Zodi Plays: Dishonored (Stealth Dad Simulator)

[DataNinja]

One of these days you chuckle****s lovely and good people who support me are going to convince me to play Grim Fandango. And then all of the built up love and trust I've gathered from you will fade like grains of sand as I both make a fool of myself and point out all it's many, many, MANY flaws because I sadly just do not enjoy that game at all and find it to be the prime example of why I just have no love for pointy clicky games.

Like King's Quest and it's derivatives are exceptionally worse because they murder you hours in because you didn't Do The Thing but nothing is more frustrating then just kinda rubbing against things for two hours because when you moused over the appropriate pixel the mouse didn't change to an intractable. Among other things.

Or we take you at your word, and just avoid that debacle altogether.
(I mean, it's not like you wouldn't have a long time to prep for it, anyways. )

But... yeah. Stuff like that that is just... not enjoyable. To play, often, to watch, almost always. (Editing does kinda help with the latter, but... still.)

[HalfTangible]

But I like watching Zodi suffer.

Yeah. Point-and-click isn't exactly riveting from a gameplay or viewing perspective. Bad point-and-click even moreso.

[LaZodiac]

I'd just like to go on record that Phoenix Wright games are NOT pointy clickies, they're visual novels with interactive elements and logic puzzles. Not pointy clicky games. Likewise with the Zero Escape games, and stuff of that matter.

I specify this only to assuage the fears that I dislike them. They are my favorites games and I love them. It's standard point and click nonsense bull**** "rub thing against thing" puzzles that I hate.

[Qwertystop]

Haven't watched in a while. Catching up.

16: third rails should not have lightning arcs.

17: You find several treasure items described as "carmine" and only one of them was red (other than the one we couldn't see the colors of because of treasurevision). I am annoyed.

18: The alarm at 1.75x speed sounds a lot like a person making alarm noises.

19: Acid-spitting giant oysters?

20: Apparently it is possible to accidentally open and eat several tins of food. Also, Emily sometimes seems to understand what's going on... but then she asks for a tea party?

21: eh.

Saving the Pajama Sam one for tomorrow, it is late. That was the only edutainment point-and-click I played when I was little unless you count one Carmen Sandiego game, I don't remember the exact name, as educational (there were also some math- and logic-based puzzle/minigame things and a typing tutor), though I don't think I ever got very far. Suppose I'll see tomorrow whether you got farther in one episode (as an adult) than I did in however many hours (as a small child with little to no prior game experience). Probably yes.

On the note of more general things about this sort of adventure game: It's a genre where a lot more rests on the small scale (individual puzzles) than on the broad mechanics. Endless pixel hunts with gibberish puzzles? Bleh. If the puzzles are well-designed and the things you can interact with are clearly distinguishable from the environment? They can be quite good. Same with text adventures, except those have the advantage that there's things you can make much clearer in writing than in any amount of drawing. Even watching someone else puzzle through them can be quite interesting, if they narrate their thought process. Ever tried Counterfeit Monkey? That's an excellent one.

(note that this was written before watching the Pajama Sam episode and not intended to judge Zodi's play of it in particular one way or the other).

[factotum]

The weird thing about Grim Fandango is that its puzzles stayed surprisingly logical for longer than any point-and-click I remember. It wasn't until you got on board the ship after the second zone that moon logic really started to rear its head (I mean, the way I'm supposed to escape from this locked engine room is to *rip the entire stern of the ship off*? Yeah, that really makes all sort of sense, why didn't I think of it?).

[Iruka]

This looks like fun. I remember playing some educational adventures as a kid. One was a kid with a cool hover board being abducted to an island to ... don't remember..., but you had to solve math problems. The others were more like Myst and about music and physics, respectively.

17: You find several treasure items described as "carmine" and only one of them was red (other than the one we couldn't see the colors of because of treasurevision). I am annoyed.

"Carmine" in this case most likely refers to the Carmine noble family. You can find several items (like war medals, decor plates) where the name refers to the former owners.

[Ninja_Prawn]

The only educational game I remember playing was Flying Boot: Max and the Machines, back when I was 6 or 7. Good times.

Then it was all about MegaRace, Age of Empires and Pharaoh. A golden age!

[LaZodiac]

I think my favorite part about this side content is that no one has even begun to even mention the stuff I grew up with. Which'll be fun.

Also the contrast between "fun pajama game" and "assassin infiltrates fancy party" is super cool in my head.

[The Glyphstone]

I remember playing Jumpstart 4th Grade, the one with the haunted island, and both of the Dr. Brain puzzle games - Puzzle Madness and IQ Adventure. I can still hear the announcer's voice..."In the midst of the mayhem, the good clone lost..."

Also the contrast between "fun pajama game" and "assassin infiltrates fancy party" is super cool in my head.

