Basic Information
He's handsome, suave, charming; he's impeccably dressed and excruciatingly well-bred. He looks just like Cary Grant, or perhaps David Niven. He has all the gentlemanly virtues… except honesty. He's the Gentleman Thief, and when he kisses a lady's hand he's evaluating how much he can get for the diamond bracelet she's wearing. His tuxedo comes with rubber-soled shoes, the better for sneaking through second-story windows at night. He's a lady-killer, and might leave a rose next to her pillow after he's rifled through all her jewelry. Generally speaking, he only robs those who can afford it. After all, a stolen Tiffany necklace will get you more champagne and caviar than a stolen TV.
In a fantastic setting, this character is often involved in the theft of significant supernatural artefacts of various kinds - and indeed his more mundane counterpart is probably not adverse to dealing in stolen antiquities either. In any case, there's a good chance he steals to order - or at least with a buyer in mind - and is not to be found peddling his wares speculatively around the smoking room of a gentlemen's club. Such a thief may also be a collector and steal for his own account.
His thieving skills involve finesse, stealth and sometimes deception - he is not, ordinarily, the sort of man who blows open safes and cuts through glass cases with a tube of thermite.
His distaff counterpart is the Classy Cat Burglar
Sources
Game and Story Use
- The Gentleman Thief usually works alone or with only one or two confederates, so it might be difficult working him into a group of PCs. Not impossible, though.
- He also works well as an NPC foil, perhaps even a recurring villain.
- A semi-retired Gentleman Thief could make a good NPC contact or supporting character.
- Indiana Jones' rival Belloc probably fits into this niche as well, especially with regard to the theft of antiquities.