A Keeper of the Prophecies: Book 1 a Thief 2 campaign by frobber Episode 1: The Enterprise Episode 2: Hallucinations Episode 3: The Insurrection =========================================== W A R N I N G (Episode 3, only.) =========================================== VISUALLY-INDUCED SEIZURES ARE POSSIBLE! DO NOT PLAY THIS FAN MISSION IF FLASHING LIGHTS CAN TRIGGER YOU. This is NOT a joke! =========================================== ======================================================================= IMPORTANT: CLOSE ALL OTHER PROGRAMS AND PLAY ONLY ON A FRESH RE-BOOT ======================================================================= Supported Features: Weather Fog EAX (environmental sound) Minimum System Requirements: 600 Mhz CPU TNT graphics card (or equivalent) 128 MB RAM Recommended System Requirements: 1.0 GHz CPU or faster TNT2 graphics card (equivalent or faster) 256 MB RAM or more EAX compatible Sound Card (highly recommended) Thief 2 Patched to Version 1.18 (highly recommended) Playing Notes… Episode 1: The Enterprise Overview The Trickster is dead. The world has been saved from his evil. And yet strangely I have grown darker these past weeks. But Why? Comfort from old wine cellars has been easy enough to find, and loot at the expense of my rich neighbors still pays the bills. It is the simple life I had always wanted for myself. No surprises – and no world in need of rescue! The Hammerites have promised a new mechanical eye. But what good is having their machine vision? Even when I had two perfectly normal human eyes I wasn't any richer than I am tonight! Yet, as I write this, I am beginning to feel a shift in the air ...and not simply the rumbling of distant thunder. Perhaps it is just another crazy dream, but I can feel an inner gnawing saying that my fortunes are about to change ...that the BIG one is just around the corner where I'll finally know the true comfort and peace of mind that comes with becoming a genuinely wealthy man! CREDITS for The Enterprise Voice Acting SlyFoxx - Garrett frobber - Master Solustice Design Elements frobber - mapper, story-writer, overall slave-driver (and slave) Thorin Oakenshield - AVI 'movie' animations Purah - with permission, many textures borrowed from the Calendra's series David Gurrea Hernandez - many textures unfortunately greatly reduced in detail to fit the dark engine SilentSleep - fade-up from black technology GOB and MOG - wood texture borrowed and altered, from their Contest 4 mission The Bar MsLedd - AI “skin” for Alisha Goober - comments and suggestions Play Testers Renanse Albert R. Conklin SlyFoxx Nightwalker Daedalus Spitter Shadowspawn Audio The Celtic Group Lothlorien is featured in the prologue and epilogue sound clips - An Cat Dubh and the The Black Cat. And they are also the source for one ambient sound loop. Many unspoken thanks to the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) for the sounds of their commuter rail passenger carriages and locomotives. To those seeking audio of metallic clanging, grinding, and heavy machinery - trains are a gift from the gods! One old freight elevator in South Boston is the source of terrifically authentic mechanism and metal door sounds. Lot’s of anonymous audio was long-ago downloaded from Napster RIP. I’ll never know where any of that audio originated. My own ambient recordings were made with a RipFlash Trio direct-to-MP3 codec (160kbs stereo). Miniature condenser microphones were variously wired into my backpack or hiking boots and were connected to the RipFlash through a custom battery-powered microphone pre-amp of my own design. Audio was processed using CoolEdit 2000. Playing Information The Enterprise is a two-part mission. The first part is small, and the second part very large. The Thief 2 fog setting is entirely optional – it looks cool either way. But setting for rain fall is a good idea since the sound of rain will be there whether or not you have Thief 2 set for rain. The lighting may seem a tad bright. This done because not all machines display the game brightly enough. Use the - minus and + plus keys to adjust your screen for the right on-screen feeling. EAX ambient sound is recommended. Adjusting Audio in the Thief 2 configuration screen may help headphone and other 2-speaker systems sound better. Except for growing annoyances, there