ULTIMATE STEALTH CHALLENGE: Ghost + Double Take-downs only Run

[gyron]

What kind of machine do you have to play with ENB and record videos at the same time?
I barely get 25-30 fps in 1024x768 when recording with Fraps in vanilla version on my HD5770.

No idea about ML lighting since it's not out yet -- ask in DLC thread.

[RealSamFisher]

Originally Posted by gyron

What kind of machine do you have to play with ENB and record videos at the same time?
I barely get 25-30 fps in 1024x768 when recording with Fraps in vanilla version on my HD5770.

No idea about ML lighting since it's not out yet -- ask in DLC thread.

I get about 60 fps with:

Windows 7 64Bit
Intel i5 750 @ 3,5Ghz
Sapphire Toxic HD5850 1024MB
G-Skill 8GB (2x4GB)

Well that's the most relevant I think. I am not sure if I will be using ENB, since it's running only on DX9 and not DX11.

[collegebored]

Originally Posted by gyron

These videos are so fast and smooth because that's how you play on a 50th take Normally I play in the exact opposite style, actually: very slow, on a single rechargeable cell, without relying on luck too much, etc. You'll be bored with my full play-through, believe me.

lol i know what you mean, im on like 100th hour of this game over 3 playthroughs myself now. of course i meant the polished quick runs like the 2 u did ^^

[Aroven]

Wow, you really have put an awful lot of time into this! Thanks for the extra vids, that definitely should be all the techniques needed, and shows even more just how much effort went into this run.

[Locutus of BORG]

Aight, gyron. Time to run through this challenge in Missing Link!



*EM did a good job upping the average difficulty of the DLC, but DTD opportunities seem even more plentiful in ML!

[gyron]

Originally Posted by Aroven

Wow, you really have put an awful lot of time into this! Thanks for the extra vids, that definitely should be all the techniques needed, and shows even more just how much effort went into this run.

I've figured out most of this stuff while playing the leaked beta... It's not that hard if you save after each DTD or even after each step in DTD set-up. BTW if you've decided to try DTD/Ghost run and followed the advice from here: http://deusex.wikia.com/wiki/Experie...acturing_Plant, then you might want to spare yourself the trouble and take out these 4 guys from Sarif Plant with STD (from the videos above, I mean), since you'll have to knock out at least 6 enemies with STD for 2nd praxis anyway.

Originally Posted by Locutus of BORG

Aight, gyron. Time to run through this challenge in Missing Link!

I'll see what I can do But first it's normal run, then no-augs run, then kill-everyone run, and only after all that Ghost/DTD. So it might take a while.

[Locutus of BORG]

^ One can afford to wait a little while for his lawls.

[junco577]

@ gyron: You, sir, are the chimerical offspring of Jack Bauer and Jackie Chan. The TYM penthouse scene is worthy of hollywood. Obsessive-compulsive-ists everywhere can thank you for an excellent guide to yet another time sink.

My first play-through I picked up the reflex aug very early on and made extensive use of it through quicksave/load trial and error as you describe, though not to the ultimate degree you describe here. However, I'm running on a machine BELOW the minimum recommended system specs... so I have to pause for 5-10 secs about every minute to wait while my video card complains. This freezes my game and can lead to some interesting scenarios with double takedowns... guards stuck in walls, on top of vending machines, or taken down mid air off a railed ledge to plummet to their death. Fortunately it's not that common and I compulsively save..

[RedKnight7]

omg gyron you rock!

I first saw Experience By Area a couple of weeks ago and for a while was using it more as a guide to make sure I didn't miss anything... then it finally hit me... this dude is saying you can e.g. DTD 30 of the guys in Omega Ranch? wth??? He must have insane eons of time to line up everything perfectly but even then ... wth??

Til finally I saw the little note leading to this thread... and now I have a whole lot more playing to do

Actually... I appreciated the statements that 1) DTDs only add 1% more to score (not counting the uber easy ones) and 2) you played the pre-beta a lot, too. Otherwise I would've felt even worse than I feel now, lol

Thanks for the great wikia section, and movies and thoughts here!

