And the monkey grabs your magic amulet!

[ARandomGod]

It really depends on whether the monkey is going to use the "grabbing" rules, or the sleight of hand rules. Both will work. Personally I'd recomend the sleight rules as the monkey's best bet, assuming he's skilled at all.

Sleight of hand he'd only have to beat a DC of 15 to get the item. That's right, RAW says get a 15 or better and the item is yours! There's NOTHING that the "defender" (or target, or victim) can do about it. Of course, there is an opposed roll, the monkey's sleight of hand versus the defender's spot check to see if the action is SEEN. If the monkey beats the spot the used to be amulet owner doesn't even notice. If he does not beat the spot, however, the monkey still has the item as long as the monkey make his sleight check!

Then the target gets to chase, chase, chase the monkey.

 

[Arkhandus]

Remember that most critters/folks don't have Combat Reflexes, so most will only get one attack of opportunity against the thieving monkey. Unless it's been turned invisible first, that will likely be the attack of opportunity for entering the bigger creature's space. If the monkey was turned invisible first, that would circumvent the first AoO opportunity and the opposed attack roll or whatnot, but then the monkey would be visible before leaving the victim's space, so the victim would be able to use their attack of opportunity for the round against the tiny monkey as it tries leaving their space.

Note that the Sleight of Hand / Pick Pocket skill is normally used outside of combat, where people aren't really so focused on watching their surroundings for dangers/pilferers. So in the midst of battle I would expect a circumstance bonus on the victim's Spot check to notice the theft in time to prevent it, since the victim is likely to be keeping an eye out for any approaching foes/critters/strange things.

 

[Storminator]

Oh come on.

The monkey waits for you to use your AoO on another combatant, then moves in while you're distracted! You never an AoO against the monkey!

It's not a stupid monkey...

PS

 

[Saeviomagy]

Note that the Sleight of Hand / Pick Pocket skill is normally used outside of combat, where people aren't really so focused on watching their surroundings for dangers/pilferers. So in the midst of battle I would expect a circumstance bonus on the victim's Spot check to notice the theft in time to prevent it, since the victim is likely to be keeping an eye out for any approaching foes/critters/strange things.

There is no spot check to stop the theft - it merely makes you aware that the theft happened.

As is, I'd expect:
1. AoO for monkey entering foes square (due to zero reach)
2. AoO for attempting sleight of hand (this could be avoidable if the monkey ALSO has concentration!)
3. AoO for leaving the square (which cannot be done until next round)

All up, stealing the amulet requires one successful roll and potentially allows 4 attempts to kill the monkey, OR to grab the item back.

If the monkey was invisible or tumbling and concentrating, you still have a whole round to stop the monkey.

All up - it could be effective. Let it happen.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Yes, it'd be very hard for such a monkey to get the item off the person. Such is the sad case of interesting moves in DND, most of them are too hard.

then again, if they were at all easy, we'd all have characters with 5 trained monkeys to take all the items off our enemies .

Unless you are a Beastmaster, the Handle Animal checks are going to kill you. Move action for a Trained trick. Standard action for an Untrained trick.

Invisibility would help. I would be inclined to rule that stealing an object counts as an attack, unless the monkey does "very well" on a Sleight of Hand check.

I could easily see an Arcane Trickster's monkey familiar succeeding with this tactic in combat because he may use his master's skill ranks.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Unless you are a Beastmaster, the Handle Animal checks are going to kill you. Move action for a Trained trick. Standard action for an Untrained trick.

Complete Adventurer includes some new animal tricks and special purposes. Among them are tricks related to thievery.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Complete Adventurer includes some new animal tricks and special purposes. Among them are tricks related to thievery.

Yup. I noticed. I would expect anyone who has something worth going through so much trouble to pinch is quite capable of killing the two monkeys per round you could send up. Only a Beastmaster control enough creatures to get the job done.

I think the best bet would be to summon, say, 2-5 intelligent critters adjacent to the intended victim and just tell them what to do. I would not count on mere Int 3 beasties to adequately understand unusual instructions barked at them under extreme time pressure. I would make it a DC 10 Int check to get it right. DC 5 to get the general idea...with random humorous misunderstandings.