Why is it so hard to pickpocket weapon from NPC?

[Johnny Casey]

"Let's not show the sucess rate of pickpocket because why not."
- One of the developers of Bethesda

"People should've no idea how much the sucess rate is when they attempt to pickpocket and Bethesda did a super great job making that happen. Let's keep this un-touched."
- One of the developers of Obsidian

----- Evolution of Videogame developing Ver. 69

All my playthrough I experienced that even with 100 sneak + Stealth boy, it is nearly impossible to pickpocket certain weapons that NPC carries, and I know that I am not the only one who's having this 'problem'.

I'm talking about getting Big Boomer, Maria, and La Long Carabine.

Before you ask - Yes, I used one of those trick that plant higher DPS weapon and ammo to their pocket so they will unequip the weapon I want, thus making me able to pickpocket, and that is not an important issue here.

[Incunabulum]

1. Because they're big and heavy.

2. Because real pickpockets don't get a 'chance of success' readout.

[Johnny Casey]

Ah, anther private account that spreads crap. I'm not impressed.

[Ladez]

The problem is that item value is so ridiculously highly weighted in the formula that an item worth just 200 caps becomes impossible to steal, even with 100 sneak. This is alleviated a bit by there being an absolute minimum chance of 5%, which means it can be done if you like to save and reload all the time.

With the majority of weapons having a base caps value in the thousands, even a master thief stands no chance.

Read this if you want to know more: https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/2318259-pickpocket-is-absurdly-broken-and-needs-complete-overhaul/
It's an enlightening and entertaining read, but sadly, I don't think anybody has made serious attempts to fix the system. It's broken at its core, so putting together a simple mod to tweak some values will only shift the issue somewhere else. It needs a serious overhaul.

Originally posted by Incunabulum:

1. Because they're big and heavy.

Not really. Or at least that's not why they're hard to pickpocket, because weight has no influence on the outcome at all. It's all about the value. A good example of the absurdity of the system is a broken suit of power armor being easier to steal than a well-maintained 9mm pistol.

Originally posted by Incunabulum:

2. Because real pickpockets don't get a 'chance of success' readout.

But real smooth talkers do?

[Johnny Casey]

Originally posted by Ladez:

The problem is that item value is so ridiculously highly weighted in the formula that an item worth just 200 caps becomes impossible to steal, even with 100 sneak. This is alleviated a bit by there being an absolute minimum chance of 5%, which means it can be done if you like to save and reload all the time.

With the majority of weapons having a base caps value in the thousands, even a master thief stands no chance.

I suspected that will be the reason - Item value. Because that's how Bethesda did with TES series which influenced FPS Fallout series.

Oh well. Yet anther one to add in BS library for Bethesda, and Obsidian, who left this ridiculous system untouched.

At least classic Fallout had a decency to make the rule about 'big and heavy objects are harder to pickpocket'

[Incunabulum]

Originally posted by Johnny Casey:

Ah, anther private account that spreads crap. I'm not impressed.

Private account doesn't mean I'm not right. It just means its none of your business what games I own and how much I play.

[Incunabulum]

Originally posted by Johnny Casey:

At least classic Fallout had a decency to make the rule about 'big and heavy objects are harder to pickpocket'

See. You call this BS but its effectively the same system - and you don't think expensive items - like these unique weapons - aren't going to be better carried than a disposable trash gun?

[Paddy the Daddy]

Originally posted by Johnny Casey:

One of the developers of Bethesda

*Obsidian

[talgaby]

Well, it is a series staple by now. In Fallout 1 and 2, stealing a gigantic item classified as junk is nearly guaranteed. Trying to steal a single bottlecap/dollar, a coin-sized small item? Better have 300% in pickpocket, matey, and facing their backs in sneak mode, otherwise you have roughly 1% chance for success!

[Xariot]

Originally posted by Ladez:

Originally posted by Incunabulum:

2. Because real pickpockets don't get a 'chance of success' readout.

But real smooth talkers do?

Yes actually, if you were a real smooth talker you would know this.

[Mad]

Try this:
https://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/63396

[Noone]

I like Fallout system much better then Elder Scrolls system where you crouch in front of enemy and take equipped weapon out of another's hand while being both seen and stared at.

So, they probably wondered, what would happen if you applied TES on real life..........

Most likely this:
You'd get exactly what you want - a good hard thorough pounding of your poop orifice.
First by the one who grinningly watched you being blissfully oblivious with your delusions "I'm a super sneaker, the fact his eyes follow my every movement means Nothing!"
Secondly and 10^10ly by the authorities and then by your fellow inmates.

After some good laughs, and probably some ef_kt vids showing exactly that, I suppose they came to the only obvious conclusion when thinking about Fallout:
Let's apply some common sense for a change

Result: A system that well matches common sense. You can take tiny stuff that noone would notice, and to take the big stuff you do the same thing you do in real life: Gank first, loot later.

[Johnny Casey]

Originally posted by Incunabulum:

Private account doesn't mean I'm not right. It just means its none of your business what games I own and how much I play.

No, I never said anything about you're not right. When I said 'spreads crap', it means you're one of those kind who goes around saying something as sassy as you can, and you just did that. Try read the very first comment you posted and think about how it feels like when you faced those kind of comment.

Originally posted by Incunabulum:

See. You call this BS but its effectively the same system - and you don't think expensive items - like these unique weapons - aren't going to be better carried than a disposable trash gun?

No, I never called classic Fallout's pickpocket system is BS. What I called BS is how Bethesda made this ridiculous system. Try read.

See? You didn't even bother to read carefully. What else I could call you besisdes 'one of those private account troll'?