Illarion.org

Hello, I'm a new player who, upon receiving his admission into the game, would like to play a thief. In many RPG's, thieves have nothing to do because their skills aren't combat-oriented. I've been a scout and bait so many times, it's a wonder I don't have a complex about it.

...hmmm, maybe I'll give that little flaw to my character.

Anyhoo, I was wondering how I could avoid being a pest to other players while still roleplaying a thief. My thief is a generally nice guy so he won't be setting up a one-man assassin's guild, but robbing folks won't get me in trouble will it?

I'd hate to go back to being bait again.

Robbing others will not get you in trouble.

All you have to do is attempt to snatch something from someone once in awhile. If the town guard is holding a sword at your throat, you may want to give the item back to the original owner. Don't somehow 'push' him out of the way and run off. Roleplay like any thief would. You could stalk someone and later use a #me command to take something from them.

Don't steal something from someone and have a friendly conversation with him/her afterwards. As I said before, act like a thief would.

Nah, the character I have would only steal from his enemies.

...then again, the playful nature of him, being a halfling and something of a socialite, would probably relish smiling in the face of one of his victims. As long as they didn't know it was him, of course.

Halflings adventurers are technically, contradictions anyway, I get to be rife with quirks.

Hooooraaaay!

Korr wrote: You could stalk someone and later use a #me command to take something from them.

Correction, ATTEMPT to take something from them. Forced rp not support by the client is looked down apon. Saying "#me chops off your head" is not reasonable.

"#me attempts to stick his hand in the elf's pocket and steal some coins" would be acceptable.

That is what my posting ment by 'using a #me command to take something' - I wasn't implying that the player would get anything.

Thank you for your correction though.

Good luck, with one of my chars I rarely play isa theif. One time he #me'd to conceal his weapon yet the man just pushed me, then one time some one that was encumbered just kept walking

I'm sure I'll be fine. I don't force my roleplay on others. Generally, I only roleplay things having to do with myself. I'll sing, but you don't have to listen. I'll drink, but no one has to care if I get drunk.

When I see who the good roleplayers are, I'll start intereacting with them. Attempting to pick a pocket is a good way to meet people and make friends...assuming you're a fast talker.

Ultimately, I'll have to see the theme of the game. If I can do what I want, as long as I roleplay it well, I'll have fun here. If I'm expected to only do what certain people think I should do, regardless of innovation or storytelling, that's role-work and I'll probably lose interest.

If I have to be a scout and use myself as bait just because I'm a halfling and a thief, that would be dissapointing.

Good luck...

... you'll need it! - Many players don't want to interact with you if your actions could become negative for you. And the town guards are really quick in throwing you out of town .

Most thieves don't last long, but it's the clever ones who survive.

Don't just grab something and run, that would leave too many witnesses. Also, don't steal if you think you will most likely be caught. Hang round and keep an open eye, wait for the opportunity and you'll most likely get away with it. I always got a sense of satisfaction when someone in the distance shouted, "Who took my grain?!" Hey, a man's gotta eat somethin'!

SOme thiefs are hobbits yes.....but a good thief could be any one. You just need to know when to strike.

i have readed that topic and.... im a newbie, i havent played but...
how to steal things of other people (only for curiousity)

Edited by Alatar (DB Reset)
Forum Account Compromised!

agree. a theif doesn't have to just ne a pick pocket (which almost always get chased,stabbed paralyzed or blown up ) but can just be a very smooth talker. perhaps your run a false business, have people collect items or make things for you. but you give a false name and you disappear once you have the items, many people will rp that they recognize you which can be very annoying at times but if you were to #me face is hidden in a cloak. then i doubt they should say the automatically know you. try a bunch of different approaches until you find one you like.

Yeah, my thief character kept getting blasted into the river for trying the #me attempts to take something from the man's/woman's pocket.

One of the only negative sides of trying to play a thief is that few others seem to be willing to go along with the RP . Even though they don't technically lose anything at all, every person who sees a thief RP action somehow automatically knows with keen brilliance, turns around, and beats the pickpocket senseless. I haven't seen pickpocket thieves around in a long time, and I've seen even less along the lines of "#me takes no notice" . I *might* understand if you were a keen-eared elf or something, but.....

Ah, well, that still shouldn't discourage you, though. It can always be a lot of fun sneaking about, and perhaps there are even slight chances your victim will play along in the RP.

I tried stealing something at a wedding, but somehow people managed to see me in all the excitement. And yes I mean IG. Too bad.....the topazs where SOO beautifull. Well, next time I play at weddings, I will be closer to the prizes. This was an example to show how good people's ears and eyes in the back of their heads are when they see you #me

That all sounds good, but exists there a 'steal' command?

