Thief (character class)
Encyclopedia
The Thief or Rogue is a character class
in many role-playing game
s, including Dungeons & Dragons
, Final Fantasy
, World of Warcraft
and many MMORPG
s. Thieves are usually stealthy and dextrous characters able to disarm trap
s, pick locks, and perform backstabs from hiding. Thieves are usually capable of melee or ranged combat, and tend to be focused on dodging attacks rather than withstanding damage. They often attack by dual-wielding daggers or other small one-handed weapons, relying on speed and number of strikes rather than sheer damage output. Thieves usually have a stealth ability, allowing them to disappear from sight, often this is combined with attacking an unaware opponent to inflict high damage. Thieves are usually restricted to the lighter armors, leather and the like. While thieves typically cannot practice magic, they might use scrolls or magic items in some games. In most fantasy settings, smaller and more agile fantasy races like elves, gnomes and hobbits are particularly suited for the thief class.
, “Thief” in the Dungeons & Dragons
game was renamed to “Rogue” in the game's Third Edition, to show broaden the class to any highly skilled character. Rogues in all editions are also capable of doing lots of damage with sneak attacks especially from the back of their enemies (also known as “sneak attack”).
games, the Thief is the main class able to unlock doors and chests. Their weapon of choice is usually a sword, but in Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, they use knives. In addition to opening doors and chests, they may also steal items from enemy units or lower drawbridges, depending on the game.
Thieves were not able to steal items until Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
, and were only limited to stealing all of the target's Gold on hand by striking them. In Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
, Thieves were able to steal any item from the enemy, as long as their Speed was greater and their Build was higher than the Weight of the item stolen. Similarly, in Path of Radiance, Thieves may steal weapons and items in the same manner as Thracia 776, but only items that are unequipped. Thieves were limited to only being able to steal normal items in the GBA Fire Emblem series.
Thieves may promote to Thief Fighters, Assassin
s or Rogues, depending on the game, or not promote at all. They are generally offensively weaker than most other classes, but their high speed and skill helps them evade attacks with ease.
MMORPG
, the Thief is one of the basic character classes available to the player. In combat, Thieves rely primarily on their agility - they have relatively few hit points and their attacks don't deal a lot of damage; however, thanks to their agility, they are able to dodge most enemy attacks and deliver a lot of blows at the same time. While they are able to use some ranged weapons, this is rather rare; a typical Thief will be seen utilising some sort of dagger
in combat, as one of the skills available only to this class greatly increases their efficiency with them. Other abilities of the Thief include stealing items from non-player enemies, becoming invisible for a certain time (although they cannot move while in such a state), throwing rocks and/or sand at enemies, performing a basic poison
attack and curing themselves (or other players) of poison. The weapons a thief may equip are bow, one-handed sword, or dagger. A Thief who has acquired enough experience can become either an Assassin or a Rogue.
Character class
In role-playing games, a common method of arbitrating the capabilities of different game characters is to assign each one to a character class. A character class aggregates several abilities and aptitudes, and may also sometimes detail aspects of background and social standing or impose behaviour...
in many role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s, including Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
, Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
, World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
and many MMORPG
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
s. Thieves are usually stealthy and dextrous characters able to disarm trap
Booby trap
A booby trap is a device designed to harm or surprise a person, unknowingly triggered by the presence or actions of the victim. As the word trap implies, they often have some form of bait designed to lure the victim towards it. However, in other cases the device is placed on busy roads or is...
s, pick locks, and perform backstabs from hiding. Thieves are usually capable of melee or ranged combat, and tend to be focused on dodging attacks rather than withstanding damage. They often attack by dual-wielding daggers or other small one-handed weapons, relying on speed and number of strikes rather than sheer damage output. Thieves usually have a stealth ability, allowing them to disappear from sight, often this is combined with attacking an unaware opponent to inflict high damage. Thieves are usually restricted to the lighter armors, leather and the like. While thieves typically cannot practice magic, they might use scrolls or magic items in some games. In most fantasy settings, smaller and more agile fantasy races like elves, gnomes and hobbits are particularly suited for the thief class.
