This is an idea someone said and i thought it would be cool if you were caught then you could go to court. it would be based on your speechcraft or hiring a lawyer to defend you, It probably wouldn't work exactly but could be incorporated someway.

EDIT: Maybe a lawyer quest/questline would be better.

I would love to see this rather that resist arrest leading to " Then pay with your blood"..... as i pick up a zero value spoon..... :glare:

They could do it Daggerfall style. You pick whether to plead guilty or not guilty, and defense is based on lies or debating.

I remember the trial that you had to undergo in Knights of The Old Republic, that was epic and I would love to see that in TES.

To be honest, while its a good idea, it would probably work better as part of a quest.

Going through it everytime you're arrested would get annoying.

that was short and all you had to do was blame the sith

Ditto :facepalm:

Expanding from this. Speechcraft, if it return, would determine ya successful of swaying to ya side. For example, pleading guilty, and there a chance that one may have a lower sentence due to the skill. Also, being in a Guilds like the Thieves Guild or the Dark Brotherhood might actually help ya win in defense of one self, either lying or debating.

Well the first time I did it they executed me, I can't remember what my defense was though.

If courts too hard to do maybe they could utilize other skills to allow you to escape from prison... besides lockpicking.

I'd rather not see it. Our modern idea of justice is, well, modern. "Court trials" in this setting would be much more likely to be along the lines of trial by ordeal--which could be interesting in its own way, I suppose.

I like the idea of doing that. And what another poster said would tie into Speechcraft, that would make the skill actually worth something.

Trial by combat! Compurgation wouldn't be very fun.

What I was thinking verbatim. Although my grammar sounded better in my head.

Reputation and evidence should also come into effect.

nah that would be way to hard, and during the middle ages wasn't there no court if a noble said you were guilty you were guilty

* When we last saw our hero. He was wanted in several cities for a laundry list of crimes. His face is now known by every guard in Skyrim. He is now entering Riften in the hopes that he is not recognized, so he can get some much needed rest.

"STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM!"

Curses. So much for not being recognized. You draw your blade.

"Put down your weapon if you know what's good for you! We won't hesitate to kill you!" The guard shouts. You get the feeling he's not kidding. You throw down your weapon and surrender. Guards quickly move in and subdue you.

You are dragged to a holding cell to await trial in the morning. Not much to do but sleep. You suppose you could make an escape attempt. You did manage to "hide" one of your lockpicks, but the dungeons are swarming with guards, and you are unarmed. You decide it's not worth the risk.

You awaken to the sound of a guard tapping on the bars of your cell. Again, you are shackled, and dragged to the courtroom.

Still shackled, you are forced to your knees before the one who will be judging you. To your right are a panel of jurors. People you recognize from town. You never really paid much attention to them. If only you had tried to make friends with them, your situation wouldn't now look so bleak. You are flanked on either side by armed guards. The judge speaks.

"Criminal! You are charged with murder, petty theft, breaking and entering, and evasion of justice. How do you plea?"

"Not Guilty." You reply, knowing full well that you did those things listed.

"Do you have anything to say before justice is served?" The judge asks.

You try your best to explain your situation. You speak volumes about your character and your accomplishments. In the end, you know the jury decides your fate.

"Jury, do you have a verdict?" The judge asks.

The jury foreman stands. "We do your grace. We find the defendant guilty of all charges."

Damn! You know that guy too. Maybe if you had helped him clear his basemant of cave rats, he would have gone easier on you.

"Very well. I hereby sentence you to a fine of 30,000 septims. If you cannot afford to pay this fine, you can serve your sentence working the salt mines. By night you will sleep in a holding cell. Which do you choose?"

You don't have 30 septims to your name, much less 30,000. If only you didn't buy that flaming death hammer you wanted so badly. "I'm afraid I can't afford it your grace." You say, solemnly.

"Then your sentence is decided. One year in the salt mines. Case dismissed!"

....... but is it fun? :huh:

Nice idea but I'm having a hard time picturing Nords having this type of bureaucratic system. The Imperial City would have been the perfect opportunity to implement this, they are all for this sort of red tape. But I do like the idea of having speech and faction checks to ease down the punishment or avoid it entirely.

JUDGE: Could the defendant please step. Forward. Now, what is it you are being tried for?

YOU: Stealing a pewter spoon.

JUDE: And what do you plead?

YOU: Not guilty.

GUARD: He's lying, that scum!

JUDGE: Order in the court! Now, could the witness please come forward with the evidence?

GUARD: This criminal scum stole that spoon!

JUDGE: Erm... well do you have any actua; evidence?

GUARD: He had the spoon on him!

JUDGE: And you know that this spoon was taken from the house?

GUARD: Well of course!

JUDGE: How exactly did you know this?

GUARD: Erm... Well I was walking through Solitude, and suddenly I knew someone had stolen a pewter spoon in that building, so I ran in and shouted "Stop right there, criminal scum!"

JUDGE: That doesn't seem like very reliable evidence. What does the defendant have to say?

YOU: I don't know what he's talking about! I mean I just had the spoon with me, and I'd had it for ages. It was never in the house!

JUDGE: Well, I guess there's not really any actual evidence, so I decree the defendant 'Not guilty'!

YOU: Doesn't this court system strike you as a waste of resources?