Loot Notification

[ç i p h é r]

A little something we neglected to include. From our original spec:

When an item is taken from a dead monster, PC or NPC’s inventory, all PCs within perception range have a chance to be notified (DC?). PCs of a more secretive nature may try to pickpocket the dead creature to avoid triggering the notification. Failure means all nearby PCs are told of the pickpocket attempt.

What is clearly lacking from this spec is the DC to detect (Spot) what was taken.

My question is, are folks still interested in having this in the game? Is this of any value to PCs and in particular roleplay? An implementation of this sort would also be useful for NPCs, specifically guards, that can react to pickpocketing/stealing if they successfully spot attempts, but this would just be the notification mechanism. Any behaviors we want to build off of it would come later.

If there is interest, I'd like to hear, especially from DMs, how they would handle the DCs for such situations. Would it be based on distance? Opposed checks? Static DC? Something else? Should we differentiate between spotting the attempt and spotting what was taken? Opinions welcome.

Thanks.

[Mikayla]

I am just a player, and not even a player of a sneaky-based class, but I think this would be a great addition if doable. Not vital by any means, but if reasonably doable, I would be all for it. Thanks.

[Brokenbone]

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Sc ... ail&id=413

This is the system that ALFA used some of in NWN1 (notifications only, no "automatic dividing gold in parties"). I have no idea how portable / nonportable the scripts are.

I do think though that the NWN1 implementation was spotty. Some areas or possibly corpse containers, this stuff about notification & pickpockets still works (example: any sewer in Selgaunt), most places though, it is no longer integrated, probably due to no one knowing how it worked except the original people doing implementation. Same with hidden pockets bursting if items over a certain size / weight ended up inside them.

As a DM, I haven't cared much about these kinds of systems except for them reducing OOC "party infighting." They also reduce the incentive to rush to a corpse / treasure chest and loot it before anyone else, since a full or partial log MAY be available to anyone within perception range. Prevents people having to ask in the DM channel for retroactive spot rolls etc. or "did I see him take anything??" type of thing... or having to ask that via PMs later.

Anyhow, maybe the linked script is a good start if people like that kind of system. Similar ones may already be around for NWN2, can't say.

[indio]

Totally in favour. Important system that solves numerous limitations of the engine.