Little Known Tips to Make Life Easier

Let's start off with the Black Markets. In order to rob the Black Markets it is NOT necessary to frighten the clerk and lose the ability to continue to purchase items after the robbery. Before you start your robbery...SAVE THE GAME. If you are careful and keep out of the clerk's view (Dark Vision will help with this a great deal) you can rob the shop and steal every item in the shop that is NOT behind the shutters and still keep the clerk in business. Just pickpocket any items on his belt and use far reach to 'zap' out of his view as soon as you open the register, before taking the coins/key. If he turns around, he won't see you, won't get scared and run away or huddle in a terrified ball. You can then sneak back in and steal the coins/key in the register. Don't touch the shutters and he will continue to do business with you, while you will get credit for having robbed the shop. If you touch the shutters, you will get the one item on display and the shop will be closed from that point forward...not a great idea if you want to use sleep darts on several folks and need a good stockpile. The only place you cannot go back to the shop time and time again is in Chapter 7 Crack in the Slab AFTER going past the Jindosh Lock. Once the timeline changes the shop is inacessible. It can be a pain but with the Time Device an unlimited supply of sleep darts isn't really necessary.

Bloodflies are easier to hit with a sword in a crouching position. Do not try to choke out the Bloodfly Keeper. It is easiest to hit him with a sleep dart since you will become innundated with bloodflies the instant you get close to him. If you are trying to get through the level with no player deaths, this makes it very difficult so keep your distance if at all possible. Always save before tackling bloodflies since the swarm can take down your life very quickly.

The easiest way to kill Clockwork soldiers is with the Stun Mine. First you must upgrade it to the highest range to be certain of a kill. Once you find the upgrade that allows you to kill the soldiers with your blade you will be able to Blink yourself right next to a walking soldier and stab him. While they can see in front and behind them, they cannot see right next to them but make sure and save your game before trying to kill them with a blade. In the Clockwork Mansion you can earn an achievement for gathering all the plaques from the Clockwork Soldiers. I found that the only way to be able to get the plaque was to kill them with a sword, using a mine or grenade didn't allow me to pick up the plaque. Also, I do not know if it is a bug but the plaque was not always available regardless of how I killed the soldier so be sure to save your game before killing each one. Also, there are more Clockwork Soldiers hidden in the mansion than first appears, some of them dormant but they still must be killed and the plaques taken to earn the achievement. Don't accidentally touch a dormant soldier or break glass in earshot of one (in fact, any loud noise including running without the upgrade that quiets your footsteps) will awaken them.