Solving the Chapter 1 "Getting the key from the Guard Puzzle"

[Brian Monday]

Hello @Gamers,

Here is a comprehensive guide to solving the puzzle in Chapter 1 of the game where the guard is distracted so Fran can obtain the key to the office.

TLDR--There are two versions of the Fran Bow game. In the default (new) version of the game, you must build the Grab-O-Matic-2000 and attempt to grab the key hanging on the hook at the guard station BEFORE you can distract the guard using either the drugged cinnamon bun, or by spilling hot coffee on him.

In the Gamemaker Legacy (older) version of the game, you do NOT need to build the Grab-O-Matic-2000 BEFORE distracting the guard with the drugged cinnamon bun or by spilling hot coffee on him.

But, in both versions of the game, you must still build the Grab-O-Matic-2000 in order to reach high enough to grab the key. Some gamers remember distracting the guard using the drugged cinnamon bun or spilling hot coffee on him in earlier playthroughs (using the Gamemaker Legacy (old) version) before they build the Grab-O-Matic-2000 to get the key. You cannot do this if you're playing the default (newer) version of the game now.

If you're unsure if you're playing the default (new) version of the game, or the Gamemaker Legacy (old) version, see this thread: https://steamcommunity.com/app/362680/discussions/0/3826413850822180638/

You MUST attempt to take the key using the Grab-O-Matic 2000 in the default (new) version of the game BEFORE you will be able to distract the guard successfully. In the "Gamemaker Legacy" (old) version, you can wait to build the Grab-O-Matic-2000 until after the guard is distracted.

If that doesn't make sense, you'll need to read through this entire guide to see what I mean . . .

Here's the detailed guide to solving this puzzle:

If you're playing the default (new) version of the game

1) The overall objective is to get the key hanging on the hook at the guard station.

2) To get the key, some items in inventory need to be combined together to create a tool to reach up high and grab the key.

3) Three items must be combined together to create this tool.

4) Combine the hook with the pink sash, or combine the pink sash with the walking cane first. You cannot combine the hook directly with the walking cane however.

5) Then combine the hook/pink sash with the walking cane, or combine the pink sash/walking cane with the hook to create the Grab-O-Matic 2000.

6) Use the Grab-O-Matic 2000 on the key hanging on the hook. The guard will now take it away from Fran and put it behind him at the guard station.

7) Fran must now distract the guard. This can be done in two ways. If the attempt to do that one way fails (and it can fail), then Fran MUST use the other way.

8) The second way to distract the guard is not shown in the game UNLESS Fran fails to distract the guard the first way.

9) The first way to distract the guard is by using the drugged cinnamon bun on him. To create the drugged cinnamon bun, Fran must combine the cinnamon bun with the "magic stuff" (the pill you get from Annie in the cafeteria).

10) Then Fran USES the drugged cinnamon bun on the guard. This starts a dialog between Fran and the guard. The first two choices are:
"I brought this cake for you." and "A cake! Eat it!"

If a dialog between Fran and the guard doesn't occur, but instead Fran thinks to herself, something like:
"Sometimes things just don't work!" or
"Um... it won't do."
"I'm clever enough to think of another solution. I think!"
"Ahh, things not working makes me angry!"
"Trying things out is good, but in this case it won't do any good."
"Nothing! Of course...What was I thinking?"
"I can't do that..."
"Negative!"
"I won't even try that!"

Then you're probably playing the new version of the game, and have not yet used the Grab-O-Matic 2000 to try to get the key. Once Fran has tried to get the key with the Grab-O-Matic 2000, then she can try to USE the drugged cinnamon bun on the guard to begin the dialog as shown above.

11) Once the dialog options ("I brought this cake for you." and "A cake! Eat it!") are displayed, the choices selected will determine whether Fran is successful in getting the guard to taste the drugged cinnamon bun.

12) But even if you fail to select the correct choices, the puzzle can still be solved and the key obtained.

13) The next spoiler will show you the choices which will result in the guard tasting the drugged cinnamon bun. If you want to try this without help, skip to the second spoiler below this one (step 15).

