The Black Parade Mission 4: Death's Dominion

[Azaran]

I wonder where the (?secret) loot stash is, I'm missing 700 and scoured everything, even got the holy sword

[lpowell]

This is the best Bonehoard-style FM I've played. There's so much to praise about it, but one thing that really stood out to me is the map. Now I'm a big fan of Thief 1 style navigation: no markers or automap to guide you, just your compass and your ability to orient yourself using landmarks and general spatial awareness. This mission is such excellent exercise for that process of exploration. But beyond that, I'm impressed by the subtle ways in which the map implies a story, through the details Brother Brutus includes and excludes relative to what we find ourselves. Like

spoiler:

what caused the original entrance to cave in, and when was the upper level (apparently a more recent addition, judging by the dates) converted into a makeshift entrance?

So much thought put into what would normally just be utilitarian.

[Lightningline]

I'm in the area with the dogs and the gambling ring or whatever. Climbed to top of large metal structure and can see the city up top. Help me out. Thanks.

[Lightningline]

got it...thanks anyhow.

[arandomgamer02]

Initially I found the map frustrating, but that's mostly because it's Friday and I am tired and the map requires concentration as others have noted. Only 1610 loot. But I stuck with it and my mood definitely improved by the end. I really liked the mixture of undead and human areas, it made the mission feel more organic.

I noticed the Doom face switch textures in the Noirequier area.

The monster in there was very scary, I had to play with headphones off until I got a visual on it.

2 holy water arrows to kill idle zombies!

This campaign is really strong so far.

[agrash]

Took me a bit to figure out, but for those wondering here's how to open the plaque door. Apologies in advance for this CIA document looking post:

Grimworth: shoot his sarcophagus with a holy water arrow - a hilt will appear near the exit of the Grimworth tomb

I'm stuck, i can't seem to find his sarcophagus. Or even his named tomb

[bob_doe_nz]

I'm stuck, i can't seem to find his sarcophagus. Or even his named tomb

It's sorta early on in the level. When you first enter the area, you have the dead thief, and if you jump across, a damaged holy water fountain. Between these is a small overlook below. If you go down it and follow it, you should get to a walkway surrounded by water, with 2? planks floating near the end of it. The area you're after is a vertical stair lined area, with the tomb in the middle part way up.

[agrash]

It's sorta early on in the level. When you first enter the area, you have the dead thief, and if you jump across, a damaged holy water fountain. Between these is a small overlook below. If you go down it and follow it, you should get to a walkway surrounded by water, with 2? planks floating near the end of it. The area you're after is a vertical stair lined area, with the tomb in the middle part way up.

Thank you! You're a lifesaver ^^
I was thinking he was buried deeper in the level like the others. I did however run back a few times earlier towards the entry point, but it seems I had missed that place entirely.
I'm glad I got my shiny new sword

I have another question about a certain enemy:
During my search for the sword parts, I encountered a special hammer haunt enemy and I think he had a crossbow in his hands. He didn't get time to use his weapon, since I immediately unloaded my explosive weaponry on it. >_<
I found him lurking around the area with the big rock hanging on the chains (not far from the tomb where you can find the red gem for the main objective)
Did I miss something, or was that an enemy that spawned a bit later (after completing an objective?) I mean, I was surprised because I think I killed most if not all undead foes and it sorta came out of nowhere. To my understanding, it's also not an enemy that's in the base game.
I only found one of its "type", aside from a couple of regular hammer haunts


All in all, another great mission. Tomb raids/bone hoard style missions aren't usually my favorite of the bunch, but I had a blast playing through it from start to finish.
Looking forwards to the next one!

[Komag]

Hey, I'm playing this mission still, and just had a very odd thing happen, seems buggy. I'm in the South Lower Tombs, on the east side of the higher section, in a room with a "fence", which is near a trap that drops a large rock. On the E side of the room there is a little display with two bushes, a hammer, and three skulls sitting on top, the skull in the middle being larger. In the NE corner of the room, just to the left of the display, is a statue. I was trying to climb on this statue and jump up to mantle onto the top of the fence to explore up high. I grabbed the rock from the nearby trap and was jumping around on top of the statue trying to drop the rock to get a bit higher up, but my angle must have been bad and the rock wasn't dropping (I managed it later after a reload). What happened next is the statue suddenly disappeared, and near the three skulls was a floating blade, which I grabbed it said "sword blade" or something like that. I didn't know what to make of it, so I reloaded and couldn't repeat it! I tried attacking the statue, throwing the rock at it, etc, to no avail. I assume I'll discover this sword deal later on, but figured I'd report this strange bug here (if it is a bug).

[bob_doe_nz]

Komag:

You're on the money on what it's for... Did you find a mosiac of an entity hitting an anvil with a large wall of text next to it?... Which leads me to...

Regarding the skulls thing, that is where you needed to 'pray'. If you reload and go back there to before you picked up the blade, crouch and look at the hammer. It glows and then the sword bit appears...

