PS3 First Thief: Discussion and Suggestions

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Dabiene Caristiana

Your friendly neighborhood weirdo
(Archery):

http://chrizel.github.io/skyrim/#t/13/0,0,0,0,0,-s8z5s0,g376le,5boow

(One-handed):

http://chrizel.github.io/skyrim/#t/11/0,0,0,0,-zik0zk,iyw,g37vvm,5boow

(Alchemy usage):

http://chrizel.github.io/skyrim/#t/0/a8,0,0,0,4fti4g,2t883s,4v8de,5bow0

(Illusion one-handed):

http://chrizel.github.io/skyrim/#t/11/1q7qio,0,0,0,-zik0zk,iyw,4uyw2,5bow0

(Illusion, bow):

http://chrizel.github.io/skyrim/#t/15/1q7qio,0,0,0,0,2trd34,4wdgi,5bow0

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These are just a few set ups I've used. I keep it between 40-50 perk levels because that's a good range about mid-late game and leaves room for you to make your skills legendary and add extra perks, to expand if you will. Add your own little flare.

Good shouts to use:

Detect Life shout
Marked for Death (Usually reserved for assassins)
Disarm shout (can help you in a pinch)
Slow time
Unrelenting force (hit and run shout when you're in trouble)

Some tips:

Although the Shadow Warrior perk is rumored to be absolutely useless, it is actually a life savor from my experience. If caught on a job and for some reason the guards are just attacking you, out running them and crouching, out-running and crouching can get them off you. If you decide to activate it and then slit their throat silently that works too. Especially good with high level bandits.

Combining the hidden perk Prowler's Profit, Merchant perk and the Treasure Hunter perk, you will collect so many valuable objects to sell, expensive stuff will not be an issue with you. See something you like? Extremely expensive? Laugh it off and sell the treasure junk you don't need as well as all the gems you collected. This makes trainers like the light armor trainer in Riften's market area useful. Leveling up Light Armor can be useful from her and you can easily pay her and get your money back from all the training. Now you won't be a squishy thief.

I would say depending on build (aside from Illusion) I would keep it at a 1 health:1 stamina ratio. Until about 200 on both. Then you can decide from there which needs more of a boost. I usually amp up health after this for quite a few levels. For Illusion, you're gonna need quite the thought to it. You can sacrifice stamina and go for 1:1:1 Magicka:Health:Stamina until 150 stamina and stop there, putting the rest into the other two, or you can do something else. The question is.... How much will you use your skills? Illusion can be expensive. Plan carefully. If you do however, with the Treasure Hunter Perk should you decide to take it, you may find some nice cost reduction equipment for Illusion. That would be a nice piece of treasure..

Alchemy can be pretty dang powerful. I think we all know that. Nothing much needs to be said. You can expand more into it, or put more perks into offensive weapons. Or into any other skills.

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A few will disagree with my perk placement, which is fine. These are the set ups I've used and I have had no problems. I even breezed past the old ruin behind Riften in the mountains with one of the builds. Ultimately though, it's up to YOU to decide what play style suits you.

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Quests (Added write up here):

Leave the DB alone for a while after your special meeting with a certain special someone. ;)

Afterward your character may blow them off. Then after the whole drama with the thieves guild is done, they can decided to bring it to former glory (if you haven't already) or your character can decide to walk away and rethink Astrid's proposal.

Depending on your character's attitude toward the main quest, they can decide to scuff at the dragonborn stories, or maybe take a gamble at fate. After all the world is ending. I doubt your character would want it to end. :/ No more stealing or riches otherwise.

Dawnguard or Volkihar (DLC).. If you have it, it would depend on your character's morals I guess. Dawnguard also have more equipment. Side quests are about the same.

Companions should probably be left alone. But bounty hunting jobs can be a good thing. Unless you're wanted that is.

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You are already at level 15 so this whole post may be pointless. But maybe if you ever play a thief again this may help you. :) Have fun! And happy stealing! :p
 

Kohlar the Unkilled

Time for some ale
No advice is pointless! But I know at first I was undecided on many things. I've since come to a few conclusions.

On illusion, I'll forgo it for now. Probably forever, with this character. No casting. On alchemy I'll dabble in poison and that's it. I can find enough healing potions to get me by. I'll keep my shield for now, but intend to give it up and redistribute any blocking perks, (only two or three) later. I won't overperk one-handed, but I WILL perk duel fury. I imagine it being very cool to duel wield Nightingale Blade with Dawnbreaker. My primary offense though will certainly be archery, probably Nightingale Bow. I'm having a lot of fun with archery and sneaking. Master difficulty has reinvigorated my sense of trepidation. I've done master before with higher level characters, but never from the beginning. Sneaking feels more like creeping. :beermug:

I am holding off on both TG and DB for now; I need seasoning. I've joined Dawnguard, but seeing how tough those gargoyles were in Dimhollow, I'll hold off on that too for now. The Companions are right out, and the main quest is on hold for now as well. So what will I do for the time being? Walk the earth. Just wander and explore caves and barrows, honing my skills. Kharjo is a fun companion, and since I'm Khajiit, I trade almost exclusively with the caravans. I don't enter towns unless I have specific business there.
 

N1TR0US 0X1DE01

I've stolen your Sweetroll
In my opinion the best armour for the assassin is the Morag Tong armour, gauntlets and boots. Enchanted (Dragonborn DLC). With the Krosis Dragon Priest Mask. My current loadout alongside the daedric dagger and the glass bow of the Stag Prince.
 

