Here is my system. There are multiple classes of crime. Some are low enough to not make you be reported if you have good enough rep with the person you stole from, but it hurts rep with them. If you rep is already low or the person is a jerk you get reported. This means repeatedly steeling from your friend will make him like you less and eventually call the guards. Also if you are in there faction they will be ok. this is mainly petty thefts. You do NOT have the option to run for this level. Next is midlevel. it includes theft from commoners, non-lethal fighting, and trespassing in a non-guard/palace building. This will always get you reported and the people may scream for help summoning guards. The gold price for surrendering is higher and there is no run option. If you already have a High level crime on your rap sheet that you have not spend time for (you ran) they will not let you surrender, and will fight to the death for this level. Finally is High-class crime. It includes Trespassing in a Guard/Palace area, theft from these areas, and murder. You will be able to fight or surrender. there is no pay gold option. if you run they will be on the lookout for you for 3 in game days, and they will have no lenience for mid level crimes. The guards will be immediately yelled for if any remain to scream.

That is all for a basic area ( i believe there are 7). some will be different. They will always allow you to surrender or pay gold in a kind or poor place. harsh places move every thing down a level and high level crimes means no surrender.

Now to the reporting system. When you are reported a notice is placed for you arrest for varying amounts of time based on your crime and area committed. You will be confronted on site. If a bounty is in place normal NPC's may tell guards where you are if they see you. only snitches do so normally.

Well what do you think? good right!


Do you guys want a TL;DR?

I'm sure a dev gave an example of a similar situation (can't be arsed to find the source), whereby the npc's disposition will have an effect on what's considered a crime. For instance a friend will allow to take something of low value, like an apple, from their house, whereas that barmaid that you have been harassing will probably call the guards if she finds you trespassing in her house at night.

I like your idea, it sounds like a decent crime system.

Thanks i have been working on it for a while! I hope i can be used (or at least the ideas) im mods, or maybe even TES 6!

Bethesda said there will be different kinds of jails for different crimes but the didn't say any more about it.

the only thing i think is that you should be able to run at mid level as its still a pretty serious crime

I would like it if you everyone didn't freak out when you lifted a book off the ground.

They might not if you have rep!

I just hope that: stealing weightless carrot =/= fight to the death with guards

But then you get the same exploit prevalent in Fallout, of picking up an item walking to a shady spot and stealing it.

this is just a given

sad my thread died.

I think the system is going the right way, but you shouldn't be able to steal every apple from a guy's market stall so he just really hates you. I think there should be warnings from the person you stole from, eventually leading to getting reported.

thansk for telling me i thought i said that but it needed to be clarified!

I like this crime system for the most part. I would love the variation in some places to be huge.

For instance in some places they're much quicker to dish out the on-the-spot death penalty, while in most places they're far more lenient than the Oblivion super-guards.
I wouldn't like a static fine either. I would like it to fluctuate so that at varying times it may be higher than others to represent the turbulent political situation and need for money, and individual 'Holds' should have different fines and customs. Maybe some don't fine at all?

I like the idea of the kill on sight for any crime!

say if you steal an apple froma market stall and you dont know the guy. IF he was nice he could give you two options.1 return the apple and carry on your way. 2 keep the apple and get reported to the guards. where if you steal an apple from a person you dont know and he is horrible. he reports you straight away without the choice of giveing it back. i like that system tbh

why the repost?

What your proposing is already in the game for the most part.

They will always allow you to surrender or pay gold in a kind or poor place. harsh places move every thing down a level and high level crimes means no surrender, that part kinda screws up playability because i can promise you atleast 80% of people who play TES will kill someone just because they dont like them or they where rude to the player
i like the idea of being on the run for afew days and just kicking it in the wild
they should just add more stonger NPCs and thus forcing the player to surrender or pay but other then that i like and NO offence it sounds like what they are already doing

I think bounty hunters would be a nice touch but im talking at the semi-mini boss level

Guards NEED to be improved the guards in Oblivion are a JOKE ugh, it wasnt fun whenever i want on my killing sprees because i can just 2 shot the guards and that was no fun at all
p.s. i made a good guy but every-once-in-a-while i just went on a killing spree

It sounds really realistic, u should be able to drop items u by accident stole