Alright, I have started a new game with a thief character. can anybody give me some tips on how stealing works and how to be good at it? Is it really possible to steal say the Robe of Good Archmagi or some equally powerful (and expensive) item?

Personally, I'd say best character for thieving is a Bard. Yes, you can steal powerful items, just you have to be well skilled in Pick Pocketing. I think Stealth has something to do with it too. First off, you can click on the mask that you usually use to disarm traps and open locks, and put it over a character (merchant, ect.). That is one way of stealing. The other way is to talk to those who sell you goods, and click on the 'Steal' button. It looks like the ordinary 'Buy/Sell' screen, except there is no buy/sell. You choose the item you want, and click steal (or whatever the button is). Some items are in red, meaning you can't steal them or possibly you can't carry them.

Yes you can steal some pretty awesome stuff including suits of armour etc. You need to assign points to your pickpocketing skill to steal from shops etc. You can use various potions such as Master Thievery or perception etc to increase your chances. You can also use and equip items such as the Gloves of Pickpocketing to increase your base score. dexterity is the most important attribute for thieving and removing your armour will assist in thieving. generally I've found that with a pp skill of around 165 - 170 you can pretty much steal from any shop without trouble. Bernard in the Copper Coronet is a notable exception, I've had 250 in pp and still been regularly caught by him. Thieving from thieves can also be a risky business. There is always a 1% chance that you will be caught regardless of your pp skill.

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It's bleedin dark down here, slippery too.
http://www.contrabandent.com/pez/cwm/cwm/piss2.gif Man, that's a pisser. http://www.contrabandent.com/pez/cwm/cwm/piss.gif

Sorry but the best character for thieving is a thief.

Bards can only have a max pp skill of 120 anyway and you need to be real high level to attain that naturally (without potions etc).

If the item is in red you can still steal it but your character can't use it. Stealth has nothing to do with a thiefs ability to steal. http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif

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It's bleedin dark down here, slippery too.
http://www.contrabandent.com/pez/cwm/cwm/piss2.gif Man, that's a pisser. http://www.contrabandent.com/pez/cwm/cwm/piss.gif

[This message has been edited by Cavern Sniffer (edited 07-13-2001).]

Well, I haven't played either in BG2 yet, but the Bard (so far) is the best.

I played a Bard and I thought it was a crap character...sorry. Only level 6 spells as max, poor thieving abilities and poor fighting abilities. I'd rather play a barmaid with a teatowel than another Bard. http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif

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It's bleedin dark down here, slippery too.
http://www.contrabandent.com/pez/cwm/cwm/piss2.gif Man, that's a pisser. http://www.contrabandent.com/pez/cwm/cwm/piss.gif

Heh. I'm not saying the Bard is the best character.. Hehe. Just saying that when I played one in BG1 he had excellent pp skills.

Thanks for the info guys. And if you haven't already you should check out my answer to the whole missle weapon damage question of yours, Cavern Sniffer.

Oy! DON'T diss the bards! I'm currently playing a blade bard, and it's pretty good, besides the fact that i can't wear pretty much any armor without disabling my spells.... anyone know some protective gear my character can wear? It's armor level is at 8!!! that's REALLY bad.... -_-;;

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well, the bladeslinger chain from the end is absolutely terrific, but im guessing your looking for something a bit more immediate. the Melodic Chain acquired from the Astral Prison is just one step down, and can be used only by bards.

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Proud member of the HADB. And remember, when you're thinking of giant heads, why not think of the Big Giant Head?

But doesn't that not allow u to use your spells and stuff? Is there any cloaks,or gauntlets, or something that helps your armor level, without blocking your ability to use spells? or should I treat my character like a mage, and always have her hide in the back....

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Actually, you can exploit a bug that lets you steal 2 of certain items.
SPOILER
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For Kangaxxx the lich, before he turns red, like before he talks to you but after he's appeared, you can pick a ring of gaxx from him. Then when you defeat his second form, you'll get another ring of gaxx. Pretty cool!

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Why?

Message to Skydragrrl: asking about good bard armor where you can get good bard armor yet still cast his spells:

*possible spoiler**
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*Do Haer Dalis's quest- the plane where you have to save him from the bounty hunters.... something meant for haer dalis-- also your Stronghold quest too i think ( you are a blade)

The Melodic chain armour will allow your character to still wear armour and cast spells. There are various gloves and girdles to increase your strength and I'd advise giving your guy/gal some proficiency with a katana and then equipping him/her with the Dak'kon's Zerth Blade +2 (Katana) which although only a +2 weapon will give you additional 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th level spells.

P.S. I'm not really dissing Bards per se, I used one expecting him to be like a mage, I just didn't do my homework. http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...miles/wink.gif

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It's bleedin dark down here, slippery too.
http://www.contrabandent.com/pez/cwm/cwm/piss2.gif Man, that's a pisser. http://www.3dpcgames.com/cwm/s/cwm/cwm/piss.gif

Thiefs are always the best for stealing things, their whole proffesion is dedicated to it.

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"In Ankh-Morpork curiosity killed the cat, tied weights to its legs and then threw it in the river."

Tiax, warmaster of clan HADB

I used Jan (with potion of master thievery) to steal ALL the scrolls from the woman at the back of Ribald's. I wasn't caught at all!!

Edwin and Ysabell (my mage) had a good day that day !!

So much experience, so many spells and I could sell on the ones I didn't need/use for a tidy sum... 20,000GP !!

Some people may see that as cheating but it is was completely within the rules of the game.

I do think it is unrealistic though. The poor woman would have turned around and thourght "Where the hell is ALL my stock!"

I do feel guity for putting her out of business and making her unemployed.

I done the same with my thief, fair tactic and what good thief wouldn't do the same if he thought he could get away with it. I never sold any scrolls back but I did steal at every opportunity just for the sake of thieving, to keep my hand in so to speak.

The life of a Klepto, it's the only way to go. http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...es/biggrin.gif

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It's bleedin dark down here, slippery too.
http://www.contrabandent.com/pez/cwm/cwm/piss2.gif Man, that's a pisser. http://www.3dpcgames.com/cwm/s/cwm/cwm/piss.gif

Bracers of defence AC3 from Ribald will help a lot, but they may be better used on a mage.

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Those who ph33r the darkness have never seen what the light can do