I did argue for some continuity by demanding a table recording how many people Pajama Sam strangles into unconsciousness, but was promptly ignored.

[Gray Mage]

I grew up with the Logical Journey of the Zoombinis. Pretty fun, made me like logic and I was kind of good at it (considering the age I was). Found and played it again a while back, while I have improved in the meantime, some of the later levels on high difficulty still make me think a good while before commiting (and not always flawlessly).
Still impressed/baffled that it was even translated back then.

[DataNinja]

This looks like fun. I remember playing some educational adventures as a kid. One was a kid with a cool hover board being abducted to an island to ... don't remember..., but you had to solve math problems.

...oh, right, all those math games in the elementary school computer labs that you never actually got to beat because the lab time allotted for them was too short. The Learning Company's Super Seekers games, mostly.

I remember playing Jumpstart 4th Grade, the one with the haunted island, and both of the Dr. Brain puzzle games - Puzzle Madness and IQ Adventure. I can still hear the announcer's voice..."In the midst of the mayhem, the good clone lost..."

...and I also forgot about Dr. Brain. Only had puzzle madness, but in retrospect judging by how long I spent on the mech capture-the-flag game just playing around and making far-too-complicated assignments for them, shouldn't really be a surprise I went into compsci.

I did argue for some continuity by demanding a table recording how many people Pajama Sam strangles into unconsciousness, but was promptly ignored.

Look, it'll appear as soon as he does at least one, okay? He might also stab The Darkness. Who knows.

[The Glyphstone]

I grew up with the Logical Journey of the Zoombinis. Pretty fun, made me like logic and I was kind of good at it (considering the age I was). Found and played it again a while back, while I have improved in the meantime, some of the later levels on high difficulty still make me think a good while before commiting (and not always flawlessly).
Still impressed/baffled that it was even translated back then.

I loved the Zoombinis game.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I'd just like to go on record that Phoenix Wright games are NOT pointy clickies, they're visual novels with interactive elements and logic puzzles. Not pointy clicky games. Likewise with the Zero Escape games, and stuff of that matter.

I specify this only to assuage the fears that I dislike them. They are my favorites games and I love them. It's standard point and click nonsense bull**** "rub thing against thing" puzzles that I hate.

So I take it that the first person who suggests something like, oh.... as a completely and totally random example... Treasure of Monkey Island... would likely get flogged with wet noodles until they are thoroughly chastised?

[LaZodiac]

Onwards, into more Dishonored.

Zodi Plays: Dishonored [22] Blood and Wine

Video Length: 27:34

In this exciting episode, after some flailing around, we finally infiltrate the Boyle Party! The first thing we do, as a dutiful and proper guest, is hand off Pendleton's missive to Shaw... only for us to be roped into DUELING TO THE DEATH on his behalf. The bastard. My initial thoughts were to use time stop to make this trivial, but then it occurred to me that openly casting wizardry might not be good fitting in. Thankfully, the duel is actually fairly easy, you're a way faster shot and reaction-time haver than some drunk noble. Shame about the uh... end result, let's say. Can you handle this in another way? I'm asking because I am genuinely curious.

After that, we learn some stuff about the party that I find fascinating. Of the three Boyle's we have Red, Black, and White, and we need to discern who is who. Unfortunately... while this IS a very good set up, the actual way it turns out isn't great? Like, there's an NPC who tells you for sure which is Waverly, and an NPC that tells you explicitly it is Waverly you want and what dress she's in and is part of the non-lethal finish. And I get that, it's a fair and valid thing to have a way to figure out the quest... but it's just given to you, without any real effort, and if I hadn't screwed up my ONE CHANCE to talk to the appropriate Boyle, this video likely would have ended the mission entirely. And that feels wrong, and very anti climactic for this sort of set up.

Thankfully, I am a just a little bit unaware of how things can play out due to being blind. So things get a bit more... complicated, let's say. But that'll be an issue to resolve next time. Hope you all enjoyed, I'll see you all then.

------

RE: Shneekey The Lost: Naw, I won't like, begrudge anyone for suggesting a game. Like, if you're a patron and you would like me to play a game, there's a 90% chance it'll be okay. I'll only straight up veto certain games, and most of the time if I have an issue with the game in question I'll bring it up and be like "are you sure?" and if you are sure and it wins and gets played I'll go at it with as much gusto as I can. Just ask Psychonauts, a game that I don't really like at all in any real sense that I still played and enjoyed.

[PraetorDragoon]

I remember swapping weapons and shooting Shaw with a sleep dart, but I forgot if I did use time stop or not. The guards reactions are the same for some weird reason.

"Another patron dead."
Shaw: *snores*

I also do remember that I once used time stop, teleported behind shaw, choked him, and teleported back. Why duel when you have magic powers?

