Something to note about talking is that if you are spectating (or dead) then on some servers you will not be able to talk to living players (It says xxx whispers from the grave). On the servers where you can (it just says xxx shouts). If you are discussing something which could spoil the game for the remaining players use the whisper function and you will only talk to other spectators and live players won't hear you.
Where to start?
I'd suggest that to begin with you fire up Thievery and start a solo game. Set the guard skill to Benny and make the starting loot 9999. Buy as much of everything as you can and start playing. Just mess about finding out what everything does and how the game works. You can play as a guard first to learn the level withour fear of being attacked and then play as thief and learn the best ways past the guards.
Most players recommend completing at least a couple of maps as thief before playing on-line and learning the layout of all the maps will help a lot but it's up to personal preference really. I'd recommend solo play until you get bored of it, realistically, since net play is where this mod really comes into it's own.
When you're ready for a bigger challenge go to Multiplayer->Find Internet Games and look for a server to join but don't forget to give yourself a name first...Go to Setup->Player Settings and put one in so at least you know if someone is talking to you in the game (otherwise you will just be called 'taffer').
Expect to get obliterated the first few times you play online, the learning curve on this game is very steep. It shouldn't be long before you adapt to the unusual style of play and start really getting a thrill out of outwitting the other team though.
General Gameplay
At the start of each round you will see a screen that offers you the choice of which team to join - Thieves, Spectators, or Guards. In a single player game choosing to join a game will start you off immediately on that team (although there's little point in choosing any but Thieves). In a multiplayer game, however, things work a little differently. All the players choose a team and the screen shows which team they are in. As the first person chooses a countdown starts and once it reaches '0' the teams are balanced out evenly and play begins. This means that you won't always be on the team you want but which team you were on last game has an effect so you won't always be stuck on the same team. If you just played on the Guard team you will have a much higher chance of being on the Thief team the next match, and vice versa.
Once the game starts you will see a screen with the message 'You are a ' then your team and that teams objectives. This is the part where you buy your equipment. Once you're loaded up just click (whatever key/button it says on-screen - depends on your control setup) to begin. BEWARE: Once the game starts there is no way to buy more equipment so make sure you have everything before you begin (there is an option in the menu that stops you starting without buying anything at all).
The general idea of gameplay is for the thieves to sneak through the shadows unseen and, although objectives vary from level to level, usually steal a set amount of loot and escape.
It is important to be aware of the differences between the two player classes before trying to play. Guards are much stronger than thieves but a little slower whilst thieves have the ability to hide in the shadows. The amount of light is balanced in most levels so that the more desirable something is to a thief (or the more important), the more light there is near it. In the darkest shadows thieves are completely invisible (although other thieves still see them as a red shillouette), the lightgem at the bottom of the screen shows your current visibility, but once they are seen by a guard they are at a disadvantage - the fewer shadows there are to run into the more likely that thief is to get killed. Guards should be equally wary of entering dark areas where thieves are invisible and could be waiting for them. Both thieves and guards have different ways of taking each other out, see the section on Fighting later on in this guide.
It's not all black and white though. Guards get flares which can be used to light up dark areas and relight extinguished torces, thieves get water arrows (to douse torches and flames) and potions such as invisibility to hide them from guards. Thieves should also take the opportunity to sneak past guards who are looking the other way or not paying attention - thieving is a risky business but the bigger risks often give the biggest rewards!
Buying Items
Unlike a lot of games you don't collect much in the way of items and weapons throughout the level, you buy most of what you need before you start playing.
So, once you've picked your team and the game has started you should see the objectives screen.
Press and hold the Buy key (v, by default) and this menu should appear.
Click the
image for a full graphical tree...
Select the weapons and items you want to buy by clicking to open a menu and
then clicking on the item you want, remembering to watch your cash reserves
(located in the bottom-right of your screen).
Loadouts
You'll notice there is a loadout menu at the bottom which has two uses.
If you realise that you bought the wrong items for the level you can go into the Loadouts menu and select 'Empty-Handed', this will take away all the items you have bought and return your gold to you.
The other use is something which I highly recommend doing before you play online. The function of loadouts is to save your favourtite combinations of weapons/items so that you can call them up in a second or two without having to buy everything individually as in multiplayer games the other players can be well into the game before you've finished choosing.
All you have to do to set them up is buy everything that you want in the normal way and then, before starting the game, open the loadouts menu and right-click one of the unused (or used if you want to change it) loadouts to save your selection to it.
Hovering the mouse over a loadout will display the contents in a list down the top-right of the screen. To select that loadout just click on it (note that if you buy items and select a loadout you will no longer have those items). By default you can also press numpad keys 1-4 to select the corresponding loadout.
