Going Old School - Classic Bond Reference Mission
A nostalgic mission referencing classic Bond films through its design and setting. Navigate a traditional manor house using period-appropriate methods and gadgets in this shorter 17-minute experience.
Contents
Mission Overview
Going Old School is a unique mission that strips away the high-tech gadgets and modern surveillance tools you have come to rely on, forcing you to complete an operation using only traditional espionage methods from the Cold War era. Set in a historic English country manor in Kent, this 20-25 minute mission challenges you to infiltrate, investigate, and extract intelligence using only lockpicking, social engineering, physical stealth, and old-fashioned observation. No Q Lens hacking, no gadget shortcuts — just pure tradecraft as it was practiced before digital technology transformed espionage.
The target is Sir Reginald Ashworth, a retired MI6 section chief from the 1970s who now lives in secluded retirement at his family estate. Intelligence suggests Ashworth maintained contact with former assets who may now be connected to Phoenix, and his personal archives could contain operational records linking historical intelligence failures to current conspiracy elements. The mission requires earning Ashworth's trust through demonstrated competence while secretly accessing files he would never willingly surrender to active service personnel.
Key Objectives
Mission objectives:
- Arrive at Ashworth Manor and establish contact with Sir Reginald — He expects a visitor but does not know your true identity or affiliation.
- Navigate the manor using only traditional methods — No electronic aids allowed. Locks must be picked manually, guards avoided through timing and observation, and information extracted through conversation rather than hacking.
- Locate and copy Ashworth's personal archive files — His study contains decades of operational notes that may contain Phoenix-relevant information.
- Maintain cover throughout the visit — Ashworth is perceptive; suspicious behavior ends the mission prematurely with failed extraction.
Old School Spy Methods
This mission disables most of your standard toolkit. The Q Lens remains equipped but its electronic functions (hacking, analysis, tagging) are non-functional due to signal jamming equipment Ashworth maintains as paranoid security against modern surveillance. What remains available: basic visual observation mode (manual enemy highlighting within line of sight), the dagger shoe (mechanical device, not electronic), and all conventional movement abilities. Everything else — tranquilizers, EMP devices, audio decoys — is locked out for this operation.
No-gadget bluff approach
Available methods:
- Manual Lockpicking — Every mechanical lock in the manor uses traditional pin-tumbler mechanisms pickable via a tension/rotation mini-game. More complex locks have more pins requiring longer picking times (up to 15 seconds for high-security doors). Failed attempts damage picks; you carry 5 spares.
- Social Engineering — Conversation with Ashworth and his staff provides information that electronics normally would. Pay attention to dialogue cues, ask follow-up questions, and read body language to identify when subjects are withholding information.
- Physical Stealth — Without Instinct vision to see through walls, you must rely on corner peeking, shadow observation, and sound-based enemy detection. Listen for footsteps, door sounds, and conversation to map guard positions without visual confirmation.
- Environmental Manipulation — Classic spy tricks remain effective: knocking on surfaces to draw guards away, using mirrors around corners for visibility checks, and creating distractions with physical objects rather than electronic gadgets.
Manor Environment
Ashworth Manor is a genuine 18th-century country house with original architectural features preserved through generations of the Ashworth family. The ground floor includes entrance hall, drawing room, library, dining room, and Ashworth's personal study (primary target). The upper floor contains bedrooms, guest rooms, and a gallery of family portraits. The basement houses wine cellars, servant quarters (now largely empty), and a sealed archive room where Ashworth stores sensitive materials.
Security consists of two retired military servants who act as groundskeeper and housekeeper respectively. Both are observant, loyal to Ashworth, and will report any suspicious behavior immediately. They follow predictable daily routines: the housekeeper cleans specific rooms between 9-11 AM and 2-4 PM, while the groundskeeper maintains exterior areas during daylight hours. Between these windows, certain areas become accessible if you time movements correctly.
Stealth Approach Tips
Without electronic reconnaissance tools, patience becomes your primary asset. Spend the first 10-15 minutes simply observing — note staff positions, learn patrol patterns (even informal ones), and identify which rooms Ashworth frequents at different times. The manor operates on a rhythm; disrupting that rhythm attracts attention. Move with the house's natural flow rather than against it.
The study access window occurs between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM when Ashworth takes his daily walk through the garden grounds accompanied by the groundskeeper. During this hour, the study is empty and unlocked (Ashworth trusts his staff completely). This is your only reliable opportunity to access the archive files without forcing entry. If you miss this window, you must attempt a nighttime infiltration which carries significantly higher risk as both staff members sleep lightly and Ashworth keeps a loaded firearm in his bedside table.
Combat Tips
Combat should be avoided entirely if possible — the mission penalizes any confrontation with both staff members. If absolutely necessary, the dagger shoe provides silent non-lethal options, but remember that unconscious bodies must be hidden effectively since there is no electronic system to help you track discovery timers. Traditional hiding spots work best: inside large furniture (wardrobes, cabinets), behind heavy curtains, or in outdoor vegetation beyond normal search areas.
If discovered by Ashworth himself, the mission enters a unique dialogue confrontation where your words determine the outcome. Choose responses that demonstrate respect for his service history, acknowledge the complexity of his position, and avoid threatening language. A successful conversation can grant voluntary access to the archives; a failed one results in expulsion from the property and mission failure. The correct approach varies based on earlier dialogue choices — pay attention to what Ashworth values and tailor your arguments accordingly.
Collectibles Locations
This mission contains 3 collectibles reflecting its old-school theme:
Collectible locations:
- Legacy Item (Cold War Era Radio) — Located in the library, inside a hollowed-out encyclopedia volume on the reference shelf. A vintage shortwave radio used by Ashworth during his Berlin operations in the 1970s.
- Intel Document — Found in the archive room alongside the target files. Contains Ashworth's personal assessment of Phoenix precursor organizations dating back to the 1980s.
- Postcard — In the drawing room, displayed among other postcards on the mantelpiece. Shows Ashworth Manor as it appeared in 1920, before modern additions were constructed.
Challenge Tips
Available challenges:
- Traditionalist — Complete the entire mission without being detected by anyone
- Lockmaster — Pick every lockable container in the manor (over 15 locks total)
- Conversationalist — Unlock all dialogue branches with Ashworth and both staff members
- Archivist — Find and copy all archive documents including optional background files
- Speed Tradecraft — Complete all objectives in under 18 minutes
- No Tools Used — Complete objectives without using the dagger shoe (pure stealth only)
- Completionist — All challenges, all collectibles
Ashworth responds positively to mentions of shared contacts from his era. During conversation, name-dropping figures like "Sir James Molony" or referencing the "SIS restructuring of 1983" builds rapport even if these references are fabricated. The game rewards showing knowledge of intelligence history regardless of accuracy.
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