[jindra34]

I will note in relation to your complaint, the arrangement is somewhat random. Who tells you who is who (other than the non-lethal method) is up in the air so you may have just gotten a lucky roll there.

[LaZodiac]

Aah, that's fair. I just also feel like the non-lethal path being a gimmy is annoying. I think it'd be best if the moth-mask lady told you one of the Boyle's identities, and he gave you the name of his love but not the dress colour. Then there would have to be some sleuthing involved.

As it stands, by my understanding anyway, if I had done that conversation properly I could just escort her to the kitchen and it'd be fine.

[DataNinja]

...oops. Well, uh, you won the duel?

Spoiler: Takedowns

Show

Episode	Non-Lethal	Lethal	Total
1	0	4	4
2	4	8	12
3	0	0	0
4	0	0	0
5	6	2	8
6	9	7	16
7	2	3	5
8	3	0	3
9	7	0	7
10	16	1	17
11	2	0	2
12	3	0	3
13	13	0	13
14	11	0	11
15	9	0	9
16	2	0	2
17	7	1	8
18	13	0	13
19	7	0	7
20	2	0	2
21	2	0	2
22	2	1	3
Total	120	27	147

[jindra34]

Aah, that's fair. I just also feel like the non-lethal path being a gimmy is annoying. I think it'd be best if the moth-mask lady told you one of the Boyle's identities, and he gave you the name of his love but not the dress colour. Then there would have to be some sleuthing involved.

As it stands, by my understanding anyway, if I had done that conversation properly I could just escort her to the kitchen and it'd be fine.

Moth-Mask did identify Waverly. And the game remembered that so when 'Admirer' mentioned the name the game pieced the clues together for you. Would you rather run around taking notes?

[The Glyphstone]

I remember on my first playthrough I didn't know/forgot how to find the non-lethal quest option. So I worked out which Boyle was the target the hard way, knocked her out, then had to run around the mansion talking to people at random until I stumbled over the Admirer.

[HalfTangible]

Aah, that's fair. I just also feel like the non-lethal path being a gimmy is annoying. I think it'd be best if the moth-mask lady told you one of the Boyle's identities, and he gave you the name of his love but not the dress colour. Then there would have to be some sleuthing involved.

As it stands, by my understanding anyway, if I had done that conversation properly I could just escort her to the kitchen and it'd be fine.

I think you just rolled lucky and found the non-lethal path faster than you were meant to. I never found it at all and just ended up murdering her in my playthrough.

The three Boyle women's colors are randomized, as is which one is the regent's lover. I also learned recently that the three have consistent behaviors and voice lines, as well as reactions to specific lines. Pick the right options for each and they'll make themselves vulnerable. Lydia brings you to the music room and asks you to play the piano, Waverly meets you in the cellar to discuss who's trying to kill her, Esma thinks you're doing roleplay and brings you up to her bedroom.

I was not aware it was this easy to lock yourself out of the non-lethal path, but apparently it is. The easiest way to make an impression on the Boyle of your playthrough is to tell her you know who she is, but it also helps to learn more personal details about them so you can properly manipulate them. (you're not done with the mission yet so I won't say how you do that)

(Also, fun fact, while the target is randomized, Waverly Boyle is the canon target for this mission. So that's neat.)

I remember on my first playthrough I didn't know/forgot how to find the non-lethal quest option. So I worked out which Boyle was the target the hard way, knocked her out, then had to run around the mansion talking to people at random until I stumbled over the Admirer.

*shrug* I just brought her upstairs and killed her. My Corvo was... surgical. He'd kill and he had no real problem with it, but only his target for the most part.

[LaZodiac]

Moth-Mask did identify Waverly. And the game remembered that so when 'Admirer' mentioned the name the game pieced the clues together for you. Would you rather run around taking notes?

I think you may have misunderstood my concern. Whether Red was Waverly or not doesn't matter, because the Admirer said his object of affection was Waverly in red. I have no hate for the game putting a note on her once I know it, but Mr Rat Mask just straight out told me "the person you're trying to deal with is Waverly, she's in red" and that takes away all the snooping because someone just told me immediately. Am I to understand that this is... not how this mission tends to go?

So to answer your question yeah, kinda. I haven't actually taken any notes in the section of my notebook I made entirely for this game!

I remember on my first playthrough I didn't know/forgot how to find the non-lethal quest option. So I worked out which Boyle was the target the hard way, knocked her out, then had to run around the mansion talking to people at random until I stumbled over the Admirer.

Now see that's interesting to me because I just... kinda wandered into it. Does that not normally happen?

I think you just rolled lucky and found the non-lethal path faster than you were meant to. I never found it at all and just ended up murdering her in my playthrough.

