Pick-pocketing / Thieving Questions?

Defatank · May 31

Looking for the expert thieves on this one.... When it comes to Pick-pocketing/ Thieving I have a few detailed questions I don't 100% know the answers to.

1. When Pick-pocketing if you pickpocket when the number is green versus it being white does that also increase the likelihood that what you steal will have a better chance at being higher quality? (I think its only increasing the likelihood you wont get caught)

2. When Pick-pocketing NPC's does say (Nobles) have higher chances of dropping higher quality items than say a (Drunkard)? (Is there some form of hierarchical design of who carries a more likely chance of having higher quality stolen items?) (I dont believe there is which leads to the next question of why do we need to know they're nobles, drunkard, fisherman etc?)

3. Is stealing in an (Advanced) door house going to have an increased chance that the containers in that house have higher quality items than a (Simple) door house?

4. Does stealing from Guards have an increased chance of higher quality loot versus NPC's who just report your crime?

5. Pick-pocketing numerous times on the same NPC, successfully pick-pocketing each time does that increase the likelihood of finding higher quality loot? Is it better to pickpocket them 2x then blade of woe the 3rd pick (as most NPC's you can only pickpocket 3x before they go Empty and that also would potentially yield Dried Blood and you get the stolen item too)

6. Does having a bounty while stealing decrease your chance of finding higher quality loot? / Does having a higher bounty further decrease the chance of finding higher quality loot?

7. If you successfully steal something multiple times w/o getting bounties does this increase the likelihood you will find higher quality items?

Thank you,
Defatank

Blood_again · May 31

1. It affects success/fail chance only.
2. It seems yes. I think I get more superior treasures from Nobles. But it doesn't exclude having something epic quality from a Beggar. Basically we need to know who is Beggar or Noble because it affects the loot type. Some treasure types are exclusive, some are more probable for definite NPC types (look the guards for example, p.4). So it helps you to choose a proper target for items requested.
3. Dunno. I've never noticed any correlation.
4. Guards have some unique loot: cool furniture like Bounty sheets and the style item. It's the only reason for me to pickpocket them.
5. Only the difficulty rises + you drain the NPC pockets. 2 pick + blade is optimal, if you don't have the Ember buff.
6. No effect. The only time you bounty mattered - thievery event ended this month. You got more chances on event container drop being fugitive.
7. I think no, it doesn't. I've never seen any connection.

DenverRalphy · May 31

Defatank wrote: »

5. Pick-pocketing numerous times on the same NPC, successfully pick-pocketing each time does that increase the likelihood of finding higher quality loot? Is it better to pickpocket them 2x then blade of woe the 3rd pick (as most NPC's you can only pickpocket 3x before they go Empty and that also would potentially yield Dried Blood and you get the stolen item too)

I pick 3 times before stabbing because if you Woe them, the third loot isn't considered pickpocket loot so Cutpurse's Art from the green CP tree can't improve it. As well, don't be too quick with Woe, Ember's perk has blessed me with a Hidden Wallet as a 4th pick on numerous occasions.

katanagirl1 · May 31

I believe for #5 that there is a greater chance for higher quality item on subsequent picks. I used to blade of woe after the second pick but as mentioned above, if you have Ember’s keepsake you can get wallets that don’t count as a pick so I try to pick npcs clean if I can before I blade of woe. Also, in West Weald I have gotten multiple furnishing plans or recipes (green quality) from npcs. It seems like some of them have more than three picks even without the Ember wallets.

Note that I am using the CP slottable for higher quality items when lockpicking as well, not sure of that affects things in any other way like extra picks.

kargen27 · May 31

"4. Guards have some unique loot: cool furniture like Bounty sheets and the style item. It's the only reason for me to pickpocket them."

Other types of NPCs also have unique loot. Drunks can drop a design for a skooma bubbler that used to sell for a lot of gold. Probably still does. Nobles can drop designs for thrones. I don't remember now what a Vampire dropped that everyone was looking for but long long ago whatever it was sold for a good chunk of gold.

SeaGtGruff · May 31

There's a particular NPC in Vivec City who I like to pickpocket because I often get blue or better loot, so it's a fairly reliable way to complete that particular endeavor whenever it comes up.

DenverRalphy · June 1

Oh one addendum I'd like to add about stabbing them when you're done... if another thief is actively pickpocketing them, please don't Woe them until they're done. It's just rude. I can't stand it when another player does that wile I'm picking a target.

A litlle etiquette goes a long way.

virtus753 · June 1

NPCs also aren’t limited to three items. In my experience many give only three, but it isn’t a game-wide limit.

In Vvardenfell I’ve gotten up to 7 items off of one NPC before they said “empty,” including 3 style mats and 4 actual items (before Ember and her wallet existed).

Danikat · June 1

DenverRalphy wrote: »

Oh one addendum I'd like to add about stabbing them when you're done... if another thief is actively pickpocketing them, please don't Woe them until they're done. It's just rude. I can't stand it when another player does that wile I'm picking a target.

A litlle etiquette goes a long way.

I agree with this.

