How I used no sneak at all to beat the Thieves Guild quests.

[llloyd]

This isn't going to be a be all, end all, guide. I am sure there will be other, more experienced players, who'll chip in and go "OMGerd! You could have done it this way!" In my current run I am playing a Nord warrioress who specializes in heavy armor and two handed weapons. So I though I'd give a 'no sneak' a try. And, surprisingly, it works.

 

 

 

A Chance Arrangement

 

Initial joining. There are two ways about this. One, just get caught, Brynjolf will still let you join. Two, after telling Bryjolf that your are ready and he starts the distraction, run off for a bit then return. Again, even though you failed the quest Brynjolf will still let you join.

 

Taking Care of Business

Easy, peasy. In any order, run into The Pawned Prawn and (power) attack Bersi's vase until it breaks then he'll cough up the money he owes then run into Haelga's Bunk House, steal the Dibella statue that is on the other side of the wall to your right just as you enter, then tell Haelga you'll toss it down a well. She'll cough up the money she owes. With those two done first in any order, Keerava at The Bee and Barb is practically soiling herself and will give up what she owes without a fight.

 

Loud and Clear

Goldenglow Estates, simple in concept. Just rampage though the place and kill every mercenary you meet. Just leave Aringoth alive.

 

Dampened Spirits

Same as the previous quest, after you talk to Mallus in the Bannered Mare. Head over to Honningbrew Meadery outside of Whiterun and offer to help Sabjorn. Then go rampaging though the caves under Honningbrew, toss poison into the nest and then, in the room after ( the brewing vats room) , toss poison into the indicated vat, exit. Return to Sabjorn, ask for your pay, accept having to wait, and watch the fun.

 

Scoundrel's Folly

After you talk to Gulum-Ei, get his case of Firebrand Wine (It's in a very accessible area of the Blue Palace. Run in, grab, run out.) , talk to him again, then trail him to the East Empire Company Warehouse. When no one is looking pick the lock and then go rampaging though the place. The are just mercenaries, not city guards, no bounties. Just don't steal anything while Gulum-Ei is watching or you will get a bounty. Same when you enter Brinewater Grotto, they are bandits, just go nuts and clear out the bandit scum. Just leave Gulum-Ei alive.

 

Speaking with Silence.

Snow Veil Sanctum is a Nordic tomb, do what you do best against the hoards of drauger. :D

 

Hard Answers

After talking to Enthir in Winterhold, head to Markarth. First, befriend Calcemo, go kill Nihme for him. This'll let you get into the Dwemer Museum with his blessing. So you can get though that without any fighting. Calcemo's Lab, be prepared. You'll meet the only two city guards in the entire place. They're going to try and arrest you for a 5 gold bounty. Resist, murder them, the 5 gold bounty will vanish as the last witness has been killed. Then go nuts on the place, the rest are just normal guards, not city guards, so no bounties. I didn't even get a bounty for killing Calcemo's nephew.

 

The Pursuit

Riftweld Manor, easy, they are all bandits, so have fun killing the bandit scum. :D

Trinity Restored

It's on a linear rail, you don't need me to tell you what to do. :D

 

Blindsighted

IIrkngthand are Dwemer Ruins, you know what to do in those, go clean up the bandit scum outside and have fun killing the usual lot of Falmer and Dwemer bots and at the end go and skewer Mercer.

 

Darkness Returns

Twilight Sepulcher, it's another Nordic Ruins like area. Go nuts killing the ghosts. The first trial is a room with light and dark areas. Remember, Nocturnal is the Mistress of Shadow, follow the path though the dark areas and avoid the light at all costs. Stepping into the light will cause massive amounts of scripted damage. Second trial is, again, shadows. Behind both sconces, one on the left and one on the right, are two pull chains. Pull them and the lights go out, Noctural's alter is plunged into darkness, door opens. After that is just more ghosts and traps. When you get to the room with a deep pit, hop on down, look down, wait patiently. Eventually things will happen. Go talk to Nocturnal and Karliah.

 

Yay! Your done with the main quests. Once you get 5 jobs plus the special jobs from Delvin for Whiterun, Windhelm, Markarth, and Solitude then you can complete Under New Management and become the new Guildmaster.

 

Small jobs

Vex

 

The Burglary Job

The Heist Job

The Shill Job

The Sweep Job

 

Pretty much the strategy is to wait until day. During the day the house / business will be open allowing you mostly free access or, if it's locked, the home owner will be away either in the market selling or doing their day scripted events. Just make sure no one is looking before you pick the lock and break in. If the house / business is open then just take care no one is looking before you go grabbing things / opening chests to put stolen things into ( for The Shill Job) .

 

Delvin

 

The Numbers Job

 

The easiest I've found is simple. Save, then run straight to the books, quickly click on it and run out before the shopkeeper has had a chance to follow you. Only person I can see being a problem would be Elrindir at The Drunken Huntsman in Whiterun. I swear that guy knows a teleportation spell. One second he's not there then * poof! * he's right next to you. O.o

 

The Bedlam Job

 

Do this paired with Vex's "The Sweep Job" , the 3 items stolen for that count toward the total stolen in the Hold, so by the time you get all 3 items both jobs will tick off as done.

 

The Fishing Job

 

Don't do. It's pick pocketing, stick to the other 6 jobs and ignore this one.

 

Special Jobs

 

Imitation Amnesty (Whiterun)

Easy peasy. You should be Thane of Whiterun by the time you do it, it's automatic after finding out your the Dragonborn. As Thane your allowed into the back areas of Dragonsreach without trespassing. Walk in, when no one is looking click on the book, walk up the stairs and into the Jarl's office, grab the letter, walk out, done. Jarl Bulgruf's kids might be a problem, if they spot you they are the only ones who'll warn you to leave, otherwise the guards don't care.

 

Summerset Shadows (Windhelm)

Just go nuts and wipe out all the Summerset Shadows, nothing special.

 

Silver Lining (Markarth)

Again, just go nuts wiping out the bandits, nothing special

 

The Dainty Sload (Solitude)

What I did was run past everyone, quickly tossed the Balmora Blue into the chest, got the quest update, * then* I dealt with all the sailors who were hot for my blood. Erikur didn't have any issues with me killing off the crew.

 

 

 

[Evangela]

Basically kill all the things with total disregard for all life and with reckless abandon.

 

:D

[llloyd]

Basically kill all the things with total disregard for all life and with reckless abandon.

 

:D

Like any true Nord warrior. :D Though you do need to keep some people alive. It's about how I did the Mage Guild with almost no magic. Some magic is required so it's not purely no magic. Game forces you to cast a spell at the beginning, the ward spell for Tolfdir, a destruct spell at the wall in Sarthal, and Magnus' staff during the final fight. Otherwise just go nuts and rampage. :D Just found it funny that a guild dedicated to stealth can be done with zero stealth. Here I am clanking around in heavy armor in someone's house and as it's day time they don't care. :D Oh, you need help with those Gray Manes? Let me take care of that after I steal this vase, model ship, and tankard. :D