Being nice in Dishonored sucks.....

[Arakasi]

When detected by a guard, I find your choices are as follows:
1. Reload.
2. Run away using Blink.
3. Teleport behind the guard using Blink, quickly turn around and choke him out. (This one is quite difficult to pull off)
4. Sleep darts.

 

[lacktheknack]

First of all, you forgot about the running away option. You don't have to fight, and in fact the game is designed with escape in mind.

Ya, I tried that on multiple occasions. Every time the enemy was still searching for me over 2 minutes later, at which point I usually gave up waiting and reloaded because I couldn't do the nice playthrough with them trying to kill me.

Did you try going directly to point B while they were still searching? After all, the easiest paths are left unguarded when the guards are looking somewhere else.

 

[FrozenCones]

When you do a lethal takedown with the Shadow Kill perk does it still create chaos?

I'm assuming it does because there are Weepers and plague rats FUCKING -EVERYWHERE-

 

[5mj7R7yf4Dwr3gdZyyu9PeGNwYjlNrjzuh3iTXQG]

Haven't played Dishonored yet. Went through the Thief series on Expert (no kills when in the city) and figured that "nice" dishonored was like that. But Thief with professionalism was plenty fun.

I did encounter a similar problem, though, though the early Splinter Cell series in which I was driven to play it like a simulator (and not a shooter) which meant avoiding killing at all costs, especially civilians, but even enemy combatants in those levels in which I was supposed to get in and out without a trace. With practice, I found that I could generally do that everywhere. No-one had to be killed ever unless I messed up. But the game got laborously slow and tedious.

So yeah. Watch the good ending on the youtubez, if you want, and kick some ass. And when you feel like you need a challenge, do a pacifism run and earn it.

238U

 

[invadergir]

Well I been playing Dishonored for about 2 hours now, and I'm starting to get really annoyed by something: Being nice in Dishonored is frustratingly annoying.

Having seen Yahtzee's review of the game, I knew about the whole morality mechanic in the game, and seeing as I'm generally a nice guy in most games I figured I'd do the same for this one.

Now I'm at least 3 dozen reloads in and I feel that is all due to "being a nice guy". Now in most games when an an enemy detects you there's usually an opportunity to deal with them before they call all their buddies to stomp on you. But being a nice guy, there doesn't seem to be any way that I know of to non-lethally take them down if I've been detected. So now I either have to fight off the mooks and earn the bad ending, or reload the last save and have to do it all over again. And it's not like being detected is a rare thing. You can misjudged a bit of distance with blink, and fall down and be detected. You can be trying to sneak past a checkpoint, only for the cover mechanic to shit on you and be detected. You could even be stealthing perfectly fine and be detected by a guard that you'd needed to have been clairvoyant to see.

Now had the game lacked the morality mechanic, it'd probably be no issue. But since the good ending requires that I limit my kills to the bare minimum, I feel as if I'm being put at an unfair handicap here. I'm already having to stash bodies and limit half my arsenal with the non-lethal playstyle, but now I have to replay entire sections of the map and save scum like it's going out of style too?

I got to say, this doesn't seem like much fun at all, which surprises me because I've been hearing a lot of good things about this game from everyone and their dog.

So am I missing something here, or is everyone just playing the naughty Corvo?

Both endings are pretty unsatisfying.

 

[crimson sickle2]

Good and Evil are just irrelevant concepts when it comes to how you want to play the game. If you want to play entirely non-lethal then I can't say anything against that, just remember to have fun. If it's the ending you're worried about, I suggest you stop doing that. When playing through older games, you are sometimes given one picture and two sentences as a reward for beating the final boss. As gamers we accepted those shitty endings. Just try to have fun on the road instead of the podium, then pray you can enjoy the frosting.

 

[Yopaz]

They give you an exciting arsenal of toys, and then don't want you to use them.

This is my main problem with Dishonored actually. If a game gives you a lot of ways to have fun then I will praise that game into the skies. If a game gives you a lot of ways to have fun, but then advice against having fun then they did something wrong. I can see how it's supposed to engage and thrill the player, but I still prefer killing in clever ways.

 

[Burst6]

Pacifist runs are not supposed to be as hard as normal runs. A lot of stealth games do this. Metal gear has a massive arsenal of weapons and gadgets but a pacifist run limits you to a single pistol and the chokehold, and maybe the occasional tranq sniper rifle that's never really that useful. The pacifist runs are supposed to be harder than the violent runs. The idea is that you take the harder path to get the moral high ground.


