Halfling PC behaving like Kender

[Ferret]

Kill. Him.

That way some one can play his character proper.

 

[noretoc]

A cursed item works wonders. A cool item, gets picked by another character, that character feels it "Attune" to him. The halfling takes it, bang, polymorphed into a toad. Orhave an NPC have it. I have thrown quite a few cursed item in my recent campaign. It has my players very worried whenever they find something, LOL.

 

[Buttercup]

A cursed item works wonders.

You know, I could really have fun with this angle. How about the Cursed Ring of Painful Rectal Itch? Once it's in your possession, you can't get rid of it unless it is stolen from you. And if you have it, you have to continually scratch your...ahem.

 

[Hypersmurf]

And if you have it, you have to continually scratch your...ahem.

... your ring?

All I can say is, he'd better keep his hands out of my pockets while he's carrying that around!

-Hyp.

 

[LuYangShih]

I think you're being very unfair to this player.

[begin sarcasm] So, doing something that annoys me? Well, guess what, from now on, I'm going to be desigining all of my NPCs specifically to foil your precious Pick Pocket skill! For I am DM, and I am a GOD! BAHAHAHAHA! [/end sarcasm]

I also agree you should let it play out. Personally, I don't see why a well trained thief wouldn't be inclined to nab a few items every now and then from the local passerby. You hardly ever actually see the Pick Pocket skill used this way in game, however, because DMs are unwilling to let the skill be useful and do what it's intended for. Just let it play out is my advice as well.

 

[Tiefling]

I also agree you should let it play out. Personally, I don't see why a well trained thief wouldn't be inclined to nab a few items every now and then from the local passerby. You hardly ever actually see the Pick Pocket skill used this way in game, however, because DMs are unwilling to let the skill be useful and do what it's intended for. Just let it play out is my advice as well.

It sounds like he's grabbing random stuff for the heck of it (6 coppers from the town ratcatcher?). It seems to me that a well-trained thief would be more inclined towards planned heists and wealthy marks.

 

[Hypersmurf]

It sounds like he's grabbing random stuff for the heck of it (6 coppers from the town ratcatcher?). It seems to me that a well-trained thief would be more inclined towards planned heists and wealthy marks.

Yup.

The rogue in my game learned a lesson early on.

The party made an arrangement with the merchants who were staying at the country inn with them - the only other patrons that night, as it happened - to travel in company the next day.

The rogue chose that night to steal the merchants' purses.

A poor plan for several reasons - she was the only person within miles who could have done it, and she was going to be travelling with her victims for the next several days.

When they discovered the missing money the next morning, they were unimpressed.

But even that is bright, compared to stealing from your party members.

Your heavily armed, magic-toting party members.

Who know you're a thief.

Many of whom have higher movement rates than you.

That's just dumb.

-Hyp.

 

[Black Omega]

I also agree you should let it play out. Personally, I don't see why a well trained thief wouldn't be inclined to nab a few items every now and then from the local passerby. You hardly ever actually see the Pick Pocket skill used this way in game, however, because DMs are unwilling to let the skill be useful and do what it's intended for. Just let it play out is my advice as well.

My problem as a GM would be that he's stealing from players. Stealing from NPC's? Be my guest. There are plenty out there to get a few gold from. Stealing from tother PC's? Fine, but remember, there is nothing printed on your forehead that says 'PC, you have to adventure with me'. As a player, my characters have no tolerance for that. If I can't trust someone to not steal, I certainly can't trust them with my life on the line.

 

[mirzabah]

So from now on, each PC will get a +2 circumstance bonus to spot this character picking their pockets. The rogue, who also has the skill, will get an additional +2 synergy bonus. And, whenever Gustav gets caught by a party member again, all of them will get yet another +1 to their circumstance bonus to spot. Finally, I'll have to fully stat out all NPCs I create, so I can give them the Spot skill. The next time he's caught stealing from a shopkeeper, I'll have him thrown in jail for a bit, and possibly branded as a thief.

Do any of you have other suggestions to deal with this annoyance?

Personally I blame WOTC for twinking up the halfling in the first place, but anyway...

I think tossing Gustav into the slammer is a good idea, provided you make sure that the rest of the party carry on as usual while Gustav is incarcerated. A stint in jail won't have much sting if everybody says "OK, let's fast forward until he gets out, then we'll go adventuring."

Also, you are not necessarily obliged to wait until Gustav messes up again before you take punitive action. So far you've described how individual NPCs have reacted to Gustav's indiscretions, but those NPCs form part of a community. How does the community react to Gustav's pilfering? Surely the ill-favour will spread beyond a wizard and a ratcatcher? Perhaps the local constabulary will be keeping a very close eye on him. Remember that law enforcement agencies in fantasy worlds aren't necessarily au fait with newfangled concepts of due process and burden of proof. Next time something goes missing in town, who do you think is going to be the prime suspect?

I can't remember which movie it came from, but one of my favourite film quotes was from a sherriff who said:

We're gonna give him a fair trial followed by a first class hanging.

Cheers,
Mirzabah.

 

[Norfleet]

I say pop him on the head and use him for landmine disarmament. No matter how useless they are, you can always use them for landmine disarmament.