So, this past week we've moved some of our focus from artwork to gameplay.
With Calvino Noir, we don’t want to coerce you into adopting a particular strategy. Each puzzle will have numerous solutions, some of which will be individual to the player, but we do want to encourage the utilisation of careful and considered strategies centred around
sneaking and
distraction. Trying to turn the game into a side-scrolling shoot ‘em up is not a viable strategy and will be strongly discouraged. As such, sneaking is a fundamental skill that will need to be mastered to permit the most efficient transition between the various spaces. This is not to say that using the side arm is prohibited, but it will be up to the player to ensure that it is the most appropriate action given the circumstances. It may become a necessity for those times when the player finds themselves in a bit of a pickle, but overuse will lead to the level becoming increasingly more difficult; there will be more guards, and they will be more alert.
I attach an example case.

Here i’m walking quietly with side arm lowered and flashlight on. I’m exploring. I can see the beam of a second flashlight descending from the staircase to the upper right. Now, at this point I have a few options: engage, flee or...

...stop, make myself more inconspicuous and observe. If the guard decides to pass along the upper staircase, then all is well and I will proceed. However, if he descends, I will need to reconsider my strategy.

This time he chooses the lower staircase and is raised to an alert state as I run around the corner to take cover behind the doorway. I decide once again to wait and observe. I certainly don’t want to make any rash moves now the guard is alerted.

The guard approaches further. I draw my side arm in anticipation, but fortunately he stops short of the doorway. A few seconds pass.

As he turns away, I quietly follow him along the lower staircase as he retraces his steps back to his original position.

And I am free to move along the lower staircase to safety. I have manoeuvred myself to my objective using only restraint and patience.
Now, this is a very simple example. Not all interactions with the guards will be this simple. By heavily penalising a "gung-ho" strategy, are we going to slow the pace of the game too much?