Part 1: Basics and Etiquette: Ten Golden Rules

In this section I’ll explain some of the basic rules for success in the field of Roguery.  These rules apply across all classes of rogue, from Assassins to their less violent Thief and Gambler buddies. In further sections I will extrapolate on these basics and include some tips for sticking to them yourself.

Rule #1: Don’t Get Caught.

Rule #2: DON’T GET CAUGHT!!

Rule #3: If you want to keep a secret in-game, keep it a secret Out-of-Game, too. Of course, you’ll have rogue friends you trust, but the less people who know something the better. (This helps substantially in following rules 1 and 2.)

Rule #4: Patience. Whatever you’re trying to do - rob a cabin, kill a mark, snag some hero’s magic sword - the opportunity will come if you wait for it and observe. Don’t risk yourself until you’re sure you will succeed.

Rule #5: What you have on your card is nowhere near as important as your OOG abilies. You’re no fighter, so you need to know how to do things like make timely distractions, or play your enemies against each other with some well-placed bull. Along the same line, you'll never be able to buy the skill 'Hide in Shadows' as often as you're going to need it (plus you can't move in it anyway), so learn to sneak OOG as well.  (This all ties in heavily with rule #4.)

Rule #6: The fence is your best friend. He will give you jobs, pawn stolen goods, and supply you with some good stuff, not to mention arrange for training for anything you need to learn.

Rule #7: Speaking of the fence, DO NOT walk down to meet the fence with every other rogue you know as part of a large, sketchy-looking, attention grabbing herd.

Rule #8: Do not approach the fence with business if he is sitting in a public place like the inn or in the company of someone who is not a ‘friend of ours’. Breaking this rule has lead to a few people breaking the first two rules shortly thereafter.

Rule #9: Carry as little money on you as you can. Jingling at a bad time could get you killed, or cause you to break the first two rules. Plus it decreases the chance that you’ll lose everything should you get taken down. This also applies to potion bottles and anything else that could make noise in your pocket or pouch. Use the bank for your gold, and keep items in a safe place until you need them.

Rule #10: A disguise is almost a necessity for any PVP action. You can usually get away with a few pocket pickings or a quick grab of an unguarded item, but for anything more serious, especially a hit on a PC, you need a disguise. If there are going to be witnesses, confuse the hell out of them. If a job goes bad, and everybody saw an old man fleeing the scene, then the chances of it getting traced back to you dwindle to almost nothing. Unless, that is, you’re an old man who was fool enough to do a job without a disguise.

As mentioned previously, in further sections I’ll expand on these with tips on stealth, getting the most out of your skills, prioritizing what to learn, playing both sides of any conflict, and making yourself a good guild earner.