14) The dialog options that will result in the guard tasting the drugged cinnamon bun are: A-B-B or B-B-B.

15) If Fran fails to put the guard to sleep with the drugged cinnamon bun (because the guard refuses to take it from Fran), then you must distract the guard with the second method.

16) Fran needs to go to a different area of the asylum in order to begin the second method to distract the guard. You should explore the asylum and revisit the areas you've previously been to. There will be new activity going on in a location you've previously visited, and it will be obvious.

17) The next spoiler will reveal the location you must visit in order to proceed with the second way to distract the guard. If you want to explore on your own, please skip to the second spoiler below this one (step 19).

18) Go back to the cafeteria where you got the "magic stuff" from Annie, and where the nurse was reading a magazine before.

19) Once you see the conversation in this location, Fran can pick up a new inventory item.

20) Once this new inventory item is picked up, Fran can successfully distract the guard, and using the Grab-O-Matic 2000, get the key.

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If you're playing the "Gamemaker Legacy" (old) version of the game, here are the steps to follow:

1) The overall objective is to get the key hanging on the hook at the guard station.

2) You can follow the steps shown for the default (new) version of the game, or you can follow a slightly different path and achieve the same result.

3) Initiate a conversation with the guard by clicking on him. Fran will say "Sir? The key hanging up there... Can I have it?"

4) Building the Grab-O-Matic 2000 need NOT be done yet. Instead, Fran can now distract the guard. This can be done in two ways. If the attempt to do that one way fails (and it can fail), then Fran MUST use the other way.

5) The second way to distract the guard is not shown in the game UNLESS Fran fails to distract the guard the first way.

6) The first way to distract the guard is by using the drugged cinnamon bun on him. To create the drugged cinnamon bun, Fran must combine the cinnamon bun with the "magic stuff" (the pill you get from Annie in the cafeteria).

7) Then Fran USES the drugged cinnamon bun on the guard. This starts a dialog between Fran and the guard. The first two choices are:
"I brought this cake for you." and "A cake! Eat it!"

If a dialog between Fran and the guard doesn't occur, but instead Fran thinks to herself, something like:
"Sometimes things just don't work!" or
"Um... it won't do."
"I'm clever enough to think of another solution. I think!"
"Ahh, things not working makes me angry!"
"Trying things out is good, but in this case it won't do any good."
"Nothing! Of course...What was I thinking?"
"I can't do that..."
"Negative!"
"I won't even try that!"

Then you're probably playing the new version of the game (not this version), and have not yet used the Grab-O-Matic 2000 to try to get the key. If you are playing the default (new) version of the game, (not this version), then building the Grab-O-Matic 2000 before distracting the guard is required. In that version, once Fran has tried to get the key with Grab-O-Matic 2000, then she can try to USE the drugged cinnamon bun on the guard to begin the dialog as shown above.

8) Once the dialog options ("I brought this cake for you." and "A cake! Eat it!") are displayed, the choices selected will determine whether Fran is successful in getting the guard to taste the drugged cinnamon bun.

9) But even if you fail to select the correct choices, the puzzle can still be solved and the key obtained.

10) The next spoiler will show you the choices which will result in the guard tasting the drugged cinnamon bun. If you want to try this without help, skip to the second spoiler below this one (step 12).

11) The dialog options that will result in the guard tasting the drugged cinnamon bun are: A-B-B or B-B-B.

12) If Fran fails to put the guard to sleep with the drugged cinnamon bun (because the guard refuses to take it from Fran), then you must distract the guard with the second method.

13) Fran needs to go to a different area of the asylum in order to begin the second method to distract the guard. You should explore the asylum and revisit the areas you've previously been to. There will be new activity going on in a location you've previously visited, and it will be obvious.

14) The next spoiler will reveal the location you must visit in order to proceed with the second way to distract the guard. If you want to explore on your own, please skip to the second spoiler below this one (step 16).

15) Go back to the cafeteria where you got the "magic stuff" from Annie, and where the nurse was reading a magazine before.

16) Once you see the conversation in this location, Fran can pick up a new inventory item.

