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Thieves gameplay is not quite as straightforward as a Mages or Warriors who go into battle and simply throw fireballs or lunge at their enemy. A Thief sometimes needs a little more setup or planning before combat.
[[Thief]] gameplay is not quite as straightforward as a Mages or Warriors who go into battle and simply throw fireballs or lunge at their enemy. A Thief sometimes needs a little more setup or planning before combat.


== Gameplay ==
== Gameplay ==


While a Warrior is a slab of health points, heavy weapons, and high armor allowing them to win the war of attrition, a Thief is much more suited to a risk/reward style of play. A Thief's abilities generally do extremely high damage with the possibility of even killing enemies in a single hit with the downside being they will be slow to defend themselves afterwards. Though [[Dodge]] helps keep a Thief from being smashed to bits they naturally will have less health and armor than a warrior.
While a Warrior is a slab of health points, heavy weapons, and high armor class allowing them to win the war of attrition, a Thief is much more suited to a risk/reward style of play. A Thief's abilities generally do extremely high damage with the possibility of even killing enemies in a single hit with the downside being they will be slow to defend themselves afterwards. Though [[Dodge]] helps keep a Thief from being smashed to bits they naturally will have less health and armor than a warrior.


What a thief lacks in mettle they more than make up for in guile. Thieves have a mountain of skills that provide utility outside of combat:
What Thieves lacks in mettle they more than make up for in guile. Thieves have a mountain of skills that provide utility outside of combat:


* Brewing poisons to apply to their weapons and antidotes to cure them
* Brewing poisons to apply to their weapons and antidotes to cure them
* Pickpocket, shoplift, and steal which provides extra gold income and all but removes the need to purchase from NPC shops
* Pickpocket, shoplift, and steal which provides extra experience, gold income, and all but removes the need to purchase from NPC shops
* Lockpicking to bypass doors that you would otherwise need the key for or may only be bypassed with lockpicking. Note: all classes can pick locks but it takes substantially longer without the skills of a Thief
* Lockpicking to bypass doors that you would otherwise need the key for or may only be bypassed with lockpicking. Note: all classes can pick locks but it takes substantially longer without the skills of a Thief
* Stealth abilities to move through areas entirely unnoticed by aggressive enemies
* Stealth abilities to move through areas entirely unnoticed by aggressive enemies
* Grenades... enough said
* Shadow skills to bind enemies in place, walk through the shadows, and conjure decoys to take hits for them
* Shadow skills to bind enemies in place, walk through the shadows, and conjure decoys to take hits for them


=== Combat ===


A new Thief will start out with three skills already learned: [[Dodge]], [[Trip]], and [[Bloodletting Stab]].
=== Damage Types ===


Starting at level 1:
As a melee class your weapon is your main source of damage and its type of damage is incredibly important. Different enemies are not only to weak or resistant to different elemental types but also the attack type such as slashing, piercing, or crushing. The {{Icode|help dtype}} and {{Icode|help special damage}} helpfiles in game are '''critically''' important to effectively dispatching enemies.


* Use Bloodletting Stab at the start of the fight to give the skill's bleed damage the most time to roll
You should learn the [[Monster Lore]] as early as possible (level 8) and use the {{Icode|consider <enemy>}} command to see what the enemy is vulnerable or resistant to. You should also keep several different weapons of various damage and elemental types on hand so you always have the right tool for the job. Fighting with the incorrect damage type can make fights last significantly longer.
** Note: While it's possible to use Bloodletting Stab multiple times in a row the bleed does not stack and the enemy will quickly catch onto you and start avoiding your subsequent attempts
* Use Trip for extra damage
** Note: Trip is incredibly useful while in a group as your teammates will have extra opportunities to hit the target while it's down. However, Trip is less useful when solo as the enemy will generally stand up before you've recovered from the lag the skill applies to you. With that said at this level you don't have many other options.
** Tip: At low levels thief weapons are generally pointed; these are particularly ineffective against skeleton enemies of which there are many in the lower level areas. Use Trip to deal more consistent damage to these enemies until you can find a blunt weapon


== Equipment & Itemization ==


Thief equipment is easy to spot as it frequently (though not necessarily) has Damroll, Dexterity, and Thief Skill Level all at once. Occasionally a thief item will also increase Hitroll, Charisma, Strength, or Constitution. An example of a Thief item would be the following lowbie neck item:
== Combat ==


{{:A_rat_shaped_medallion_(Item)}}
See [[Thief/Guide/Combat]] for an in-depth look at the Thief's rotation and abilities while leveling up


=== Backstab Weapons ===
== Equipment ==


When using the [[Backstab]] skill picking the right weapon is critical. It must be a pointed weapon meaning one of: pierce, stab, sting, gore, or bite. A weapon meant for backstabbing is generally spotted by its stats which will be one of the aforementioned damage types, it will have high Damroll with little or no Hitroll, and usually includes Thief Skill Level. The weapon (perhaps obviously) also cannot have the NO_BACKSTAB flag which means the weapon cannot be used for backstab, though this flag is usually found on Warrior weapons with pointed damage types rather than Thief weapons. Note: a good backstabbing weapon generally also makes for a good [[Crippling Strike]] weapon due to both skills ignoring the target's Armor.
See [[Thief/Guide/Equipment]] for guide on what makes good Thief gear as well as suggestions for gear while leveling up


One of the most iconic backstabbing weapons is The Lost Spear of the Ancients:
[[Category:Class guide]]
 
{{:The Lost Spear of the Ancients (Item)}}

Latest revision as of 23:53, 11 January 2022

Thief gameplay is not quite as straightforward as a Mages or Warriors who go into battle and simply throw fireballs or lunge at their enemy. A Thief sometimes needs a little more setup or planning before combat.

Gameplay

While a Warrior is a slab of health points, heavy weapons, and high armor class allowing them to win the war of attrition, a Thief is much more suited to a risk/reward style of play. A Thief's abilities generally do extremely high damage with the possibility of even killing enemies in a single hit with the downside being they will be slow to defend themselves afterwards. Though Dodge helps keep a Thief from being smashed to bits they naturally will have less health and armor than a warrior.

What Thieves lacks in mettle they more than make up for in guile. Thieves have a mountain of skills that provide utility outside of combat:

  • Brewing poisons to apply to their weapons and antidotes to cure them
  • Pickpocket, shoplift, and steal which provides extra experience, gold income, and all but removes the need to purchase from NPC shops
  • Lockpicking to bypass doors that you would otherwise need the key for or may only be bypassed with lockpicking. Note: all classes can pick locks but it takes substantially longer without the skills of a Thief
  • Stealth abilities to move through areas entirely unnoticed by aggressive enemies
  • Shadow skills to bind enemies in place, walk through the shadows, and conjure decoys to take hits for them


Damage Types

As a melee class your weapon is your main source of damage and its type of damage is incredibly important. Different enemies are not only to weak or resistant to different elemental types but also the attack type such as slashing, piercing, or crushing. The help dtype and help special damage helpfiles in game are critically important to effectively dispatching enemies.

You should learn the Monster Lore as early as possible (level 8) and use the consider <enemy> command to see what the enemy is vulnerable or resistant to. You should also keep several different weapons of various damage and elemental types on hand so you always have the right tool for the job. Fighting with the incorrect damage type can make fights last significantly longer.


Combat

See Thief/Guide/Combat for an in-depth look at the Thief's rotation and abilities while leveling up

Equipment

See Thief/Guide/Equipment for guide on what makes good Thief gear as well as suggestions for gear while leveling up