<font color = mediumspringgreen>Four main topics/questions:

1.) I finally figured out how to do magic; and immediately equipped myself with the Bound Longbow, to practice Conjuring. It seems to be highly effective (more on that in a bit); but how can I tell HOW effective it is? I mean: Is there an easy way to tell which is better; my regular Chitin Longbow with magical flame arrows, or the Bound Longbow? Is the Bound Longbow the ultimate ranged weapon? Does it get better (damage per hit) as I level?

2.) I had my prized Longsword of Flame (or whatever it is called) confiscated in Balmora. Exactly where is the evidence chest in which I should find it?

3.) Just playing around, I saved game and then drew a bead with my Bound Longbow on that witch that runs around outside Caius Cosades (sp?) house in Balmora. She screamed and dropped like a rock on the first shot. No one reported the crime. I even walked up to the guard, but he didn'tseem interested in arresting me. Continuing the experiment, I took a bead on one of the guards, and immediately got reported; and in a few short seconds got my clock cleaned by three guards. Experiment over: Reload. Dropped her again (on the first shot with the Bound Longbow), to make sure the first event wasn't a glitch: Again, no crime reported. Reload.

So, what determines whether or not my crime (killing folks) gets reported? The only thing I can think of is that the old elf-lady is a thief or something. I have no intentions of killing her (yet), for roleplay reasons; but I am curious, and have a hunch: Is this character important to the storyline (like the "Dark Mother" I hear about in Vivec), or needed for a quest later on? (No *BIG* spoilers, please: If she is important, "storyline," "quest," or "both" will suffice.)

4.) I am going back to Fatleg's to complete an assignment that I am pretty sure will result in the deaths of the 2 occupants. Part of my plan is to attempt to pick the lock, get attacked, turn myself in, heal, and return to Fatleg's to ambush my assailants. The question: Is it legal to attack them FIRST on my return visit, seeing as how they previously attacked me?

Thanks!</font>

[ 11-30-2005, 10:38 AM: Message edited by: NobleNick ]

Bound weapons give a +10 to the relevant skill. My fave weapon in MW was the bound axe. Did as much damage as a daedric axe, weighed nothing, and gave a +10 to axe skill. The only thng to be careful of is training. Always unequip a bound weapon before training in the skill. Otherwise the game will think your skill is higher than it really is.

Been too long since I played to help with your other questions, but I'm sure someone will be able to help there.

<center>Nightowl2</center>

With Fatlegs Drop off, I would recomend just killing them both outright...

Despite the large fine, you will have adequate renumeration sooner than you think :D

<font color = mediumspringgreen>Remuneration. Heh, heh, heh. I think I get the hint. ;) But part of my problem is that I think that these guys can serve my bu-u-u-u-U-U-ttocks up to me on a silver platter. So, I intended to instigate the fight; run (to save my life). Pay the small fine for lock picking in public (since I will likely get accosted by a guard anyway); and then run in and blast away, exiting the store to heal as needed.

So my question still stands, and is one I want answered for the general case: Do I break any laws (that get reported) if I initiate an attack against someone who first attacked me during a previous encounter?
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Not any MORE laws...provided they're still hostile. Turning yourself in, though...that'll reset them to non-hostile most of the time.

Without battle text telling you exactly how much damage you're doing, it's all down to trial and error. I never really bothered getting excited about overall damage when selecting a weapon. But i did notice that comparitive hits were taking more off the enemy's yellow health bar as i levelled. But this could be due to increased stats more than skill level.

Just a small bit of advice: If you're choosing your primary weapon on the basis of highest damage, you're going to get bored with combat very quickly. ;)

Evidence chests are located in each of the Legion Forts.

AFAIK, attacking guards of any description (Legion or House) will automatically result in a report - even if you kill them outright on the first hit. Everyone else is subject to being witnessed before a report can be made. But there's a grey area in regards to line of sight of NPCs. It's possible to walk up to a shopkeeper and initiate conversation only to be met with "Who's there?" Even though you can clearly see the shopkeeper, apparently they can't see you. This bug can create some confusion as to exactly what was or was not a witnessed crime. Further adding confusion to this is the fact that NPCs on the other side of town (sometimes out of your viewing range) can witness a crime if they have line of sight.

It's definitely an area that can do with some improvement in Oblivion, but with a little experience, you'll soon know the when and the how of discreet killing.

As a general rule, it is never legal to attack a non-hostile who's not deemed to be an outlaw. I've never found an exception to this.

<font color = mediumspringgreen>I went back to Fatleg's, and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. (I forgot to factor in that I've leveled about 10 times since the first visit; and the Bound Longbow is HOT!! Two shots per opponent. Woo HOO!!) I took your advice to heart and did not try to turn myself in until after both were dead (but before I'd looted the place).

Thanks!</font>

No problem ;) See, sometimes the head-on approach serves a thief well :D

As per the killing thing, I believe it is can not be witnessed if you kill a [non-guard] NPC in a single hit (not counting spells that work over a period of time, or if you try a preemptive strike such as paralyzation). Also, if you like that Bound Longbow, enchant a shirt or some pants (no point wasting a ring on it since the enchantment is very small) with constant effect Bound Longbow, and possibly some other bound weapons/armour so you're always ready to snipe. Be warned, making thi item sometimes causes a bug that the weapon/armour will remain in your inventory even after you remove the article of clothing, but I think they fixed this in one of the patches.

[ 12-01-2005, 11:00 PM: Message edited by: armageddon272 ]