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Hm, musta been rats...
  — Origin Unknown

Rats in the Thief Universe are almost characters of their own. They inhabit every dark and dank environment, from sewers to chapels and large mansions. They are seen on many levels of T2 and TDS, as actual rodents scurrying about. They can be killed, but are in no way hostile. The Rat does react to Garrett and runs away, but it does not alert any nearby guards. The rat is larger in Thief: Deadly Shadows, but they still pose no threat to Garrett and can be killed with a Dagger.

Common folk of The City often gamble small change on Rat Races.[1]

The rat's natural predator is the Cat.

Azaran the Cruel started using rats and insects for his necromancy work.[2]

Artificial Intelligence[]

Even though many guards and servants blame all sorts of noises on rats, no rats are seen causing any hostile NPC concern, or causing any source of noise or trouble whatsoever.

Rats are blamed for minor sounds and sightings of Garrett's mischief, though it's generally exaggerated that all disturbances are blamed on rats.

Mechanist Robots or Masked Servants are never heard blaming rats, although glyph statues are.[3] Sometimes when one of the male Mechanist hears a suspicious noise, he complain about rats: "Rats would be wise to scurry elsewhere...", suggesting an interesting metaphor between the thieves and the rats, for the sneaking peculiarities and the dirty habits that both of them have.[4]

Mice[]

See: Mouse

Strategy[]

The rat is not hostile. In TDS, it is immune to Gas Arrows (but not Gas Bombs), does not slip on oil or choke on moss, and cannot be blinded. It squeaks and runs away if Garrett steps or drops something on it, but will not alert anyone to his presence. In fact, people usually stop looking after they see a rat, concluding that it had been the object of their search all along.

It will not notice or be noticed by a cat, even when right beside it.

Behind the Scenes[]

At one point it was considered that Garrett's size would be reduced and the enemies would be the rats; using cheese as lures, and using the Rope Arrows to climb up tables.[5]

In DromEd Deluxe (aka DedeX), if the levels origin is not secure, the game will be flooded with suicidal rats,[6] due to the instability of placing objects at the direct center (0, 0, 0).

In DromEd, if the "small creature" box is not checked, then the in-game rat will fall and get stuck in floor traps, and be able to climb stairs.

References[]

NPC's
Standard Guards Sword Bafford Sword Guard · Bafford Front Gate Guard · Bafford Sergeant · Bank Sergeant · Common Sword Guard · Constantine Sword Guard · Gervaisius Guard · Mage Sword Guard · Opera Sword Guard · Ramirez Sword Guard
Bow Bafford Bow Guard · Bafford Front Gate Guard · Common Bow Guard · Constantine Bow Guard · Mage Bow Guard · Opera Bow Guard · Ramirez Bow Guard
Factions City Watch City Watch Guard · Sheriff Bow Guard · Sheriff Sword Guard · Sheriff Helmet Guard · Sheriff Sergeant
Hammerites Hammerite Guard · Hammerite Priest · Hammerite Novice · Hammerite Smith
Mechanists Mechanist Mace Guard · Mechanist Crossbow Guard · Mechanist Priest · Mechanist Helmet Guard · Mechanist Crossbow Diver · Mechanist Mace Diver · Mechanist Frogman · Mechanist Masked Guard · Mechanist Worker
Pagans Pagan Warrior · Pagan Shaman · Unarmed Pagan
Keepers Keeper Elder · Keeper Enforcer · Keeper Instructor · Sparring Partner
Hand Mages Water Mage · Earth Mage · Air Mage · Fire Mage
Criminals Assassin · Thief Bow Guard · Thief Sword Guard · Thug
Creatures Animals Burrick · Cat · Frogbeast · Insect Swarm · Rat · Rust Mite · Spiders (Yellow · Green · Chaos)
Magic Air Elemental · Fire Elemental · Glyph Statues (Gargoyle · Human · Giant Human)
Other Ape Beast · Bugbeast · Crayman · Craybeast · Eyeball Plant · Kurshok · Rat Beast · Tree Beast
Undead Apparition · Cradle Staff · Fire Shadow · Hammer Haunt · Puppet · Zombie
Builder's Children Combat Bot · Mechanical Cherub · Spider Bot · Worker Bot
Non-Combatants Actor · Harmless Apparition · Masked Servant · Nobleman · Opera Guest · Servant · Shrimp
Unused Albino Spider · Clockwork Eye · Ramirez Sergeant · Scurry Bot · Spectre · Sweel · Water Elemental
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