Pipe Dreams: Thief

[Jandor]

The reason why they don't want to implement "Thief" is because they want the WoL to only be associated with moral and upstanding dealings. That is why you don't get to play as a Thief but instead get to join the Rogue's Guild, which is comprised of former thieves. Even Black Mage and Summoner, whom both use forbidden arts tow the line but are given the pass as you are using the arts to prevent others from misusing them. Thieves by their very nature steal, it's eponymous to its name. Even if you're a "good" Thief, it still means you are stealing, which is criminal and not something they want the WoL to do for story reasons. We have "Thief" in the game as a job, and it's called Rogue. They historically had several skills associated with Thief, such as Sneak Attack and Trick Attack, Gust Slash, and Mug. Rogue even upgrades to Ninja much like how Thief upgrades to Ninja in FF1.

I think most of us know this, especially OP. The class design and surrounding discussion is just for fun, not something I expect he seriously thinks might get implemented.

That aside though, the excuse about the WoL and stealing is pretty rubbish anyway. Rogues are Thieves, I don't mean in a coy 'Rogue is actually Thief job renamed' way either, I mean as in they actually steal from people and are thought of by many as common criminals.

Lurking in the shadows, adhering to no laws but their own, they punish the wicked, pilfering their ill-gotten gains and delivering them to the downtrodden masses. Thought by many to be mere common criminals, some would say they play an unseen hand in maintaining order in the buccaneer's haven of Limsa Lominsa.