View Full Version : Good system for a thief game?
dysike
2015-02-28, 02:47 PM
I've been wanting to run a game for some time now where the players would be members of a thieves guild doing various jobs and heists. My original plan was to run it using D&D but it occurred to me that there would probably be a better system to use.
So does anyone know a good system for this style of game, preferably it would have relatively simple combat but an detailed skill system and also some mechanic for tracking honour/reputation?
dream
2015-02-28, 04:35 PM
I've been wanting to run a game for some time now where the players would be members of a thieves guild doing various jobs and heists. My original plan was to run it using D&D but it occurred to me that there would probably be a better system to use.
So does anyone know a good system for this style of game, preferably it would have relatively simple combat but an detailed skill system and also some mechanic for tracking honour/reputation?
I'd use Margaret Weiss Productions' Leverage as a good reference, since it focuses on thieves/con-men, but D&D/PF does a proper Thieves' Guild better than most games.
GURPS has perhaps the best (and most meticulously-listed) skill system in TTRPGs and, well, you can use GURPS for anything. I'm not sure what edition of D&D you're using, but 3.5 & 3.75/Pathfinder both have rules for Honor/Reputation:smallsmile:
JeenLeen
2015-02-28, 04:41 PM
How supernatural do you want your PCs to be? That could impact the decision on what system to use. If you want a team of supernaturally skilled (either by magic or just better skilled than a human naturally can be), that would be different than one where you want mundane guildmembers.
Unfortunately, no systems come to mind easily, in either form. I know a lot with such skill checks, but it would often devolve to 'a normal PC in that system, but putting points into 1-3 skills'.
aspekt
2015-02-28, 05:03 PM
I'd recommend the game based on the fantasy short story series Thieve's World. But I've never played it.
I would highly suggest the book series for reading prep for your game.
Also some of the AD&D modules based on Fritz Lieber's Fafhrd and Gray Mouser series have some great city maps. (Typically with the city name Lankhmar in the module title.) And you will probably find a lot of use from maps like that if you have thieves plotting thievey things.
Seconding the Lankhmar products. Great for thiefy things.
The Freeport products also do pretty well, especially if you don't mind throwing some piratey action into the mix.
BootStrapTommy
2015-03-01, 11:06 PM
GURPS has perhaps the best (and most meticulously-listed) skill system in TTRPGs and, well, you can use GURPS for anything. I'm not sure what edition of D&D you're using, but 3.5 & 3.75/Pathfinder both have rules for Honor/Reputation:smallsmile:
Whenever possible, I shamelessly plug GURPS.
aspekt
2015-03-02, 02:04 AM
There is apparently a d20 system adaption of Thieve's World as well.
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.