User Guide

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• Being right up against a wall will make you less visible.
• Any movement will make you more visible, and the faster you go, the more easily
you’ll be seen.
Therefore, if you are running directly beneath a street lamp with your sword drawn, the
gem will be at full brightness, and you will be spotted by just about anyone in the area.
If you are standing still in a deep shadow with your sword and bow put away, the gem
will be dark, and an un-alert guard will walk right past you without seeing you.
DON’T BE HEARD
Your enemies can see you, and they can also hear you. Different kinds of flooring
materials will make different amounts of noise when you walk on them. For example,
walking on metal or tile floors will make lots of noise, while walking on carpets or grass
will be very quiet.
If you have some moss arrows, you can use them to muffle what would otherwise be very
loud surfaces to walk on (see “Player Tools”). Running instead of walking will also make
much more noise and make it much more likely that you will get caught.
DON’T LEAVE EVIDENCE
Even if no one has seen or heard you, you can still give yourself away by leaving
evidence. If you’ve knocked a guard unconscious, and you leave his body in the middle
of a traveled hallway, the next person who walks by is going to be just a mite suspicious.
Don’t be surprised to hear alarm bells sounding if you leave a trail of slumbering victims
in plain sight.
If you defeat an opponent, hide the body in the shadows, so that other passers-by won’t
be alerted to your presence. If you have Water Arrows to spare, use them to clean up
incriminating bloodstains (see “Player Tools”). Closing doors behind you can also serve
to keep anyone from becoming suspicious. Also be aware that if you steal a treasure
that’s prominently displayed, someone might notice that it’s missing.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LESS SKILLED
Chances are, the people around you aren’t trained thieves. They don’t pay attention to
how much noise they’re making, and they’re not properly paranoid about their personal
possessions.
Much of the time, your enemies will be making a fair amount of noise (walking, humming,
whistling or mumbling), so you can hear them before you see them. It’s a good practice
to stop in a shadowy place and listen for a few moments before moving into a new area.
You can also “listen at doors” (eavesdrop) by leaning into the door. This allows you to
hear what’s happening on the other side. (Press “Q” to lean left, “E” to lean right and
“Alt-W” to lean forward.)
You are also a great pickpocket, and can steal keys, pouches, potions and even arrows
from passers-by. They must be unaware of you for pickpocketing to succeed, so for best
results, hide in a shadow and wait for a victim to pass close by.
COMBAT
Sometimes, thieving can be made easier by a measured application of force. Usually, this
means a stealthy sword-blow from behind, or a well-placed arrow shot from a place of
concealment. In a desperate situation, a frontal one-on-one melee may be the best option.
If two or more guards are bearing down on you, running away is almost always a better
option than fighting. Hey, it’s always good to have options.
To attack with any equipped weapon, use the Attack button (default: left mouse button).
Thief 2 PC 2/23/00 6:28 PM Page 18