I think it was a bit silly in Oblivion that you could join a guild and pick everything up without consequence. It was too easy to spam selling alchemy equipment in the Mages' Guild, and get a boost in cash at really low levels, when really you should have been out burgling or looting dungeons.

Maybe it would be a good idea for Skyrim that this counts as stealing, maybe being told after rising through a few ranks that you are in sufficiently high standing that you have access to their libraries and equipment, so you can, after a while, pick up any skill books, rare wines, or whatever floats your particular boat.

Anyone in agreement, or did you find this leg up in the cash stakes really useful?

Meh. I always find that the only levels where money counts is 1-4 or 5 and after that I don't have to worry about it cause I'm rich beyond all compare. But, yeah, your idea sounds good.

Robbing the guild should incur penalties such as demotion or fines. Recurring offenders should be temporarily or permanently suspended. The question is where do you draw the line between stealing and making use of the equipment... I mean, it does make some sense that all that equipment lying around is there to be used by the guilds members. Maybe they could just give you equipment before sending you on a mission, or something...

Morrowind had a system that sort of made sense. Certain containers and items were only available to guild members of different ranks, while others were owned by individual people in the guild. The problem was that without console commands (Toggle Full Help to be specific), it was impossible to tell which was which.

Well... here's an idea: Why don't they just Not Add 100 Of Each Alchemical Piece Of Equipment? If they only had one (or two) sets it would be alot more realistick... and add a script to each book in their libary making it illegal to take them outside the guild-hall without first renting the book, a rending system coulld be: First you must pay a ten septim fee, then 5 septims for each week you plan on renting it, if you do not return the book within time you must pay an extra fee of 10 septims for each week over-time... and while you have a book over-time or a fee not repaid you cannot borrow a new book... for each rank in the mages guild you will recieve a +1% discount... and once you reach the rank of archmage your discount will be set to 50%...

btw: I'll make that library system as a mod if its not ingame...