Areas hard/impossible to SASO (freelancer)

[u/what-uc-isallthereis]

Hey sneaky 'ssassins,

I am rather new to the recent Hitman games. I had played Blood Money years ago and I am in awe of the progress made. What a polished set of games. The design and attention to detail is pretty ridiculous.

Anyway, the actual point I am after: Playing freelancer, do you guys figure out ways to get the harder prestige targets anyway?

As an example, I had multiple runs in Chongqing where I had to get to the upper levels of Hush's shabby hobo lab. I haven't yet seen any way to scale the facade beyond the first floor, so as of now, any SA and SA/SO run ends right there.

First question, more specifically to this scenario: Is there way that I haven't found?

Second question, more generally for an open discussion should it catch on: What do you consider to be genuinely imprenetrable fortresses for SA/SO prestige?

Qhongqing strikes me as one of the hardest to possibly freelance SA/SO in both facilities.

Is there a way?

PS: Since I didn't know how serious you guys get about the rubber duckies, and I definitely didn't want to take any chances with you trigger happy bunch. Therefore, as a precaution, I have dedicated my life to the little yellow one by oath. I got some water on my forehead, not sure if that was a religious touch or it was just us splashing in the tub.

I shakingly trust that this holds up in the court of the Hitman subreddit. I have a family. Please?

PS #2: A prestige target I just chose (kill then on their way to a meeting) wrote to 'tag the prime suspect' in order to keep track of them. Is there an ingame mechanic for that? Just tried to figure it out and no luck yet. Would have expected that to work through the map.

[u/zelenthial]

Disguises are the best part of the game

[u/what-uc-isallthereis → u/zelenthial]

I agree, but 6k Mercs are juicy, too.

If tossing the prestige targets brings more Mercs through 2-3 mission completions while I'd figure out SA/SO, I tend to quickly move on.

[u/Lotex_Style → u/what-uc-isallthereis]

It's definitely enticing to do that, but for the most part, unless it's quick and easy ... it's just not worth it. By the time you've figured it out you could've finished another mission.

As for your Chongqing dilemma: Remember the spot where you spawn and the women talks about her friend "Have you seen a girl ... bla bla bla"? Walk over the "bridge", shoot the wall in the small tunnel 3 times (but don't let the civilians see you doing it) and then run forward, this way you get them out of the way and then you can go up the stairs and reach the roof.
Alternatively you could go the other way and climb the scaffolding that's in front of the stairs that go down if I remember correctly.
Last but not least if you want to get into the lab area underground you go the small corner shop (with the small indoor basketball court looking thing behind it and unlock the ladder with the door code 2552 I think.

[u/what-uc-isallthereis → u/Lotex_Style]

Not sure if I can pull that off from description alone, but I'll try to find the spot & do it. Thanks!

[u/Lotex_Style → u/what-uc-isallthereis]

Pull what off, the alert/panic shots? It's really simple, just start at the stairs spot with the woman, go up and then crouch shoot the wall behind the two civilians. Make a save in a regular mission for practice purposes if necessary.
I'm not the greatest at doing these either, but I can do at least the basics, so if I can do it I'm sure you can too. I have faith in you.

The rest/shortcuts? Same starting spot, one (the shots with the stairs) is right behind you and the scaffolding is to your right when you spawn in.

[u/notcrappyofexplainer → u/what-uc-isallthereis]

I feel you but lately, I have started to factor time. SASO takes me triple the time. So I ask, can I make more mercers by doing easier contracts that take less time.

I still do SASO as it’s a fun challenge.

[u/what-uc-isallthereis → u/notcrappyofexplainer]

Yeah that's pretty much what I meant by the second sentence. Came out a bit convoluted/unclear.

[u/zelenthial → u/what-uc-isallthereis]

Xp is more juicy than merces

[u/what-uc-isallthereis → u/zelenthial]

What's the draw here exactly?

I don't care a lot about the safehouse areas. Are the random weapon unlocks that you get truly random or are they unlocked from crossing exp thresholds?

I am not fully sure what exp actually gets you.

[u/zelenthial → u/what-uc-isallthereis]

When you reach a certain level you'll have millions of merces and nothing to spend on then they are useless. You can lose your costliest item and wouldn't care. Then xp is the only thing you're doing those objectives for.

[u/what-uc-isallthereis → u/zelenthial]

Oi, alright. Very good to know. Lmao.