Originally Posted by
SpankWustler
Based on the concept that nothing SE plans for Thief really makes sense, here is my suggestion:
Upon trading the Thief's Knife to an Ebon Panel in the depths of sea, it vanishes from your inventory.
Two days later (game days or real life days, it's random), an NPC named "Thief's Wife" begins to follow you around. The Thief's Wife is that Galka with a bald spot and a fu manchu, wearing a full Bronze Subligar set and armed with an Ukonvasara which is never used or even drawn. If you buy another Thief's Knife and attempt to equip it, the Thief's Wife shouts "No Dear!" and such an action will not be allowed.
Your Treasure Hunter upgrade messages will be replaced by shouts from the Thief's Wife, with a +1 bonus taken into account. For variety, the Thief's Wife will shout things like "Treasure Hunter Level 7, Honey Bunny!" and "Good job Sweetums, that's Treasure Hunter Level 11!" By shout, I mean these things will literally appear in the shout channel using normal mechanics with one exception. It is not possible to filter them by any means.
When inevitably nothing drops, the Thief's Wife will perform a /comfort motion with you as the target. A look deep in the Thief's Wife's eyes, however, will let you know that the Thief's Wife still blames you for the absence of a drop. In this way, the process will mirror a real relationship.
So, development team, what do you think? This sounds like it's right up your alley.