The P Word: A Public Service Announcement

[frefaln]

Today I'd like to share some thoughts on the dreaded "P" word. Don't get your hopes up, I'm referring to pickpocketing.

Some people might associate "pickpocketing" with a dastardly rogue who's hellbent on screwing everyone over. Perhaps they'll read my thoughts below and reconsider.

First off: yes. I pickpocket one out of every 6 or 7 mobs that my group is fighting. I also freely tell my group that I'm doing it if loot is discussed. However, I also loot maybe 1 out of every 30 corpses on the ground. Sure, occasionally I'll pickpocket a Gargoyle Eye or a gem that sells for a couple plat. I've earned it, just like any other member of the group vacuuming corpses before the death animation has even completed.

A few critical notes on pickpocketing:

* You can't pickpocket magic items. That excludes a lot.

* You can't pickpocket wielded items. All that fine steel you're looting and selling? Enjoy it, for I probably didn't get any of it.

* It doesn't always work, even if it's maxed. I can pickpocket a gargoyle three times and someone might still loot a Gargoyle Eye. Pickpocketing is not some magical shortcut to riches.

* If you're grouped with a rogue and you see "Stop, thief!" every other fight, and that rogue is also looting every corpse in sight, you've probably got a very greedy player in the ranks. That's not a rogue problem, that's an individual player problem.

Okay, so why the long post? The subject came up in a group I was in yesterday (it was a light-hearted discussion). One guy said, "Hey, I have no problem telling a rogue to F off if I find out he's pickpocketing!". And it made me wonder just how many people think inviting a rogue to their group equates to getting screwed on loot. Hardly. I stand by my 1/6 approach, for rogues are horrible at solo'ing and have no discernable skill that can be marketed. Therefore I keep pickpocketing maxed so when a zone is empty at 3 AM I might actually make a little plat. Even that doesn't come easily, for mobs clobber me all the way to the zoneline whenever an attempt fails. I have indeed earned whatever I've made from the dreaded "P" word.

Thank you and good day.