How to steal items without getting caught. KIND OF A SPOILER!

[Lewzbel]

Here's my take on the thieving dilema. If you try to steal and get caught, then you have no chance of ever obtaining the items that merchant had for sale, correct? In reality, if you got caught you could, in theory, kill the merchant and take his stuff. I'm all for not cheating. I hate the fact that I reload whenever I get caught stealing, but if the game doesn't provide us with a realistic alternative, what are we to do? I can deal with losing some reputation points here and there and having people be P'd off at me, but I can't accept having items that I want suddenly removed from the game. Am I wrong about this?

[fable]

Lewsbel, I hear ya. I've been annoyed (in print) at thieving's implementation since BG1 first appeared. I think the penalty for capture is entirely out of proportion with the crime, and that shoplifting should be generic (rather than item-specific) until you reach a very high level in both skill and profession. I could handle that. Any thief I play could handle it, too.

That said, given the enormous amount of money you get in the game, I still don't see what's wrong with just simply buying the stuff you want. If anything, it makes for a greater challenge and a greater sense of accomplishment. Surely the game is so well known, now, that anything which lends an extra level of difficulty is welcome.

[Gargoyle]

You don't ahve to reload, in BG 1 Algernons cloak had infinite charges, I believe theirs a similar item in BG 2 (but don't quote me on it) all you do is try and steal what you want, if you fail simply charm the shopkeeper and try again. Pretty useless in BG 2 though cause you should have plenty of gold anyway !