Thieves Guild Heists

Reivax

I've yet to complete one, I've tried about 5 times but someone always sees me and I run out of time.
I know that knowing the map better will help, but can anyone offer any advice?

Gedalya

I've never finished one flawlessly but I've never had a problem finishing it. I'd suggest watching a YouTube video showing someone walking through to see if you are doing something wrong.

Sharee

If you are not a vampire, craft yourself a set of Night's silence gear - you can then sneak at full running speed.

Reivax

Sharee wrote: »

If you are not a vampire, craft yourself a set of Night's silence gear - you can then sneak at full running speed.

ooh, great idea, thanks!

Ackwalan

There is crafted gear that increases sneak speed. I can't remember the name, but it helps a lot. Also bring inv potions.

Reivax

Gedalya wrote: »

I've never finished one flawlessly but I've never had a problem finishing it. I'd suggest watching a YouTube video showing someone walking through to see if you are doing something wrong.

I get to intersections where there's someone and no matter how I try to sneak around, they see me, then the clock shortens up, and so on. I've been in houses before and just stealth down and the inhabitants of the house lose sight of you, but these heist guys are perceptive, lol

Number_51

There's at least one place, in one of the heists, where you have to use line of sight (Deadhollow Halls NW passage, hide behind the rocks as the guard passes by). Remember, just because the clairvoyance area of a guard reveals you, that doesn't mean the guard will see you.

Crafting the Night's Silence set is probably the best tip here. I use Night's Silence (5pc) and Night Terror (3pc), and have some Invisibility pots for just in case situations. Having said that, I've actually completed a few heists on characters with no sneak bonus/set and wearing heavy armor. I have been doing 2 heists per day since TG came out though, so I know the NPC movements and maps quite well.

ETA: Rapid Maneuver and Shadow Cloak (if you're a NB), and their morphs, are good skills to have as well.

Myrnhiel

Reivax wrote: »

I get to intersections where there's someone and no matter how I try to sneak around, they see me, then the clock shortens up, and so on. I've been in houses before and just stealth down and the inhabitants of the house lose sight of you, but these heist guys are perceptive, lol

When I started doing theses quests I printed out the maps and marked the places where the treasures can be found and also all the secret passages and caves. This really helped a lot.

I also crafted the Night's Silence Gear - it doesn't need to be gold, as its only purpose is to get rid of the Movement Speed Penalty. This also really helps a great deal. In the beginning I started without this set and it was a very frustrating experience.

And I also always carry invisibility potions that increase moving speed - even if you are discovered, you can always run away with one of those without having to fight and thus losing less precious time.

You can also abandon the quest and start again (you have to pick it up again at the board) - but be careful: if you do it too often, the "big boss" already roams the tunnels/halls although you haven't yet picked up the requested treasure.

lehran

It was rough for me at first, but after having done like 30-50 of them I learned the maps and what routes to take, and I can usually finish them all flawlessly (never being spotted, finish within time limit). My character is a khajit and I have dumped skill points into everything that reduces my detection radius, I think that is the most helpful. Increased sneak speed helps a ton too, I'm usually either sneaking or sprinting through safe tunnels, never standing/running normally. I don't use invisibility (the blue circles around guards force you to stand up, which for rogue stealth draught at least makes you lose your invis and get spotted). Remember to make use of the hiding spots as needed and be patient to wait for NPC movements, the 20 seconds you waste waiting for a guard to walk past your hiding spot is less than the time it would deduct for beings spotted and the combat time for killing the guard. Occasionally the guards are bugged so you don't see the blue circles of doom while sneaking -- stand up and crouch again to restore them.

DRXHarbinger

Roll Magblade+Vamp+concealed weapon and complete all heists in 4 mins flat every single time.

DB sacrements in less than 2 mins. easy 100K+ a week in gold from selling the motifs.

1mirg

If your a nightblade, all you gotta do is go invisible and go into hiding spots when needed. If your not, then just stay crouched and keep away from large crowds and non-hostile npcs and use the hiding spots alot. These mission cater to users who can go invisible. pretty much.

FluffyReachWitch

One of the things I used to do was keep some medium Night's Silence armor on me, despite being a light sorcerer. The reason: medium armor gets a perk called Improved Sneak, which reduces your detection radius based on how much medium armor you're wearing.

Improved Hiding from the Legerdemain tree is also worth it, because it reduces the amount of stamina it costs to sneak around, which means you're less likely to suddenly run out of stamina and stand up, and you need to pause to regain stamina less.

Many of the guards have a much shorter line of sight than you'd think. I have slipped past guards on the very edge of their lantern radius and not been seen. Heck, I've run between lanterns and squeezed into tiny corners to grab loot. Once you know the map and the guard routes, part of meeting the time limit means being bold and taking every opportunity you have to make a dash to the next hiding place, or secret passage, or chest. Don't be reckless, but be brave. This will save precious seconds.

When you know there is no one around, stop sneaking and RUN. Once you get past the last guard and the boss, start sprinting to Fa'Ren-dar's location.