is no real differences between Normal, Hard, and Expert. So it’s really a matter of how long you want to play, and how annoyed you are willing to become. Oddities and minor bugs that won’t be fixed Sometimes Garrett will sink through a large descending freight lift platform while walking around if the platform is still moving. This doesn’t seem to happen if you stay put and just enjoy the ride. It also does not seem to happen when ascending. Sometimes on some computers there is no bashing sound when black-jacking an AI. In one case there was also a report about a loot item which made no sound when grabbed, and other rare instances of sound drop-outs. This only happens on some machines, and only rarely (I hope). Try setting audio channels in the Thief configuration to 16 instead of 24 if this is happening on your machine – it might help. Some of the workers may run off yet never find their way home – mainly because “home” is atop some workbench, and AI don’t seem to mark that as a place to call home. If you’re ghosting or otherwise bashing your way through, then you’ll rarely see this. Frame rate on Expert may be a bit choppy – this is mainly due to AI programming. Bashing AI will help a lot. A fairly ordinary rig should have no problems, but if you do have screen chop, then only play on a fresh re-boot and don’t run any other programs – and play on Hard if you’re machine is still sucking wind. You won’t be missing anything other than a few bored guards. General Information Game: Thief 2: The Metal Age Mission Title: The Enterprise Filename: enterprise21a.zip / miss17.mis (intro), and miss18.mis (part two) Difficulty Settings: Yes Equipment store: Nothing for sale Map / automap: Map in part two, no automap New graphics: Yes New sounds: Yes New Objects: Yes Other stolen stuff: Garrett's local neighborhood from the 'Lost City' Multi language support: Only English Briefing : “frobber” logo, and a small transitional AVI Story Information As a responsible adult, I must add that you should not take any of this story literally or personally. I am no fan of brutality, and it can keep me awake at night to think about the details of such things. But there is a message in this mission - Power can corrupt even those people who should know better. Revision History for The Enterprise Version 2.0 – July 26, 2003, Initial release. Version 2.1 – July 31, 2003, Improved sound for non-EAX and 2-speaker systems; Fixed loot problem (100g buried in a wall); Tweaked some scrolls (minor); Placed a few AI where they wouldn't be seen improperly (can't say more); Updated this readme file. Version 2.1a – Aug 7. 2003, Updated this readme text to be consistent with the mission series. Episode 2: Hallucinations ===================================== He was corrupted without his knowing for he failed to perceive his danger. But his folly was meant to be and his journey would be no accident. --From the Last Book of Amahus ===================================== CREDITS for Hallucinations Voice Acting Lizanneh - Alisha, Little Girl SlyFoxx - Garrett, Franticius, Harroleous, Listus, Kevel frobber - Keeper Orlet, Crastus, Nobleman 2, Solustice, Pontis, Cog Komag - Keeper Calif Broken Arts - Aida, Medifney MsLedd - The Missies The Thief - Timitus Goober - Vocal Effects Design Elements frobber - lead Designer, writer, mapper Shadowspawn - clocks, pocket watch, and other custom objects Saturnine - "CamVator" invention (as first seen in the "7th Crystal") Lizanneh - story editing Thorin Oakenshield - AVI 'movie' animations SilentSleep - BlackOutBomb and 'CamVator' consulting Schwaa - custom AI, objects, and textures Thumper - custom script (cl.osm -- from the "Calendra's Legacy" design) von.Eins - custom objects (from his release-pack into the public domain) Daemonite - enhanced Thief 1 AI skins (from his public release-pack) MsLedd - custom AI skin (Alisha) Tomi - custom map base texture (from his public release-pack) Goober - lots of suggestions Play Testers Lizanneh SlyFoxx MsLedd Shadowspawn Hawklette Nightwalker Peter Smith Vanguard Music Dan Gibson: Rocky Mountain Suite - Winter Wolves Kim Robertson: Wood, Fire & Gold - Anamchara (Reprise) Westminster chimes of London -- including "Big Ben" Playing Information for Hallucinations "To-Be-Continued" Hallucinations is a "to-be-continued" mission. The next