I've been playing games since the early 80's. I played the Ultimas, Wasteland, The Bard's Tale all the way through to now. Thief is probably my favourite game of all time. I played a LOT of hours exploring every nook and cranny...and it was the only game that affected the way I behaved in real life (after a period of intense playing, I found myself hugging the walls and keeping to shadows a little too much). Suffice to say I loved the game. Unfortunately, the Dark engine hasn't aged so well now being 12 (13?) years old...so it's hard to go back. I'd just like to say the work you have done on the Dark Mod is glorious. I felt like I was playing Thief again...but brought into the 21st century. Dynamic lighting really adds to the game...and it's a far truer vision of Thief than the consolised Thief III was (excluding Shalebridge Cradle which is one of the finest examples of level design in the history of gaming). I've just completed St. Lucia (my first play of the mod). I found about 1500 in loot which I thought was not too shabby until I saw there was 2600 in the level. Everything was perfect, and I found that I remembered all the old hot keys (water arrow on 4) 10 years later...it's amazing what gets buried in your head. I particularly liked the manipulation of objects. Lighting candles to carry around with you makes it such a visceral experience. Things feel like they were really there. When I was in the kitchen, I wanted to put out a light. Rather than waste my water arrow, I thought "I'll just fill the cup with water and tip it on the flame." I grabbed a cup on the sink, dipped it in the water, and tipped it slowly over the candle. Of course it didn't work (no water physics), but just the fact that it could occur to me, I could execute every step without an issue, and I was so absorbed in the game that I didn't stop to think engine couldn't do it, is a wonderful thing. I also liked how dangerous the guards were. Modern games have been dumbed down so much everything is far too easy. In the old Thief games, you'd get into a fight as an absolute last resort, because chances are they'd kill you in a few seconds. You could take one in a pinch, but two meant RUN. In Thief III, you were far too strong...and it was a major problem with the game. These guards will cut you down in a single stroke. Much better. In the Thief games, you are not a fighter. I did encounter a few problems. First was a quick save crashed and corrupted my game once (near where the dog barks at the beginning of the level). These things happen. I couldn't work out how to climb down onto ladders, so I fell a few times. Can you lower yourself down off ledges like you can climb up? I needed to do that a few times. On a level design issue, while I found the note leading to the next note, I couldn't work out where the padlocked door was to get into the sewers. I climbed all around the place (right up to the top of the buildings above the note rock), but I just couldn't find it. I slight hint of location in the note (rather than just the name) would be useful. Or I just could be dumb. Anyway...thank you, thank you, thank you. The whole team has earned some serious karma. I'm looking forward to many more nights stealing things in the dark.