Dungeons & Dragons
Although the thief as an archetype in role-playing games achieved popularity through Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
, “Thief” in the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
game was renamed to “Rogue” in the game's Third Edition, to show broaden the class to any highly skilled character. Rogues in all editions are also capable of doing lots of damage with sneak attacks especially from the back of their enemies (also known as “sneak attack”).
Fire Emblem
In the Fire EmblemFire Emblem
is a fantasy tactical role-playing video game franchise developed by Intelligent Systems , the maker of Advance Wars , and published by Nintendo...
games, the Thief is the main class able to unlock doors and chests. Their weapon of choice is usually a sword, but in Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, known in Japan as is a tactical role-playing video game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube video game console. The game was released on April 20, 2005 in Japan, October 17, 2005 in North America, November 4, 2005 in...
and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, they use knives. In addition to opening doors and chests, they may also steal items from enemy units or lower drawbridges, depending on the game.
Thieves were not able to steal items until Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
is a Japanese Super Famicom tactical role-playing game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. It was released on May 14, 1996 in Japan. It is the fourth title in the Fire Emblem series, the second Fire Emblem title for the Super Famicom and was the last game produced by Gunpei...
, and were only limited to stealing all of the target's Gold on hand by striking them. In Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
is a Japanese tactical role-playing game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo, and the fifth installment in the Fire Emblem series. It is also the third and final Fire Emblem series title to be released on the Super Famicom. It was originally released through Nintendo Power...
, Thieves were able to steal any item from the enemy, as long as their Speed was greater and their Build was higher than the Weight of the item stolen. Similarly, in Path of Radiance, Thieves may steal weapons and items in the same manner as Thracia 776, but only items that are unequipped. Thieves were limited to only being able to steal normal items in the GBA Fire Emblem series.
Thieves may promote to Thief Fighters, Assassin
Assassin (character class)
Assassin is a character class common to many games. Such characters typically combine elements of combat gaming with strong stealth skills, and specialise in defeating an enemy without becoming involved in a protracted melee...
s or Rogues, depending on the game, or not promote at all. They are generally offensively weaker than most other classes, but their high speed and skill helps them evade attacks with ease.
Ragnarok Online
In the Ragnarok OnlineRagnarok Online
Ragnarok Online , often referred to as RO, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game or MMORPG created by GRAVITY Co., Ltd. based on the manhwa Ragnarok by Lee Myung-jin. It was first released in South Korea on 31 August 2002 for Microsoft Windows and has since been released in many other...
MMORPG
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
, the Thief is one of the basic character classes available to the player. In combat, Thieves rely primarily on their agility - they have relatively few hit points and their attacks don't deal a lot of damage; however, thanks to their agility, they are able to dodge most enemy attacks and deliver a lot of blows at the same time. While they are able to use some ranged weapons, this is rather rare; a typical Thief will be seen utilising some sort of dagger
Dagger
A dagger is a fighting knife with a sharp point designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon. The design dates to human prehistory, and daggers have been used throughout human experience to the modern day in close combat confrontations...
in combat, as one of the skills available only to this class greatly increases their efficiency with them. Other abilities of the Thief include stealing items from non-player enemies, becoming invisible for a certain time (although they cannot move while in such a state), throwing rocks and/or sand at enemies, performing a basic poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
attack and curing themselves (or other players) of poison. The weapons a thief may equip are bow, one-handed sword, or dagger. A Thief who has acquired enough experience can become either an Assassin or a Rogue.
