Elentari on 7/4/2006 at 19:16
I am in the process of writing my own - for lack of better term - 'fanfiction' using Garrett, and currently the plot of MA and have had a few questions come up that I have answered for my own satisfaction, but would like to know what the rest of the community's views are.
And, before you ask, its unlikely you will get to read what I do. lol This is for my own amusement and I *KNOW* I am not able to keep Garrett true to character. I can keep him true to my own view, but in the process of writing him, and getting into his head. . .well he sort of becomes more mine. Which would probably annoy most people here, (not to mention legal issues?!) But since i"m doing this PURELY for my own amusement and the only viewer is myself and a friend or two. You do *not* want to know what I do to him. lol
Anyway, the biggest question I have is - why is Garrett labled, oocly, at least, as being so greedy? I mean, I know he's a thief (duh!), and concerned about money, and all. But my own impression in the game is he became a thief, for the most part, out of necessity. The City isn't exactly kind to those down on their luck and the Keepers grated on him, so he went with what he knew and what his training sort of predisposed him towards. However, I also get the impression its a constant source of never having as much as you need. He needs money to buy his equipment, rent, food, clothes and what he manages to get only goes so far. We see by the two instances we're able to enter his apartment that he does *NOT* live extravagantly, or lavishly. He seems to have what he needs and not a whole lot more. He also appears to be always on the look out for that 'one job' that'll give him enought to retire with, although never quite making it (lucky for us! :)) So, in my eyes, his 'greed' is motivated as much by need as anything else, as well as the fact that he has no one else to look out for, so its sort of his main focus. So what is everyone else seeing that I am not?
The City also strikes me as being in a rather dark period. . .a time when the nobles are favoured and able to afford all the niceties of life, but the poorer classes are barely scraping by. Prices are probably soaring through the roof and money does not go nearly as far as it should.
Of course, now I can't remember my other question. Pfft. But some other observations I have had, and would like to know the reasoning behind are still here.
Why does there seem to be a general idea that Garrett doesn't enjoy doing other things? That all he does is sneak around at night and steal stuff? Sure, he's a thief, but at the same time, we only see him during the . . .week or two (or three) that is the game. . .and invariably during all three games a 'crisis' point the poor guy is caught up in. Needless to say, crisis points rarely leave much time for anything else. And given the work he has to do during these times is rather - well it doesn't take a great imagination to figure he probably crashes when he goes home and doesn't stir again until he has to go out again. lol (Specially after being killed so many times by clumsy players *coughs and snickers*) But who's to say he doesn't enjoy other things when its not crunch time? Why wouldn't he get out during the day, enjoy the sunshine, etc. After a particularly good night, I'd think he'd be able to lay low for a few days and just have some fun. Yes?
Brother Reginald on 7/4/2006 at 19:24
I suppose, but as well as the issue of time would he be able to have any fun? The City Watch would be on patrol all the time, and I can't see what social events he could attend. He doesn't have many friends (poor guy) and is often hated by competing thieves.
Still there's no reason you can't bend his character for your own purposes. Heck you could make him a part time actor or rockstar if you wanted to. So really, there's no limitations other than your own imagination!
Elentari on 7/4/2006 at 19:40
Well, that is true. I never thought of that. See? Thats why I wanted other views. :) I knew he didnt' have any friends, but it didn't occur to me that his daytime activities would be limited by the city watch and other thieves hating him. Doh. But, surely he can't sit twiddling his thumbs all the time either. He seems fairly recognizable as well. Even with his hood up, people seem to recognize him on sight.
*laughs* Thanks. I'm not bending him THAT far, but I did feel sorry for him that he had no friends and no one to trust. So I gave him a friend. Not that he'd admit it, or even realizes it at this point. :) I noticed he has a penchant for 'repaying' favours, so I used that against him. For his own good, of course.
Hewer on 7/4/2006 at 20:17
Quote Posted by Elentari
I am in the process of writing my own - for lack of better term - 'fanfiction' using Garret .... You do *not* want to know what I do to him. lol ... So I gave him a friend...
I think the term is "slash" fiction :eek: :joke:
Elentari on 7/4/2006 at 20:32
Isn't slash fiction where people make up 'same sex romance' pairings for a character that is not otherwise? That is what I thought it was.
In which case that is *not* what I'm doing. lol I'm just running off with him as my own, and what my own 'view' of him is, not necessarily the popular view. And he is gaining a past and future that has *nothing* to do with what is mentioned in the games.
His new friend is also a woman. I don't write men very well. Its hard to stay in their heads for very long, so I had to find a way to throw a woman in there. Nothing romantic - at this point, at least. Just friends.