It's worth checking out my guide on how to change your loadout names if you like to have a few. That way you can see at a glance what each is designed for.
Buyable Items (or what do I put in my loadouts?)
There are a lot of items in the game but don't be overwhelmed, it's easy to work out what nearly all of them do. Below is a full description of each item and it's uses:
Please note: there are some 'mistakes'. Don't tell me that guards can use flashbombs or thieves can throw caltrops because I can't think of an example where you'd realistically see this happen unless you are cheating - in which case you're playing with yourself...er...I mean in Solo Play mode. This guide is designed to allow new players to learn how to play the game.
Items in yellow in the descriptions indicate the item has its own description.
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Health Potion Cost: 50 Available to: T + G Usable by: T + G Dropped on death: Yes |
Once used will gradually restore a fixed amount of health up to the maximum. |  |
Speed Potion Cost: 100 Available to: T + G Usable by: T + G Dropped on death: Yes |
Increases the speed of the drinker for several seconds. Can be countered by, but does not override, paralysis. |
 |
Catfall Potion Cost: 30 Available to: T Usable by: T + G Dropped on death: Yes |
Temporarily gives the drinker the ability to move silently and fall unhurt from great heights. |  |
Invisibility Potion Cost: 100 Available to: T Usable by: T Dropped on death: Yes |
Renders any thief who drinks it totally invisible for several seconds. Making an attack negates the effect. Guards can 'use' the potion to break it. |
 |
Breathing Potion Cost: ? Available to: T + G Usable by: T + G Dropped on death: Yes |
Allows the user to 'breathe' underwater for a limited time. On most maps currently as useless as a chocolate fireguard. |  |
Flare Cost: ? Available to: T + G Usable by: T + G Dropped on death: No |
Lights up the shadows and can be used to relight extinguished torches. Used by guards when searching for hidden thieves. Guards get these restocked free at the supply chest. |
 |
Lockpicks Cost: 100 Available to: T Usable by: T + G Dropped on death: Yes |
This allows thieves to open locked doors and containers. An essential buy on most maps. Guards can use these but tend to break them. |  |
Rations Cost: 5 Available to: T + G Usable by: T + G Dropped on death: Yes |
Replenishes a small amount of health. Mostly bought to use up the last few coins in the loadout. |
 |
Telescope Cost: ? Available to: T + G Usable by: T + G Dropped on death: ? |
Can be used to scout out distant areas for traps, sneaking thieves etc. etc. |  |
Flashbomb Cost: 100 Available to: T Usable by: T Dropped on death: No |
Creates a blinding flash of light that will blind any guards looking in its direction for several seconds. |
 |
Scouting Orb Cost: ? Available to: T Usable by: T Dropped on death: No |
Once thrown the thieves viewpoint moves to its location. It is always invisible to guards, even in light, and can be rotated in any direction. |  |
Mine Cost: ? Available to: G Usable by: T + G Dropped on death: No |
Placed on the ground it explodes when an enemy steps on it. Can be lockpicked to disarm it - it is added to the players inventory and be re-used. |
 |
Caltrops Cost: 30 Available to: G Usable by: G Dropped on death: No |
Once thrown on the ground these hurt and paralyse any thief who steps on them. Can be removed with a well aimed moss arrow. |  |
Whistler Cost: 120 Available to: G Usable by: G Dropped on death: No |
Lights up and whistles when a thief moves within range. Can be disabled (with a water arrow) or destroyed. |
 |
Repair Tool Cost: ? Available to: G Usable by: G Dropped on death: No |
Used to repair the supply chest if it is broken or whistlers which have been disabled with water arrows. |  |
Supply Chest Cost: Free Available to: G Usable by: G Dropped on death: Yes |
Automatically given to a random (human) guard at the start of a game. Used to get more flares and bolts when you run out. Can be broken or stolen by thieves. |
Weapons (the fun stuff!)
Note that both guards and thieves get a small amount of free equipment on every level. Thieves get a Blackjack, a Bow, some Broadhead Arrows,some Water Arrows and two Vine Arrows; guards get a Crossbow, some Standard Bolts and some Flares.
