My problem with the quicksafe

[Alex036]

Well, I have always wondered if anyone else have the same than me. The first mission I tried not to use quicksafe, and it was realy challenging, but it took me 7 hours and I got tired of the mission. After that, I used quicksafe for the rest of the game.
The problem is that it's hard not to abuse of this option and I was saving all the time, which evades me from having to repeat parts of the level again and again. However, saving the whole time eliminates a considerable amount of tension and difficulty from this game. This is a shame.

The first idea to solve this problem would be adding checkpoints, but that´s impossible because of the structure of the levels, and many people really hate checkpints (and they have a good reason).
In my opinion, the game should give you a limited number of saves, or give you a save for each X money you collect in the level (it´s not about buying saves with money, it would be, for me, too unrealistic).

So, what do you think? I know they are not gonna patch the game now (at least officialy), but I wanted to discuss this topic.

PD: Sorry for my bad English, I don´t usually speak this language.

[😎 𝓣𝓪𝓯𝓯𝒆𝓻𝔀𝓸𝓬𝓴𝔂 😎]

It's a matter of self-discipline. You have to force yourself not to load after minor mistakes. I agree it would be nice as an option, and hopefully the NewDark patches for the game will add this some day (the game is still being patched unofficially and one such patch came out last week).

[frostdiamond]

I'm a perfectionist so I usually quick load right after I make a mistake. But I know the levels and game mechanics so well now, I rarely make mistakes. This is what happens after you've played the game for the 10th time since 1998.

[😎 𝓣𝓪𝓯𝓯𝒆𝓻𝔀𝓸𝓬𝓴𝔂 😎]

Originally posted by frostdiamond:

I'm a perfectionist so I usually quick load right after I make a mistake. But I know the levels and game mechanics so well now, I rarely make mistakes. This is what happens after you've played the game for the 10th time since 1998.

Same for the original missions, but I spend most of my Thiefy time playing Fan Missions, which means i'm in the odd situation of knowing the mechanics off by heart, but not the level design. This means mistakes are almost inevitable, but I can deal with them quite well without reloading.

[Alex036]

Actually, I use the quicksave more than the quicksave. I can save 7 times without load a single time. But I try to save as much as possible, so if I have to load, it will be near.
But, as I've said, when I have my game saved all the time, I don't have to be so careful and I am caught, there's almost no punishment. Although it makes the game more enyojable, it also makes it easier and quits the pression.

[Talviomena]

Also I use quicksafe all the time. I've been thinking of challenging myself by trying certain levels without any or at least without too many quicksafes (or loading only if I die) but I have learnt to use it also in The Dark Mod so I'm afraid the habit isn't going anywhere..

Originally posted by frostdiamond:

I'm a perfectionist so I usually quick load right after I make a mistake.

Just like this.

[😎 𝓣𝓪𝓯𝓯𝒆𝓻𝔀𝓸𝓬𝓴𝔂 😎]

I think there's a happy compromise to be had. I don't ironman Thief, but will try to only reload when there's no chance of me running away without killing or being killed. If it's non-human enemies I will kill if I need to.

[Alex036]

Originally posted by Tafferwocky:

I think there's a happy compromise to be had. I don't ironman Thief, but will try to only reload when there's no chance of me running away without killing or being killed. If it's non-human enemies I will kill if I need to.

Yeah, me too. Using an item is usually not a major problem. But I think the problem is when to save, rather than when to load.

[😎 𝓣𝓪𝓯𝓯𝒆𝓻𝔀𝓸𝓬𝓴𝔂 😎]

Originally posted by Alex036:

Originally posted by Tafferwocky:

I think there's a happy compromise to be had. I don't ironman Thief, but will try to only reload when there's no chance of me running away without killing or being killed. If it's non-human enemies I will kill if I need to.

Yeah, me too. Using an item is usually not a major problem. But I think the problem is when to save, rather than when to load.

I must admit I save an awful lot! But does it matter if you save a lot if you rarely reload the save?

[Alex036]

Originally posted by Tafferwocky:

Originally posted by Alex036:

Yeah, me too. Using an item is usually not a major problem. But I think the problem is when to save, rather than when to load.

I must admit I save an awful lot! But does it matter if you save a lot if you rarely reload the save?

For me, it does matter, because when you know your game is saved and if you fail you can reload just a few steps away, you don't have to worry about being caught. In my opinion, that breaks an important part of the game experience.

[😎 𝓣𝓪𝓯𝓯𝒆𝓻𝔀𝓸𝓬𝓴𝔂 😎]

Okay, I see what you mean now.

[Lv 20 Bolting Bot]

Originally posted by Alex036:

Originally posted by Tafferwocky:

I must admit I save an awful lot! But does it matter if you save a lot if you rarely reload the save?

For me, it does matter, because when you know your game is saved and if you fail you can reload just a few steps away, you don't have to worry about being caught. In my opinion, that breaks an important part of the game experience.

Valid point, but opinions will matter and I like auto saves. I like to play perfectly or almost perfectly so being caught is bad no matter if auto saves are there or not. If I get caught, I restart. This would be incredibly tedious if I had to replay earlier parts of a level that I had already beaten perfectly just to get back to the part that I failed to do well.

Imo, the atmosphere is not important enough to introduce an element of tedium for those who, like me, want to do every individual part of a level perfectly. I see what you mean though, and of course it can be seen as a problem, but I am grateful to have them.