Does killing wolfhounds count towards Dishonored?
In the popular stealth game Dishonored, players are often looking for ways to minimize the number of enemies they eliminate to achieve a higher chance of success without compromising their moral integrity. One question that has been on the minds of many players is whether killing wolfhounds counts towards the game’s chaos metric. In this article, we will dive into the world of Dishonored and explore the answer to this question.
Initial Confusion
At the beginning of the game, it may seem like the wolfhounds are completely immune to player actions, and killing them doesn’t affect the chaos system in any way. However, as players progress through the game, they may realize that the situation is not as straightforward as it appears.
Lethal Kills and Non-Lethal Kills
Before we jump into the question of killing wolfhounds, let’s clarify what constitutes lethal and non-lethal kills in Dishonored. Any kill that involves directly injuring or killing an enemy NPC, including enemies that you possess or take control of, counts towards the overall chaos score. On the other hand, non-lethal kills, such as knocking out an enemy, do not add to your chaos score.
Dogs and Their Place in the Game
Wolfhounds, also known as hounds, are fictional creatures that can be encountered in the world of Dunwall, the game’s setting. These creatures roam the streets and are sometimes used by guards to attack players. Initially, they may seem like ordinary guard dogs, but they become more significant later in the game.
The Reality Check
In the first article, an anonymous answer stated that "wolfhounds do not count" towards the chaos score, but this claim is quickly debunked in subsequent paragraphs. The wolfhounds are indeed vulnerable to harm, and their deaths or injuries can influence the gameplay and chaos system.
Chaos Mechanics
Let’s take a closer look at the chaos mechanics to understand how the game judges player actions. The player’s actions and choices create a moral and ethical burden, which directly affects their reputation and ability to sneak past enemies or take alternate paths. If the player chooses to take a brutal approach, such as cutting down enemies in a high-chaos run, they will see a considerable increase in the chaos value.
Non-Humans and Lethal Kills
Table: Non-Human Enemies: Lethal and Non-Lethal Kills
| Enemy | Lethal Kills | Non-Lethal Kills |
|---|---|---|
| Rat | X | |
| Krust | X | |
| Wolfhounds | X |
According to official game lore, non-human enemies, including rats, river krusts, and wolfhounds, do not contribute to your chaos score, regardless of whether you take them down with lethal or non-lethal means.
Proof and Confirmation
Multiple community sources, including official threads and gameplay demonstrations, demonstrate that killing wolfhounds does not contribute to your chaos score. In particular, the original article clarifies that even if wolfhounds kill your other enemies, they do not count towards the chaos sum.
Consequences
So, if killing wolfhounds does not matter in terms of chaos points, what happens when we kill them? Well, in most cases, a wolfhound’s death would not have any significant direct consequences on the gameplay narrative or the enemies’ aggression levels. Their primary goal is to pursue and deter the player from progressing towards their objectives. If these creatures are neutralized through non-lethal means (e.g., knocking out or disorienting) or killed by other non-player characters (NPCs), the environment and scenario will remain mostly unaffected.
Conclusion
In this article, we have cleared up the question of killing wolfhounds in the context of Dishonored. To recap:
Killing Wolfhounds:
• Does not count towards chaos score
• Has limited impact on the gameplay world
• Primarily aimed at deterring the player from progressing
• Most cases, has no direct consequences on gameplay narrative
• Can be neutralized through non-lethal means
By now, the answer to our initial question should be crystal clear. Killing wolfhounds might be a temporary distraction in the game world, but it does not contribute to your overall chaos score in Dishonored. So, feel free to take out your frustrations and eliminate those wolfhounds without worrying about the ethics of your gameplay choices.