Is pickpocketing worth it?

Nonnahswriter

Hey all, I've decided to play a chaotic-neutral bard for one of my playthroughs of BG:EE. For roleplaying reasons, I thought it might be fun to try some pickpocketing throughout the game, since I've never bothered to in the past. But I haven't had very good luck... Most of the NPCs I try pickpocketing don't have any items on them, which is always a disheartening message to read in the dialogue box since I've only got a 50% success rate.

So... Is pickpocketing worth it? Any tips on spotting NPCs that might have some gear on them?

CaptRory

Named NPCs often have good stuff. The trick is lifting something off them before they walk away. Having a bard with Pick Pocketing is nice because it means the party thief doesn't have to spend any points on it. It's also one of the skills that benefits from having mor than 100 points in it.

The_New_Romance

When you're a bard, then yes, definitely. It's the only thief skill they have, and it improves quite rapidly. Of course, you'll need to meta-game a little in order to not let valuable targets escape, but if you're fine with that then you should rob them all blind

For thieves, I wouldn't put points in it. Stealth and Find/Disable Traps are more worthwile.

It's virtually impossible to identify the "big fish" a priori, though. You might want to consult a guide such as http://www.forgottenwars.com/bg1/index.htm.

Nonnahswriter

Thanks for the help you guys! My bard shall have infinite fun taking things from unsuspecting individuals' pockets!

CaptRory

Have fun and quicksave often! =3

ZanathKariashi

Is he a half-elf? They get an extra +10 to Pickpockets.

SCARY_WIZARD

I like using it to get freebies from stores. Great way to fill up a potion bag!

Ogaburan

Too much micromanagement for me.
Money is only really an issue early on anyway's...
I think it is not worth it.

Luigirules

Well, if you're a bard, it's not like you can put those points anywhere else.

You're gonna have pickpocketing skills, you might as well use them.

moody_mage

You can get some sweet sweet items unobtainable anywhere else (Cloak of Algernon, 2nd Ring of Free Action etc...). In BG2 you can sneak a 2nd Ring of Gaxx if you are quick enough which is supercheese-awesome.

Ogaburan

Whats a bard?

Sure you can, fight... but not really good.
Sure you can do some magic... but compared to a Mage you are a joke.
Sure you can pickpocket... but a thief can do it better & backstab.
Sure you can buff up your party... but a cleric can do it much better.

A smorgasbord of mediocrity.

Oxford_Guy

Ogaburan said:

Whats a bard?

Sure you can, fight... but not really good.
Sure you can do some magic... but compared to a Mage you are a joke.
Sure you can pickpocket... but a thief can do it better & backstab.
Sure you can buff up your party... but a cleric can do it much better.

A smorgasbord of mediocrity.

I think they can be dun, for a different persepctive, see:
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/13653/what-is-the-point-of-bard
and
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/12847/blade-or-skald

After my evil elf fighter/mage playthrough I intend to play a Skald (probably good-aligned, for a change)

Don't forget they level-up much faster than a Mage (and *much* faster than a multiclass mage), and benefit greatly from spells which increase in power with level

ZanathKariashi

I don't know...if bioware hadn't F'd the class up so much (The plain bard is barely implemented AT ALL, not to mention that mess with kits being backwards (Skalds are actually the melee powerhouses in PnP, while the Blades are the party support and can make called shots with thrown weapons, and the jester is an avoidance-tank extraordinaire with really good pickpockets)), they'd likely be on of the strongest characters...and technically...they already are, if played correctly. Anything with access to Arcane Magic, is automatically one of the best classes, the exact tiering of which largely comes down to knowledge of most effective use of their resources.

[Deleted User]

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Oxford_Guy

Bhaaldog said:

For role playing purposes it is ok (there are some "cheat combos" in BG2 where you can steal, sell it back steal, sell it back etc) but otherwise it is possible to go through the entire game without stealing anything.

If playing good-aligned I hardly ever use pickpockets, as if it goes wrong the reputation loss really hurts, but it can be fun to use when evil and you don't care (and the reputation loss for killing an innocent is less).

I think I prefer Skald as a bard anyway, especially if playing good, which has pickpockets nerfed, but full lore and a great bard song (*and* an innate +1 THAC0/+1 damage). Arguably the Blade is stronger class, but I don't feel it's a "proper" bard (no decent song until HLAs and lore and pickpockets both nerfed).

Mathuzzz

From what I remember some of the best items in the game can be stolen...

Oxford_Guy

Mathuzzz said:

From what I remember some of the best items in the game can be stolen...

Though if it's just for a few items, you can boost your skill with potions

Madhax

Pickpocketing only seems relevant to me if you meta-game. The vast majority of targets in the game have very little if anything worthwhile to steal, which is why there are only a few examples of notable pickpockets in this thread. Having a bard available to do it for you is nice, but I never put points in it with a thief unless I've maxed other stuff first.

smeagolheart

Madhax said:

Pickpocketing only seems relevant to me if you meta-game. The vast majority of targets in the game have very little if anything worthwhile to steal, which is why there are only a few examples of notable pickpockets in this thread. Having a bard available to do it for you is nice, but I never put points in it with a thief unless I've maxed other stuff first.

Agreed. It might be nice for one or two uses so if you can put up with a bard in your party it's okay.

I wouldn't waste my thief skill points on this until everything else is maxed and by then who cares about pickpocketing, you will have plenty of great loot and over powered gear.

Also, since I didn't see anyone mention it, it's highly annoying when you fail and everyone goes hostile against you. Usually that means you broke an NPC you didn't want to make hostile and for me I reload at that point. I guess you could continue and slaughter the hostile NPC and get the reputation hit if you want. Not really worth it IMHO.

Tinter

Yeah- the problem with it and the reason it requires metagaming is the consequences for pickpocketings are really excessive. I mean, get caught pickpocketing Ribald, he will mess you up, but realistically most of the time bribery, calling in possibly corrupt guards ect are all more likely consequences than everyone in the world trying to murder the 6 foot tall warrior mage.

Anything thats basically totally reliant on just reloading till it works just isn't fun for me.

Oxford_Guy

BTW can you still pickpocket Drizzt's Scimitars (but not armour) in the current BGEE patch?

Erg

@Oxford_Guy

Yes, it is still possible in BGEE 1.0.2011

I don't know if it will stay the same with the next patch.

Oxford_Guy

Erg said:

@Oxford_Guy

Yes, it is still possible in BGEE 1.0.2011

I don't know if it will stay the same with the next patch.

Okay, thanks