If you routinely play with someone else, you can group with them, share your mission, and when you two talk to the quest giver you'll both enter the same dungeon. This doesn't mean you can split up to complete the objective faster; if you go too far apart then finding your objectives will only count for the person who found them. Instead, stay close to each other, watch each other's backs, have one person watch for incoming guards from another point, and figure out which one is better at fast lockpicking (or bashing) or slipping past the guards in more difficult rooms. Voice chat helps.

But whatever you do, don't go, "Watch this!", drink a stealth potion, and accidentally roll sideways off a ledge into a waiting guard. Your partner will never let you live it down.

gard

Gedalya wrote: »

I've never finished one flawlessly but I've never had a problem finishing it. I'd suggest watching a YouTube video showing someone walking through to see if you are doing something wrong.

You can cast rapid maneuvers to speed up your sneak speed.

Katahdin

NB ftw

If not NB then use those green stealth pots that drop everywhere

DRXHarbinger

Also op. Deadhallow halls. Go left at the start. When you get the 3rd box you can just follow the Daedroth to the end. If you go right he'll be coming right at you and generally pinch you between an add.

Also in the corridors there are book cases in corners. Stand behind them you'll be revealed by not spotted as no line of sight.

Underground sepulchre go right at the start. Again the boss that spawns will be heading away from you at the end.

The Hideaway. Iirc go straight ahead and not right.

The other 2 are easy and no fixed pattern for them, although Glittering grotto the gem puches actually respawn and you can wait out the 1st one and get all 7 in 6 mins or so. Don't tell zos though.

gard

DRXHarbinger wrote: »

Roll Magblade+Vamp+concealed weapon and complete all heists in 4 mins flat every single time.

DB sacrements in less than 2 mins. easy 100K+ a week in gold from selling the motifs.

Wow I didn't even think about concealed weapon! Good post.
I wonder if concealed weapon will stack with my vamp super speed + rapid maneuvers?

DRXHarbinger

gard wrote: »

DRXHarbinger wrote: »

Roll Magblade+Vamp+concealed weapon and complete all heists in 4 mins flat every single time.

DB sacrements in less than 2 mins. easy 100K+ a week in gold from selling the motifs.

Wow I didn't even think about concealed weapon! Good post.
I wonder if concealed weapon will stack with my vamp super speed + rapid maneuvers?

Yes yes they do.

mvffins

DRXHarbinger wrote: »

Roll Magblade+Vamp+concealed weapon and complete all heists in 4 mins flat every single time.

DB sacrements in less than 2 mins.

That is the issue I see with Heists vs Sacraments. Heists are definitely harder, while Sacraments are more relaxed. I've completed both flawlessly, but definitely more Sacraments than Heists, as you can just use blade of woe to kill everyone during Sacraments (this alerts people in heists), the timer doesn't start until you kill the main target, and your quest markers are revealed prior to starting mission.

Number_51

Forgot to mention in my previous post that another great skill that will speed up heists is the Locksmith passive in Legerdemain.

DRXHarbinger

mvffins wrote: »

DRXHarbinger wrote: »

Roll Magblade+Vamp+concealed weapon and complete all heists in 4 mins flat every single time.

DB sacrements in less than 2 mins.

That is the issue I see with Heists vs Sacraments. Heists are definitely harder, while Sacraments are more relaxed. I've completed both flawlessly, but definitely more Sacraments than Heists, as you can just use blade of woe to kill everyone during Sacraments (this alerts people in heists), the timer doesn't start until you kill the main target, and your quest markers are revealed prior to starting mission.

Yes but what aggs me the most is doing it within the 8 mins guarantees a motif page. DB is rng as usual. I still haven't got legs or shoulders and I have done these everyday since launch I kid you not (bar like 5 days)

DB motif should be guaranteed for doing it within the time limit, not being spotted at all and as per contract.

@ZOS_GinaBruno was this not intended?

altemriel

yes the night silence set for speed and speed potions for even more speed


and the vampire passive speed increase too

Karkian

I use my nightblade to do these a few times a week to make money thanks to the guaranteed motif when done under the time limit.

Between 5 piece night silence and shadow cloak I pretty much finish within 3-5 minutes everytime. I also have invisibility potions with speed as a last resort.

The invisibility/speed potion I use requires blessed thistle, blue entoloma and Namiras rot.

starkerealm

Bosmer
Vampire -> Stage 4
Nightblade -> Concealed Weapon Slotted -> Cloak
5pc Darkstride (optional) (Night Terror might be a better option)
5pc Night Mother's Embrace

Reivax

Thanks everyone for the helpful tips.

DRXHarbinger wrote: »

I still haven't got legs or shoulders and I have done these everyday since launch I kid you not (bar like 5 days)

are the motifs bind on pick up?

Concenaros

Reivax wrote: »

I've yet to complete one, I've tried about 5 times but someone always sees me and I run out of time.
I know that knowing the map better will help, but can anyone offer any advice?

What I mainly do is stay in 3rd person mode, watch for detection circles, flare traps and enemies. Try to ignore the timer and make steady progress, if you rush you'll make mistakes.

If you don't mind spoiling things for yourself, you can always look up the map layouts online for each heist and some people have made some pretty good guides on completing them flawlessly.

I was lucky enough to do really well on one and barely make it to the end with like < 10 seconds to spare.

Best thing is to just keep trying, you'll improve and get more used to the detection mechanics.