reed keep ruining my stealth in "the damned" mission

[KromeHWI]

fking reed! i dont know if this is bug or what, but i am VERY good at stealthy infiltration and killing/incapacitating guards, but in this mission reed is just too trigger happy. the slightest thing sets him off and he just stands up and starts blasting (which obv sets off the open combat "option"). this is infuriating, as i KNOW 100% that i could clear these jerks quietly if he would just simmer the fk down and stop going loud. its like an oldschool escort mission all over again! it thought we were past these kind of obnoxious quest mechanics. i wish i could just tell him to wait outside until i called him in.

the one upside is that apparently he has some kind of ultra stealth tech that allows him to crouch directly in front of enemies, in plain sight and they dont notice him until he starts shooting ;)

[Captain Skinny]

I know what youre talking about. Last time I played PL Reed got made every time we went out together. It got to the point where in game I decided to go against him because I saw him as an incompetent moron.

Now that I think about it, I did retry a few times but overall went with it whenever he got busted, so I don't even have any helpful advice to provide D:

[TheGlutton]

I feel your pain. I tried to use the quick hack that knocks them out SILENTLY (the one that costs like 24 ram to use) and he IMMEDIATLY stands up and starts to blast......feels like that one Danny DeVito meme.

[Aqu]

Yeah, that's why I resort to violence in those cases (outside scripted moments). There is another annoying moment in PL when... you are asked to escort one boxer to a fixer and then he decides to 'rambo' around with fists like he doesn't need or want any escort. That leaves me less enemies to gun down, so I demand non peaceful exit on the way down and happily gunning everyone.

Originally posted by TheGlutton:

....feels like that one Danny DeVito meme.

Ha ha. "That's when I started shooting"

[TepigIsHot]

Yeah, the stealth missions in Phantom Liberty are just poorly made. Like that damn drone that doesn't actually give you enough time to disable it. Or Songbird acting like you CHOSE to go guns blazing when an enemy turns on a dime right before you can grab them. Or the mission with the two cops where there are areas you simply can't pass without optical camo. They just phoned it in for stealth parts.

[Ffabbia]

Originally posted by Aqu:

Yeah, that's why I resort to violence in those cases (outside scripted moments). There is another annoying moment in PL when... you are asked to escort one boxer to a fixer and then he decides to 'rambo' around with fists like he doesn't need or want any escort. That leaves me less enemies to gun down, so I demand non peaceful exit on the way down and happily gunning everyone.

Originally posted by TheGlutton:

....feels like that one Danny DeVito meme.

Ha ha. "That's when I started shooting"

You can totally do the boxer mission in stealth without alerting any scavs. I did it yesterday in fact.

As long as you don't actually go into combat, as long as no guards see you and as long as you rely on silent takedowns you'll escape the base without incident and Aeron will keep hanging back and not attack anyone.

[Jowain]

Happened to me as well, I just think the game when it comes to Stealth tends to be really bad.

Sidenote: also despise that sometimes options don't seem to be factored in, in "Heaviest of Hearts" you get attacked by a goon if making a certain option, however the game only has the "kill" outcome, so even if you knock him out with your fists or System Collapse, the other character with him will cry "you killed him!" even if he's literally in the "knocked out but alive" pose... just uuuurgh

[Nar!]

With all due respect, (and I say this with brotherly love) this is entirely skill issue unless you're facing a rare but legitimate bug where an npc does something it's not supposed to (like not get properly distracted by a nearby hacked object, despite being highlighted) or an electronic device is no longer hackable when it should be (which will require a quick reload of the save to fix it).

Practice makes perfect, fellas.

Not bragging or anything, but I ace all of these without a problem now. However, on my first couple of playthroughs, I definitely screwed the pooch quite a bit and like you, also unfairly blamed the game for having poor stealth set ups.
(I recall yelling at my screen a few times..)

After a couple more replays, I found out I've been doing it all wrong or overthinking it, while sleeping on the most obvious things I could do. Ping. Tag. Bait. Distract. Take down. Hide bodies. Move forward.

I was basically not minding my surroundings the first couple of times, when I tried the stealth approach.

The Damned, is actually possible to clear without being spotted. You make your way up to the air ducts and make sure you don't fall in the trap door (dismantle it before you cross it) - use your Kiroshi optics to highlight the trap before you cross it - then drop on the other end of that air duct and open the door while crouched. Silent take down enemies in your path. In some instances, you will have to distract an enemy above that's facing your way, before trying to silent take down an enemy in front of you.