Also, a tip. If you get sighted by guards there is a way to take them out nonlethally without tranq darts. I only had to do this once or twice (because i can usually sneak past them and i have enough tranq darts to correct mistakes), but if you blink behind enemy guards while they're coming after you, they'll lose you for a moment and you can run up to sleeperhold them. Don't expect to succeed in this if you get like 6 enemies on you at once, but if one or two guards spot you, you can take them down this way.

 

[TilMorrow]

So am I missing something here, or is everyone just playing the naughty Corvo?

*snrk* Hmmmm...*ahem* trying so hard not to laugh at the connotations of that sentence.

OT: Essentially the bad or high chaos ending is way too easy to get in the game, especially if you want all the bone charms and... sorry I forget what the- runes! That's it! present in the game for the maximum number of abilities or upgrades. So yes playing naughty Corvo (*snrk*) is way to easy. Though I've found the easiest ways to escape detection and pursuits is run up the highest building and wait, blink and choke everyone, freeze time and choke one or two pursuers or tranquiliser darts. Darts everywhere.

Additonally, I found it funny that if you freeze time and drop a body over another guard still standing it doesn't seem to do anything. Wheres the fun in that.

 

[Trippy Turtle]

The 'good' ending isn't necessary you know. I would suggest a naughty/neutral Corvo on your first run. The good ending isn't worth hating the game.

 

[prophecy2514]

le snip

You have two options. run or quickload/"save scumming" as its now forever going to be called. Its the tradeoff you pay when you do a pacifist run through mate. You can use sleep darts but its a waste, save them for getting through difficult guard routes.

Dishonoured is a fairly easy game anyway because of the stop time and blink powers combined with pretty much infinite mana potions lying about in levels, and their relative cheapness at pieros shop, and this is on the hardest difficulty. If you really are struggling your doing it wrong

 

[The_Scrivener]

I think Dishonored is ultimately a quality game, but some of this execution was a disaster. The game should feel organic and people should be doing things based on context and intrinsic playstyles.

What Dishonored has done is taken a game that has appeal through multiple gameplay routes and GUILTED players into only playing one of them. It is such a misstep and a black eye on an otherwise good title. And to cap off the monumental mistake, they do it by means of a LOADING screen. Pathetic and elementary. Ignoring Dishonored is the only way to enjoy it.

 

[Warachia]

Clearly what the developers should have done is make it so that at the last level you get a dialogue option and can choose which ending you want. Perhaps they can put it in some sort of room with a series of buttons, or maybe have a conversation with a character who then gives you an option of which door to walk through.

Actually having the game take account of how you play is wrong. All choices should be binary, that way you can save right before decision time and try every option all at once. After all it's not like in real life killing dozens of people could have any ramifications.

Also stealth is silly. Clearly you should have no consequences whatsoever if you're caught, ever. Nothing should ever be challenging. No, the game needs a punch button that lets you knock people unconscious with ease allowing people who want the nonlethal achievement to get it without having to play differently from a violent playthrough. A stealth cloaking ability would be useful too for those who want the stealth achievement without all that pesky waiting around corners, being patient, or trying to avoid line of sight.

Achievements are more important than diverse gameplay.

I disagree with this comment and find the argument a little idiotic.

*Achievement Earned: Anarchist*

Wow, now that was a little sudden, and more than a little drastic, and because of that first sentence I can't get that achievement to go away without starting over.
For the most part games should not reflect on how you play in major ways, or at least find ways to balance the two playstyles, though going by what you wrote, I'm guessing you didn't read anything in here before posting.

 

[Jynthor]

Are you on console? It's a non issue on PC since you can just spam quick save/load.
I can imagine having to go through a menu to load(And I'm aware you need to do that a LOT) can be frustrating.

 

[llubtoille]

Spoiler: Read only if played

Seriously, who felt like the good guy after sending Lady Boyle with that creepy guy who gave you overly attached girlfriend chills?

- I would personally rather be kidnapped by someone who's romantically interested in me, than be murdered, so I didn't feel too bad about it

Re. topic, you'll get tranq darts for your crossbow fairly soon, but typically the reload reload reload thing will stick around for most of the game.

