The Proper Punishment for Thieves

Mafro -- I respect your opinion regarding screen shots but still disagree with it . I think the ultimate proof still remains the mail with a player's name on it. And let us face it, thieving is a part of the game for better or worse. I personally think that thieving smaller active players is not a good idea. The time and effort put into the mission does not usually get reciprocated with the amount of ill gotten gains. That is why my thieves only target inactives. (Disclaimer-- This policy changes during times of war and active theft attempts against my cities) 

Ashtar

Rorgash, my point is that sending out thieves should involve riscs for the sender. No problems in thieving an inactive for obvious reasons, but if you are CAUGHT by an active player, simply having the name revealed isnt enough. And it does get rather high strung in Illy if alliances have to be involved in every little theft that might occur. 

The message here is that thieving shouldn't be an effortless enterprise. If you send diplomatic attacks against someone, the riscs should be so significant that you would need a good reason to do so, not just to pick on new players.

What precise consequences a capture should involve for the sender is still very much a debatable topic, but the current system does seem to favor the larger established players at this point.

Since this pertains to the topic."proper punishment to thieves" and ryelle suffered thievery

heres proof of your accusation, pay attention to line one.

I'd say in accordance to this thread, as an example with the chatlog below.  make sure the person who is accusing you or your alliance, actually has proof. 

I voted 'other'. I view this from the social perspective. If a thief is caught, start negotiating. There's a lot to negotiate, and the menu is extensive: compensation, blackmail/extortion, social justice, public shame, city extermination, personal war, alliance war, declaration of trade embargo, *cough* sandpit. I did write some possible demands, but deleted them to let your imagination flourish.

I like the idea of public shame and reputation, and perhaps NPCs taking reputation into account (and having this matter). I'm intrigued by the possibility of this driving alliances and players 'underground', such that they need to make things work outside the official mechanisms of play (e.g. banned from trade hubs, no favour from the King or NPCs, driven from large territories, etc).

I go to great lengths to ensure that whomever I thieve, they're retired or suspended players: a gentleman among thieves, you might say. However, I expect after tomorrow's changes, I might not replenish any thief losses, and retire from the theft game.

I like that; it places some currency on intelligence.