To steal from any person without speaking?

Although the roles of "the bad guy" or "thieves" and whatnot can be quite fun, it's still kind of an iffy thing.

Characters won't want to interact with bad guys or shady fellows. Simply, because they might cause them harm. So your character won't get to interact much.

But Illarion is a game that thrives on interacting with characters. So how do you be a bad guy, do a good job, while having fun at it?

It's kind of tricky, but possible. Good luck.

The thing is, with me# commands good roleplaying is encouraged and is cerainly possible. The problem is even good roleplayers are sometimes unwilling to part with something, even if the theif is good enough to take it. If the thief is a master of his trade he should be able to strike up a conversation, grab some cash and leave without the victim even knowing. How things are at the moment mean this is not possible. Theif skills and commands are deffinatly wanted in Ilarion. At the same time enough gaurds and policing is necessary. presently I dont feel that these are available so we need to make do but for the game to realize its potentila and have realism, these skills are needed. What has supprised me is that the web site sugests they have already been included but they dont appear to be. There is no "pick pocket", there is no "hide in shadows". I know a lot of the game is set around merchant trading at the moment which is a great way to build community and a realistic setting. These people will obviously be very anti-theif but we want a world with all sorts. Im sure the team have this in mind and are moving towards a system that supports all charectors and ways of life. There is still much to be done. The problem I see is bad role playing or over roleplaying. Too many people wanting to be theives and theives stealing all the time. It would be too easy for Ilarion to mturn into diablo like this. A bunch of twelve year oldas all wanting to be bad guys and so they suddenly outway the good guys and police force. Perhaps Im being a little over the top hear. Ilarion has very good entry requirements so a diablo setting should not occur (god help us) but my point standas that these changes cannot occur until the game environment are able to keep them in context. For example, theives should be able to theive but players should be reasonably safe from them. Theives should be able to develop their skills without being hung drawn and quartered every five minutes. At the same time these skills should take time to get good at. I personally cant figure out a way to make all this work so good luck to the team and thanks for their efforts.

In the past my thief has had many people play along and drop something near him, but sometimes you get no response, and what I did was whisper them ooc that their character was being pickpocketed, and they could either drop something near me, or catch me. I find it fun.

I dropped a Topas ring one time for a little halfling to run off with one time.

I used to use a theif character, its really easy to steal from people, he made quite a few ingots and stolen a bit of beers from dwarves, you just need to be crafty.. or have a partner

My theif has had a good deal of success. It's a wonderful RP, and a big change from a warlock and my Pseudo-knight. The thing is, people seem superhuman and can FEEL you try to steal even before you do. I wish there was a way to put in a perception check, because if that were to be implemented we could rob the older character blind. Literally! But if anyone plans to make a thief, a little advice, make him smart, and a really charismatic smooth talker. If you get caught, running isn't always an option, it takes getting yourself out of it some times. And remember Ronagan's motto "You win a few, you lose a lot"

IMO, Illarion would be kind of fun if there were some kind of Mafia running around. Not just a band of thieves, but I mean, guys who go around demanding protection money, assassinate when hired, bribe the Town Guard. Something more sophisticated and complex.

I had dreams of the knock-out function leading to very well-played ransoms. Maybe even of a town guard, or high official. But I dont' know if that function is ever going to be usable. Mafia sounds awesome, everyone Praise Ronagan for the day when that'll be a reality. With all the outlaws in the woods I KNOW that it could happen.

Bloodhearte wrote:IMO, Illarion would be kind of fun if there were some kind of Mafia running around. Not just a band of thieves, but I mean, guys who go around demanding protection money, assassinate when hired, bribe the Town Guard. Something more sophisticated and complex.

I agree that it would be fun to have this kind of organisation, but it wouldn't be for the person who has to work for ages just to pay 'protection' money. I don't think the Town Guards would accept bribes in game anyway.

Don't worry Hermie, if I were to ever have a Mafioso character, I would have the peace of mind to make it fun for the victims as well as myself.

yeah I've noticed if you make people laugh, and chat them up they always drop things. You can't just run up and take something!

Well, you would need to be connected in Lyrenzia to start bribing the town guards.
(i have given this much thought)

Bloodhearte wrote:Don't worry Hermie, if I were to ever have a Mafioso character, I would have the peace of mind to make it fun for the victims as well as myself.

http://forum.illarion.org/viewtopic.php?t=1639

It's already been done.