u/frfrrnrn

After my pacifist/ghost/no-power run, I decided to add another challenge: no knocking people out, no sleep darts, no chloroform.

I did it on New Game Plus, and did unlock powers, but I didn't use any of them except for experimenting and then reloading. No bonecharms except mana related ones that were useless during the real run. No gear upgrades except the crossbow ones (for decapitating clockworks). I collected ~95% of the runes and bonecharms, if only to add to the NG+ save.

I did "kill" some clockworks, but IIRC I avoided hounds.

You have to knock most major targets out, but I also knocked some others out when it added to the challenge:

1. A Long Day in Dunwall
   • Ramsey (1 total)
2. Edge of the World
   • None
3. The Good Doctor
   • None (You just use the syringe without knocking out)
4. The Clockwork Mansion
   • Jindosh (2 total)
5. The Royal Conservatory
   • Ashworth (3 total) (not actually needed, but I didn't know, you can just use the machine and she blinks there)
6. Dust District
   • Paolo and Byrne (5 total) (more challenging than just solving the lock and skipping the level)
7. A Crack in the Slab
   • Stilton (6 total) (optional but feels wrong not to do, and it gives you a 3rd level with civilians to sneak by)
8. The Grand Palace
   • the 2 guards in the first area who will instantly kill the boat smugglers if you don't take them out before nearing the lady behind the black market (8 total) (I tried stinging bolts but feels like not nearly enough time)
   • Abele (9 total)
9. Death to the Empress
   • Delilah (10 total)

I expected this to be much more difficult than my previous runs, but it is actually kind of freeing. No need to worry about sleep dart ammo. No more looking for good spots to hide knocked out guards. (But of course, also no longer the same desire to comb through every inch for loot and lore. I have already seen most of it.)

I had never really used the stinging bolts before, but I quickly realized that they were very useful for this, and in some cases better than sleep darts. Sleep darts leave an unconscious body that other guards will investigate. Stinging bolts causes the guard to run right past you without detecting you, and for some reason causes no reaction from his colleagues despite screaming and running in panic.

I'm sure if you're a faster player than me, you could make good use of howling bolts as well, but I only did once or twice. What I did was carry around howler dust bottles for an inordinate amount of time (without finding good uses for them).

Throwing normal bottles is of course all well and good, but you can also shoot a crossbow bolt with much more accuracy for an equivalent(?) distraction. If you need a really big distraction you can even throw a grenade or oil tank where you are sure it won't kill anyone.

Another underrated tech is when a civilian starts to detect you, you actually have quite a bit of time. Quickly do whatever you came there to do and get out, and it's usually fine.

In my previous runs, even the stealth pacifist ones, Delilah was always already on the throne guarded by two hounds, making it super awkward. This time, the hounds were asleep in what I assume was Emily's bed (neat detail), and Delilah was still busy painting. I don't know what caused this difference. Most events only start once you get close enough. Maybe because I didn't announce myself over the street speakers? Maybe I just played through the level faster this time?

It's all still pretty fresh in my memory if you have any questions about a specific area. I did however skip some areas.

https://preview.redd.it/77fr1430padh1.jpg?width=2560&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=575c0ff22908e923994b79a5c8c73da3f2d8032a