Just hack an object behind the one standing above the catwalk that's looking in your direction. Then when he turns away to look at it, you get 30 seconds to act fast.

Don't crack necks because the nearby enemies can sometimes actually hear it, if they're too close. Just put 'em to sleep and drag their bodies out of sight.

The mission with Aaron by your side (in that amazing scav hideout) is very tricky to accomplish stealthily and will require some scanning first. You can hack a camera and ping tag every enemy you can spot. Turn off all cameras as well. Also tag hackable items near them for distract hacks. There are risers passed the main entrance you can lift from the ground, to help you sneak around the lobby without getting seen.

You can also use bait. Many people sleep on the bait quick hack. You can bait an enemy to come to you, then once he or she is close to a hackable item, use the distract quick hack to get them to turn towards that item instead (usually works after the bait protocol is done), then position yourself to take them out.

Eeeeeeasy. ;)


I play this game way too much. :P

[Ffabbia]

You can also use bait. Many people sleep on the bait quick hack. You can bait an enemy to come to you, then once he or she is close to a hackable item, use the distract quick hack to get them to turn towards that item instead (usually works after the bait protocol is done), then position yourself to take them out.

I certainly don't. I'm using it constantly. Bait is absolutely amazing. I can clear entire rooms full of enemies by using just this in combination with Distract, or Sonic Shock or just Optical Camo.

Unlike the people above who complain that stealth is sub-par in this game I'd claim the opposite and say that stealth is actually overpowered, as long as you enter into it with the correct thought process, and view each encounter as a puzzle to solve, rather than a shooting gallery.

My first-ever playthrough was a bit hit and miss, but since then I've learned, practiced and gained a lot of insights into this game - and I can now get through most missions without triggering any enemies at all. Most times they won't even enter an alert state - they have no clue that I'm there.

[Porkhammer]

Originally posted by TepigIsHot:

Or the mission with the two cops where there are areas you simply can't pass without optical camo. They just phoned it in for stealth parts.

I always do that gig in stealth without issues. The area where you "simply can't pass without optical camo" is surprisingly simple.

Distract the dude standing up on the left with the vending machine, then put the dude on the chair to sleep. You'll still have time to take the dude by the vending machine out. After that it's a simple matter of taking out the chick kneeling down on the right.

(At least I assume this is the area you mean, but I guess the first one can be tricky too. I just doublejump over the shelf, taking a shortcut to the elevator.)

[Nar!]

Originally posted by Ffabbia:

You can also use bait. Many people sleep on the bait quick hack. You can bait an enemy to come to you, then once he or she is close to a hackable item, use the distract quick hack to get them to turn towards that item instead (usually works after the bait protocol is done), then position yourself to take them out.

I certainly don't. I'm using it constantly. Bait is absolutely amazing. I can clear entire rooms full of enemies by using just this in combination with Distract, or Sonic Shock or just Optical Camo.

Unlike the people above who complain that stealth is sub-par in this game I'd claim the opposite and say that stealth is actually overpowered, as long as you enter into it with the correct thought process, and view each encounter as a puzzle to solve, rather than a shooting gallery.

My first-ever playthrough was a bit hit and miss, but since then I've learned, practiced and gained a lot of insights into this game - and I can now get through most missions without triggering any enemies at all. Most times they won't even enter an alert state - they have no clue that I'm there.

Exactly, man. This is the way. *high five*
Once these cats get the hang of their surroundings, cyberware (types of Kiroshi optics that can greatly help them in stealth missions, btw), use what they got in the right way, handling missions like a ghost will not only be doable, but also very satisfying. It's like playing a puzzle game.

[Ffabbia]

Originally posted by Nar!:

Originally posted by Ffabbia:

I certainly don't. I'm using it constantly. Bait is absolutely amazing. I can clear entire rooms full of enemies by using just this in combination with Distract, or Sonic Shock or just Optical Camo.

Unlike the people above who complain that stealth is sub-par in this game I'd claim the opposite and say that stealth is actually overpowered, as long as you enter into it with the correct thought process, and view each encounter as a puzzle to solve, rather than a shooting gallery.

