Help on Thief build

I want to make a thief character, but am not sure how to begin. I was thinking a halfling would be a good choice, but beyond that....

Is it better to go for a backstab/melee type?(probably too easy) a gunslinger type?

magic heavy, tech heavy or a neutral affinity?

How do you do your thief builds? I am at a loss for picking one for myself.

 

An excelent start is the Halfling Raised by Orcs. ST 7, DX 10, PE10, CH 2?, + 1/4 all combat skills. I ran mine as a tech archer thief, a friend ran one as a mage thief. Another is the Halfling, Beat with an Ugly Stick. I rather like the ST increasers for a Halfling, but another friend ran a Halfling Miracle Operation as a gunslinger thief.

Prowl is a natural as are ranged weapons. For mine, who took Explosives for the Pyro Bow, throwing is a must & he did the crash site with a boomerang.

Bandit is a good start for the gunslinger. + 1/2 firearms, - 1? 2? CH. (The only start that will let a 1/2 Elf get firearms Mastery BTW.) If you go this route, put 1 point in PE & 2 in firearms from the start.

Elves & 1/2 Elves make good thieves as well. I like 1/2 Orcs, but they lack finesse. Make better thugs.

 

Well I had a human with no special background. I specialized in lockpicking, melee, and the technical disciplines of mechanics and smithy. VERY effective.