Steerpike, I've just started a new game where I'm going to be a mass murderer, so I can see first hand how advantageous stealth really is. I'm still a bit conflicted; I think the draw of a game like this is challenging yourself to play the hard way, which to me is stealth and not being seen (outside of the first 2 missions, the rest of the game I got "Ghost" and "Didn't Kill"). It did seem somewhat less satisfying playing through Coldridge just murdering everyone, but now that the game proper begins I've taken the Shadow Kill passive perk, so I'm hoping that makes it fun. I'll still go for stealth, but I won't have to worry about hiding bodies.

And I'm going to be totally ruthless, I'm going to kill every single person the game allows me without fail.

From what I gathered, it's not just that you get a more cheery ending (which I did), but when I arrived at the final mission it said "Kingsparrow Island (Low Chaos)". And it may just have been me, but the mission seemed relatively easy for the most part. Guards weren't vigorously patrolling, but mostly standing with their backs open for extended periods. My thought is that's the intended design for a low chaos play-through, where I figure for high chaos you'll have more city guards, more tallboys, and they'll have wider patrol areas.

I won't be able to confirm until I get through the entire game again; but I should do it much faster than the 20 odd hours the first run took because I've made a deal with myself that I won't reload my game for anything except deaths; first time I reloaded constantly because of damn perfectionism.

By the mission of confronting the Lord Regent I also abandoned the search for bone charms and runes mostly. Which upgrades did you go with?

I took the following: Blink 2 (who wouldn't? best ability in the game by far!), Agility 2 (looking back, Agility 1 would have sufficed, as I only cared to jump higher, not run faster (I was in sneak mode 85% of the time, to which Agility 2 didn't apply)), Dark Vision 2 (I waited till the end to go to 2 but it turned out to be more useful than I expected - second most essential ability in the game), Bend Time 2 (so, so, so good, it's never uncool to stop time completely) and simply because I had leftover runes, Vitality 2, but since I never engaged in combat, this was entirely useless. Would only be worthwhile if you play as some kind of blundering brute.

On Daud:

I forgot about Possession. I took that also. The only time I possessed humans was Kingsparrow Island. Somewhat useful, mostly just fun though...it took too much mana to use, which is why I liked playing the game mostly using only Blink and Dark Vision, they both refilled your whole bar if you waited a few seconds.

The idea of the rat tunnels was neat though, I saw them all throughout the game, so it's great that there were even more options.

I wonder if Arkane will try something similar again or move on with their next game. With a bit of polish I think they could attract a good chunk of the mainstream playing, say, Assassin's Creed games. Dishonored didn't quite compare to them in scope, but what it lacked in some of the grandiosity it made up for in focus. Personally, I think Dishonored could have been even more stripped down. Still, it's left me thinking about it a lot, which I can only say for about one in five games I play.

I think the Boyle mansion party is where the game really picks up steam; all missions before required mostly patience and some skill, but this one ramps up the skill and quick thinking required, in my opinion - report back at once with your thoughts, SP.

Edit: Actually, thinking about it now, this mission was the most Thief-esque in the game. Prowling through bedrooms and stairwells knowing you were inches from being caught ... hmmm thrilling stuff.

It's really difficult to resist the temptation of reverse-engineering those Tesla coils to fry baddies, isn't it? During a non-lethal go-round that is. I did it a bunch of times just to hear their screams, then reloaded of course.

Tip to developers, who I'm sure are all reading this thread: for all of your console games where you choose to allow a manual save option, make the damn Select/Back button a quicksave feature! Some game did this, I forget which, but it was wonderful. I quick saved every 10 seconds for no reason other than I could. A quick press = save. Hold it down, it brings up a simple yes/no quick load prompt.

You're welcome.

Same for me.