AcornStory -- Playing a Thief (Updated!)

http://maplestory.nexon.net/News/News.as...ageIndex=1

Welcome to AcornStory, our new ongoing feature where we help you get started in Maple World – everything from choosing a class to finding friends to understanding combat to tips for account security. MapleStory is easy to learn, but once you learn the basic game mechanics, where do you go and what do you do? That’s where AcornStory can help.

Playing a Thief!

In the last AcornStory, we discussed how to pick an Explorer type that fits your play style. This time, we’ll be focusing in on a specific character class – the Thief – and talking about what to expect when you play as a Thief. We'll also talk about about the three advanced Thief classes in the game.

Good Thief players understand their class very well and are comfortable moving around a lot. It's not an easy class to play, but when played well, Thieves are tremendous fun and a great asset to an adventuring party, Many Thieves wouldn't play any other class.



Thieves begin MapleStory in the same way as every other class -- as Beginners on Maple Island where they learn the basics of the game. That lets you learn the game, make some friends and kill some monsters. Once you reach level 10, head to Kerning City. Once there, head to the jazz lounge basement and the Thieves' Hideaway and speak with Dark Lord to begin your new life as a basic Thief (called a "Rogue"). Dark Lord will give you a level one skill book called "Thief Introduction." Once you use it, you'll see a list of basic Thief skills you can learn. Select the one you want and assign Skill Points to acquire them.

Thief Skills and Skill/Ability Points

Characters in MapleStory grow stronger in two basic ways. As a character kills monsters, they acquire "experience points." When they attain a certain number of experience points, they'll rise in level. For each level they attain, they'll recieve a certain number of Skill Points and Ability Points that they can use to acquire new skills and powers that can be used to fight monsters as well as improve their basic abilities.

Skill Points -- Thief

Skill points are used to purchase new powers that help Thieves kill monsters or to increase the power of an already purchased skill. Many MapleStory players on the Internet have taken it upon themselves to write detailed guides that recommend various Thief "builds." This simply means that they give lists of skills they believe make for a skilled and useful Theif and tell you how many Skill Points you should put into each ability. This guide won't recommend a specific build, but will point out a few sample Thief skills.

Note: Certain Skills will not be available until you reach a certain level.

Keen Eyes: This skill increase the range of your throwing stars and knives. As a Thief isn't very tough physically, the farther you can stay away from monsters while fighting, the better.

Nimble Body: This increases your accuracy and aids you when dodging enemy attacks.

Dark Sight: This skill allows you to use Magic Points to hide in the shadows. While using this, monsters cannot attack you, though you cannot attack either. At higher levels, this skill can be used in conjunction with other skills to strike from the shadows for great damage.

Ability Points: Ability Points are used to increase a character's basic abilities. Abilities are inherent characteristics that affect a character's abilities to perform Skills and other actions. "Strength," for example (abbreviated STR) affects the amount of damage a character inflicts when striking a monsters. The most important Abilities for a particular class are sometimes referred to as their "primary attributes."

Primary attributes -- Thief

Luck (LUK): Luck is the Thief's most important Ability. Luck affects the amount of damage you can do and increases your accuracy.

Dexterity (DEX): Dexterity also plays an important role in improving your accuracy and helps you avoid getting hit.

Pro Tip: Some Thieves have been known to keep their DEX low in order to have extra Ability Points to put in LUK and other attributes. They make up for their lack of DEX with specific equipment that improves their Dexterity. This is referred to as being a "Dexless Thief" and can be a very effective play style. It's recommended you seek out the advice of fellow players before going this route.

Job Advancement


Once a character reaches level 30, they have the opportunity to begin to specialize in their chosen class. This is called a "job advancement." For Thieves, that means can choose to follow the path of the Bandit, the path of the Assassin, or the path of the Dual Blade. Bandits are dagger-wielding up-close damage dealers. Assassins are ranged attackers who use a metal claw and throwing stars. In order to get your job advancement, return to Dark Lord at level 30. He will give you a quest to prove your worth. Once you finish the quest, you will be able to select which path you wish to follow and your job title will change from "Rogue" to your new job.