The three Boyle women's colors are randomized, as is which one is the regent's lover. I also learned recently that the three have consistent behaviors and voice lines, as well as reactions to specific lines. Pick the right options for each and they'll make themselves vulnerable. Lydia brings you to the music room and asks you to play the piano, Waverly meets you in the cellar to discuss who's trying to kill her, Esma thinks you're doing roleplay and brings you up to her bedroom.

I was not aware it was this easy to lock yourself out of the non-lethal path, but apparently it is. The easiest way to make an impression on the Boyle of your playthrough is to tell her you know who she is, but it also helps to learn more personal details about them so you can properly manipulate them. (you're not done with the mission yet so I won't say how you do that)

(Also, fun fact, while the target is randomized, Waverly Boyle is the canon target for this mission. So that's neat.)

*shrug* I just brought her upstairs and killed her. My Corvo was... surgical. He'd kill and he had no real problem with it, but only his target for the most part.

I, Zodi, am done the mission. Once the videos have caught up I want someone to like, fully lay out how this one is SUPPOSED to go, because this was the easiest mission by far (and knowing Waverly would have gone to the cellar with me as I expected means I must have the Outsider's luck since had I done it correctly it really would have been that simple huh?).

Man, the game really cut me a break here huh.

[The Glyphstone]

I think the idea is that if you hadnt already flipped the right flags to 'know' which Boyle was your victim, he wouldn't have told you? I'm honestly not sure, but could you do a non-canon experimental run from an earlier save to see? Just beeline straight to Ratface after you enter and see if his speech differs?

[LaZodiac]

I think I have a save from before solving the party so I could try that. I do also kinda intend to replay the game on my own time murdering everyone because hey turns out this game is fun, so I may do it during there as well. No promises on when I'll actually DO that do that though.

[The Glyphstone]

I am curious what the maximum-possible body count is, considering how Chaos is designed to snowball. You kill people, it raises the chaos, now there are more guards and weepers around to kill, which raises Chaos...

[jindra34]

I think you may have misunderstood my concern. Whether Red was Waverly or not doesn't matter, because the Admirer said his object of affection was Waverly in red. I have no hate for the game putting a note on her once I know it, but Mr Rat Mask just straight out told me "the person you're trying to deal with is Waverly, she's in red" and that takes away all the snooping because someone just told me immediately. Am I to understand that this is... not how this mission tends to go?

So to answer your question yeah, kinda. I haven't actually taken any notes in the section of my notebook I made entirely for this game!

Just watched that section of the video a third time, and yes he does just say Waverly (22:20-22:35 if you want to watch), its just that since you already had been told Waverly was in red and the game remembers that for you it auto-completed all the boxes. But it can go more messily. Much more messily.

[Ninja_Prawn]

Woman: "Please get me a drink."
Zodi: *checks inside of chimney flue*

Zodi: *turns on magic eyes that let her see through walls*
...*still checks inside every chimney*

And that was a hell of a near miss at the end!

[Destro_Yersul]

My first go through, I seem to recall teleporting upstairs and snooping around there before ever actually entering the party. Therefore I had figured out who the target was before ever talking to anyone.

And yeah, which one you get makes a big difference for non-lethal. Waverly is the easiest, then Esma. Lydia is the hardest, because the music room isn't that isolated.

Fun fact, killing all three of them is an option. The game recognises process of elimination, even if you don't actually solve the puzzle.

[LaZodiac]

Woman: "Please get me a drink."
Zodi: *checks inside of chimney flue*

Zodi: *turns on magic eyes that let her see through walls*
...*still checks inside every chimney*

And that was a hell of a near miss at the end!

It lets me see THINGS through walls. A secret path is not a thing by the game's rules

My first go through, I seem to recall teleporting upstairs and snooping around there before ever actually entering the party. Therefore I had figured out who the target was before ever talking to anyone.

And yeah, which one you get makes a big difference for non-lethal. Waverly is the easiest, then Esma. Lydia is the hardest, because the music room isn't that isolated.

Fun fact, killing all three of them is an option. The game recognises process of elimination, even if you don't actually solve the puzzle.

Where did you find a safe place to teleport?

I'm glad I messed up the easiest one for Excitement purposes

I kinda figured that. I imagine it'd be hard to remove all three Boyles without disrupting the party?

[Destro_Yersul]

Where did you find a safe place to teleport?

I'm glad I messed up the easiest one for Excitement purposes

I kinda figured that. I imagine it'd be hard to remove all three Boyles without disrupting the party?

There's balconies outside. You can get in from there.

It can be. The power that dissolves the bodies makes it a bit easier. So does following them around to figure out their pathing so you can lay traps. Springrazors in the bathroom work wonders.