RK7

[gyron]

@ junco577, RedKnight7: Thanks

Originally Posted by RedKnight7

I first saw Experience By Area a couple of weeks ago and for a while was using it more as a guide to make sure I didn't miss anything... then it finally hit me... this dude is saying you can e.g. DTD 30 of the guys in Omega Ranch? wth??? He must have insane eons of time to line up everything perfectly but even then ... wth??

As you can see each DTD doesn't take a lot of time -- 3 minutes max and much less later in the game. Once you get hold on AI and quicksave button this whole DTD business becomes rather trivial (buffer zone DTD's notwithstanding). Doing full playthrough for the Experience guide took me 60 hours. Some people spend 80 hours on simple STD/Ghost runs.

Originally Posted by RedKnight7

Til finally I saw the little note leading to this thread... and now I have a whole lot more playing to do

At last, someone is going to check my DTD's! Good luck with that

You also reminded me that I should put this guide on wiki before it sinks into forum's bowels...

[Aroven]

Absolutely! I think this is invaluable for anyone else looking to learn about the AI, even if not specifically for the challenge. I'm working on the DTDs but have massively limited playing time atm so am still in the plant, thinking that my other single takedown should've been the guy in the largest storage room who patrols rather than one of the guys in that lab - best I can do with him is make him patrol near the door, he won't go stand by it no matter what I've tried, so now has a miniature race track to walk through that takes him past it!

[gyron]

I've finished The Missing Link, and it I must say it was pretty easy for Ghost/DTD/Clean Sweep run. Maybe two or three double take-downs took me more that 10 minutes, but overall it's nothing outstanding. Sparse environments, a lot of pre-set DTD's, tons of candy for invisibility -- it felt like a simpler version of FEMA camp or Belltower's Port. Pure ghosting/Factory Zero run was fun though.

If someone needs a rundown on DTD's and XP in TML it's on wiki: http://deusex.wikia.com/wiki/Experience_by_area_(DX3ML)

[jeyeichkey]

Gyron, I just watched your latest vids on DTD, and it still amazes me. How the heck is it that the enemies don't see you trough the railing? (First video) I have a great ifficulty with being out of sight from enemies. They seem so see me no matter what I do. Adams hair sticks up they see me, I walk behind a guard, they see me.. Man, what you are doing is straight out impossible!
:^)

Great vids, I would have liked to have them running in the background while I'm doing something at home. No chance for downloads?

[gyron]

Originally Posted by jeyeichkey

How the heck is it that the enemies don't see you trough the railing? (First video)

It's part of the general problem with DXHR: the props artists created and the objects level designers placed on levels are two completely different things that don't match each other consistently. Sure you've hit an invisible wall in mid-air or fell through objects that you thought would be solid (like a lot of rooftop props in Hengsha)? It's the same stuff. In Sarif Plant railings are visually transparent, but physically -- they're solid objects, so AI can't see through them. In later levels they're not, but you can't tell that without testing and failing numerous times.

Originally Posted by jeyeichkey

I have a great ifficulty with being out of sight from enemies. They seem so see me no matter what I do. Adams hair sticks up they see me, I walk behind a guard, they see me.. Man, what you are doing is straight out impossible!

In videos it's me playing the game for the 6th or 7th time after 10-20 attempts on each situation, so I push AI as much as possible. You don't have to play like that.

Take the stealth enhancement augs. Abuse invisibility. Save a lot

Originally Posted by jeyeichkey

I would have liked to have them running in the background while I'm doing something at home. No chance for downloads?

http://savevideo.me -- you can download any youtube video there.

[auric]

Originally Posted by gyron

It's part of the general problem with DXHR: the props artists created and the objects level designers placed on levels are two completely different things that don't match each other consistently. Sure you've hit an invisible wall in mid-air or fell through objects that you thought would be solid (like a lot of rooftop props in Hengsha)? It's the same stuff. In Sarif Plant railings are visually transparent, but physically -- they're solid objects, so AI can't see through them. In later levels they're not, but you can't tell that without testing and failing numerous times.

