User Guide

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To use your selected inventory item, press the Use button. If the item is a potion, you will
drink it; if it’s a scroll, you will read it; if it’s a flash bomb or mine, you will toss it into the
world. Press the Backspace key to clear your inventory. Inventory items will only stay on
screen for five seconds after being selected; press Tab to redisplay the item. Almost
every inventory item also has a hot key, which will directly select the item.
USING INVENTORY OBJECTS WITH OBJECTS IN THE WORLD
Some objects in your inventory (like keys) can be used on objects in the world. For
example, to use a key on a door, select and use the key. The key icon will zip to the
center of the screen, indicating that it can be used on other objects. Center the door on
your screen so that it becomes highlighted. Using the door while your key is centered will
use the key on the door. While one of these tool objects is currently selected, you will be
unable to use most fixed-in-the-world objects. For example, if a key is your currently
selected object, you will be unable to press buttons or pull levers.
PICKING POCKETS
The great thing about being a thief is that you can pick up things that someone else
foolishly thinks they’re hanging on to. Of course, the pocket hasn’t actually been
invented yet, but many people will have a key or a purse of coins hanging at their hip.
If they don’t know you’re there, you can take their possessions right off their belts! This
works just as if the object were sitting out anywhere else in the world, the only problem
being getting close enough to remain undetected by the object’s onetime owner!
STEALTH
The most important asset you have as a thief is secrecy; success will come only to those
who can avoid being noticed. There are three ways to fail at this important task:
• You can be seen.
• You can be heard.
• You can leave behind signs that a thief has been at work.
DON’T BE SEEN
As a master thief, you have the ability to become practically invisible while in shadows. If
an enemy is otherwise ignorant of your presence, he can pass quite close to you without
seeing you, as long as you are concealed in darkness. If you hear someone approaching,
the best course of action is often to hide in a deep shadow until the threat has passed.
You can make your own areas of darkness by using your water arrows to shoot out
torches and gas-lights. Don’t underestimate how useful this can be! (There are electric
lights as well, which cannot be extinguished with water arrows, so don’t waste your
supply trying.)
THE VISIBILITY GEM
One of your most important tools is the Visibility Gem, a small yellow gem at the bottom
center of your screen. The Visibility Gem indicates how difficult it is for enemies to see
you. If the gem is bright yellow, then you are easy to spot; if it is black, you are almost
invisible. Several factors contribute to your visibility:
• First among these is the amount of light in your immediate vicinity.
• Standing vs. crouching. Crouching will make you less visible and will make
the gem glow a little less brightly as a result.
• Having a weapon drawn will make you more visible and will make the gem glow
a little more brightly.
Thief 2 PC 2/23/00 6:28 PM Page 16