Post by shakes on May 6, 2019 17:56:17 GMT -5
As a draft, we'll begin here. It's not very organized, I'm just throwing out some tips. My intent is not to make a thief rich or to show you how to grief the other players (though you will grief some players and you might even get a little rich). My intent is to help you increase the survivability of your "criminal" and enhance the general fun for thieves and their victims altogether.
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There are times in which playing a criminal just isn't going to go very well. This may be because a particular Guild boss is overbearing, or a Templar has a hardon for murdering any criminal who steps out of line and isn't going to be reasoned with, or you've got a very aggressive Jade sergeant running around. It can be fun to try and avoid those for awhile but you're going to lose in the end. Accept it, have the fun you intended on, and move on.
On the topic of what constitutes "law enforcement" in Allanak, keep in mind that Templars and the Arm are generally bored to death and are very happy to have a rogue ne're-do-well running around to provide some entertainment. Pay some bribes. Feed them some information (either real or made up). Engage with them. MOST of the time they're happier to have a pretend nemesis or a criminal underworld informant than they would be with a one time torture and execution scene. But keep in mind they can't protect you from OVERT activities. That sergeant who you've been feeding information about those dastardly elves (or westies) will still give you a shakedown when that brand new Templar stops you outside the Gaj. However the THOROUGHNESS of that shakedown is going to depend upon how much that sergeant likes you. I've handed authority figures a pouch filled with spice and poisons and waited for my immediate execution only to have them hand it back and tell the Templar, "Nothing, Lord Templar. This isn't the scum we're looking for."
Don't leave bodies laying in the street unless you WANT them to be found. If you're stealing someone's hat, steal the hat and drag the body to an alley or a rooftop where nobody patrols. If it's a player you just killed, there may be benefit to leaving them exposed for all the world to see (sending a message) but if not, do the old "drop and drag", baby. Get them off the main streets. Out of sight, out of mind.
Someone did a STELLAR job on the Allanak rooftops southside. Use them. You can get an idea of the Arm's patrols, or spot potential victims passing below. Crimcode doesn't trigger up there (except for on that elven rooftop where they have their own version), so be careful you don't get seen by some other scum. The only thing scum love killing more than innocents is other scum. In most places though you can see them coming up after you and have time to hide. And in some place it's dangerous to fight because of the long fall, and most won't start one there.
On stealing, the more people in the room the more the chance you're going to get seen peeking or stealing. Crowds are a great place to spot marks and then come after what they've got later in a more private situation. I like to stand in the stable sometimes idling and see where people slip their mount tickets. Or hang around at the gem or plant shop and see where the hunters/grebbers keep their goods. Don't risk unlatching someone's food bag when you're looking for their pile of diamonds.
Do read the thief's bible. Not only is it good play, but it will keep staff off your back to a degree. Don't spam steal from people at the same time. Stealing something from them every time you see them? Awesome. Stealing everything from them the one time you see them? Terrible.
Being known as a thief isn't the end of your character, if you're smart. Being known as a BAD thief is. If you're a very good thief, but friendly, visible to the authorities, and they know (or are led to believe) you have a code of conduct that they can work with ... you will find a lot of opportunities opening for you. A master hide/scan/sneak/listen/steal miscreant is MORE important than a gemmed to those champion plot-movers. You're more important than an assassin. You're more important than a Byn sergeant or a noble's aide. You have the skills to pull off some amazing shit and, hopefully, you've shown by that time you can be trusted to do it. Or at least you've led someone to BELIEVE you can do it.
Lesser beings such as enforcers, Guild players, Elf witches who want to remain in the shadows, are going to be your greatest threat once you achieve some greatness. They will be jealous of your inclusion and unhappy that you aren't under their thumb. You might have already given them the belief you're working for them, but if you've achieved notoriety then they may be unhappy with you for shining the light into their den of shadows. Be careful. You are playing the most delicate political game in Armageddon now. You're outside the law, a commoner, and plenty of people will be happy to see you die.
Some people are just fucking unreasonable about thieves. Almost all merchants are like this. They will put a 10k bounty on the head of whomever took the head-sized chunk of basalt their Grandma gave them from their apartment and start a city-wide manhunt for you, whether you did it or not. Or whether they even have proof you did it.
On the topic of 'proof' or 'evidence' or 'justice' ... hahaha. Really. Forget any notions of modern jurisprudence. Actually, go back to about the 16th century. No, scratch that. Go back before the fucking Code of Hammurabi. The law is whatever the fuckers in charge say it is. Evidence and proof? Not only do they not know about such things, trying to explain it will just piss them off. There is only one currency in Allanak that is spent by nobles and Templar alike ... and that's how useful you are to THEIR plots.
Being useful is a skill that doesn't show up on your skillsheet. You'd better start trying to provide value to these authorities 10 minutes out of chargen, whether it's buying drinks or providing information. Doesn't matter if you hand it over to them right away or if you hoard it (so long as it's relevant) until you're in trouble. If you want to survive ... provide some value.
Stealing keys, books, and other such items ... don't do it unless someone WHO CAN PROTECT YOU is paying you to do it. That behavior will trigger a citywide manhunt that just pisses everyone off and gets them looking for you. So will robbing from that big breasted beauty in Red's who LOOKED unaffiliated but turned out to be mudsexing a lot of important nobles who care more about looking good when a thief gets tortured on their orders than you lifting a half-eaten chalton steak out of someone's bag rather than foraging another spoiled kalan.
As a final note, these tips are more geared for the criminal who is going to be socially engaged. PLENTY of criminals exist who hang around for in game years, if not REAL years. That's just not how I play. However as a socially engaged criminal, be aware that that other type is going to take a dim view of your playstyle and may even constitute your largest threat. They are always uber-twinked up but are happy to sit in the Mantis giving the stink-eye to every newbie criminal who comes out of chargen and then following you out to murder you as soon as they see you try to throw a dagger at a rat. Because it's THEIR rat in THEIR territory and why haven't you paid your dues?
Alright. Dissect. Discuss. Derail.