Strange, I don't find such moments other than Barret's invi wall corner.

[Locutus of BORG]

Originally Posted by gyron

It's part of the general problem with DXHR: the props artists created and the objects level designers placed on levels are two completely different things that don't match each other consistently. Sure you've hit an invisible wall in mid-air or fell through objects that you thought would be solid (like a lot of rooftop props in Hengsha)? It's the same stuff. In Sarif Plant railings are visually transparent, but physically -- they're solid objects, so AI can't see through them. In later levels they're not, but you can't tell that without testing and failing numerous times.

Picus... :tear: That was a sorrowful experience on my first noob PT.

[gyron]

Originally Posted by auric

Strange, I don't find such moments other than Barret's invi wall corner.

There are tons of invisible walls (and invisible holes). Try stacking crates to get somewhere you don't suppose to go and you'll hit a barrier after a third crate on most levels. Or watch videos by Amoirealinge. This for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TBlcq1daN0#t=36s.

[jeyeichkey]

@gyron

Oh, that was extremely useful. Thanks for the tips mate!


I might add, I'm thinking about doing a Complete Survive Run, where Adam may not die once. The boss battles is easy to beat, but also easy to die in if one makes one misstake. Only time to save will be when one must do soemthing else like sleep, or get to work. That would make either a longer game, or a mad run for your life (if I know myself that is) ;^)

[RedKnight7]

Originally Posted by jeyeichkey

Great vids, I would have liked to have them running in the background while I'm doing something at home. No chance for downloads?

If you have RealPlayer, it has an option to capture videos from YouTube and most any other site.

[jeyeichkey]

@RedKnight7
I have a weak memory of RealPlayer being a pain in the ass when ever I tried to use it. I'm almost over that painful period of my life. Nowadays I use VLC and I'm feeling grand.

And the saving awesome stealth videos issue is solved *happy face*

[RedKnight7]

Originally Posted by jeyeichkey

I have a weak memory of RealPlayer being a pain in the ass when ever I tried to use it. I'm almost over that painful period of my life. Nowadays I use VLC and I'm feeling grand.

I'm not talking about using it for a media player. Just for its cool ability to right-click most any video on any site and bam download it. Easier than savevideo.me

Good gaming - RK7

[slackie]

My favourite place for DTD now is the Omega Ranch. Tonnes of DTD setup and the challenge is how to do it with minimal cloak if possible (tho Omega Ranch has many candy bars to pick up). E.g of really fun timing would be the 2nd DTD, where you have to get on the box, open the window, wait for the precise moment to climb through and DTD...the window is about 1 sec where they just turn away from each other.

The tricky one would be the 2 guys near the broadcast tower.... have to wait for the heavy to move towards the turret, while using the pistol to hit a spot behind to distract the other patrolling dude between the heavy the the turret. And in for the 3rd DTD... would be a little more work when the 2 finished their chat and one goes into the tower area.

4th DTD would be the 2 heavies... But we're left with one sneaker. Now the question is, is there a way to trap him somewhere first and reserve him for DTD with the 3 guards that spawn later part of the stage? Or would that be too tedious?

[gyron]

Originally Posted by slackie

My favourite place for DTD now is the Omega Ranch. Tonnes of DTD setup and the challenge is how to do it with minimal cloak if possible (tho Omega Ranch has many candy bars to pick up). E.g of really fun timing would be the 2nd DTD, where you have to get on the box, open the window, wait for the precise moment to climb through and DTD...the window is about 1 sec where they just turn away from each other.

The tricky one would be the 2 guys near the broadcast tower.... have to wait for the heavy to move towards the turret, while using the pistol to hit a spot behind to distract the other patrolling dude between the heavy the the turret. And in for the 3rd DTD... would be a little more work when the 2 finished their chat and one goes into the tower area.

