tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267677579874715622.post4187761943090040472..comments2024-03-24T19:23:14.865-07:00Comments on Cave of the Dice Chucker: d4 Thieves can suck itTimrod http://www.blogger.com/profile/15308269015770538709noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267677579874715622.post-5723561233036745122015-03-24T07:52:44.600-07:002015-03-24T07:52:44.600-07:00I'm going to throw out a 'second' on e...I'm going to throw out a 'second' on encouraging thiefy behavior. Having low HP encourages a more cautious play-style, taking fewer unnecessary risks and avoiding toe to toe confrontations. In the AD&D game I'm in, I'm an illusionist (which is pretty close to playing a thief, being a magic con-man); he's a coward and can't go toe to toe with much, but when he's needed, he can pack a hell of a punch. Similarly, with a thief, hiding and cowering in the shadows for a round or two to not take a hit is more than worth it when you get that critical backstab in.Cirsovahttp://cirsova.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267677579874715622.post-59521020334012861352013-10-17T17:42:25.052-07:002013-10-17T17:42:25.052-07:00I think the d4 thing has been explained; their fas...I think the d4 thing has been explained; their fast level rise makes up for it. Although personally I'd like it if average classes (maybe thief and cleric in Moldvay) had d6, weaker ones had d4 and stronger ones had d8.<br /><br />I think the best way to beef up the thief would be to give them decent chances of using their special abilities. Would you trust that a thief had found a trap, etc. at low levels? It's risking your life on an "Expert" who is essentially incompetent. Makes no sense. <br /><br />If you want someone to *climb*, however...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267677579874715622.post-11334603995921409012013-10-16T17:10:14.447-07:002013-10-16T17:10:14.447-07:00Hey Smales, long time.
Your little thought excurs...Hey Smales, long time.<br /><br />Your little thought excursion is an excellent illustration of why a <i>particular</i> thief might have low hit points, but is, to me, an unconvincing illustration of why <i>every</i> thief should look like that. <br /><br />Just as every fighter need not look like a barbarian or centurion or samurai or swashbuckler, not every thief should be the snivelly wiseass you've described. There should be room for the Bilbo Bagginses, the Thomas Crowns, the Cugels and Mousers, as well. <br /><br />Also, solving Rubik's cube wasn't all that easy for some of us. Timrod https://www.blogger.com/profile/15308269015770538709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267677579874715622.post-37144721773358175362013-10-12T17:40:10.984-07:002013-10-12T17:40:10.984-07:00I hear you on the d4, but come with me on a little...I hear you on the d4, but come with me on a little thought journey:<br /><br />IMC, thieves are basically 3rd-rate adventurers - more capable than a Normal Man, but not as heroic as the lofty cleric, fighter, or MU. They're the peasant emo kids who suck at fighting, sneer at religion, and aren't patient enough try magic.<br /><br />So they hone the easy-weasel skills: sneaking, shoplifting, cowardly backstabbing, climbing walls to flee the cops, and solving Rubik's Cube (aka find/remove traps) to make them look expert at *something*.<br /><br />Being just a *hair* above the average schmuck, they gain levels rapidly, still suck at fighting, and the only way they can cast a spell is by faking their way through a scroll. Oh, and they only get d4 hit points.Erin Smalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16085303583608172242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267677579874715622.post-15903618717069391932012-12-05T11:43:28.641-08:002012-12-05T11:43:28.641-08:00I love B/X, but I tend to agree with you that thie...I love B/X, but I tend to agree with you that thieves are unnecessarily weak. The campaign I'm intermittently working on will be cleric-less, so I'm thinking of giving thieves clerical XP progression (1,500, etc.) and d6 hp per level, just like LotFP specialists.ClawCarverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07236809815213343281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267677579874715622.post-23957441146388560102012-11-29T14:20:13.532-08:002012-11-29T14:20:13.532-08:00XP for sure. Thieves get a level up on everyone al...XP for sure. Thieves get a level up on everyone almost immediately and stay there, with some classes even further behind (though Clerics have a favourable progression at higher levels, and catch up to Thieves at 11th).<br /><br />Though there might be some element of using low HP to incentivize Thiefly beahviour.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267677579874715622.post-591410989125834652012-11-29T09:28:38.909-08:002012-11-29T09:28:38.909-08:00Base hit dice on level advancement? You may be rig...Base hit dice on level advancement? You may be right, but it seems a backward way to create a character class. Timrod https://www.blogger.com/profile/15308269015770538709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267677579874715622.post-77167141673582106952012-11-28T15:44:45.924-08:002012-11-28T15:44:45.924-08:00I think that the rationale is that the thief requi...I think that the rationale is that the thief requires significantly less experience than the other classes, especially compared to their d4 peers the magic-users. So they reach 2nd level quicker, then getting 2d4, which puts them at a slight advantage over 1d8 fighters for a little while, and they generally seem to be a level ahead of the rest as progress continues.<br /><br />So when it's played out it's really not so bad. Not great, but not so bad.strangebrewnoreply@blogger.com