Re: Thieves Part II - How to get started & Deal w/ the Party From: somersmw@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Matthew Somers) Date: Thu, 21 Feb 1991 21:42:09 +0000 Okay, to start out I'd like to say that I am very pleased with the amount of people that responded to Thieves - the Misunderstood. When I first started playing D&D about 8 years ago, I was into power. So I played a fighter, After all, when you are in sixth grade what's more powerful than a heavily muscled guy that carries a two-handed sword and kills goblins with a mere flick of the wrist? I enjoyed playing the fighter... for about six months. I mean after you've killed 40 goblins, the other 50 seem pretty dull. Thus, my fighter's career ended abruptly as I flamed his character sheet. And much to my suprise, I didn't hear any screaming from it. Soon after I destroyed my warrior, I started playing AD&D. As you know, the abilities of a MU are greatly enhanced. So, I said 'hey, if I play a mage I'll be able to cast spells! Cooooollll!!!'. My first magic using charcter was played the following session. This went much better than playing a fighter. I found that through the use of spells, I could define my character's personality a little better. So, I played several different MU's a couple of clerics, a ranger here and there, but never a thief! I avoided playing that class as long as I could. But alas, I couldn't avoid my destiny. To play a thief for rest of my life. After being forced to play a thief, I found that it was quite an intriguing(sp) class. I won't go into why I find the class so much to my liking right now, but it was. It was the class of my dreams. The thief I was forced to play was pregenerated, so I quickly whipped out my trusty Player's Guide and set about creating my ultimate character. I thought that I had succeeded. My anticipation at the next session was immense. I was ready to be a master thief. I had already planned how I was going to take over the guild. Much to my dismay however, things did not go as planned. An impetuous comment made by the party's leader/fighter caused an altercation between us and the local hobgoblin horde. (Long story) Anyway, my thief was totally destroyed. (He had -13 out of 4 h.p.) I learned something that day. One thing was that I hated Fighters, and the other was that I would have be extremely creative when creating and outfitting my next Thief. Yes, that's right. The next one. I was determined to fulfill my destiny and become GUILDMASTER. I went back home and studied the Player's Handbook & DM Guide for something to help me out. These are the things that I did to help my character out.: 1.) I bought the cheapest weapons & armor that I could get. This allowed me extra money to hire a bodyguard to watch my back and protect me. 2.) I DID NOT enter melee. Equiped with my handy-dandy sling I proceeded to whiz rocks from a distance. Thus, not in- curing very much damage. 3.) I walked in the very center of the party. Unless somebody dropped a rock from a roc(ha, ha) I would be safe. 4.) I used poison and backstab as much as possible if I was forced into melee. 5.) I was alwas square with the party. I never tried to pick their pockets or keep money I found hidden. I also tried to be as much of an obsequious lackey as I could be to the fighters. It made them feel important and a little protective of me. 6.) I ran from major fights. I hope this helps out somebody that wants to play a thief. Please E-Mail me any comments about my article. "There is no honor among thieves. -- Bullshit!!" Quote from Matthew Somers Matthew Somers somersmw@sage.cc.purdue.edu the thief lover Referenced By Up