DaStottman on 30/9/2002 at 22:08
Ok, I'm starting over with a new character and I could use some tips. I want to make a thief and this is what I have so far:
Race- Khajiit
Main Attributes- Agility and Speed
Majors- Shortblade, Light Armor, Security, Sneak, Acrobatics
Minors- Speechcraft, Merchantile, Athletics, Marksman, Illusion
Sign- The Thief or Shadow
So, what do you guys think I should change or improve on? I could really use the help. Thanks in advance.
Forsythe on 1/10/2002 at 01:09
I hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but pure thieves don't work so well in this game; in my experience, it's quite difficult to pickpocket, even with maxed-out stats, and backstabbing is only moderately better due to how the average NPC moves. I do admit I gave up on the "pure thief" concept quite early though, so you may have better luck if you stick with it.
Either way though, I'd suggest swapping acrobatics for marksman in your Primary skills... you'll want to steal yourself a good bow/crossbow and snipe, if you want a minimal-contact policy.
Der Dok on 1/10/2002 at 08:12
I dunno, Forsythe. I'm playing an Argonian thief and he can outrun anything in the game so far, at just level 7. I do want to work up my marksman skills but I'm pretty fast with a short blade. Still it'd be nice to jump up to a sniping position and pick away.
Doc.
Forsythe on 1/10/2002 at 18:11
Well, your miles may vary, I suppose ;) I just suggested that because at the start of the game, I think the ability to jump a few centimeters higher isn't as great as being able to hit things better with ranged weapons. The average char I've played is always loaded down with all sorts of junk, which constrains your jumping ability, but if we're talking a char w/ a decent strength and little encumbrance, then sure, a little change in acrobatics can have a large effect. It all depends on your playing style, I suppose ;)
Scud on 1/10/2002 at 21:21
My first character was a Woodelf Thief and thieves are definitely not the easiest characters to play, but they can be fun:cheeky:
I'd start by warning against picpocketing, it's too risky in this game and not worth the
resulting trouble, home and tomb looting are far more profitable and much safer. It's best to find small or light highbuck items like gems or dwemer coins and selling them to shopkeepers who really like you. You could also...
[SPOILER]Find items at or around 10k in value and sell them to the Crab, the Crab being the the Talking Merchant Mudcrab who is on an island just east of Vivec, after a few sales to him you'll be rolling in gold.[/SPOILER]
Early on you'll want to avoid big fights as you're a wimp but later on with better sneak skills and better weapons you can backstab for good damage. I carry a daedric shortsword as well as a daedric longbow, a dwarven crossbow (longbow for open fields and crossbow for close quarters) and a glass jinkblade.
My speed is maxed out but on top of that I also wear the Boots of Blinding Speed, which are quite useable when you also wear something that gives you good magic resistance (I wear some magic light armor whose name escapes me right now that does this for me) I can outrun anything short of cliffracers and probably make a sonic boom while doing it.:ebil:
Spend time sneaking around public places as it will help get your sneak skill up to snuff, I'd walk around complimenting guards to help with my speechcraft.
I'm trying to remember which sign I used, The Shadow I think, the one that gave you invisibility, but you could only use it once a day I think, so it's usefulness was limited.
There's probably lots more but that's all I can think of at the moment.
mlk8f on 2/10/2002 at 13:16
Quote:
I'm trying to remember which sign I used, The Shadow I think, the one that gave you invisibility, but you could only use it once a day I think, so it's usefulness was limited.
Yup, that's the sign I picked, thinking that as a thief it would be great. Well, not only can you only use it once a day, but as soon as you do anything besides walk/sneak, you're no longer invis. So as soon as you try and pick that lock right under someone's nose.....
I'd pick a different one next time; the shadow, IMHO, ain't worth crap.
Pestilence on 2/10/2002 at 13:43
Quote:
Originally posted by mlk8f
Yup, that's the sign I picked, thinking that as a thief it would be great. Well, not only can you only use it once a day, but as soon as you do anything besides walk/sneak, you're no longer invis. So as soon as you try and pick that lock right under someone's nose.....
I'd pick a different one next time; the shadow, IMHO, ain't worth crap. From my limited experience you can do anything while in sneak mode except fight someone/something. I went through the Dawn tower at Ghostgate in sneak and picked every lock I found including the merchant that has a 75 level trapped chest right next to her.
Trick is to get them to face another direction and wait for a possible guard to walk a bit away from you, and of course good sneak level helps.
mlk8f on 2/10/2002 at 15:11
Quote:
From my limited experience you can do anything while in sneak mode except fight someone/something.
Well, actually, you can fight while sneaking too...that is, while holding down the ctrl key, as I tend to do, forgetful-like, after I sneak up to someone and deliver that critical damage blow :)
And it's pretty fun once sneak is up REALLY high, you can shoot at someone from a ways away, and they'll then run towards you, but stop a few feet away b/c your sneak is so good they don't find you (I guess...). So then, just keep shooting arrows at 'em, and they'll (usually) never see you. Then they're dead. [Steve Irkle voice] Oops, did I do that? [\Steve Irkle voice]
But my original point was that when I was a wee 'un, before my sneak was high, I was hoping to use my Shadow-granted invis to aid my sneak. And turns out that doesn't work :grr:
Pestilence on 2/10/2002 at 16:51
Well one way to boost your sneak at the beginning is the tradehouse of Seyda Neen. In the middle of the stairs up is a spot where the people in the house dont see you at all times (the sneak icon flasheson /off). Go there, jam your sneak button and forget your comp for a while :p
WingedKagouti on 2/10/2002 at 16:58
Invisibility does help you enter sneak mode but Chameleon is much better overall for sneaking.
The two best (most effective/powerful) birthsigns are IMO The Atronarch and The Lady. The Thief is a very distant third with the rest being either useless or pointless.
For mages (both pure and hybrids) The Atronarch is simply unmatched with it's magicka boost and Spell Absorption while poeple who rarely cast spells still benefit from the SA enough for this to be a good choice. The drawback (no natural magicka regeneration) is easily countered by Restore Magicka potions for casters while others probably won't be too inconvenieced.
The Lady is great for people who don't need much magicka to fight and survive. The 25 Endurance will help you either max that earlier or provide you with 2.5 more health each level and the 25 Personality will make your public relations much easier.
The Sanctuary gained from The Thief will help you survive melee, but IMO avoiding 10% of all melee attacks isn't that good (still better than the rest of the signs though).
If you've chosen to pick either The Thief or The Shadow from a RP point then IMO you should pick the Thief. Otherwise you should pick The Lady since you will be low in both Endurance and Personality in the beginning and you don't have a Major/Minor skill that has Endurance as a governing attribute (and neither should you pick one if it doesn't fit your style).