Players may also select the new Dual Blade path at level 30

When your character reaches level 70, you should return to Dark Lord again for your next job advancement. Your final job advancement is available at level 120.

Bandit

The path of the bandit is dangerous but rewarding. Rather than striking from afar, the bandit gets up close and personal by using a dagger. Their attacks don't do much damage, but their so quick, the bandit can often hit a target multiple times before they're even aware of what's going on. As they rise in levels, their new skills work to increase this advantage, focusing on helping the bandit to strike from the shadows for massive damage.

Sample Bandit Skills

Dagger Mastery: Increases your accuracy and the damage inflicted by daggers. A key skill for a bandit as the dagger is their primary weapon.

Double Stab: Use Magic Points to quickly stab an enemy twice with a dagger. .

Savage Blow: Dagger: Like Double Stab, this skill allows you to strike six times with a dagger.

Assassin

The path of the assassin is one marked by constant practice to master accuracy. Unlike the bandit, assassins strike from afar with throwing stars and knives. They're very agile, very fast and can attack while they're in the air. They're extremely fragile though, so it's important to be aware of skills that help you escape if you find yourself in a close up combat.

Sample Assassin Skills

Lucky Seven: This skill allows you to use Magic Points to throw two throwing stars and apply damage based on your LUK.

Claw Mastery: Increases your accuracy with throwing stars.

Claw Booster: Uses your Hit Points and Magic Points to temporraily boost the attack speed to your Claw.

Dual Blade

There is a secret war raging in the heart of Kerning City. Lady Syl, Dark Lord’s former flame and the daughter of his great mentor, wages a silent war against the Dark Lord and his Thieves from an unknown location simply known as the ‘Secret Garden.’ Dual Blades have fast, slashing, stabbing, and assassination skills, similar to the traditional Thief class. They also have unique skills such as Mirror Image and Final Cut!

Sample Dual Blade Skills

Triple Stab: Use a Katara to attack multiple enemies three times.

Mirror Image: Summons a doppelganger that looks just like you to assist in attacks for a certain amount of time. Your doppelganger cannot use certain attacks.

Claw Booster: Sacrifices a significant amount of HP to deal powerful damage on multiple enemies. Once you activate this ability, your attack rate increases for a set duration. The amount of HP consumed, the damage, and the attack enhancement effect vary depending on the gauge. However, the attack rate enhancement effect is restricted on some skills.

Pro Tip: Remember that Dual Blades have their own Cash Item inventory. Their Cash Item inventory cannot be shared with any of your other characters!

Honestly, it's almost worth it to not post these, as wrong as they are...

Lol at Claw Booster for Dual Blades.

Why is this strangely familiar?

The pain in my heart returns. . .

Honestly, it's almost worth it to not post these, as wrong as they are...

and miss out on all these lulz? I think not.

I spit chocolate milk out on my monitor when I read that an important Dual Blade skill of notice was claw booster... Funny pomegranate is funny.

lol did you see Hime defending the last Acorn Story? They still cant get anything right.

lol did you see Hime defending the last Acorn Story? They still cant get anything right.

ima need a link please.

ima need a link please.

I'll dig through my post history for it. The response she gave was that it's a basic guide. Lmao.

Edit: Nexon's shitty forums won't let me do anything right now. <__<

Well, at least they've stopped saying:

In terms of popularity, you'll meet far fewer Thieves than other classes.

Claw Booster: Sacrifices a significant amount of HP to deal powerful damage on multiple enemies. Once you activate this ability, your attack rate increases for a set duration. The amount of HP consumed, the damage, and the attack enhancement effect vary depending on the gauge. However, the attack rate enhancement effect is restricted on some skills.

Thats in DB ahahahahahahhaa, god they are so stupid.