17) Once this new inventory item is picked up, Fran can successfully distract the guard, and using the Grab-O-Matic 2000, get the key. See steps 2 through 5 in the default (new) section of this post if you don't know how to build the Grab-O-Matic 2000.

You can probably figure out the rest of this puzzle on your own. But if you're still having issues, please be sure that you have followed the steps shown in this post. If you have done this, please indicate at which step above things did not work as suggested above, and also indicate whether you are playing the new version of the game or the "Gamemaker Legacy" (old) version. A save game made once you're stuck would also be helpful.

The "Gamemaker Legacy" (old) version save game is located here (on Windows computers):

c:\users\<Your Windows Login Name>\Appdata\Roaming\Fran_Bow\savedata.ini"

The new version save game is located here (on Windows computers):
c:\users\<Your Windows Login Name>\Appdata\LocalLow\Killmonday Games AB\Fran Bow\FranBow_X.save

where the X above is 0,1,2, or 3. 0 is the autosave, and 1,2, or 3 are the manual saves.

Uploading the save game file (either savedata.ini or FranBow_0.save to the cloud and replying in this thread with the URL to that save game file would allow me to see exactly the issue you are facing, and allow me to tailor a response that will allow you to complete the puzzle.

Good Luck!

[KH<3]

how can i build the Grab-O-Matic-2000?

[Brian Monday]

Originally posted by KH<3:

how can i build the Grab-O-Matic-2000?

Hello KH<3,

Did you review steps two through five of the first post in this thread under "playing the default (new) version of the game"?

[KH<3]

yeah but idk how to get the walking cane from the boy

[Brian Monday]

Originally posted by KH<3:

yeah but idk how to get the walking cane from the boy

Hello again KH<3,

You originally asked how to build the Grab-O-Matic-2000, but after reading my earlier response, you then say "idk how to get the walking cane from the boy".

The Fran Bow game has puzzles, and solving certain puzzles require that you have already solved other puzzles and have obtained certain items in Fran's inventory by solving those puzzles earlier in your gameplay.

IDK if you have solved all the puzzles (and obtained the needed inventory items) to actually solve "getting the walking cane" because you haven't told me anything about what you've already done in the game. If I tell you that you need to "USE" or "COMBINE, then USE" some specific items from your inventory to get that walking cane, will you ask me how to get those other inventory items because you haven't yet solved those puzzles which are required to get those items?

To save time, consider:

• Telling me what is currently in your inventory and what you did with those items to try to get the walking cane. Either reply again in this thread with a description of the items in your inventory, or upload a screenshot showing your current inventory to a cloud service (and create a reply post with the URL to that screenshot in this thread). This would help me to decide how to guide you to solve only the puzzles that you haven't yet solved. Providing such a reply might mean there is less back and forth, instead of my "solution" only causing you to ask more questions, or
  
  
• Consulting a complete walkthrough that would allow you to proceed in the game more efficiently no matter what puzzles you've already solved or haven't yet solved. Here's one such guide posted right here on this Steam forum: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=702499955.
  
  And if you want a more detailed guide than what is posted here on Steam, your favorite internet search engine will give you lots more if you search on the term "Fran Bow walkthrough".

Not knowing what items are currently in your inventory (which helps me to know which puzzles you've already solved in the game), makes any explanation about what you need to do next to get the walking cane, extremely difficult to answer concisely, correctly and effectively for you.

I'm happy to help you further, but without more information from you, I cannot write a response that is helpful and doesn't just lead to you possibly asking more questions.

[39]

b

[J.C. Denton]

Originally posted by Brian Monday:

you must build the Grab-O-Matic-2000 and attempt to grab the key hanging on the hook at the guard station BEFORE you can distract the guard using either the drugged cinnamon bun, or by spilling hot coffee on him

So far this is only episode I find pretty silly in this game.
She's 10 years old and not that stupid, she could easily understand what will happen attempting to do such thing. So confronting guard instead of distracting after such an offendive talks they have... Very strange. Especially if we keep in mind all the stuff and combinations Fran's doing later.