Choosing how to eliminate the High Overseer Campbell | Mission 2 - High Overseer Campbell Dishonored Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

Variant 1) First of all you may allow the High Overseer Campbell to poison captain Curnow. In order to do that, you do not need to do anything, and only hide somewhere, e.g. behind big roller-blind, behind a window or inside the ventilation shaft. There are two downsides to this approach, though. First of all you will fail the side quest given to you by Callista (save Curnow). Secondly, Campbell will order blockade, and this will lead to windows being shut and patrols being reinforced.

If you can't deal with Campbell right away, you need to follow him to his secret room (see the subsection Explore the High Overseer Campbell's Office to learn more about the room). You then have to take the decision about whether to kill him or just render unconscious.

Variant 2) Another possible variant is to switch poison to Campbell's side so that Campbell drinks the poison. To do that, you would have to approach the two glasses on the table, interact with it, and choose the corresponding option from the list.

This solution, however, is not without a flaw either. After Campbell dies, captain Curnow will be charged with killing him and in the ensuing fight, you will have to protect him if you don't want him dead. What is even more, a blockade will be introduced in the entire building (shut windows, more patrols), which will make escaping even more difficult.

Variant 3) The third one of the described variants is quite a radical solution. It assumes poisoning both Campbell and Curnow. To do this, you would have to interact with the glasses and choose the second option.

I guess I do not need to write much about how flawed this approach is. Not only will you fail the quest from Callista, but also you won't have the possibility to perform the side quest connected with excommunicating Campbell.

Variant 4) In my opinion. This is the best solution. It assumes making both participants leave the chamber. To do that, approach the glasses on the table and break them (the third option on the list)

Wait for both of them to enter the room. The Overseer will be dissatisfied with the failed attempt to poison Curnow, but he won't give up and invite the captain to his chamber. Follow them and, analogously to variant 1, you need to reach the secret room located in the building's basement. It's a good idea to eliminate some guards earlier in the game in order not to have toworry about them later on.

Enter the room carefully and hide behind some curtain. Wait for Curnow to turn his back at Campbell. The Overseer will start to make preparations for dealing a deadly blow with his sword. This is the best moment to kill him or (a better option) chore him. (e.g. by getting him from behind) or shoot him with a sleeping bolt. Curnow will thank you for saving his life and leave.

New Main Quest: Meet Samuel the Boatman in the Overseer back yard

New Optional Quest: Inform Callista that Captain Curnow has survived the plot against him

New Optional Quest: Take Campbell's unconscious body to the chair in the interrogation room

Summary: Regardless of your approach, you need to loot the Overseer's body to obtain his blackmail journal. You should additionally check out the meeting chamber adjacent chamber. You may find there gold, Pieroas spiritual remedz, a plate and a rune. If Campbell is dead, you may now jump to the subsection Reach the Yard. If not, keep reading on.

Excomunicating Campbell: You may decide to excommunicate Campbell only after you've rendered him unconscious and not murdered or poisoned him. Lift the Overseer's body and go to the Interrogation Room in the eastern wing of the building on the first floor. Approach the chair to put Campbell in it.

New Optional Quest: Find the Heretic's Brand in the interrogation room

New Optional Quest: Use the Heretic's Brand on High Overseer Campbell

You now need to obtain the tool Heretics Brand from the control room above (if you have obtained it earlier, you need to use it). Access to the room is blocked by a locked door, so you need to use the interrogation room key that can be stolen from guards patrolling the nearby corridors. Collect Heretic's Brand, and return to the Overseer with it. Use the tool on Campbell, to excommunicate him and keep him alive at the same time.