What qualifies as an assault?

[Turt]

I was being the nicest lizard that ever niced, yet six hours in my current playthrough and I've already tallied six assaults in the crime section of the menu. I have no clue what I did to cause such as misconduct, so could someone explain how assaults work?

[KippenKaasBaas]

The Wiki says this:

Initiating combat or using a hostile spell effect on an NPC will incur a bounty. Attacks by followers, summoned, commanded, or reanimated allies also count as assault. Witnesses to assault will cry out to alert other NPCs, and call for guards. A brawl is not considered assault unless weapons or spells are used, since your attacks are justified by asking your opponent to spar. Also be careful not to use certain apparel, such as the Ebony Mail (which can poison targets) during a brawl.
Self-defense against an unprovoked assault is legal and not considered a crime, and in this situation nearby guards will rush to your defense. For example, Dark Brotherhood targets can be legally killed if they are first provoked to attack through dialogue. Striking an allied NPC, or their owned creatures and summons, will result in multiple verbal warnings. Hitting them more than three times will result in them becoming hostile. If your assault kills the NPC in one hit you will only be charged with murder.

Eating a corpse using the Ring of Namira and feeding on someone as a vampire are both considered forms of assault.

[Turt]

Odd thing is I don't recall doing any of those. I haven't used spells so its not like I've accidentally hit anyone. I'm pretty sure I haven't hit anyone more than three times as well.

[KippenKaasBaas]

Originally posted by Turt:

Odd thing is I don't recall doing any of those. I haven't used spells so its not like I've accidentally hit anyone. I'm pretty sure I haven't hit anyone more than three times as well.

What color is your character? Stormcloak guards are known to be racist. Filthy stormcloak bastards are punishing for crimes you didn't commit.

[Turt]

Originally posted by KippenKaasBaas:

Originally posted by Turt:

Odd thing is I don't recall doing any of those. I haven't used spells so its not like I've accidentally hit anyone. I'm pretty sure I haven't hit anyone more than three times as well.

What color is your character? Stormcloak guards are known to be racist. Filthy stormcloak bastards are punishing for crimes you didn't commit.

He is green. I should've known Ulfric had something to do with this

[alexander_dougherty]

Originally posted by Turt:

Odd thing is I don't recall doing any of those. I haven't used spells so its not like I've accidentally hit anyone. I'm pretty sure I haven't hit anyone more than three times as well.

If you get into a combat situation and you strike a blow against an enemy first, that can count as assault, even if his friends have already started hacking at you.

[GrimCat]

The moral of the story is: Leave No Witnesses.

[SpeedFreak1972]

Also keep in mind not ALL assaults will get you a bounty

[rallicknom]

Originally posted by Turt:

I was being the nicest lizard that ever niced, yet six hours in my current playthrough and I've already tallied six assaults in the crime section of the menu. I have no clue what I did to cause such as misconduct, so could someone explain how assaults work?

I believe this is normal as the same thing has always happened to me. I cannot be sure of course as I do not know what other players have experienced.

I do not worry about it as I have had dozens of assaults and no bounty.

[Jhonny G]

And for some reason, after only two days in Skyrim, the Dark Brotherhood somehow already know my name and want to kill me.. A nice old blacksmith who has done nothing what so ever.

They will rue the day they messed with Frank Horrigan!

[Valden21]

Attack any chickens lately?

[CherryWatermelon]

I have 31 assaults for some reason. And 40 total bounty. I know the bounty is from some Thalmor judicians but I don't know how I got it.

Originally posted by KippenKaasBaas:

What color is your character? Stormcloak guards are known to be racist. Filthy stormcloak bastards are punishing for crimes you didn't commit.

But then again, I'm an Imperial living in Whiterun.

[bro what?]

Originally posted by CherryWatermelon:

I have 31 assaults for some reason. And 40 total bounty. I know the bounty is from some Thalmor judicians but I don't know how I got it.

Originally posted by KippenKaasBaas:

What color is your character? Stormcloak guards are known to be racist. Filthy stormcloak bastards are punishing for crimes you didn't commit.

But then again, I'm an Imperial living in Whiterun.

bro revived a thread from five years ago

[CherryWatermelon]

Originally posted by 👽GLEEPUS👽:

Originally posted by CherryWatermelon:

I have 31 assaults for some reason. And 40 total bounty. I know the bounty is from some Thalmor judicians but I don't know how I got it.



But then again, I'm an Imperial living in Whiterun.

bro revived a thread from five years ago

I found out the answer too. Turns out, if you accidentally hit your follower or an NPC accompanying you on a quest, it counts as assault too. I just did Hillgrund's Tomb and my Assault count went up to 34.

[steventirey]

Thee are also bandits or other enemies that count as an assault if you attack them before they do their scripted speech, like trying to rob you.

[Wren]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.