Personally, I'd recommend being as much of a dick as you want to be for your first run through,
the guards are hardly innocent, they murder civilians in droves etc.
then if you feel like playing a 2nd time, go for the stealth / non-lethal achievements then.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I've been hearing this a lot.

I actually want to get the game (for Solstice/Christmas) and give it a try, but I have no plans to even attempt non-lethal - it just doesn't sound fun.

If I want to see the "good" ending, I'll YouTube it.

And yes, it sounds asinine that your kill ratio effects the ending when most of the abilities are centered around killing.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

When you do a lethal takedown with the Shadow Kill perk does it still create chaos?

I'm assuming it does because there are Weepers and plague rats FUCKING -EVERYWHERE-

Dozens of guards have disappeared and someone important has been murdered/taken out of the political game.

Of COURSE there will be more Weepers. If only due to guards being pulled off corpse/suppression duty and sent to replace and reinforce palace/mansion security.

Yeah OP don't be so anal about getting your hands dirty, you can kill a few guards without getting high chaos. Also what difficulty are you playing at? Normal difficulty can be challenging at times but the guards weren't that psychic (it was usually me making sudden movements in their peripheral vision or not being in stealth after some parkour).

As it has already been mentioned:

Blink to get behind guards to choke out or otherwise bypass.

You don't need to take out every single guard to get to your objective.

Leaning and Darkvision? (I think it was called) are your friends you shouldn't move without checking if the area is safe or not.

If you accidentally kill someone... 'Ooops' and just carry on.

Your blade should be held in a reverse grip, if it isn't you are NOT in stealth.

Plan your route.

Run away. Blink and possession are amazing tools to avoid perusers.

Most importantly, 'have fun.' If you are forcing yourself to play pacifist then stop and try a bit of lethal tactics, it may help you figure out some of the more inventive ways to use your powers.

 

[The Madman]

I disagree with this comment and find the argument a little idiotic.

*Achievement Earned: Anarchist*

Wow, now that was a little sudden, and more than a little drastic, and because of that first sentence I can't get that achievement to go away without starting over.
For the most part games should not reflect on how you play in major ways, or at least find ways to balance the two playstyles, though going by what you wrote, I'm guessing you didn't read anything in here before posting.

Huh?

I'm confused... what are you talking about? I was being sarcastic in that post you quoted, obviously, but I can't figure out what your point is. That games shouldn't change based on playstyle?

 

[joshuaayt]

You don't really have to fight enemies that see you, though- Corvo is one speedy mother, it's often easier to just leg it, once you're spotted. That lets you mess up, and still get the good ending.

 

[airrazor7]

I completed my first play-through non-lethally. It was a bit frustrating at times but I enjoyed it.

Based on some of the posts I read, there are two points I want to address: guards appearing as if from no where and the morality system. I'll start by reminding everyone that the game is supposed to be dynamic. The game is supposed to react to how you play.

Morality: There isn't a morality system. Gamers and reviewers chose to call it that but the devs called it a Chaos system. To me, chaos is pretty practical and reasonable. If I go through the game killing everyone without ever employing stealth, there will be more security in future missions and the already failing economy and fragile state of the empire falls apart because everyone is freaking out over the maniacal mass murderer running around.

If I go through the game nearly undetected, killing only the main targets or disposing of them by other means, not a lot of info will spread around about my presence or my actions. The endings, simple or weak as they may be according to some opinions, they are results based on how the empire ended up as the player rampaged or slipped though it. Actually on that note I agree that the endings felt lacking. I was expecting something more but at least there are nice wrap-ups even if they are simple.

Random Guards: Since I played carefully and methodically I spent a lot of time watching guards. Again, I'll throw out the dynamic disclaimer here. I learned that when you start dispatching guards, by whatever means, the other guards will notice. You'll even hear comments like, "Hey, I thought someone was supposed to be on duty here." I noticed that as I started taking out guards, the remaining guards would broaden their patrols. I replayed the Golden Cat mission and I managed kill every guard in the brothel without being detected. As soon as I killed the last guard, a wave of new guards immediately entered and spread throughout the building. I thought the response time was unnaturally quick but I guess in Dishonored the guards are actually competent and notice things like the lack of security in a building that's being used to protect two noblemen.

My last $0.02: there should have been more weapon options and abilities for non-lethal play-throughs, the time limit on possession and time stop nearly made them useless, maybe no time limit and a higher mana cost would be a fair trade off.