@ White Lancer and JrKAS,
Personally I think that the 'stealing' aspect to BG2 is pretty poorly handled. There's certainly some room for a stealing element ... I mean, as JrKAS points out, that's what thieves
do ... but its implementation is pretty poor, with the 'multiple potions buff' then 'repeated reselling of hot goods' being the worst.
Frankly I think slipping a full coat of metal armor under your cloak while distracting the shop keeper is absurd. Flagging goods as stolen once (able to resell to dubious merchants) and stolen twice ('too hot', unable to sell at all) might have been one way fairly simple way around it. Also flagging some goods as unstealable due to their physical size or high value would probably add a more sensible dimension to the game.
Personally I've a rule that I will only steal what I intend to use, will not sell hot goods, and will not steal wands. But each to their own.
@ Six,
What you say makes sense to me, and 'no' I've never tried to pick pocket Renal, but I assume the result is not good.
@ Kludz,
Usually I can get a few items out of Bernard, but as noted, I've been caught before and had to drag him out into the street and negotiate a settlement with him using my shiney new axe
. Speaking of theft-vulnerable scroll merchants, Lazarus in ToB is a handy source.