Pick Pocketting - Rules and Guide

[GodBeastX]

There has been an outcry for a ruling on pickpocketting, so here it is.

1) You may NOT pickpocket the same person more than once in a 24 hour span, period. Failures or other such things count as your one attempt.

2) Heavy objects must be returned OOC'ly or you -must- RP that you were automatically "Spotted" which means informing the person you took it from. This will be considered a "Snatch" and run action. You can't stealthily remove a tower shield from a soldier's back, but you can snatch it and run.

These are considered automatically detected:
- Over 10 for weight
- Over 100 coins

3) If you are not stealthed when you make the attempt, you are assumed to be walking by and using techniques like "Bumping" into the person or such to throw off your stealing attempt. If they happen to notice the object gone, and you are not stealth, then they may "Guess" you took it.

4) I'm iffy on this one, but I'm going to say it as a "Guideline" more than a "Rule". Thieves are assumed to be concealing they have an object. If they steal a scroll they might have it in the drawls or what not. I hope players roll search or something for finding things or at least giving the benefit of the doubt.

5) Pick Pocketting does not require permission to do since I'm of the opinion most people will go "NO! I LOVE MY STUFF! GET OUT OF HERE THIEF!" but please respect players who are having a tough time. Stealing 200 coins from a level 3 is like a level 15 killing a level 3. It's jacked up and borderline griefing. And nothing is to say you can't be polite and RP out the pick pocketting through tells.

Player A: I want to steal from you, but I don't want to jack you for anything expensive. You mind if I just take something of little value? Potion? Healing kit?

Player B: I got a bless scroll?

Player A: Alright, that'll work, I'll roll sleight of hand and you roll spot.

or

Player A: I was going to steal from you since my character is a Kleptomaniac, does you character have alot of wealth? I don't really want to take from players that are just starting or what not.

Player B: Well, I only just started playing so I have like, 400 coins.

PLayer A: Alright, I'll just pass you up then.

There you have it. Just because mechanics work a certain way doesn't mean YOU have to work that way.

[DeGray]

Good call on pickpocketing.
My first character was pick pocketed within five minutes of joining the server with lack of RP to it. I approve!
Let's hope to see some good RP stemming from this.

[Poor_Otis]

Was wondering about this

Good rules for this stuff. Very reasonable and should enhance player interaction...hopefully without too many OOC problems.

In my experience, PPing can cause the most problems on a server if not policed properly. I think (from my limited observations) there are mature enough players to handle these rules and follow them. I just get really wary of any PPing situations because of the problematic and imperfect game mechanics...

[Multiplicity]

This is a good rule for certain. I have seen in the past where people's entire inventories were pickpocketed, especially people who go AFK in the middle of town (which is even more jacked up).

[skyde]

I approve this message.

[reemixx]

Good call, GBX. I found that I rarely pick pocketed anyone simply because the rules weren't laid out clear. It causes all sorts of problems, as we all know, and didn't want to get on the wrong side of people OOCly because there was a misunderstanding about what is/isn't allowed. So two thumbs up from me.

[Tratz]

It's such a shame that these rules are needed. I see it personally as a deterrent from pickpocketing all together because there *is* no way to choose what you steal.

After all, would you really want to steal the shield off of someone's back? Maybe if your rogue has less then 8 intelligence or wisdom...

Also, the lack of anonymity can be a factor. Just to play the devils advocate for a moment here, does it make a difference if the player knows, if the character doesn't? I personally feel it's simpler that either do not know if a thief succeeds on both his skill check versus the other's reflex and spot. This community is wonderful, but it would reduce the likelihood of metagaming if what "didn't happen," wasn't made apparent on both fronts, in and out of game. No, I'm not insinuating that anyone is metagaming intentionally...but the things you know that your character doesn't often squeek in the back of your mind as you play. It's only human.

Frequently bilking other players is really stupid though, because in character, eventually the victim will get a clue. It's the same principle as griefing another character via player-killing. It's an extreme if you can't walk down the street without some dude following you with his hand in your pocket the entire god damned way without you noticing it, or at least having an increased chance of noticing after each repitition. It's not good tact, and the game's Slight of Hand mechanics just don't recognize that. I will naturally aknowledge these rules....but at the same time not pick pocket. There is always the chance that I will in-advertantly take something 11 pounds or more and be forced to incriminate Perigo when he just wouldn't be so stupid in the first place.