[Komag]

WOW, just finished!!! 6:50, the most time I've ever spent on any mission ever! I absolutely loved it, such tremendous exploration and pouring over the map and orienting myself. And the verticality! I love coming back to an area from another side and recognizing it, especially if I'm now up high or down low, getting a whole new perspective.

The quest for the special treasure with parts at the end was well done. I avoided spoilers mostly, but read a hint about praying. Then I figured the others out, except I didn't use holy water, just a normal water arrow, and had to read about that. I was extremely lucky to find one last piece of food because I had already eaten everything else before starting the quest (in a bid to heal up).

I actually didn't love the gambling den - I mean, it was cool, tying in to game lore and all, but it broke the mood for me, as I found it in the middle of my playthrough, before going back down to the tombs again.

Anyone know why there is a super tall pit above the Belor room in the back corner?

The snake things (sweels?) are too hard to hit with my sword, miss too much when it looks like I'm hitting.

The use of sound was tremendous, immersive stuff, extremely well done there.

And I got to use rope arrows a lot, which was tons of fun and very satisfying.

That freaky fire monster was scary, and tough, it was nerve wracking (in a good way) trying to get through that part.

Oh, and I got the biggest scare that I can remember, at least for several years. In a low section I had roped down (near the beginning), not noticing one of the bandaged zombies lying down there, I got some loot and was reading the plaque of a worker who got lost and died, and the bandage man snuck up on me and I turned around casually just as he started to attack in my face!!! It freaked me out like crazy, mouth uttering unintelligible lizard-brain fear/dying sounds, heart pumping hard, made my wife wonder what on earth just happened! It was about five times worse than turning around to find a creeper about to blow up in Minecraft, LOL!

Whoever was the primary designer of this mission, kudos to you. I've never spent this long on a mission! And Bonehoard was my all time favorite OM, very reminiscent.

EDIT - PS - I felt I did very well hunting loot, but was still about 250 short! But good enough :-)

[Marvin]

About 380 short, but that's fine with me given the enormity of the level.

Probably one of the best Thief missions I ever played. So much care given to make the player feel like they are descending into a neverending abyss, having to concentrate hard to not lose their bearings - just exceptional. I also wouldn't have guessed that an undead in a Thief game could still scare me after all those years, but there you go. It's a great example of how the game's low-poly graphics can work to its advantage, in that you brain wants to figure out what kind of abomination it's looking at but can't, which makes it scarier.

[Kin]

I am having a hard time finding Noirequier's tomb (on expert). Either I am missing something obvious or have been there and didn't realize it. Direct hints please.

[DirkBogan]

I am having a hard time finding Noirequier's tomb (on expert). Either I am missing something obvious or have been there and didn't realize it. Direct hints please.

Have you seen the large waterfall, surrounded by a stone ramp and feeding into a pool of water? From the ground level at the pool, head directly north and take the first path to the right.

[Komag]

There is a skeleton riding a fake horse in its entryway

[frobbin hood]

At the start, is there a key for the Candlemaker's door?

[Marvin]

At the start, is there a key for the Candlemaker's door?

Short answer: There is not.
Long answer: ...

[Kin]

Have you seen the large waterfall, surrounded by a stone ramp and feeding into a pool of water? From the ground level at the pool, head directly north and take the first path to the right.

Thanks. I just have taken the wrong turn and somehow I thought I visited every place availiable.

[SanfordMorgan]

Also need help with Noirequier. Picked up a necklace, killed the monster, still cannot exit that area - what to do?

[marbleman]

Look for a way out. Just hug the left or right wall, and you'll quickly find the exit.

[bob_doe_nz]

Keep hugging the left wall. I can't tell you where, but it's on the left.

[Lord Taffer]

What a lovely Down in the Bonehoard style mission with lots of new stuff! The layout was just challenging enough and reading the map was also a challenge but kind of rewarding since it forces player to stop and think. For me this mission definitely goes to the top alongside with Tomb of St. Tennor (Pt.2) and Catacombs of Knoss (mission 2) when talking about Bonehoard style FMs. To mention just some of my favourite parts: Noirequier Extension was the scariest place and also Albrecth Extension was very cool!

I was able to grab 2353/2991 loot. Quite a lot of loot was still left behind. That's a good reason to replay this mission later and with a harder difficulty (so far I've played only Hard difficulty).

[frobbin hood]

Loving this mission - it's enormous.
I've completed all my objectives and got the Holy Sword.
I'm ready to leave, but before I do, is there a way through the portcullis door on the ledge halfway up the waterfall that drops through the roof of a building? If I'm at the right place on the map, it leads to the Ossuary.

Also, I never found the Gambling Den some mentioned. Where is that?

[Atropos]

Both regions can be reached from the room in which you got the demise.

Den: Following the route from the level where you got the demise you reach the server system. you can get to the den from the huge cylindrical room.

Portcullis Door: From the bottom level of the room with the demise go back to the staircase with the statues in the center. In the next room look up.

[mxleader]

This may be the mission that stops me. I do not like undead missions.