Jarvis on 8/4/2006 at 22:30
I wouldn't say Garrett is greedy either. I would say that he has incredible focus. For one, even people who have achieved lofty skills have to train pretty rigerously to maintain them. We see in TDS he wisely keeps practice locks to work on. Stalking is an intricate skill, and though the games don't portray this there a ton of different steps used for different floor types, those steps need practicing. I imagine he works out a bit too... as a climber I know how hard it is to mantle like he does. He doesn't even heel hook. It's possible but it takes a good deal of strength and training.
Let's also not forget that actual thievery happens nothing like it did in the open city sections of TDS. You can't go out and just rob your neighbors every night in the same way. TDS thievery is sloppy and would get Garrett caught or run out of town very quickly. The first two games suggests he's more cautious and hint at a great deal of intelligence gathering he does, plus he maintains a number of contacts. So I magine that when he isn't robbing he's seeking his next job, and when he isn't doing that he's training. Whatever small amount of time remains he might devote to some kind of hobby or a bit of relaxation.
I don't think Garrett is any more greedy than any other workaholic out there. It's just that career changing is difficult even today. Thievery is what he knows, and he knows it well. He enjoys a life on the run, and the paranoia and lack of trust for others inherent in such a lifestyle so happens to suit him fine. I think he habors an innate lack of trust for others coming from the abandonment of his parents.
Clyp on 9/4/2006 at 00:04
Quote Posted by Elentari
Anyway, the biggest question I have is - why is Garrett labled, oocly, at least, as being so greedy?
To name a few reasons:
"The Keepers were training me to be one of them, but I had other plans."
The general "The money is good enough for me to take any sort of risk" behaviour.
"This proves it! Going legit is more trouble than its worth!".
I think Garrett very much enjoys his "job" as a thief.
IIRC the only robbery that was emphasised as "I am very low on cash and have to do it" was Shipping and Recieving.
Elentari on 10/4/2006 at 20:18
Quote:
I think Garrett very much enjoys his "job" as a thief.
IIRC the only robbery that was emphasised as "I am very low on cash and have to do it" was Shipping and Recieving.
Oh, yes, I KNOW he enjoys it. His whole attitude during all three of the games tells me he enjoys it. But thats not a sign of greed, IMO, as much as. . .well someone who enjoys the risk, adventure and probably the challenge of what he does. And while the only place that he was low on cash was in that one place, its given the impression that he's not doing as well as he'd like either. Always lookign for that better payign job so he would have enough to retire on,e tc. . . but never quite making it. He's not starving by any means, but . . .I don't get the impression he's living it up, either.
Quote:
I don't think Garrett is any more greedy than any other workaholic out there. It's just that career changing is difficult even today. Thievery is what he knows, and he knows it well. He enjoys a life on the run, and the paranoia and lack of trust for others inherent in such a lifestyle so happens to suit him fine.
Thats the impression I've gotten. You hear just as much about the money from someone who's working 'legit', just as much about it from people who HAVE it, as people who don't. People are always uptight about their money, or what they feel is theirs. He does not strike me as being much different, except in the fact that he doesn't have anything else to soften it. (IE, a family at home, etc. . .then again, neither do a lot of those execs who obsess about it either.)
Good point on what he does. I forgot about the intel gathering. That'd take up a fair bit of time as well I would think. Running around, following leads or just sitting and waiting patiently for something to come through. I'm not sure if he'd spend free time working out. . .since he gets such a good workout every time he's out, but then, he might, since the games only show us crisis times where he's going out every night. I suppose during slower times he might train some days rather than breaking in somewhere. There would be periods he'd have to lay low.
Of course, that brings up another question. *WHY* does he wear such hard-soled boots while working? Does he like clattering across hard floors so loudly they can hear him in the next city? Wouldn't it make more sense to wear something more softer-soled. Thick so he doesn't hurt his feet, of course, but softer. Like. . .I don't know. Mocassins or something. *snickers at that picture* I'm sure he could have something made that'd be more suitable than clickety-click boots like the guards wear.
Jarvis on 10/4/2006 at 21:34
The answer to that question is gameplay. Tile and metal floors are in reality more silent then say grass or wooden floors if you have proper footwear. Yet the developers probably wanted a couple floor types that completely halt the player and make them think outside the box.
When I think of Garrett in a more real world sense, he wears much softer footwear.
Or if you want to be funny about it... he does it as a show of his skill. "I can rob your keep of all it's wealth, *while* wearing clogs and you'll never know I'm there."
When Apache scouts passed their "final exam" they were given red headbands. It was their way of saying "I can wear this bright red headband and you still won't see me coming."
DarkElf_Mairead on 10/4/2006 at 22:08
Call me wierd, but just once I'd like to see him do something clumbsy in a cutscene. Like slip and fall off a low roof or something. Even professionals sometimes make mistakes.
