Puggeh |
Greetings.
This is my first wizard, and in my climb to level 9 i have been robbed about 12 times give or take... once i was mugged.
Needless to say i have had to sink a TON of gold pieces into replacement gear.
So, what i would like if you would all be so kind. is ways to ward my items so i can retrieve them. Specifically my bonded item and my spell book.
Roberta Yang |
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In-game: Carry around a dozen books and wear four dozen rings. Now thieves can't tell which is the real one.
Out-of-game: That's definitely a more common occurrence than I would think normal. Is there some setting-specific reason you're getting robbed so often, like the campaign taking place in a city of thieves or something? If not, you should talk to your GM. It sounds like there might be some out-of-game problem, and trying to settle that with just in-game actions will only dance around the issue.
Puggeh |
the two i can remember right off the top of my head; I left my spell book in the wagon, we had camped in the tower of a buried dwarven citadel. I went up to retrieve my book, and study spells for the day's excavation when i got ambushed and all of my belongings were taken.
the second time that i can remember was we were traveling to the capitol city and in the night my bag had been taken ( I was only like level 3 or something at that time) by an unseen assailant. I'm thinking were rats or something to that effect.
Yes, poor choices or rolls on my end. But i am getting somewhat better about it.
Harrison |
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Two magic items in Ultimate Equipment should be picked up by any and EVERYONE that ever has to carry around a spellbook:
Bookmark of Deception and Bookplate of Recall.
The bookmark disguises whatever book you place into it as any other mundane book you want (have it disguise the book as some kind of wallpaper history book or a book on Tarrasque mating habits or something; I also don't know if the effect of it can be turned on and off without needing to remove it, but if it can, glue the bookmark into the book so you can always hide it without worry of the bookmark slipping out). The bookplate allows you to, once per day, instantly summon whatever book it's glued into back to you.
Bearded Ben |
Who robbed you? If I were you I'd tell whoever is responsible (player or GM) that it isn't fun anymore and could they kindly stop?
Am I correct in assuming that most of the robberies were the stealthy kind?
Fire Trap, Sepia Snake Sigil, Phantom Trap, and perhaps Explosive Runes should make thieves more wary of stealing from you. Magic Mouth, Alarm, or Theft Ward would let you know if someone is touching your stuff.
Edit:Seriously Ninja'd
Elamdri |
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Here's the basic thing to remember:
You are a WIZARD. And what is the number one rule about wizards?
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger."
Let your wizardly wrath wash upon your enemies like a tidal wave upon the shore and leave nothing left but ashes and broken dreams.
Roberta Yang |
Here's the basic thing to remember:
You are a WIZARD. And what is the number one rule about wizards?
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger."
Let your wizardly wrath wash upon your enemies like a tidal wave upon the shore and leave nothing left but ashes and broken dreams.
I'm sure all of the completely unrelated thieves in completely unrelated places, including motiveless rats, will be very impressed. Maybe you can deter the rats with Explosive Runes too.
Elamdri |
Elamdri wrote:I'm sure all of the completely unrelated thieves in completely unrelated places, including motiveless rats, will be very impressed. Maybe you can deter the rats with Explosive Runes too.Here's the basic thing to remember:
You are a WIZARD. And what is the number one rule about wizards?
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger."
Let your wizardly wrath wash upon your enemies like a tidal wave upon the shore and leave nothing left but ashes and broken dreams.
The thieves will be more impressed when I burn their hideout to the ground after I scry on my book and flay their skin from their bodies to make a map to find their treasure. (God I love that spell btw)
Also, why are rats stealing your book? And how are they stealing your book? No opposable thumbs...
Roberta Yang |
The thieves will be more impressed when I burn their hideout to the ground after I scry on my book and flay their skin from their bodies to make a map to find their treasure. (God I love that spell btw)
And then completely unrelated thieves who have never heard of the first batch steal it again. Congratulations, you have accomplished nothing.
Also, why are rats stealing your book? And how are they stealing your book? No opposable thumbs...
Because the GM is a git. You did read the part of the thread where the OP said the book was stolen by rats once, right?
Elamdri |
Elamdri wrote:The thieves will be more impressed when I burn their hideout to the ground after I scry on my book and flay their skin from their bodies to make a map to find their treasure. (God I love that spell btw)And then completely unrelated thieves who have never heard of the first batch steal it again. Congratulations, you have accomplished nothing.
All I'm saying is that he's got 5th level spells. There are few problems in this world that cannot be solved by 5th level spells. I mean, hell, for starts he can have a Secret Chest up at all times with a spellbook in it, making it nigh impossible to steal his spellbook.
