pickpocketing 101 question

Lemernis

Can you pickpocket an item that is equipped, e.g., a sword that is in the target's hand? Or are only items that are stored in the character's backpack pickpocketable? (I'd test it but I'm in the middle of a role-played no-reload game.)

Sylvus_Moonbow

You most certainly can.

95 Pickpocket is required for equipped weapons.

Worn items require 80 Pickpocket.

You cannot Pickpocket worn Armour, Helmets, Boots or Shields.

60 Pickpocket is required for worn rings.

50 Pickpocket is required for ammunition and misc. items.

10 Pickpocket is required for inventory items.

Lemernis

Thanks! Eldoth has 95 in pickpocketing (via potion) and he is considering it versus Cyedemac at the Elfsong Tavern. If it was impossible via the game engine I wouldn't try it. But since it has a shot to succeed I think he will have a go at it. RP-wise, I guess if the character is distracted enough it's (just barely) plausible that the target might not miss what they had in their hand moments earlier.

the_spyder

As an aside note, at least in the case of a certain drow, stealing his scimitars won't disarm him. He still attacks as if he still has them. At least in BG1 he does.

Lemernis

Hmm, even though Cyrdemac's bastard sword + 1 is equipped per EE Keeper, in-game I get the message that "the target has no items that can be stolen by a cut-purse of your skill." As mentioned, Eldoth's pickpocketing skill is at 95. Oh well.

elminster

You can't pickpocket any weapon that someone is using. The 95 only refers to a weapon that they aren't using that is in their weapon slot (so like a crossbow or some sort of secondary weapon they happen to have).

With the new changes in 1.3 (Drizzt's scimitars not being pickpocketable) there is really few if any targets whose weapons you can steal (and that are worth it to steal). Off the top of my head it tends to be guards who also happen to have like a short bow or crossbow along with their main weapon. I can't think of any enchanted weapons you can get this way.

elminster

So for instance Cyrdemac has his sword equipped and he is using it. But if he had both a sword and a club, but wasn't dual wielding them (and he was wielding the sword), you could steal the club.

Sylvus_Moonbow

Has the .2da changed? It lists that equipped weapons require 95 pickpocket.

EDIT: "You can't pickpocket any weapon that someone is using. The 95 only refers to a weapon that they aren't using that is in their weapon slot (so like a crossbow or some sort of secondary weapon they happen to have)."

Gosh, sorry @Lemernis. I thought it meant equipped weapons.

I'm going to blame @mlnevese for this. :P

Lemernis

Thanks, @elminster. Cyrdemac has a sword and shield equipped (literally in hand), FYI for those interested.

bbear

how come you cant steal someone's shirt off their back? game balance issue?

the_spyder

bbear said:

how come you cant steal someone's shirt off their back? game balance issue?

well, that and they'd be shirtless and this is a Rated G game. We have families and children playing. LOL.

elminster

Yea once 1.3 is released I'd say there is little point in putting towards pick pocket above 50. You can technically get Algeron's Cloak with that and there are hardly any vendors in the first game to steal from.

Lemernis

Actually there are some targets, although they are far and few between. Thus far in my current game Eldoth has pickpocketed Ragefast, Larze, Quenash, and Brevlik; and for some pretty decent treasure, actually. Not sure yet what other treasure-bearing targets there are in BG city. I do recall that there are some decent targets in Ulgoth's Beard. Not sure about Beregost, Nashkel, and Gullykin.

Here's the loot from the ones mentioned above:

Ragefast - Wand of Paralyzation
Larze - Gauntlets of Weapon Skill, Knock scroll
Quenash - Cloak of Balduran
Brevlick - Lightning Wand