Thief: The Dark Project (and later titles) in GURPS

[Ragitsu]

What exactly do I need in order to play a game similar to the Thief series? Also, it appears as if Garrett's living in TL3 with many TL4 inventions, but I am not entirely sure as to the TL composition.

I have a feeling the much touted Low-Tech supplement will come in handy, but I don't know when that will be released.

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

Also, it appears as if Garrett's living in TL3 with many TL4 inventions, but I am not entirely sure as to the TL composition.

My interpretation (I've only played demos, though) is that it is essentially a TL3 setting with some very clever gadgeteers.

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

I have a feeling the much touted Low-Tech supplement will come in handy, but I don't know when that will be released.

Neither does anyone else. Including, I believe, the folks at SJG. It's in that "It'll be ready when it's ready" state known as editting.

If someone wanted me to run this, I'd wait for Low Tech, and consider picking up a copy of Steampunk and/or Steam-Tech and start working on converting in forward an edition and back a couple of TLs in the meantime.

[Turhan's Bey Company]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

I have a feeling the much touted Low-Tech supplement will come in handy, but I don't know when that will be released.

At the moment, it looks like some time next year.

[Langy]

I've played all three games, but it's been a very, very long time. I'd probably list it as TL3+1 - there's some very sophisticated steampunk-style bits and pieces in the setting, but it's primarily medieval.

Remember that magic exists in the game, too.

EDIT: Oh, forgot. There's TL3+6 technology available too, like a mechanical eye that lets Garret (the main character in the Thief games) see in the games after the first, when one of his eyes got ripped out.

[HuManBing]

TL for Thief is going to be tricky. Basically they appear to have bootstrapped the early stages of Industrial Revolution tech by using practical applications of magic. They have gunpowder, but nothing small enough for a human to carry around.

As far as combat goes, I seem to recall that a surprise attack does far more damage than a fully successful non-surprise attack. Maybe use some multiplier rules for successful sneak attacks.

The Builder appears to be a genuine deity because you have holy water, which injures undead (although even flashbombs will injure them as though it was sunlight).

The Woodsie Lord may be a demigod, given its role in the events of Thief 1.

[Ragitsu]

Stats for a blackjack? ;-) How about moss arrows?

Oh yeah, and electric lights are available.

[Rocket Man]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

Stats for a blackjack? ;-)

Basic Set, pg. 182, under Brawling. It's considered a fist load adding +1 to punching damage.

[Ragitsu]

Originally Posted by Rocket Man

Basic Set, pg. 182, under Brawling. It's considered a fist load adding +1 to punching damage.

No wonder I missed it: I don't read the actual skill entry that much these days.

[SuedodeuS]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

Stats for a blackjack? ;-) How about moss arrows?

Oh yeah, and electric lights are available.

As noted, the blackjack could be a fistload. However, the weapon Garrett uses more closely resembles a Short Baton (MA228-229; uses Shortsword or Knife. The world uses cinematic rules related to knocking somebody out, as well as how much "real" damage crushing weapons do. An approximation for the Blackjack might be to have half of the damage be real, and the other half "double knockout." That is, decrease the damage with a x0.5 modifier for injury purposes, but increase with a x1.5 for determining if it's a major wound. Alternatively, just give Garrett a Follow-Up Affliction that knocks enemies out but only works with a blackjack and requires the enemy be unaware (and attacked from behind, if memory serves).

If you build moss arrows as equipment, they cancel out Stealth penalties for moving along noisy surfaces and additionally give a bonus. If you build it as an Advantage, maybe some heavily-modified version of Silence or Obscure? As magical items, they probably have about the same range as a normal arrow.

Note also that the stealth-kills are more a game mechanic than an integral part of the setting. In GURPS, simply using All-Out Attack (Determined) with Telegraphic Attack against an vulnerable body part is perfectly effective... although if you want to add in the DF "sneak attack" (Striking ST only from behind) you can. I'd probably peg Garrett's Shortsword skill around the same as the guards' Broadsword, honestly. It's canon (to the best of my knowledge) that Garrett isn't an exceptional fighter.

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by SuedodeuS

The world uses cinematic rules related to knocking somebody out, as well as how much "real" damage crushing weapons do. An approximation for the Blackjack might be to have half of the damage be real, and the other half "double knockout." That is, decrease the damage with a x0.5 modifier for injury purposes, but increase with a x1.5 for determining if it's a major wound. Alternatively, just give Garrett a Follow-Up Affliction that knocks enemies out but only works with a blackjack and requires the enemy be unaware (and attacked from behind, if memory serves).

I'd just say the world uses the cinematic Kayo rules from Action 3. No need to turn the blackjack into a +3 Club of Unconsciousness. ;)

Honestly, though, the games' mechanics can be a bit wonky to try to convert to GURPS. For example, arrows normally instakill unaware guards, while a guard who knows Garrett is there can easily take a half dozen (and a minute later decide it was just the wind).