Omega ranch is fun, especially the Microgen lab: 3 floors with 3 soldiers on each. It took me a while how to figure out who to pair with whom.

Concerning DTD #3: if they separate, I think that jumping outside the fence will lure the guard #1 near the guard #2's stop point. Timing it without the cloak would be tricky, though.

Originally Posted by slackie

4th DTD would be the 2 heavies... But we're left with one sneaker. Now the question is, is there a way to trap him somewhere first and reserve him for DTD with the 3 guards that spawn later part of the stage? Or would that be too tedious?

No need to trap him. Just hide the ogres' bodies (in the ventilation shaft, for example) and leave him on patrol. After uploading the virus, follow the 3 guys for a while: there will be a nice opportunity to take out 2 of them and the 3rd one will go straight to the door near the sneaker's patrol path.

[slackie]

Originally Posted by gyron

Omega ranch is fun, especially the Microgen lab: 3 floors with 3 soldiers on each. It took me a while how to figure out who to pair with whom.

Concerning DTD #3: if they separate, I think that jumping outside the fence will lure the guard #1 near the guard #2's stop point. Timing it without the cloak would be tricky, though.



No need to trap him. Just hide the ogres' bodies (in the ventilation shaft, for example) and leave him on patrol. After uploading the virus, follow the 3 guys for a while: there will be a nice opportunity to take out 2 of them and the 3rd one will go straight to the door near the sneaker's patrol path.

Actually, come to think of it, I should leave the sneaker who goes into the tower alone until after the virus is uploaded.

I basically leave the 2 lone guards in the both buildings for STD, not possible to lure them into the other wing of the building... I tried, it bugged out big big time man...tried using various objects to block the office entrances, they'll teleport! The funniest part was that lone sleeping guard, when I lured him out, blocked his doors to his office, he actually went to the office on the upper floor and dropped through the floor back onto his own chair! (damn stupid bug)

Ok, was quite clear cut for me how to do the 3 x 3. The 1st floor I pair the guard at the comp with the other one patrolling. Then I take out the crates and boxes from the mortuary near the lone guard behind a breakable wall, jump lure one of the guards from 2nd floor to first floor near the level 1, block the stairs and he basically gets stuck there. Using the silence pistol can command him to face left or face right :P Then lure the other guy from the room out to DTD him. The rest of it is pretty straight forward.

[gyron]

Originally Posted by slackie

Actually, come to think of it, I should leave the sneaker who goes into the tower alone until after the virus is uploaded.

Ok, was quite clear cut for me how to do the 3 x 3. The 1st floor I pair the guard at the comp with the other one patrolling. Then I take out the crates and boxes from the mortuary near the lone guard behind a breakable wall, jump lure one of the guards from 2nd floor to first floor near the level 1, block the stairs and he basically gets stuck there. Using the silence pistol can command him to face left or face right :P Then lure the other guy from the room out to DTD him. The rest of it is pretty straight forward.

Ah, that's the beauty of this playstyle — there is no perfect solution, of course. Actually I got the most fun out of it doing the most ridiculous DTD's. In this 3x3 situation, for example, I've forced the guy from the 3rd floor come down to the sleeping sneaker on 2nd floor in the opposite side of the building — just to see if I can make him walk 50 meters.

Originally Posted by slackie

I basically leave the 2 lone guards in the both buildings for STD, not possible to lure them into the other wing of the building... I tried, it bugged out big big time man...tried using various objects to block the office entrances, they'll teleport! The funniest part was that lone sleeping guard, when I lured him out, blocked his doors to his office, he actually went to the office on the upper floor and dropped through the floor back onto his own chair! (damn stupid bug)

LOL, this happens every time when enemies are lured too far away from default positions. In DRB I've seen a guy walk straight through walls like a f***ng terminator just so he could take a piss in his favorite corner. Pretty annoying to say the least.

By the way, it's one of the few things devs fixed in TML: guards from one sector can be lured in another sector 100 m away and they go back using the normal means (without teleporting) or can even begin patrolling new sector like it was his own.