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Thief

To accomplish their goals, whether good or ill, the Thief is a skilled pilferer. Cunning, nimbleness, and stealth are their hallmarks. Whether they turn their talent against innocent passersby and wealthy merchants or oppressors and monsters is a choice for the Thief to make.

Class features

  • May not wear armor heavier than studded leather.
  • May not equip shields larger than bucklers.
  • Weapons: long sword, short sword, katana, scimitar, dagger, club, quarterstaff, crossbow, shortbow, dart, sling.
  • May only become Proficient (one slot) in any weapon class.
  • May only become Proficient (one slot) in any fighting style.
  • Thieving skills: distribute 25 points per level (40 at level 1) among Open Locks, Pick Pockets, Find Traps, Move Silently, Hide in Shadows, Detect Illusion, Set Traps.

Backstab

When attacking from stealth, the Thief deals multiplied damage:

Level Backstab multiplier
1–4 ×2
5–8 ×3
9–12 ×4
13+ ×5

If 3E Sneak Attack is enabled in the Gameplay Options, sneak attacks and crippling strikes replace backstab — see Special Abilities → Sneak Attacks.

Set Snare

May use Set Snare once per day, +1 use every 5 levels:

  • 1st level: 2d8+5 missile damage.
  • 11th level: 2d8+5 missile damage + 2d6 poison damage per round for 3 rounds.
  • 16th level: 3d8+5 missile damage + 4d8+2 fire damage.
  • 21st level: 3d8+5 missile damage + 20 poison damage (save vs. Death +4 or die).

Other abilities

  • 7th level: gains Evasion — when hit by a spell allowing a Save vs. Breath (Fireball, Lightning Bolt, etc.), a successful save completely avoids the effect. A helpless Thief cannot evade.
  • Alignment: restricted to any except lawful good.
  • Hit Die: d6.
  • Prime Requisites for Dual-Classing: Dexterity.

Kits

  • Assassin — +1 to-hit/damage, ×7 backstab cap, Poison Weapon
  • Bounty Hunter — Special Snares (slow, hold, Resilient Sphere, Maze)
  • Shadowdancer — Hide in Plain Sight, Shadowstep, Slippery Mind
  • Swashbuckler — scaling AC and to-hit, may Specialize melee, no backstab

Multi-class options (non-humans)

  • Fighter/Thief
  • Mage/Thief (gnomes become Illusionist/Thieves)
  • Fighter/Mage/Thief
  • Cleric/Thief

See Multi- and Dual-Classing.

Source: iwdee/original_manuals/IWDEE - Mastering Melee & Magic.pdf — "Thief".