Maplestory
In Maplestory, thieves are one of five choices of characters. Like bowmen, they have ranged weapons, a requirement of luck and dexterity, an accuracy increasing skill, and a good balance of HP and MP. Like pirates, they have the option of a ranged weapon or melee weapon, as well as a balanced amount of HP and MP. Like the warrior they can both be equipped with daggers. And like the Magician, they rely greatly on MP, which is consumed quickly. Rather than stealing, thieves are more based on Ninjas since very few of their attacks are theft related. They are however able to do great amounts of damage rivaling and even surpassing that of Bowmen. This does not go so much for the Bandit choice who must go close up to enemies to attack. Assassins can be a powerful class, as long as they are able to be funded with the right equipment.Other games
Games featuring the thief class or class representing such archetype:- Ultima OnlineUltima OnlineUltima Online is a graphical massively multiplayer online role-playing game , released on September 24, 1997, by Origin Systems. It was instrumental to the development of the genre, and is still running today...
, where the title for a thief is usually Rogue. Players use Hiding, Stealth, Snooping and Stealing for stealing from monsters or potions, Scrolls of Transcendence, and anything else that isn't 'insured' from other players. - FableFableA fable is a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals, mythical creatures, plants, inanimate objects or forces of nature which are anthropomorphized , and that illustrates a moral lesson , which may at the end be expressed explicitly in a pithy maxim.A fable differs from...
series - The Elder ScrollsThe Elder ScrollsThe Elder Scrolls is a role-playing video game series developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks.-History:...
series; in particular The Elder Scrolls IV: OblivionThe Elder Scrolls IV: OblivionThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a single-player action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks and the Take-Two Interactive subsidiary 2K Games...
features an extensive Thieves' Guild and Assassins' Guild that each require a number of quests to gain access and membership.
- Final FantasyFinal Fantasyis a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
series - EverquestEverQuestEverQuest, often shortened to EQ, is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was released on the 16th of March, 1999. The original design is credited to Brad McQuaid, Steve Clover, and Bill Trost...
, under the title Rogue, known for backstabbing for massive damage - Everquest IIEverQuest IIEverQuest II is a 3D fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Sony Online Entertainment , based on EverQuest, and shipped on 8 November 2004...
, under the broader category Scout - Guild WarsGuild WarsGuild Wars is an episodic series of online 3D fantasy role-playing games developed by ArenaNet and published by NCsoft. Although often defined as an MMORPG the developers define it as a CORPG due to significant differences from the MMORPG genre. It provides two main modes of gameplay—a cooperative...
, under the title of Assassin - Nexus: The Kingdom of the WindsNexus: The Kingdom of the WindsNEXUS: The Kingdom of the Winds , alternately known as Nexus TK or simply Nexus, is a Pay to Play MMORPG, currently run in the US by Kru Interactive. Nexus began as a U.S. version of the Korean game 바람의 나라 developed by NEXON Inc...
- Quest for GloryQuest for GloryQuest for Glory is a series of hybrid role-playing/adventure computer games designed by Corey and Lori Ann Cole. The series combined humor, puzzle elements, themes and characters borrowed from various legends, puns, and memorable characters, creating a 5-part series of the Sierra stable.Although...
- ShadowbaneShadowbaneShadowbane was a free fantasy computer role-playing game created by Wolfpack Studios and published on March 25, 2003 by Ubisoft for Windows and Mac platforms. Originally commercial and subscription-driven, Shadowbane was launched in March 2003, and was the creation of text-MUD veterans J...
- Silkroad Online
- Swords and SerpentsSwords and SerpentsSwords and Serpents is a fantasy role-playing video game developed by Interplay for the Nintendo Entertainment System. In this game, the player controls a party of four adventurers on a dungeon-crawling quest to destroy a terrible serpent...
- Starwars Galaxies , under the titles of spy and smuggler
- ThiefThief (series)Thief is a series of stealth video games in which the player takes the role of Garrett, a thief in a fantasy/steampunk world resembling a cross between the Late Middle Ages and the Victorian era, with more advanced technologies interspersed...