I prefer to handle things in game. That's just my way. If someone is screwing with me in game, I make public examples of them. And I continue to do so until "Theives" learn their lesson. You burn enough thieves guilds to the ground/flood their hideouts with cloudkill and seal off the exists with a wall of stone, and eventually the message will catch on.
Or it won't. But hopefully it does.
Elamdri wrote:Also, why are rats stealing your book? And how are they stealing your book? No opposable thumbs...Because the GM is a git. You did read the part of the thread where the OP said the book was stolen by rats once, right?
Sigh, yeah, I saw that, hence the "Why are rats stealing your book/how are they doing it." I hate it when when GMs pull crap like that.
I don't like to directly call people cheaters. It's not very fun and it's too easy. I prefer to lay the foundations of the argument innocuously, and then when I've got an opening, plunge the knife into their heart (figuratively) and drive home my point. They can backpedal if they want, but I've already made my point.
Roberta Yang |
I interpreted the line as "I'm thinking [they] were rats" rather than "I'm thinking were[-]rats [did it]". I suppose the latter is possible too.
Regardless, it's not like a single group of thieves is constantly preying on you, so dramatic vengeance won't dissuade future thieves. Which also means things like poison or explosive runes to guard the items won't help either - kill one thief and another, unaware of the first thief's fate, appears.
As fun as all the "lol just toss more fireballs at their faces" posts are, you really need to understand that that won't change anything at all.
Puggeh |
Wow, thank you for your advise, This has been a lot to happen in the span of a dinner plate.
My GM: is not vindictive, as far as i can tell. we are really good friends. his world is kind of brutal and likes to teach you life lessons very quickly. I think this lesson is "Take care of your crap!" but yes, i will speak with him.
The other players: have done nothing to my stuff... yet. let's hope they don't.
I know i may get some Hisses from some of you, but when i was playing 3.5 i think i remember a spell that i seen in passing that could recall an item to you from great distances? I can't remember the name of it >.<
@VRMH What spell would you use
@Elamdri I just hit 9th level last week, i have yet to pick my spells for it, and i am currently brouseing them.
@Roberta Yang yes, i'm sorry my grammar is a bit... wonky at times, i have my suspissions that they were warerats. but the GM did not confirm nor deny this suspission.
Roberta Yang |
Roberta, you obviously don't understand the concept that most communities, unless extremely large are going to have most if not all the thieves know eachother,, even if only by reputation.
Unless "all the thieves in the world, even of different races and in completely different places" are considered one "community", that's not going to help. Remember, this isn't one giant thieves' guild in one town; this is a bunch of completely separate instances of unrelated looters, often in locations with no community at all like outside dungeons.
Also, using a different approach and being proactive is worth a try, your negativity is not.
You know what's more worth a try than murdering random pickpockets and hoping that the GM decides not to steal your spellbook a thirteenth time is? Talking to your GM. Don't spend weeks trying to find an in-game solution to what seems to be an out-of-game grudge.
TheRonin |
Roberta, you obviously don't understand the concept that most communities, unless extremely large are going to have most if not all the thieves know eachother,, even if only by reputation. Also, using a different approach and being proactive is worth a try, your negativity is not.
No, I think she gets that. She's saying the issue is the GM being vindictive, You can flay alive every thief you see, but the GM will still have unrelated thieves attempt it again.
Mikaze |
The GM doesn't necessarily have to be holding a grudge. I've seen a few too many GMs engage in that sort of thing simply because they found it amusing, or even thought the group as a whole found it amusing. He might not even be aware that he's killing the game for the OP.
Or he might be an intentional griefer. We don't know.
Elamdri |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ishpumalibu wrote:Roberta, you obviously don't understand the concept that most communities, unless extremely large are going to have most if not all the thieves know eachother,, even if only by reputation. Also, using a different approach and being proactive is worth a try, your negativity is not.No, I think she gets that. She's saying the issue is the GM being vindictive, You can flay alive every thief you see, but the GM will still have unrelated thieves attempt it again.
But..but...but...what if you LIKE flaying thieves alive?
Sin'ayd Ohkan'rr |
3 people marked this as a favorite. |
TheRonin wrote:But..but...but...what if you LIKE flaying thieves alive?Ishpumalibu wrote:Roberta, you obviously don't understand the concept that most communities, unless extremely large are going to have most if not all the thieves know eachother,, even if only by reputation. Also, using a different approach and being proactive is worth a try, your negativity is not.No, I think she gets that. She's saying the issue is the GM being vindictive, You can flay alive every thief you see, but the GM will still have unrelated thieves attempt it again.
Then keep it in the bedroom where it belongs.