mission is called The Insurrection. Clocks This is a timed mission. The clocks really do keep time. And if you run out of time, the mission will 'fail.' On Normal you will have just over two hours (which should be plenty of time). On Hard, you'll have 95 minutes, and on Expert, just 65 minutes. The clock, however, stops running when you review the map or open a scroll to read (in scroll-mode) -- so there is no time penalty when examining books and scrolls. Reloading during conversations Some AI are a bit long-winded, and if you happen to save during their speeches, things may not seem quite right when you reload the mission. You may see gestures which do not match the speech – but nothing more harmful than that. "Rushing" the mission After having played once, there is a good chance that you may not want to hear all the conversations again. I understand this, and if you do run away before the AI finish talking, nothing terrible will happen. However, some objectives may get skipped, and at least one "New Objective" may trigger long after you have left the area. Also, there are a few cases where Garrett may not say things or listen to things at the most sensible times. Ways to Crash the Mission (as in crashing the game or your computer) Hallucinations includes a very complicated set of terrain and I have spent months trying to simplify the structure to prevent overloading disasters. I understand, however, that some people are quite imaginative when it comes to breaking through barriers or climbing higher than I can support. So if you plan to struggle your way to someplace which is obviously off-limits, I'd advise that you first save your mission. Here are places that I have blocked (so that you are properly forewarned)... · Access to the roof of the big brick warehouse. · Behind the Greek-Style structure above Westgate. · Around the outside of the town clock tower. · Beyond any ledge where you see a staple-shaped pipe · Along the top edges of North Bridge. · The town area behind the Megatfree's Mortuary (some players get back there anyhow!). · The ability to climb over the railing portion of Megatfree's balcony. An Easter Egg or two in this new re-release of Hallucinations? Yes, that is true – THERE ARE TWO EASTER EGGS (things that are cool, but not a sensible part of the mission). Those who have played the original release will discover two things (maybe). First, the eggs are no longer where they were. And second, there is no longer any clue inside the mission itself. I could provide no clue IMO that would be neither too obscure for some and simultaneously too obvious for others. My only clues are outside of the mission in this text file a few paragraphs down from here. One egg has a slightly more sensible result than before. Originally, I managed to create a –boatload– of confusion by returning the player to a spot which allowed exploration of the unfinished cathedral. More than one player felt that accessing the cathedral was part of this mission and that somehow this extremely odd method for reaching the cathedral area was just a pleasant shortcut – rather than what it was: a back- stage look at things to come. Except by unplanned and extreme methods, the cathedral area in Hallucinations can no longer be reached. The next mission has now been released – The Insurrection. And this one has the whole cathedral built out in final detail. So please no complaints that you can't get in there anymore in Hallucinations. You get there in the next mission. As to my clues now, they are only here inside this very text file – both to keep this from confusing people when in-game, and also as a way to reward those willing to slog through all of this drivel. Keep in mind that I am lousy at riddles – both writing them and solving them ... · WE ARE ALL ABOUT PROGRESS, BUT YOU WILL NEVER SEE US MOVE. · WE MAY SEE THE MOON'S RISING, BUT NEVER SEE THE SUN'S SETTING. · A GHOST COMPLAINS FROM A PLACE EQUAL TO ONE OF US, AND ONE-QUARTER OF THE OTHER. · YOU MUST FIRST -PULL- FOR YOURSELF BEFORE YOU CAN EVER -PUSH- ON US. Somebody will, no doubt, breeze through this like butter – so I expect spoilers to become available on the various Thief forums. I will not give anymore clues myself unless I have somehow managed to confuse everyone! Please do not complain about how these eggs are "Soooooo