Main Walkthrough

The main walkthrough of Beholder: Conductor revolves around Carl Shteyn's central dilemma: serving the totalitarian Ministry while attempting to protect his family and, potentially, some innocent tenants. There isn't a single linear path, as player choices significantly impact the narrative and available quests. The core objective is to survive and fulfill Ministry quotas, but how you achieve this is up to you.

The game progresses through a series of Ministry directives and time-sensitive events. Key narrative arcs include:

The Initial Assignment: Carl is tasked with managing Apartment Block 6 and reporting on its residents. This introduces the core mechanics of surveillance, evidence collection, and reporting.
Family Crisis: Carl's daughter, Martha, often falls ill, requiring expensive medicine. This creates a constant financial pressure, forcing Carl to make difficult choices, such as blackmailing tenants or selling illegal items.
Ministry Quotas and Laws: The Ministry frequently issues new laws and demands reports on specific individuals or types of infractions. Failing to meet these quotas can lead to penalties, including fines or even Carl's arrest.
The Resistance/Underground: As the game progresses, Carl may encounter members of an underground resistance movement. These interactions can open up alternative quest lines, offering a chance to undermine the Ministry, but also carrying significant risks.
The Final Decision: The game culminates in a major choice that determines Carl's fate and the fate of his family and potentially the entire apartment block. This often involves a direct confrontation with Ministry officials or a critical decision regarding a major resistance operation.

General Strategy for Main Quests:

Prioritize Ministry Directives: Always check your Ministry terminal for new orders. These often have strict deadlines. Failing them can lead to severe consequences.
Balance Ministry and Personal Needs: Earning money is crucial. Consider selling contraband (e.g., illegal books, foreign goods) found in tenant apartments or through side quests. Blackmail can be a quick source of income but damages tenant reputation.
Gather Information Discreetly: Use cameras and bugs. Pick locks when tenants are out or asleep. Avoid being seen. If caught, you might face fines or reputation loss.
Document Everything: When you find evidence of a crime (e.g., a prohibited item, a conversation about dissent), use your notebook to document it. This is essential for filing reports.
Make Strategic Choices: Every decision has consequences. Reporting a tenant might earn Ministry favor but could lead to their arrest or execution, impacting your conscience and potentially other quests. Helping a tenant might cost you Ministry reputation but could earn you their trust or a valuable reward.
Save Frequently: The game has multiple endings, and some choices are irreversible. Saving allows you to experiment with different approaches.

Specific quest names and detailed steps vary based on the randomized elements and player choices. For example, early quests often involve reporting the Khushnudinovs for owning foreign goods or the Danton family for anti-Ministry sentiment. Later quests might involve assisting the resistance leader, Antoine, or dealing with high-ranking Ministry officials like the Inspector.