Rogues stealing from their own party

[Mallus]

But stealing/harming other PCs takes betrays that system and takes advantage of it, to the detriment of the game."

You should add a caveat: unless the players all agree to allow that kind of behavior.

I don't like stealing from other players, but that's probably because I never play thieves. I don't mind getting stolen from, depending on the nature of the campaign.

But in the Dragonstar campaing that's just finishing up, the party plays a little game called 'Let's aim our loaded weapons at each other' roughly twice a session. No ones pulled the trigger, yet... I have high hopes for the final session (but that's probably because I play a cowboy-sorceror with Haste, Fireball, and no less than two high-energy weapons on his person at all times).

For some reason, we all find it enormously entertaining.

 

[Shining Dragon]

As long as my Fighter can kill other party members, so can Rogues steal from them.

 

[Peter Gibbons]

So as a gamer, do you appreciate being in a game where the realism enforcement is on and you can steal from each other or do you meta game an agrement that players won't steal from each other?

It depends. If the theft is only possible because of metagame reasons (the thief's player keeps the treasure list, for example), then such theft is just cheating, and the player should be dealt with appropriately (in most cases, that means kicked out of the group). If the theft is impossible because of metagame reasons (some other player keeps the treasure list, and will therefore have to be aware of the theft, for example), then such theft should be avoided because the other players will be unable to "firewall" the metagame info from their characters' knowledge--unless, of course, all of the players agree that having the thief steal stuff from them will be wonderfully good fun, and gleefully role-play their characters' ignorance of what's going on. That doesn't happen too often, IME.

Now, if there are no metagame concerns, it's just a question of realism. How is the rogue accomplishing the theft? And how is he keeping it secret? The DM should be completely, totally, and perfectly fair in resolving these questions. In most cases, that means the thief is going to get caught sooner or later. And when that happens, he's likely going to (a) die, or (b) wish he could. If the thief's player (or anyone else, really) is going to complain about that when it happens, the group should probably just agree that intraparty theft is a Bad Idea and agree not to do it, even though it would be "in character."

 

[StupidSmurf]

Realism? What would you do "realistically" if a coworker stole from you? Kick the bastard out, that's what you'd do. And if you were Zog the Archmage of Energy, you'd probably incinerate him as well.

You see, there is a social contract between players: You don't abuse meta-game forces that keep our characters together (I mean meta-game in the neutral, descriptive sense). Because you and some friends are gaming together and all have characters, the characters are lumped into a party, even though realistically Sir Otto Von Ratzenbanger the Highborn would probably have nothing to do with grubby Roguely MacStealingstuff. We, as D&D gamers, ignore a fair amount of "realism" for the sake of making the game work.

But stealing/harming other PCs takes betrays that system and takes advantage of it, to the detriment of the game. If you feel your character should be free to steal from the others, then the others should be free to say "we don't want your character in the party. Roll up a new one."

That Roguely MacStealingstuff is a real turd. He stole my Arrow of Undead Slaying an hour before I needed to use it on the lich that was handing the party their butts!!! And his name was such a giveaway! Why oh why didn't I pick up on that hint?

 

[Vertaxis]

As a Halfling Rogue, I make it a point not to steal from the party.

Of course, when we find that treasure chest or some other locked loot, I usually find a trap and ask the party to clear the room while I open it

Of course, the loot is not party treasure at this point.

Slight of Hand is a skill that must be well developed if a rogue tends to want to make things disappear with the party in close proximity.

 

[The_Gunslinger658]

Howdy-

Well, I'm one of the players in Joe's game, my take on the whole thing is, see no evil, hear no evil and talk no evil IE If she had just pocketed the item, the rest of us would be none the wiser and personally, I could care less. My character is a mage, so a few baubbles aint gonna break him.

And even if I was a Paladin, which I came close to playing, I still could care less. But after announcing to the group she would steal the pearl, then things kinda got hairy.

Rule number one, never ever tell fellow party members your gonna steal from them.


Scott

 

[Xath]

It depends on the game and the character. In games where the characters are supposed to be friends or on friendly terms, we have a general "don't be a douchebag" policy. But in other games, it makes for some interesting role playing.

 

[ThirdWizard]

If the players can handle it (and we can) then its fine. I hear most can't, so I'm thankful for the group I have.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Never had a thief steal directly from another character. I did have one that would steal treasure and loot before they could be fairly divided. The character was caught redhanded once by another PC, and I was utterly shocked when they let it slide.

 

[pntbllr]

In the game I get to play in rather than DM, I play a halfling rogue and I find that I'm usually sneeking things into other members packs more often than taking things from them. This helps me keep my encumberance down and by the time I want them back they just laugh it off. Of course if one of them just happens to "drop" something I would feel obligated to pick it up "for safe keeping" esspecially if its shiny and small.