Searching for clues in the vast vault beneath the GCPD is one of the most challenging puzzles early in Gotham Knights. But have no fear – with this comprehensive 3000 word guide, you‘ll locate the notepad, blueprint, and dictaphone in no time.
As an avid gamer and Gotham Knights expert, I‘ll walk you step-by-step through navigating the dark, trap-filled vault and finding every hidden clue. You‘ll learn exactly where to look for each item, how to deal with security drones, and strategies for searching every nook and cranny.
With my tips, you‘ll breeze through this tricky objective and continue your quest to solve the Riddler‘s deadly puzzles. So put on your detective hat, and let‘s get searching!
Overview of Gotham Knights Gameplay
For those new to the game, Gotham Knights is an open world action RPG developed by WB Games Montréal. You can play solo as Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood or Robin, or team up in 2-player co-op.
The game takes place in a stunningly realized Gotham City following Batman‘s death. With the Dark Knight gone, the Batman Family must step up to contain the outbreak of crime and corruption plaguing the streets.
A core part of the gameplay revolves around investigating crime scenes, tracking down supervillains, and uncovering clues to solve mysteries. One such mystery brings you to the vault below the GCPD crammed with clues.
Let’s break down the key things to know:
- Open World Exploration – Gotham Knights lets you freely roam the city and stumble upon crimes in progress.
- RPG Progression – You’ll level up your heroes and unlock new gear and abilities as you play.
- Co-op Integration – Play alone or team up with a friend for 2-player online co-op.
- Combat and Stealth – Each hero has their own fighting style and stealth options to approach situations.
- Detective Skills – Use high-tech tools like detective mode, analysis drones, and forensic scanners to hunt for clues.
With these core mechanics in mind, let‘s start our vault clue search walkthrough!
Finding the Vault Entrance
The GCPD vault you need to crack into is hidden below the Gotham City Police Department.
- The GCPD building is located in southern Gotham City on the map.
- Head around the building and look for a back entrance with a keypad next to it.
- Input the code “051998” on the keypad to unlock the door.
- Take the elevator inside down to basement level.
- Follow the hallway to the left once you exit to reach the evidence room.
As you explore the GCPD, be ready for some light resistance. Corrupt police may attack you on sight, so stealth or combat skills will be needed.
Once you reach the evidence room, locate the large vault door at the back. Interact with the vault door to enter the puzzle.
Searching the Cluttered Vault
The vault itself is a dark, cluttered room filled with shelves, file boxes, and old equipment. Stay alert, as security drones patrol the area and will attack if they detect you.
Your goal here is to locate 3 clues:
- A notepad
- A blueprint
- A dictaphone recording
With so much clutter, finding these well-hidden items can be tricky. I’ll provide exact locations to help you grab each one.
The vault has a maze-like layout, so be systematic and thorough in your search. I recommend clearing out the security drones first so you can investigate undisturbed. Your combat skills or stealth takedowns will help a lot.
Now, let’s go through where to find each hidden clue:
Locating the Notepad
- Head to the back left corner of the vault.
- Look to the shelves on the right side next to a portrait of Dr. Theodore Upshot.
- Investigate the shelf and you’ll find the notepad next to the portrait.
Dr. Upshot is a person of interest in your investigation, so this first clue provides a solid lead.
Finding the Blueprint
- Now go to the far wall directly opposite the vault entrance.
- Search the shelves on this back wall carefully.
- Tucked in-between some boxes, you’ll spot the blueprint rolled up and stuck to the wall.
This blueprint could provide layouts to additional villain hideouts, so is worth the effort to uncover.
Grabbing the Dictaphone
- Lastly, head to the front right section near the vault entrance.
- Check the desks and shelves in this whole area.
- Sitting on one of the desks is the dictaphone recording device.
With these three clues acquired, your objective will update to finding Dr. Upshot‘s office.
Strategies to Find the Clues Faster
Searching every inch of the vault can be tedious. Here are some tips to help locate the items faster:
- Make use of detective mode – this highlights interactive objects in the environment.
- Clear out enemies first so you can search undisturbed. Use silent takedowns if you want to remain undetected.
- Double back and re-check areas if you’re missing a clue. They blend into the messy environment.
- The clues can be collected in any order, so grab them as you explore.
- Missed a clue? Just systematically look around again. The items remain where they spawn.
With these strategies, finding all the clues will be a breeze.
Analyzing the Vault Clues
As a long-time Batman fan, analyzing clues and connecting dots is one of my favorite parts of Gotham Knights. Let’s look deeper at what these vault clues tell us:
The Notepad
- Found next to a portrait of Dr. Upshot, a known Court of Owls affiliate. He may have been one of their scientists based on records.
- Contains chemical formulas and molecular diagrams in Upshot’s handwriting.
- Formulas seem to be precursor experiments to the LOTUS virus strain engineered by the Court.
- This links Dr. Upshot to the virus’ creation and provides a solid lead in tracking down the Court.
The Blueprint
- An architectural blueprint depicting underground tunnels and rooms.
- Markings label locations like “Owl Nest” and “Roost”, hinting at Court facilities.
- Includes references to artifact storage and archives.
- Blueprint is unverified, but could help uncover Court of Owl bases across Gotham.
The Dictaphone
- Audio recording of a conversation between Dr. Upshot and an unknown woman.
- They discuss progress on an “initiation ritual” involving the LOTUS virus strains.
- Upshot implies human test subjects are ready for trials.
- Confirms Upshot’s central role in engineering the Lotus virus for the Court’s use.
Analyzing these clues starts to unveil the Court of Owl’s nefarious plans involving the LOTUS virus. This knowledge arms us with crucial intel to dismantle their operations.
Next Steps After the Vault
Collecting the full set of clues completes the vault search objective.
- This will immediately trigger the next major storyline quest to locate Dr. Upshot‘s secret office.
- Further clues discovered there will unfold more details on the Court’s plans.
- Eventually, investigations will point towards a laboratory hidden beneath Gotham.
- Infiltrating the lab and destroying LOTUS virus samples deals a massive blow to the Court.
So in summary:
- Finding all clues in the GCPD vault provides leads to Upshot‘s office.
- Investigating his office provides the lab location.
- Raiding the lab lets you destroy the virus samples.
- This stops the Court from spreading the virus further!
Exciting stuff! With the clues in hand, you‘re well on your way to dismantling the Court of Owls’ operations in Gotham Knights.
Final Tips for Vault Clue Hunting
Let’s recap the key tips for efficiently finding every clue in the vault:
- Use detective mode to highlight objects of interest.
- Take out security drones stealthily before investigating.
- Check the specific locations described for each item.
- Revisit areas thoroughly if you’re missing a clue.
- Collect clues in any order – all 3 are required to proceed.
With patience and thorough searching, you’ll locate the notepad, blueprint, and dictaphone in no time! These clues are essential to progress the Court of Owls storyline and start foiling their plans.
Thanks for reading this vault clue hunting guide! Let me know if you have any other questions hunting for clues in Gotham Knights. I’m always happy to provide gaming tips and tricks to fellow players.