inconsistent" with the rest of the story, because they are –not intended– to be consistent. They are there as an extra bit of fun for those who might like to attempt a wider range of playing styles than I had planned for this story. General Information Game: Thief 2: The Metal Age Mission Titles: Briefing and Hallucinations Filename: halluc_v1d.zip – miss20.mis (mission), miss19.mis (CamVator briefing) Difficulty Settings: Yes Equipment store: No Map / automap: Map New objects: Yes New textures: Yes New sounds: Yes Multi language support: No (only English) Briefing : Movies and CamVator briefing mission Revision History for Hallucinations Halluc_v1a.zip – June 4, 2002, Initial Release Halluc_v1c.zip – Oct 13, 2002, Minor Update Halluc_v1d.zip – Aug 7, 2003, Revised Logo, Episode number, and this readme file Episode 3: The Insurrection =========================================== W A R N I N G =========================================== VISUALLY-INDUCED SEIZURES ARE POSSIBLE! DO NOT PLAY THIS FAN MISSION IF FLASHING LIGHTS CAN TRIGGER YOU. This is NOT a joke! =========================================== SCREEN FRAMERATE -- IMPORTANT NOTE: During the first few minutes the screen frame rate may be lousy. This should improve fairly quickly, and by the time you really need better frame rate, it should be a lot smoother. It is recommended that you play this mission on a recent re-boot. But only bother to do this if you are having excessive screen chop or outright lagging. CREDITS for The Insurrection Voice Acting Saturnine - Vicar Feluxis, High Priest Encellon, The Evil Mechanist SlyFoxx - Garrett frobber - Keeper Orlet, "Brother" Karras Design Elements frobber - designer, writer, mapper Shadowspawn - Cathedral clock and Magatfree's pocket watch SilentSleep - BlackOutBomb consulting Thumper - custom script (cl.osm as used in Calendra's Legacy) Thorin Oakenshield - AVI 'movie' animations Daemonite - enhanced Thief 1 AI skins Schwaa - custom textures Tomi - custom map background Goober - lots of suggestions Play Testers SlyFoxx Suttytx diana50322 Lizanneh Shadowspawn SilentSleep Vanguard Audio Sampling from the motion picture BladeRunner - Music by Vangelis Sampling from Conquest of Paradise 1492 - Music by Jon Anderson and Vangelis Myst 1: Selenitic Gate - Music by Robyn Miller System Shock 2: Level 11 ambiance Quake 2 - "Danger" THX demo sound Westminster Clock Chimes of London, Midnight, Year 2000 Playing Information for The Insurrection "To-Be-Continued…" … Book 1 is only Book 1 – there is more to come… If you win Episode 3, there will be a "to be continued" screen at the end. You have been warned! Background story The Insurrection is a continuation from Hallucination (Episode 2) where Garrett is trying to gain access to the cathedral because he is poisoned and dying. He has been told by some Keepers that the solution to his problem lies in accessing a certain Precursor Portal located somewhere inside the Hammerite area which will lead him to a place where he can get some help. This goal is not intended to be the end of the campaign, since accessing the portal is only a gateway to the next mission – Oracle of the Prophets. Reloading during conversations Some AI are a bit long-winded, and if you happen to save during their speeches, things may not seem quite right when you reload the mission. You may see gestures which do not match the speech – but nothing more harmful than that. Lock picks and land mines It would be handy to learn (or remember) that lock picks can be used to disarm proximity mines (not true in all missions, though). Using bodies for a weight Unconscious and dead bodies can be used to toggle a floor switch, but we have discovered that once the mission has been saved and re-loaded, the bodies no longer will be holding the switch in place. (I've since made the switches latch, but this is still worth knowing for all missions ... not just here). Audio notes An EAX environmental sound card is not required, but it is highly recommended due to cool effects inside the cathedral. It is perhaps the only place I have ever heard where the longest echo setting possible actually sounds exactly right. If you have ever been to a real cathedral or stone building of this size, you will understand what I mean. About the cathedral The terrain is loosely based on a detailed study