Prod Thief template and newbie questions

[YellowStarS2k]

I just built a thief, not even old enough to join the thief's guild.

Looking for some template help.
So far this is what I have so far (off the top of my head)
97 Stealing
100 Snooping
90 Stealthing
98 Hiding
115 Ninjitsu
50 Magery
50 Fencing
So, right now I'm right around 600 skill points with a cap of 720.

I'm thinking about:
GM stealing
GM snooping
GM stealthing
GM hiding
120 ninjitsu
xx magery
100 fencing
Poisoning?

1. I'm not sure if I need/want poisoning. I guess if I do, it'll only be for PKing weak people right?
2. Not sure how I could fit all of these skills onto this character, or if any of these need to be changed.
3. How do you guys usually escape the victim? steal, animal form, hide? Is that the best method? What if they're casting or shooting arrows at you?
4. Is it possible to run while stealthing? I've found that when I run out of steps to steal while running, I won't re-stealth.
5. Is there a certain skill point to where I won't ever fail on x amount of stones? If so, should I raise stealing to 120 to minimize any chance of fail?
6. I've read that Shadowjump is visible to other players. Is this true? I've also read that lots of people Shadowjump next to their marks before stealing. Wouldn't the mark see the Shadowjump animation?
Thanks!

 

[RichDC]

Im not gna lay down skills for you theres too many effective combinations to choose from (i myself have gone wrestle/alchemy)

But what i will advise is 2 things.

1) keep skills as low as you can (still staying at required levels...max out on +skill items i mean with this )

2) Remeber...unless you really want to fight the mark, you need to be able to heal on the run and in animal form (that means no chiv/bush/magery). Bushido can heal you on the run but you cant cast in animal form. If you stop they catch up with there spells/arrows...if you dont stop eventually they have to slow down (if even for 1/2 a second) thats enough to get the 8tile or so distance to activate hiding.

Oh...a small 3rd thing...remember you cannot steal with items in your hands.

So, Whats that all mean.

Well, you have your basic template core skills:

Stealing (110/120 up to you i prefer 110)
Snooping (must be GM)
*Hiding(must be GM)
*Stealth (GM or higher)
*Ninja

*)these arent actually necassary you could play the temp differently it just aids in escape and evasion.

Past that, pick what you prefer...try to pick a defensive skill and a healing skill but play around see what you feel comfortable with and Happy Hunting

(if human...120 anatomy and healing offers you theoretical 70 defensive weapon skill)


Edit: Yes shadow jump can be seen, they know were you left from but not where your going...i personally dont like using unless im already discovered.

 

[RichDC]

In answer to some of you other questions,

Kinda can run while stealthed (about 6steps) then you need to walk to re-initiate the stealth.

A good rough guide to success rate of steals is that stealing/10 = max possible steal (so 12 stones at 120). generally 8-9stone items you will succeed on at 110 (its what i run with).

Poisoning is nice, but i believe unnessacery(sorry i cant spell ) as a ninja you have shurikens and fukiya darts which do the same thing...and from a distance.

 

[ohmyGED]

4. Is it possible to run while stealthing? I've found that when I run out of steps to steal while running, I won't re-stealth. QUOTE]


My recommendation, and what I do on my template is that I just have a default that allows me to go into llama form...this allows your to stealth at much quicker pace than normally walking without the fear of revealing when attempting to run and re-stealth.

 

[Shinobi]

Ok check it out. I came up with a quick temp for you. I ditched magery, because one of the skills wouldn't fit, and magery doesn't seem necessary for the temp you're going for (and as far as recalling, runebooks allow anyone to have a 99% success rate of recalling). I added tactics so that you can use weapon skills such as shadow strike (which is great for getting away from dexers).

First off, here are the boost items you will need:

Shadow dancer leggings

Burglar's bandana

+15 Stealing ring (try to find one with ninjitsu bonuses also to add extra skill)

Bracelet of Health


The real skill temp you need to aim for is:

75 Stealing
70 Stealth
90 Snooping
100 Hiding
105 Ninjitsu
100 Fencing
99.9 Tactics
80.1 Poisoning


With the items on, that will boost your temp to:

120 Stealing
100 Snooping
100 Stealth
100 Hiding
105 Ninjitsu (more with bonuses on ring)
100 Fencing
99.9 Tactics
80.1 Poisoning

The point of 80.1 Poisoning is that you will deal deadly poison everytime, with an 80.1% chance of dealing lethal poison.

