Skill Based Pickpocketing - ESPless

Removes RNG in pickpocketing and makes it fully skill based for more consistent gameplay.

Skill Based Pickpocketing

I don't think there's anything wrong with the idea of pickpocket rolls per se. It works well on tabletop because you have a DM to pivot for you and keep the game going. The problem is that in the vast majority of video game RPGs, there is little mechanic built around failure. When you fail, it's just time to reload. This goes back to classic Fallout too. When you fail a pickpocket roll, the whole town would instantly go hostile, and that's just not interesting at all.

Moreover, it kind of makes whatever skill that governs the chance of success pretty much useless. As long as you have a non-zero chance of success, even if it's just 1%, theoretically you can simply save scum your way through any situation. Being encouraged to do that by the game is not exactly fun either.

So unless you're playing iron man or no reload, there is no point in having it chance based or having a skill for it. In that case, why not just make it guaranteed so the skill can actually matter.

Skill Based Pickpocketing removes all RNG in pickpocketing and makes it guaranteed, provided that the player has the required Sneak skill to access the target's inventory. The amount of skill points required is determined by the target's Perception x10, with bonuses and penalties based on their state of alertness, like if they're sleeping or holding a weapon. On top of that, you can modify/add the extra criteria on what items can be picked based on their type, weight, and value. Everything is customizable in the INI.

With all bonuses and penalties excluded, if the target has a PER of 7, then the player will need 70 points in Sneak to pickpocket the target. Since there is no way to know the target's PER, you can gauge how far off you are by the descriptive message popups per every 10 points off:

1. 10 pts - A little bit more skillful
2. 20 pts - Fairly more skillful
3. 30 pts - A lot more skillful
4. 40 pts - Exceptionally more skillful
5. 50 pts - Immensely more skillful

How To Config

Locate the "Skill Based Pickpocketing - ESPless\Config" folder and edit the INI, or use the MCM with MCM Extender.

Requirements

New Vegas Script Extender (NVSE xNVSE)

JIP LN NVSE Plugin

JohnnyGuitar NVSE

ShowOff xNVSE Plugin

lStewieAl's Tweaks and Engine Fixes

MCM Extender (Optional)

Compatibility

Anything.

Safe to install or uninstall anytime.