N1TR0US 0X1DE01

I've stolen your Sweetroll
To be a thief/assassin you may think the skills necessary (e.g pickpocket or sneaking) can be raised at any level. Let me just tell you now it's not as easy as that. Yeah lockpicking is raised easily - just play the game. But pickpocketing especially will need to be raised pretty much as soon as you get out of helgen because in the end all your other skills will be between 80 and 100 but the pickpocketing skill because it hasn't been the main focus of the skill increases it will probably be between 40 and 60 at a pinch. (This is the situation with me - lvl 46) :)
 

Kohlar the Unkilled

Time for some ale
To be a thief/assassin you may think the skills necessary (e.g pickpocket or sneaking) can be raised at any level. Let me just tell you now it's not as easy as that. Yeah lockpicking is raised easily - just play the game. But pickpocketing especially will need to be raised pretty much as soon as you get out of helgen because in the end all your other skills will be between 80 and 100 but the pickpocketing skill because it hasn't been the main focus of the skill increases it will probably be between 40 and 60 at a pinch. (This is the situation with me - lvl 46) :)
My thief is more of a bedlam/break and enter type. Didn't do much pickpocketing. Honestly, since I'd never played a thief before, pickpocketing didn't even occur to me.. To be certain, this character did not end up being a pure thief, more so a Nightengale build incorporating sneaking with archery, reverting to melee when enemies got close. Which wasn't often. :beermug:
 

DrunkenMage

Intoxicated Arch-Mage
Lockpicking is good for two perks which increase the amount of gold and better treasures. This with the No Stone Unturned quest reward, every dungeon will turn into a huge heist.

If you can't be bothered collecting every unusual gem, just collect one and show it to Vex, then go around and find a few easy ones to collect like Riften keep, Whiterun, Windhelm etc. save in front of the gem and click extremely fast. Reload if you don't get more than one.

I managed to get "six" from one gem.
 

Wilhelm

The Snowback
Recent discussions of difficulty settings prompted me to create a new character, and initiate my quest on Master. I've never been a Khajiit, or a thief, so that's what I picked. Of course, I'll do things the way I see fit, but I wouldn't mind some suggestions from some of the experienced thieves out there. Note that I have completed both the Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood questlines on a previous character, but I've NEVER put a single perk into sneak. This time I intend to be sneaky. :beermug: There will be NO enchanting. No perks will be put into smithing. I'll use what ever weapons and armor that I'm lucky enough to find, or rich enough to afford. I'm undecided about alchemy, but am leaning against it, (just because I've always used it). Perks will go to one-handed, light armor, sneak, archery, some block, and eventually speech and lockpicking.

Here's what I've done so far:

Activated thief stone right away. Got mission to Bleakfalls, but decided to join up with the Thieves Guild first and get my armor. Did that, killed Grelod, and that's where I'm at. My next move is Bleakfalls, so I can get my thuum. I'm going to need it.

I don't want to progress much further in the Guild yet since finding out that all the nightingale stuff is leveled, and without enchanting it's some of the best stuff I'll be able to get. I want to work on my sneak and archery before joining the DB. I hadn't planned on using magic, but many utilize illusion for such a build... would or wouldn't you, and if so what perks? What else would you do, or not do?
Based on what you have written, it sounds like you are more of a killing type rather than a thief type. I would recommend reaching level 15 before joining the DB. This allows you to use some pretty good stuff for the quest line. Also, its going to be hard getting by without enchanting. Also, focus on a balance between stamina and health, instead of all stamina as many assassins recommend. This is because when you are an assassin, people try to kill you.
 

Kohlar the Unkilled

Time for some ale
Based on what you have written, it sounds like you are more of a killing type rather than a thief type. I would recommend reaching level 15 before joining the DB. This allows you to use some pretty good stuff for the quest line. Also, its going to be hard getting by without enchanting. Also, focus on a balance between stamina and health, instead of all stamina as many assassins recommend. This is because when you are an assassin, people try to kill you.
Actually, playing without enchanting has added a dimension of fun and challenge to the game because, the items found in dungeons actually become important. With enchanting, all found loot is essentially useless for anything other than selling, or disenchanting. Besides, this character has acquired the fully leveled nightingale sword and bow, which are plenty powerful enough. You're right about the killing type though, most certainly. :beermug:
 

N1TR0US 0X1DE01

I've stolen your Sweetroll
Let me just say there are lots of types of thieves, breaking and entering thieves and pickpocketing thieves. I personally like pickpocketing because it seems a bit mean :sadface:
 

Wauten Dayhil

Demon Hunter and Wordplay Extraordinaire
Bah! Bows are for the feeble thieves who cannot become one with the shadows. Caerwyn, my Wood Elf thief, would only use swords. Daggers made it WAY too easy, and you get the Nightingale sword as well, which adds to the OH preference over a bow. No, don't talk about the other Nightingale weapon.. No. No! I said no.
 

Nocte Aeterna

Sir Not-Appearing-in-This-Film
Alchemy is fun to pair with Pickpocket if you play a pure thief. Archery makes a fairly good backup if you ever find yourself in a bind, but the bulk of your perks should go into Sneak, and possibly Light Armor.
 

Reaper87

吉光
If you feel like starting over and choosing a new race,

Best races for thief (imo) are:

-Argonian (underwater breathing could be useful if you are caught stealing something and then hide in water, bonus in lockpicking)

-Dark Elf (have good starting bonuses, good fit for an assassin character and also have a +5 to alchemy)

But then again,
-Khajiit (claw damage could be good for escaping prisons if you do not have your items, and starting bonus in sneak)
 

Papoy

DON'T EXPECT SPOILER WARNINGS FROM ME
stay hidden
 

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