The brace of health will give you 10 HP Regen. The remaining armor pieces you need to find (gloves, sleeves, gorget, tunic, talisman, apron) should be medable with max hp regen (which I believe on normal armor pieces is 2 HP Regen). The only talisman and apron for this is Totem of the Void and Crimson Cincture. They aren't necessary but hey, the more regen the better.

And that's about it. Regen may not be the best form of healing...but it will keep you alive long enough to escape.

 

[Viper09]

Here's my temp:
Stealing GM (120 with leggings)
Snooping GM
Hiding GM
Stealth 80 (GM with legings)
Fencing GM
Poisoning 70
Ninja 70 (80 with jewel)
Detect GM

I use Brace of Health with Totem of Void. Great Regen and it helps since I have no healing skills. Go into Cat/Dog form and you can sit back and watch that health fill itself up (one day I will get myself a Crimson)

I like detect since i can track players and reveal anyone. Helps for those targets that have hiding. Poisoning is very nice. One day I will drop detect and raise poisoning and get tactics. But right now I love this temp

 

[Touzoko]

you can run with stealth, but only half the steps you can take while walking, and when you reach end, revealed you are.

 

[Viper09]

Oh, and the best thing about using fencing on a stealth thief is shadow strike. You can literally steal and hide immediately with it. Steal, arm weapon, attack with shadow strike and stealth away.

 

[RichDC]

But you dont need tactics for shadow strike, 80 stealth and 80 weapon skill is all that is required.

you do need tactics to use infectious strike.

See, the thing with thief templates is its all personal play style preference. I prefer to be soley defensive, i can bite if im forced into a corner but 9/10 i wont need to, ill be gone before either they notice or hidden before they can do anything of major effect.

Some prefer the "thug" thief and like to force there mark to withdraw. I see this as a dangerous template, especially with the uber item dexxers you will be facing(especially archers).

My preferred tactic is to simply steal, animal form and run...and run...and run!

Occasinally i will throw ninja stars at my last target (so i can do it while moving)...very occasionally i will throw exp pots, but for the most part im trying to get the 9tiles from my target to use hiding(i forget smoke bombs alot!). I tend to use the terain to my advantage, i try not to steal in areas im unfamiliar with my escape routes. If things really get desperate i always carry invis items with me so i can put them on(earrings for the most part) and activate stealth skil...then shadow jump away(that way you dont risk being revealed as you move to get in stealth).

 

[AaronTheAssassin]

What Shinobi describes is basicly my templete, cept I opted for focus vice Tactics (Currently trying tactics out so im dropping focus) It is a solid templete if you understand your a thief and not a fighter.

 

[Arch Magus]

But you dont need tactics for shadow strike, 80 stealth and 80 weapon skill is all that is required.

you do need tactics to use infectious strike.

Wrong info. You do NOT need Tactics for infectious strike or shadow strike.

 

[Arch Magus]

To the OP.

This template is loads of fun (i've been playing this guy on and off for about 2 years).

100 Hiding
100+ Stealth
100 Snooping
70+ Stealing
115 Fencing
100+ Ninjitsu
80+ Magery
Rest in Med and Focus

Suit jewlery...
Ornament of Magi-
1/3 Ring with 10 Ninjitsu- 3/6 casting for animal forms and fast mage spells.

Rest of suit.
Voice of the Fallen King
Keeonean's Chainmail
LRC sleeves with high resists
Burglar's bandana
Shadow dancer's legs
Stitcher's mittens

All these pieces are fairly cheap, excluding Orny, and can really beast out a great thief suit.

10+ health regen
5+ stamina regen
60's resists
50 LRC (just carry a small handful of regs, 10-20 of each is usually enough for days)

Template design:

No pots. \
Only a couple apples, petals, maybe a box.
I always carry my insured Invisibility charged boots. (<<best tool of the trade ever!)
Wolf form for 20 extra HP.
Utilize your mage spells Invis, Cure, Heal, Teleport, etc.

Good luck, I hope you have lots of fun on your thief. tis a blast

 

[YellowStarS2k]

My characters are all very poor (3 mil and 1x 70s 100LRC suit shared across 3 characters), so I think I'm going to forgo the equipment for the time being. Thanks for all the help. I think I'm going to go for no magery and add poison and tactics for a goal.