Hint List

As this is a competition entry, I as the author can't really respond to requests for help in the forums as this could give my identity away and spoils things for other people a bit, but I do want people to enjoy this mission and I don't want people getting too stuck.
So I've anticipated a few of the queries that I think may arise and answered them here, try not to use these hints unless you really have to

One thing I will tell you, all the frobbable doors, openable gates and portcullisses (.... portculli ? whatever) have keys but most of them can be picked open, the few that can't you'll need the key I've tried not to turn this into a keyhunt so the keys are in sensible places but how accessible they are depends on how good you are.

hint system based on the spoiler system from http://www.ttlg.com

Location of Blackjack

vague - *yawn* You can't use the one left on the roof you fell off
not so vague - It lies dormant quite near where you started
blatant - It is in the gatehouse next to the sleeping nightwatchman, see "*yawn*" and "dormant" were clues
A secret

vague - It's near where you start
not so vague - There is more to Mr Tulip than ropes, crates and barrels
blatant - There is a secret room in the bathroom/basement of the shop thats worth a look
Getting into the mansion on Expert

vague - There is only one way and you need to swim, sorry I was in a hurry and didn't have time to provide an alternative
not so vague - And you'll need to put a rope arrow in place before you swim
blatant - It's through the well in the garden, which you access via the fresh water supply in front of the watch house
Getting into the mansion on Hard and Easy

vague - WELL the easy way is to swim, alternatively you can rambo in
not so vague - And you'll need to put a rope arrow in place before you swim, or pick up some weapons for ramboing
blatant - The easy way is through the well in the garden, which you access via the fresh water supply in front of the watch house, you need to put a rope arrow in the crossbeam as the original rope is broken, alternatively blow the main gates - you'll need some weapons first, kill the guards, blow the doors kill more guards, rampage through the house killing everything that moves and once you've finished jumping on the bits you can start stealing things
Weapons

vague - The equipment left on the roof is useless, but there is some lying around, just keep a watchful eye for it
not so vague - Gosh aren't the watchmen spiffy with their smart uniforms and shiny ...erm ....things that hurt when they poke you, I wonder where they got them from
blatant - There's an armoury in the watch house, *sigh* all that work on "watch" references wasted
Where to use a rope arrow

vague - The well in the garden is the easy way in to to mansion but you can't climb out as there is no rope
not so vague - You need to find a location with a good view of the garden
blatant - The attic of the art gallery looks like a good place to try, oh yeah bear in mind where the torches are in the garden when you aim, there is shadow if you hit the right area and if you don't then you'll be highly visible when you climb out
Baffords Sceptre

vague - After you stole it last time, Bafford has gone a bit paranoid and keeps it close to himself
not so vague - Check the floor by the furniture in his bedroom
blatant - The pretentious git has built himself another throne room off the south west corner of his bedroom, the dressing table moves, finding the control is left as an exercise for the user, but bear in mind Bafford will keep it close