My first-ever playthrough was a bit hit and miss, but since then I've learned, practiced and gained a lot of insights into this game - and I can now get through most missions without triggering any enemies at all. Most times they won't even enter an alert state - they have no clue that I'm there.

Exactly, man. This is the way. *high five*
Once these cats get the hang of their surroundings, cyberware (types of Kiroshi optics that can greatly help them in stealth missions, btw), use what they got in the right way, handling missions like a ghost will not only be doable, but also very satisfying. It's like playing a puzzle game.

Actually, all that said, there's one mission that keeps on 'defeating' me. Sure I still win, and sure I complete the optional requirement to remain undetected - but I'm not finishing it how I want to finish it: 100% silent, non-fatal takedowns, 100% enemies neutralised, no alerting guards - that's always my aspiration, (unless the bad guys really have it coming, then it's silenced pistol/combat hack time.)

The mission takes place in Dogtown and is called Moving Heat. The objective is to basically get to a car, wipe it's memory and then steal it.

I can get through right to the very end without alerting any guards, and I'm physically crouching by the car. The problem is there's a guard in a truck nearby. Obviously I can't use silent takedowns, I can't get his attention else he'll scramble from the cab, start shooting, and alert a bunch of goons who burst in from behind a door. Quickhacks don't work as he's inside the truck. If I just get in the car and drive away he'll spot me and alert the guards.

My only option seems to be to just take him out silently via sniper rifle. An inelegant solution - not to mention that he's just a guard doing his job and probably doesn't deserve a bullet.

How do you do this one? Any hints?

[Nar!]

Originally posted by Ffabbia:

My only option seems to be to just take him out silently via sniper rifle. An inelegant solution - not to mention that he's just a guard doing his job and probably doesn't deserve a bullet.

How do you do this one? Any hints?

Oh yea! Once you make it to the main garage (after the passing the storage facility), you'll see a small dump truck drive down towards you. Quickly and carefully hop on it's back and stay crouched, unseen. It will take you all the way towards the car that's waiting for you.

It will park right in front of it.

Once the driver hops out of the dump truck, he'll walk away and stand next to it from the other side. If you peek over, you'll see some Barghest on the left hand side just looking towards your direction. Simply distract hack an object behind him so he can walk away.

This will give you enough time to sneak over (crouch walk) to the car you're taking in front of you, staying more on the left side, so that you don't enter the line of sight of the Barghest that is standing by the truck you were on. Wrap around that hot rod from the rear trunk and sneak up to the driver door, open it and hop in.
Once you're in, you don't have to worry about any guards spotting you anymore. Even the one right next to the truck you were on.

The car's data will be wiped and you'll be able to safely drive through all the Barghest soldiers without them messing with you. Just make sure to follow their directions.

Then you drive out and the ride is yours to keep! :)

[Ffabbia]

Originally posted by Nar!:

Originally posted by Ffabbia:

My only option seems to be to just take him out silently via sniper rifle. An inelegant solution - not to mention that he's just a guard doing his job and probably doesn't deserve a bullet.

How do you do this one? Any hints?

Oh yea! Once you make it to the main garage (after the passing the storage facility), you'll see a small dump truck drive down towards you. Quickly and carefully hop on it's back and stay crouched, unseen. It will take you all the way towards the car that's waiting for you.

It will park right in front of it.

Once the driver hops out of the dump truck, he'll walk away and stand next to it from the other side. If you peek over, you'll see some Barghest on the left hand side just looking towards your direction. Simply distract hack an object behind him so he can walk away.

This will give you enough time to sneak over (crouch walk) to the car you're taking in front of you, staying more on the left side, so that you don't enter the line of sight of the Barghest that is standing by the truck you were on. Wrap around that hot rod from the rear trunk and sneak up to the driver door, open it and hop in.
Once you're in, you don't have to worry about any guards spotting you anymore. Even the one right next to the truck you were on.

The car's data will be wiped and you'll be able to safely drive through all the Barghest soldiers without them messing with you. Just make sure to follow their directions.

Then you drive out and the ride is yours to keep! :)

Ahhhhh of course.

You're even encouraged to get in the truck, but for some reason I just don't. I think I had it in my head that doing so would alert the guards - but I guess it's more like the Arasaka van scenario.

Feel like a dumbo now

Thanks for that. Next playthrough I'll get in the truck.