Also the limit is per-player, not universal. So killing them when they show as empty for you is not helping anyone else. They don't need the NPC reset by respawning.

If you want to do it for your own benefit fine (although as above please wait until other people are done), but don't try to tell other players they should be grareful you removed all the targets when you were done with them.

Granden_Woodleafson · August 28

Another question:

After getting the Cutpurses Art CP, do blues and purples drop at the same rate with everyone not just nobles?

I've noticed it appears to be the same rate of blues and purples with everyone not just nobles, but just wondering if it's true.

DoofusMax · August 28

Defatank wrote: »

Looking for the expert thieves on this one.... When it comes to Pick-pocketing/ Thieving I have a few detailed questions I don't 100% know the answers to.
<snip>
5. Pick-pocketing numerous times on the same NPC, successfully pick-pocketing each time does that increase the likelihood of finding higher quality loot? Is it better to pickpocket them 2x then blade of woe the 3rd pick (as most NPC's you can only pickpocket 3x before they go Empty and that also would potentially yield Dried Blood and you get the stolen item too)
<snip>

I'm of mixed mind on this. To the initial question, no. The loot pool is the same whether it's the first pick or the third. What changes with each pick is that your chance of success drops after each successful pick.

Personally, I pick 3x where I can (4x if I get an Ember wallet) and do not use BoW unless there is an endeavor. That leaves the next player with an NPC to pickpocket rather than waiting on a respawn. Two picks and BoW gets you three stolen items, which works for Legerdemain and goes toward the assassination achievements. It also forces an NPC respawn, which means fresh loot to pick if you're working your way around a circuit and want to come back for more. But if you BoW instead of doing the last pick, your Cutpurse's Art perk in the Craft tree will not help you with a chance at a better quality item; it's just a random stolen item you can fence/launder as you prefer. If you're farming Dried Blood, then definitely BoW after the last pick.

DenverRalphy · August 28

Granden_Woodleafson wrote: »

Another question:

After getting the Cutpurses Art CP, do blues and purples drop at the same rate with everyone not just nobles?

I've noticed it appears to be the same rate of blues and purples with everyone not just nobles, but just wondering if it's true.

I'm not entirely certain, but I've long been under the impression that Cutpurse's Art works the same way as Treasure Hunter. If you have Treasure Hunter, then any chest you loot rolls as if it's the next tier.. ie. Beginner chests roll as if they're Intermediate, Intermediat rolls as Advanced, etc.

Somebody some long time ago mentioned to me that Cutpurse's Art works the same way. It doesn't actually bump the quality of the loot so much as it rolls on a next tier loot table with better odds. Damned if I can remember who it was told me that though. I never really bothered to verify whether it was true or not. But it fits with my anecdotal experience pickpocketing across Tamriel.

DinoZavr · August 28

this is my personal observations, i am not pretending to be an expert

1. No it does not affect loot. It affects only the chances to be caught.
2. Yes. Though the matter is a little more complicated. Loot tables are different not only for NPC professions, but between locations as well. i mean mostly the furnishing items and plans. For example pickpocketing Priests everywhere may drop you "Common Candle, Lasting". Priests in Vvardenfell may carry 7 Vvardenfell-specific Furnishing plans, while Priests only in Summerset drop Blueprint: "Alinor Pew, Polished", Priests only in Anvill or Kvatch may drop quite expensive "Diagram: Hourglass, Common" furnishing plan (i sold at least 2 dozens of these, maybe more). Same with Nobles - they can drop Thrones furnishing plans, but different for different cities - only in Wayrest, Elden Root, or Orsinium capital. Only drunktards carry Design: Khajiit Skooma botlle.. and so on and so on. The list is really vast. But you got an idea - NPC occupation and location matter.
3. No. Loot tables are for containers, no matter what the lock difficulty is on the house entrance
4. No. but again, Guards loot tables are specific. They can carry golden Bounty Sheets furnishings, and Polished Shilling style stones, both sell well to players
5. Pick-pick-stab is easier and faster. you dont have to wait for the lowest chance 3rd pickpocketing attempt. For me time also matters.
6. No, bounty does not vary drop rates, as they are fixed, except for maybe Justice Event
7. No, for the same reason

you are missing the fact you can launder and sell furnishing plans and furnishings to players via Guild Traders.

Thrones furnishing plans are 30K+ at PC EU, Hourglass plan is 250K..300K (and not every player has access to DLC zone) and this is more profitable than just pickpocketing treasures to sell them to NPCs. My thieves have Autodestroy white quality treasures setting in JunkBuster addon not to fill theirs bags with 40g items (clothings and stolen food ingredients are autodestroyed too. for stolen gear i summon Decon assistant when the bag is full (that works if subscribed)). For treasures you steal, not pickpocket (good locations are Inn in Fargrave, house in Vastyr, now there is a good stealable house in Sunport) as containers refill on reentering, so you obtain quite a lot of things very fast, while pickpocketing NPCs makes you wait, so you pickpocket NPCs mostly for furnishing plans and furnishings to sell via Guild Traders, not for treasures (which are way faster to steal from containers).

Yes?