, a series of games focused almost entirely on a thief named Garrett. - World of WarcraftWorld of WarcraftWorld of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
, which contains the Rogue. Rogues in WoW use stealth, backstabs and cheap tricks to win. Night elves, gnomes, humans, dwarfs, undead, trolls, orcs, blood elves, worgen, and goblins can be rogues. - Diablo, which has a Rogue class, and Diablo II: Lord of DestructionDiablo II: Lord of DestructionDiablo II: Lord of Destruction is an expansion pack for the hack and slash action role-playing game Diablo II...
which has an Assassin class. - Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom SimMajesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim-External links:**...
and Majesty 2Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom SimMajesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim is a real-time strategy game developed by 1C:Ino-Co and published by Paradox Interactive. The game was announced on April 18, 2008 and was released on September 18, 2009. It is a sequel to Cyberlore's Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim.A Mac OS X version of Majesty...
feature Rogue classes which have the unique ability to loot gravestones and steal from buildings, and who are easily influenced by reward flags. - Kingdom of LoathingKingdom of LoathingKingdom of Loathing is a browser-based, multiplayer role-playing game designed and operated by Asymmetric Publications, including creator Zack "Jick" Johnson and writer Josh "Mr. Skullhead" Nite. The game was released in 2003...
, especially the Disco Bandit class. - Several entries of the Dragon QuestDragon Quest, published as Dragon Warrior in North America until 2005,Due to the inconsistent usage by sources since Square Enix obtained the naming rights to Dragon Quest in North America. Dragon Quest has been used by sources to refer to games released solely under the Dragon Warrior titles...
series. - The WizardryWizardryWizardry is a series of computer role-playing games, developed by Sir-Tech, which were highly influential in the development of modern console and computer role playing games. The original Wizardry was a significant influence to early console RPGs, such as Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy. ...
series uses the thief class, although the last game (Wizardry 8Wizardry 8Wizardry 8 is the eighth and final title in the Wizardry series of computer role-playing games by Sir-Tech. It is the third in the Dark Savant trilogy, which includes Wizardry VI: Bane of the Cosmic Forge and Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant...
) calls them rogue. - Rift (video game) features the Rogue as one of four class roles.
- RuneScapeRuneScapeRuneScape is a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game released in January 2001 by Andrew and Paul Gower, and developed and published by Jagex Games Studio. It is a graphical browser game implemented on the client-side in Java, and incorporates 3D rendering...
uses the character class 'Thief'. There is a small Rogue's Den and Rogue's Den Maze, clearly inspired by the Thieves' Guild featured in the film Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons (film)Dungeons & Dragons is a 2000 American fantasy film directed by Courtney Solomon and ostensibly based on the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
Thieving level fifty is required to enter. Thieves are a members class, using the thieving skill, and usually dress in black clothing and masks, as do NPC Thieves. Thieves can usually be seen pickpocketing people and lock picking chests and doors, or stealing from market stalls. - AdventureQuestAdventureQuestAdventureQuest is an online flash based single-player RPG developed by Artix Entertainment in 2002. As of June 14, 2010, aq.battleon.com, the game's hosting website, and www.battleon.com, the game's homepage, have an Alexa rating of 3,041...
and DragonfableDragonFableDragonFable is a free-to-play, online, browser-based, single-player fantasy role-playing game developed by Artix Entertainment and updated on a weekly basis...
both feature Rogue as a starting class. - Last chaos has Rogue as a selectable class.
- Ragnarok Online has a Rogue class, but you must first be a thief. Once transed, they're called Stalkers.
- Dark Age of Camelot
- Age of Conan
- NethackNetHackNetHack is a single-player roguelike video game originally released in 1987. It is a descendant of an earlier game called Hack , which is a descendant of Rogue...
has a Rogue character class. - Dragon Age: OriginsDragon Age: OriginsDragon Age: Origins is a single-player role-playing video game developed by BioWare's Edmonton studio and published by Electronic Arts. It is the first game in the Dragon Age franchise...
includes the Rogue character class.
See also
- Final Fantasy character classes
- Everquest#Classes
- Assassin (character class)Assassin (character class)Assassin is a character class common to many games. Such characters typically combine elements of combat gaming with strong stealth skills, and specialise in defeating an enemy without becoming involved in a protracted melee...