 |
Blackjack Cost: Free Team: Thieves |
Used to knock guards unconscious (KO them). Only blows to the back of the head are effective. |  |
Sword Cost: 250 Team: Thieves, Guards |
Slash! Stab! Kill! Guards are much more proficient with this than thieves - only experienced players should buy one as a thief (and most don't bother). |
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Mace Cost: 300 Team: Guards |
More powerful than the sword. Holding it ready slows movement considerably. |  |
Helmet Cost: ? Team: Guards |
Offers limited protection from theBlackjack. |
 |
Broadhead Arrow Cost: ? Team: Thieves |
A standard arrow. Hitting an unsuspecting AI guard in the back with one of these kills them instantly. |  |
Water Arrow Cost: ? Team: Thieves |
Used to extinguish flames - particularly torches or burning thieves. Will also disable some electrical devices. |
 |
Vine Arrow Cost: ? Team: Thieves |
Fired into wood or dirt will drop a climbable vine from its tail. |  |
Moss Arrow Cost: ? Team: Thieves |
On impact creates a carpet of moss which makes movement silent and destroys caltrops. |
 |
Crack Arrow Cost: 50 Team: Thieves |
Creates a cloud of poisonous gas which causes anyone who breathes it to stagger uncontrollably for several seconds. |  |
Decoy Arrow Cost: ? Team: Thieves |
Wherever it lands it creates a simulacrum of a thief designed to fool guards. |
 |
Standard Bolt Cost: ? Team: Guards |
A standard bolt - skewers things, hurts. | |
Tag Bolt Cost: ? Team: Guards |
Tags a light to whatever it hits. The light burns out after a few seconds. |
|
Para Bolt Cost: ? Team: Guards |
Causes temporary paralysis to anyone it hits (including your teammates!) | |
Fire Bolt Cost: ? Team: Guards |
Fires a slow moving, flaming bolt that explodes on impact setting the surroundings (including people) on fire. |
Fighting - General Principals
Guards:
The main problem for guards is not winning a fight but finding an opponent.
Thieves try to spend most of their time hiding in the shadows. When
you do find one, however, one of two things is likely to happen - they'll
either try to run behind you and knock you out or they'll try to escape.
If they run at you just try to keep facing them and slash away with whatever melee weapon you have. Most of the other attacks they can do will either blind or disorientate you somehow, the best thing to do is usually go crazy - jump about, run around in circles and slash blindly. If nothing else it might scare them away and if you don't do it you're an easy knockout.
If they try to run or hide it will inevitably involve shadows at some point (they won't keep running around the level forever). At this point you should start using flares and tagbolts/firebolts. Bolts are limited though and are best used when you are pretty certain of uncovering or hitting a thief. Note, however, that excessive use of firebolts is considered by most players to be lame - although so is crying 'fire spammer!' after someone uses a single fire bolt is also pretty lame. It's totally up to you how to play though, just don't expect to make a lot of friends if you buy nothing but firebolts. Add to that the fact that firebolts are so expensive and you'll probably find they are best used when you are certain of uncovering a thief or as a panic defense (when blinded fire at your feet so the thief can't get to you to KO you without setting on fire - it hurts you a little but it's better than being knocked out).
Playing the level as a thief gives you a good idea where an escaping thief is likely to hide, since you've probably hidden there yourself. As you play each level more you will find better and better places to hide and also get better and finding those who are hiding.
If you can see a thief and they are getting away a para bolt will let you catch them up (or stop them getting away in the first place). Thieves are faster than guards but once you've started hitting them they can't move so fast and remain visible for a second so you can usually finish them off quickly.
Thieves:
First of all you should realise that as a thief you shouldn't really be intending
to fight so I'm only going to focus on 'Strategic Guard Removal'™ and,
well, running away. Going toe-to-toe with a guard is generally very
stupid and should be avoided wherever possible. If you do get discovered
the best thing to do is throw a flashbomb, use an invisiblity/catfall/speed
and get away as fast as possible.
If sneaking past a guard looks too tricky then you have a few options as long as you stay well hidden - once you get spotted guards usually swarm your location. If it's an AI then your job is easier because their movements are more predictable. As long as their patrol takes them past a shadow you can safely reach you can hide there and get your Blackjack ready. As they approach hold down attack until you 'power up' then step out behind them as they walk past and release. If you timed it right you'll knock them out, don't hang around though as even if no-one noticed you it probably won't be long before someone finds the body or notices the guard missing.
Since guards can wake each other up once they find an unconscious body you might want to think about hiding them - usually the nearest patch of shadow is best since you don't make yourself vulnerable by carrying the body too far. Wherever you can, however, be as imaginative as possible - the longer they take to find then the longer they're out of your way.
If you're feeling a little sadistic a more permanent method of removal is available to you, you can always put an arrow in their back. Be warned, though, that they can hear the creaking of the bow unless you are a good distance away - they might not come and investigate but once they're alerted by something a single arrow won't kill them. If you do disturb them you'll either have to find another way past or wait with the arrow ready until they calm down again.
Should you get found out and need to get away try to use your supplies efficiently. For example, if you're on a rooftop just use a cheap catfall potion and jump off - don't waste your expensive stuff like invisibility potions or flashbombs when something more expendable will get you furthur away.