Assaults

[briarroot]

I've done some searching and I can't find a definitive answer, so here's my question.

I'm currently playing as a "goody-goody-knight-in-shining-armor" type and thus taking care not to commit any crimes, including assault but somehow I've been tagged with 1 Assault.

I don't understand how that's possible. I've probably killed dozens of bandits in sneak mode, one shot with a poisoned arrow etc, but that did not trigger an Assault on my record. Aside from numerous rats, mud crabs and skeletons, the only non-bandit figure I killed without them first attacking me was the Necromancer in Vilverin, but that did not result in an Assault either (I checked afterwards). Heck, I've even killed sleeping bandits without incurring an Assault.

So what gives? Is this a bug or what?

[4K_240hz_MLED]

Yeah sometimes if you strike (down) an enemy first when they're not trying to hurt you, it can count as assault or murder. This usually only happens during quests and can be fixed if you have unofficial patch installed according to UESP Wiki.

[meheezen]

indeed, sometimes it gets tagged as assault/murder if the NPC did not have time to draw its weapon and the like.
i remember being visited by the dark brotherhood shortly after killing some guy outside an Alyed ruin for the mages guild (i think), and it somehow counted as murder

[Valden21]

It also counts as Assault if you accidentally hit your own allies in combat one too many times.

[rpgfan411]

Sometimes if an enemy will be hostile but hasn't officially went into "attack" mode towards you it can result in you getting tagged with an assault or murder. I once attacked a bandit coming across a bridge to engage me before letting him do the rob me dialogue and got tagged with a murder. I was so annoyed. If it bothers you as much as it would me there's a console command to remove it modpcmiscstat 31 -1 (I think is right). The 31 is for assaults and the -1 to remove 1 assault.

[4K_240hz_MLED]

Originally posted by rpgfan411:

I once attacked a bandit coming across a bridge to engage me before letting him do the rob me dialogue and got tagged with a murder. I was so annoyed. If it bothers you as much as it would me there's a console command to remove it modpcmiscstat 31 -1 (I think is right).

Or just type into console player.payfine and it'll be over.

[briarroot]

Okay folks, after running through Vilverin several times, trying different techniques and making notes, I finally figured out what's going on.

If you kill a person (not a skeleton) who is unaware of your presence with your first shot from a bow or blow from a melee weapon there are no consequences. It's not recorded as an Assault and it isn't recorded as a Murder either. That works even if your target is sleeping.

However, if your first shot or blow does not kill the target and they aggro on you, the incident is recorded as an Assault.

That doesn't seem to make much sense because these are bandits who will try to kill you on sight if they become aware of you, but that's how the game works.

Since these so-called "Assaults" won't get you into any trouble with the Imperial Guards I don't understand what the designers were aiming for, but if for whatever reason you want to keep a squeaky-clean record, then make sure you kill your targets with your first hit.

[arottweiler]

I also prefer the good character type but it's very difficult to complete some guild quests without getting an assault or two even if it's not flagged as a bounty and one shot kills are not easy to achieve. I prefer to stand back and use summons and followers but that can delay skill increases.

[theo]

A good character that murders unsuspecting unidentified targets with poisoned arrows is a weird concept I must say

[briarroot]

Originally posted by theo:

A good character that murders unsuspecting unidentified targets with poisoned arrows is a weird concept I must say

All the Elder Scrolls games are rather bleak in their outlook. It's difficult to play the Hero without getting innocent blood all over yourself.

In Oblivion, just once I'd like to walk into a bandit hideout and be greeted with something like this: "Hold it right there. This is our place. Turn around and walk out or we'll carry your corpse out."

Or even: "Say friend, you seem very well equipped. Care to join our merry little band of thieves and cutthroats?"

Why couldn't they have programmed in some options?

[Captain Skinny]

I always assumed actual bandits are the skuzziest, most worthless skoomaheads in Tamriel. There's plenty of work for any old whozit, catspaws, brawlers, but these people choose to live in a cave and outright jump anyone they see.
You're doing your gods given duty slaying them.

[theo]

Maybe they just want to live in a cave and you're the actual bandit they defend their homes from

[Captain Skinny]

Originally posted by theo:

Maybe they just want to live in a cave and you're the actual bandit they defend their homes from

well, that one is going to keep me up, im not going to lie.

[briarroot]

Originally posted by theo:

A good character that murders unsuspecting unidentified targets with poisoned arrows is a weird concept I must say

If I don't get in the first shot I may die, so it's rational if not an ethical decision.

Looked at another way, these bandits are ruthless murderers and robbers and I'm doing the innocents of the countryside a great favor by protecting them from what seems like an endless supply of bad guys.

[Darshinae]

Im pretty sure i clock up assaults becos i run everywhere and when you bump into friendly NPCs it counts as assault maybe

[Archer801]

You know... a goody goody wouldnt sneak attack and kill people on suspicion alone. I'd say this was a well planned tag by bethesda. You have the plans of a goody goody criminal record, but you're playing the game like a trigger happy cop. It stands to reason that killing/attacking someone who has done nothing to you would count as assault. Even if they are a bandit... Role play a little bit. Give them a chance to surrender or use calm spells. Try to actually be good, if you want to be good. Let them swing first... I'll put it this way... a Goody goody would never have a sneak of 100.