Hi all ! Let me start by saying that I don't own GOG versions of T1 and T2, I own disc versions. I recently learned of the TFix and for the very first time am starting to play T1 as I was never able to get it to work, so thanks as always to modders!

Now, I've started the first mission and I see I have a sword, a sap, and a bow. If I use the sword, I get stuck in a drawn out fight where I can take damage, yet when I use a sap, they go down in one hit. This seems odd because looking at the difficulty levels for this first mission, I see D1 = get the rod, D2 = don't kill servants, D3 = don't kill guards. How is not killing harder when you can just use a sap everywhere?

I'm also wondering about detection. Should I even care if people see me? It seems to me that a standard challenge would be to sneak in without being seen AT ALL, and not taking out a single person, yet even the hardest difficulty doesn't ask that. Is it just because it's the first mission, or is this game easier than I expect?

Moving along sapping the area one by one seems like this game is incredibly easy. Am I missing something? No spoilers please.

the game is about NOT getting into fights - hide, sneak and avoid, use the sword only as a last resort measure, or to kill critters. when in public areas, most npcs will let you be, unless you bother them, but when you sneak somewhere where you should not be, they will either raise alarm or attack you.

You can only blackjack guards if they don't take notice of you; once you've been discovered by a guard using the sap won't do you any good, as it will only stun it for about a second. Therefore the only way to knock someone out is to sneak up on them, that's why it's supposed to be harder. This does not apply to "civilians" however, since they can be knocked out in one hit even after being alerted.

Going around the levels and sapping guards does make the game somewhat easier, if you have the patience to do that. However, both Thief 1 and 2 feature enemies on later levels that you cannot get rid of so easily. And if you find the game too easy even with that, you can always try ghosting every mission. No one is stopping the player from applying his "home rules" to the game.

As others have said, if you alert the guards you won't be able to sap them, and they might call for help, which means you'll be in a lot of trouble quickly. However, if you sneak around and sap unsuspecting guards you can indeed make the game fairly easy. Although even that will get a lot harder on later missions.

As for "ghosting", that is actually required for certain missions on hard difficulty in Thief 2. I can't remember if any missions require that in Thief 1. But the objectives will vary for different missions. So yes, some of it is just the fact that you're only on the first mission so far... the challenge will definitely increase.

Lastly, as others said, you might want to apply your own rules about not sapping guards too often, if you're looking for a stricter challenge.

Thanks everybody for your replies. I didn't know you couldn't sap guards once spotted. I've played Deus Ex so I'm kind of assuming that guards will only stay on alert for twenty seconds or something, and then go right back to "doo de doo"ing along.

What is ghosting?

Completing a level without being even being seen, and - except for the loot you need - leave everything as it was.

Indeed, without being seen while holding a gigantic bag full of clinging vintage wine bottles, gold candle holders, goblets, plates, and so on...

Is there a mod that keeps a check on Guards in case they see you? I mean, Ghosting without knowing you actually lost seems redundant.

Let me ask another question... what is up with the textures?

I installed T1 and was able to see the first room before the game locked. After installing the TFix, it runs fine, and the room appears identical, so I assume the textures are true to the original game. Which makes me ask, what were they smoking? There are so many clashing textures and colors, it makes me think some art guy said, "hey art director, which of these 1000 textures should we use?" "Hmmm? Use all of them!!"

Never noticed a problem with the art direction. Technically the textures were dated when the game was released, but I think it enhances the gritty, medieavel atmosphere. HD textures and CGI too often make things look to clean, sterile and fake (which is why I hardly watch movies anymore).

The only thing that grated me in the first Thief game was the character models. Any mods that enhances them?

yes, when patching with TFix, select the Daemonite's model pack. the polycount on AI models will be upped to the Thief2 level.

Actually (at least in the first two games not sure about deadly shadows) the Black jack does do damage to one guard 1 dmg way WAY less than the sword but yeah you CAN kill people with the black jack its just the sword is suprior in every way

Especially if you use it near water. Odds are a knocked out guard will fall into the water and drowned and that counts as a 'kill'.