They are sometimes hired by other NPCs, especially evil ones. Thugs strongly prefer stealth, treachery, and ambush to normal attacks. Thugs rarely use magical weapons, preferring cheap but effective tools that could easily be left behind. Sometimes thugs may be hired as guards, if assured of high level clerical assistance when injured or slain. They may rarely be found working with bandits or other renegade groups, often unbeknownst to the bandits themselves.
Thugs know methods to kill quickly, neatly, and silently.
A thug also has the same special abilities as a thief of the same level, with the exception of scroll use at 10th level. Thugs use standard Fighter attack roll tables and saving throw tables. If a prepared thug gains surprise, the victim may be slain with a single blow, regardless of hit points. If the percentage roll fails, normal backstab damage is inflicted. A successful hit may also require the victim to make a saving throw vs. poison if the thug is using a poisoned blade.