The Magpie on 26/5/2009 at 02:29

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I'm not sure what you mean here, Beleg.

Within Thief fiction, freelance adventurers are around, if you by that title mean people like Felix and crew, not to mention that infamous Garrett fellow. In our world, I'd suppose freelance adventurers could easily have been present during history, but likely not going by that particular title. I wish I could name examples, though.

I agree with you on the matter of elemental crystals.

Lockpicks are evidently contraband, but what throws me is the abundance of scouting orbs. I'm sure their usefulness to non-mech-eye-endowed individuals has been discussed in half a dozen threads before, but I'm still having trouble figuring out their place in society.

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Larris

Xorak on 26/5/2009 at 04:48

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I think there is a distinction between say a water crystal and a water arrow. Perhaps the thieves have found that they can shoot these crystals from a bow, simply because they're roughly the shape of an arrow. Maybe Garrett is the only one who actually does it. Or maybe it requires some skill to fire the crystals from a bow, and that is why the common guards always stick to regular arrows. They keep the crystals 'just in case' they have a special need for them, and for general purpose reasons I listed below.

In the gameworld each crystal would require special aim, since each one is made up of its own unique irregularities and facets. Garrett's likely spent months just figuring out how to shoot them off without a problem. This is why the guards would never expect a light to just go out, because they never expect someone to be shooting them off in the first place with such precise aim.

A fire crystal could just be a handy way to walk around and light up tender for torches and lanterns.
A water crystal could purify dirty water. Maybe that's why they often show up in sinks and fresh water pools.
The earth crystal could stimulate and germinate rich soil, especially on surfaces where none will grow.
The gas crystal could be used to smoke out smaller pests and vermin, even to smoke meat. Give it that real gas-crystal taste without all the gas-crystal calories. :p

A noisemaker could be a simple little child's toy rigged up purposely to the end of an arrow for no other use than distraction or entertainment. Perhaps, it's really some sort of 'fireworks' thing. Shoot it up in the air and it makes a wide range of noises that can be accompanied by light displays. It could also make a good flare to shoot when in trouble.

The rope arrow would likely not exist per se. I think it probably has a barbed point or something on the end that makes it ideal for sticking into wood really well. Thieves then found that it holds their weight when they stand or climb onto it. So, every time Garrett finds one of these arrows (with the barbed point) he just ties a length of rope to it, and voila he has a rope arrow.