Roberta Yang |
The GM doesn't necessarily have to be holding a grudge. I've seen a few too many GMs engage in that sort of thing simply because they found it amusing, or even thought the group as a whole found it amusing. He might not even be aware that he's killing the game for the OP.
Or he might be an intentional griefer. We don't know.
It might also be like the paladin thing. You know how some people read the paladin, see there's a falling mechanic, and think, "Welp, clearly I need to do whatever it takes to make some falling happen"? Some people look at the wizard, see the stuff about spellbooks and arcane bonds, and think "I'd better steal that stuff every single session, that's what those rules exist for, right?"
We don't know what the GM's mindset is, but the thefts are common and disconnected enough that the source clearly isn't simulationist. Which means that talking to the GM is the answer.
Elamdri |
@Elamdri I just hit 9th level last week, i have yet to pick my spells for it, and i am currently brouseing them.
If you are having problems with stuff getting stolen: Secret Chest.
You only have to recast it every 60 days and you can store your most precious valuables in it.
Wall of Stone is helpful to cut off escape and trap foes
Teleport is helpful to pop right in on top of your enemies.
Magic Jar is nice because once you find their hideout, you can have your party members guard you outside while you start possessing thieves inside and cause them to start murdering each other
If they're low level, Cloudkill will be your best friend
Or if you just like hurling your enemies around the room, Telekinesis is always fun.
Elamdri |
Elamdri wrote:Then keep it in the bedroom where it belongs.TheRonin wrote:But..but...but...what if you LIKE flaying thieves alive?Ishpumalibu wrote:Roberta, you obviously don't understand the concept that most communities, unless extremely large are going to have most if not all the thieves know eachother,, even if only by reputation. Also, using a different approach and being proactive is worth a try, your negativity is not.No, I think she gets that. She's saying the issue is the GM being vindictive, You can flay alive every thief you see, but the GM will still have unrelated thieves attempt it again.
Mrs. Wizard always complains I get too much blood on the carpet, and then I'm stuck all night prestidigitating it out while she nags.
Quandary |
sounds like the OP is just rather un-careful with his spellbook.
i have never seen anybody else, nor would i ever consider, leaving a spellbook in a wagon outside while i camp inside some tower. seriously.
the other case wasn't very clear (seriously dude, work on spelling things correctly and using normal grammar, perfection isn't necessary but make an effort) but i would guess that it was getting something stolen while his character was sleeping.
solution - keep guards while sleeping, and pretty much sleep with your spellbook locked to you on a chain, hidden under your pillow or under your clothes. secret chest, shrink item, and other such spells are a good resource to make the spellbook not a target of theft, alarm and magic mouth are also good... advice to apply runes and such to your spellbook won't do much to prevent it from being stolen (unless the thief just can't wait to read the book), they are just good at getting 'revenge' on the thieves, which doesn't do you much good. the bookplate is basically insurance, but if you take good precautions you shouldn't need it as much.
i haven't heard any evidence that the spellbook has been specifically targetted, by either NPCs or the GM, all the evidence to me says that the player has just been recklessly un-cautious about guarding his spellbook.
Waruko |
I don' think the DM is being a dick merely just sounds like one. A drill sergeant for all purposes would sound like a dick but he IS trying to TEACH you something. I think the DM here is doing the same. I promise you the next wizard this guy makes will have his shit locked down tighter than Fort Knox from lvl 1.
Another interesting item I would suggest is Bell Net. 2g for a net to cover your stuff while sleeping. Its a low power, easy access idea. Not meant to stop thieving on its own but more back ups is more back ups. Remember it next time you start out on the low levels.
Netromancer |
I think it's a GM issue as well, but I have to say that as a player who predominately plays casters, that spellbook is my life. No way does it ever leave my person. I've even told a former GM that my book was in a hip pouch with the shoulder strap around me and my hands clasped over it while I slept. Not to mention the magical protections cast on it if anyone managed to get it away from me. Even at first level "Alarm" can be used to good effect.
Waruko |
Once is a lesson, Twice is a point, Three times is suspicious, four times is malicious. Five times is just trolling.
"Fool me once shame on you, fool me twelve bloody times i should start paying attention more."
The OP said the GM is his friend and not vindictive and I'm pretty sure the OP is not oblivious to trolling. We lack a lot of context and I personally think that if the OP hasn't realized half of these tricks people have suggested by now he really isn't learning his lesson and now he will.
IF the OP had been doing all this stuff from day 1 and the DM still magically kept stealing his stuff yes foul ball. Low blow. If he starts to uses the tactics he is being taught on the boards and the GM counters with fiat then again YES he is a a*+#@+!.