of Cathedral de Chartres in France including interior and exterior dimensions that are within a few percent of the real cathedral. Stain glass windows and exterior "roses" are also from Chartres. Much of the exterior doors, windows, and stone texture is from a humble Catholic church located in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Clocks and Megatfree's Watch This is a timed mission. The clocks really keep time. And if you run out of time, the mission will 'fail.' On NORMAL you will have almost two hours (which should be plenty of time). On HARD, you'll have 80 minutes, and on EXPERT, just 65 minutes. The clock, however, stops running when you review the map or open a scroll to read (in scroll-mode). Ways to Crash the Mission (as in crashing the game or your computer) So far, I know of only a few areas that might cause a game crash: 1. The upper (green portion) roof of the cathedral near the gable ends. Without a speed potion (or some fancy trick) you can't get up there anyhow, but somebody is bound to try. 2. Jumping through the ice and looking back up at the cathedral. This is probably okay -- but in theory it might be a problem. At any rate, if you jump through the ice, Garrett will die anyway due to the current which sweeps him away and the freezing water. 3. Scouting orbs have a wider field of view than the normal screen, and in some places this was causing screen complexity crashes -- so they have been removed. Speed potions were removed because this would allow access to all sorts of evil locations (with respect to screen complexity). A way for Garrett to die (unplanned or expected) Seems Mr. SlyFoxx (and I) have gotten into the habit of dumping knocked-out Mechanists through the balcony openings onto the main floor below. But wouldn't you know that leaning out through such a narrow space while holding a body will confuse the dickens out the Dark Engine. Most likely (if anything happens), Garrett will get launched out into the space above the main sanctuary, which is not healthy at all! No way to fix this other than putting a warning here. General Information Game: Thief 2: The Metal Age Mission Title: The Insurrection Filename: Insur_v1f.zip -- miss21.mis Difficulty Settings: Yes Equipment store: No Map / automap: Map New objects: Yes New textures: Yes New sounds: Yes Multi language support: No (only English) Briefing : No (Previous mission "Hallucinations" is the briefing) Revision History for The Insurrection Insur_v1b.zip – Sept 29, 2002, Released Insur_v1e.zip – Oct 13, 2002, Revised to improve reliability Insur_v1f.zip – Aug 7, 2003, Mission database is now the same as “Book1” Book 1… Revision History KotP_Book1_v1b.zip – Sept 29, 2002, Initial release KotP_Book1_v2a.zip – Added The Enterprise, renumbered episodes Copyright Subject to the copyright limitations specified on the game CD... All original content of this fan mission is copyright (c) 2000-2003 by frobber, a.k.a., Ken Ramsley. Hosting of this fan mission is allowed on any public or private network so long as distribution is at no extra charge (beyond normal access to the network) and the zip file is kept intact and unmodified. Re-distribution of an altered version of this mission including changes to any supporting files is not permitted. Without my permission, an unaltered version of this fan mission may be included on a CD-release mission pack, provided that this CD is sold for the cost of production and shipping only, or is a freebie given away in some other form such as a magazine-published mission pack promo. Disclaimers Any resemblance in the real world to events, or people found in this fan mission are entirely unintended, purely coincidental, and a complete figment of your imagination. This fan mission is not made by nor supported by Looking Glass Studios (RIP), Eidos Interactive or Ion Storm of Austin, TX. Support Post a message in one the following locations. Someone there will have an answer to most questions: Fan Mission section of the Thief Underground Forums http://www.3dactionplanet.com/thief/ Fan Mission section of the TTLG forums http://www.ttlg.com/forums Eidos Thief Missions Forum http://www.eidos.com If are really stuck, you can write to me… frobber@edanet.com … and I’ll see if I can help. (I also enjoy feedback, criticism, and any other sort of fan mail.) Enjoy!