Difficulty Settings and New Game+

Difficulty Settings and New Game+

Welcome, aspiring Conductors! Whether you're a seasoned veteran of the Ministry or a fresh face ready to enforce the State's will, understanding Beholder: Conductor's difficulty settings and the nuances of New Game+ is crucial for maximizing your efficiency and uncovering every dark secret the apartment building holds. This section will guide you through each option, offering actionable strategies to thrive.

Standard Difficulty

The default experience, Standard Difficulty, offers a balanced challenge for players new to the Beholder universe or those who prefer a more forgiving introduction to the intricate web of surveillance and moral dilemmas. Here's what to expect and how to best navigate it:

• Initial Funds: You begin with 2000 Ministry Credits. This is sufficient for essential upgrades and initial bribes, but careful budgeting is still advised.
• Tenant Patience: Tenants on Standard Difficulty are moderately patient. You have a reasonable window to complete tasks and gather evidence before they become suspicious or outright hostile.
• Ministry Demands: Ministry directives arrive at a steady pace, allowing ample time to fulfill them without feeling overwhelmed. Critical tasks, such as installing the "Aural Monitor 3000" in Apartment 1B or the "Optical Surveillance Lens" in Apartment 2A, will have clear deadlines.
• Consequence Severity: Mistakes, while impactful, are not immediately catastrophic. You'll have opportunities to recover from minor slip-ups, such as a tenant catching you pickpocketing their "Family Heirloom Watch", through apologies or small bribes.

Standard Difficulty Strategy:

Focus on establishing a stable income early. Prioritize tasks that reward Ministry Credits, like reporting minor infractions (e.g., a tenant possessing "Forbidden Literature") or completing simple Ministry requests. Invest in the "Basic Lockpick Set" from the Black Market Dealer (found near the alleyway entrance) as soon as possible to gain access to apartments for surveillance without immediate suspicion.

Hard Mode

For those who crave a more demanding experience, Hard Mode significantly ratchets up the pressure. Every decision carries more weight, and resources are scarcer. This mode is recommended for players who have completed the game at least once and are familiar with its mechanics.

• Initial Funds: You start with a meager 500 Ministry Credits. This forces immediate and strategic financial planning. Every bribe, every item purchased, must be carefully considered.
• Tenant Patience: Tenants are far less tolerant of your intrusions. Lingering too long in their apartments or failing to complete tasks promptly will quickly escalate their suspicion. The "Suspicion Meter" fills much faster.
• Ministry Demands: Ministry directives are more frequent and often come with tighter deadlines. Expect to juggle multiple urgent tasks simultaneously, such as installing the "Advanced Audio Bug" in Apartment 3C while also needing to find evidence of "Counter-Revolutionary Activities" in Apartment 4B.
• Consequence Severity: Mistakes are severely punished. Being caught planting a "Banned Propaganda Leaflet" could lead to immediate termination or even imprisonment. Bribes are more expensive and less effective.

Hard Mode Strategy:

Efficiency is paramount. Prioritize high-reward tasks and avoid unnecessary risks. The "Master Lockpick Set" (available from the Black Market Dealer for 1500 Ministry Credits) becomes almost essential for quick entry and exit. Consider specializing in a particular type of surveillance early on, such as gathering incriminating items, to maximize your returns. Exploiting tenant weaknesses and leveraging their personal connections (e.g., using information about "Tenant A's gambling debts" to coerce them) is more critical than ever.

New Game+

Upon successfully completing the main story of Beholder: Conductor, you unlock New Game+. This mode allows you to replay the game with certain advantages carried over from your previous playthrough, offering a fresh perspective and the opportunity to explore different narrative paths or achieve perfect outcomes.

• Carried Over Items:
  • All blueprints for apartment upgrades (e.g., "Advanced Surveillance Camera Blueprint," "Hidden Compartment Blueprint").
  • Any purchased permanent upgrades for your personal apartment (e.g., "Ministry-Approved Coffee Machine," "Reinforced Safe").
  • A portion of your accumulated Ministry Credits (typically 50% of your final balance, capped at 5000 Ministry Credits).
  • All unlocked character profiles in your "Tenant Dossier", including their known traits and weaknesses.
• New Game+ Exclusive Content:
  • "The Overseer's Journal": A new collectible item scattered throughout the building. Collecting all entries unlocks a secret ending or a unique cosmetic item for your apartment.
  • "Elite Ministry Directives": A series of challenging, optional quests with higher rewards and more complex objectives, often involving multiple tenants or requiring specific item combinations (e.g., using the "Chemical Analysis Kit" on a suspicious substance found in the basement).
  • Access to the "Black Market Archives": A new vendor located in the abandoned boiler room (accessible after completing the first three Ministry Directives), offering rare and powerful surveillance tools like the "Universal Keycard Duplicator" or the "Cognitive Interrogator Device".

New Game+ Strategy:

New Game+ is the perfect opportunity to experiment. With blueprints and some funds carried over, you can focus on optimizing your surveillance setup from day one. Try to achieve all possible endings, or attempt a "no-kill" run if you previously relied on more drastic measures. The "Elite Ministry Directives" are excellent for earning significant Ministry Credits and unlocking the most powerful tools. actively search for entries of "The Overseer's Journal" in unexpected places, such as behind loose bricks in the laundry room or tucked away in the attic's forgotten corners.