find a way to get up there. Please spoil me.
Go to the top of the stairs there, then turn and look back towards the open window. Now look closely at the walls near you. Depending on your gamma setting it might be hard to see, but there are ledges on either side of this area (notice the two different wall textures). At the top of the stairs the ledge is about eye-height. Just mantle up to the right-side ledge and make your way to the window.
Thanks, Twist. That was pretty obvious if you know what to look for. Loot is now 2346.
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