User Guide

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THIEF 2: THE METAL AGE
“It is not a question of what the Law is, but rather what it is not. The Law is neither
noble, nor an end in itself. It is not for the weak-minded or the squeamish. The Law
is simply a means for those who control it, namely me, to acquire that which I
want. One with your wealth and connections, who is prepared to sacrifice to have
a troubling problem resolved, need only describe to me in detail the favor you are
requesting.” - Gorman Truart, correspondence
“The Master Builder came unto us.
He built for us a new house, and the house was like His house.
And He gifted us with knowledge, and we learned to use Boiler and Gear.
That unto us would come His Paradise, and there would be no pain.”
- from Mechanist Rote Texts for Novices
“Twice moons face darks us showed
Twice thems jackals singsie
Thrice Him harvest failsy blights
Thrice we weeps and chillsing ...”
- Unattributed, Ink on Parchment
“Our focus shifted to those who presented two faces: one manifest yet false, the
other hidden yet true. To interfere directly would bring ruin, still, the glyph
warnings were absolute.”
- Keepers Annals
INTRODUCTION
In THIEF 2: THE METAL AGE you play the character of Garrett, a hardened thief
of the highest caliber. Shadows and silence are your allies. Light is your enemy.
Stealth and cunning are your tools.
And the riches of others are yours for the taking.
You ply your trade in the City, preying on the rich nobility and corrupt merchants,
who are no more deserving of their worldly goods than a hard-working thief.
Every job comes with some danger. Being a thief means always being one misstep away
from finding an angry guard bearing down on you with a drawn blade. For these
unfortunate moments, you carry a sword yourself. A blackjack and a short-bow are
also part of your arsenal. Fighting is usually your last choice, but sometimes it’s
the only choice.
More often, however, the road to riches is dark and silent. You will have tools designed
to deceive your enemies, tools which can better keep you out of danger, and tools to help
you get into hard-to-reach places. You are a thief, not a warrior. So keep your wits about
you and you won’t lose your head.
You may have heard the term “First Person Shooter” to describe other action games with
a first-person point of view. THIEF 2 is not one of those games. Instead, think of THIEF 2
as a “First Person Sneaker.” Sure, you can use your sword and bow to kill your enemies,
but the general rule of engagement is: “The enemy should never know you were there.”
Make sure to read the “Stealth” section later in this manual if you want to survive the
harsh world of THIEF 2.
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