In Morrowind whenever you picked up a fork you get attacked for stealing just wondering if you think that will happen in Oblivion or if the AI will effect it in anway im just curious?

Maybe the AI will assess the situation a bit more dependin on thier agression level and priorities.

I'd bet that a couple NPCs won't go crazy on you on the first fork because of thier agression level, but the second time it might happen because of a lowered disposition.

For the most part AI will go like it does in The Legend of Zelda Majora's mask. But the NPCs actually have to do the actions for them to accomplish the goal(ex. Locking up shops). The difference is they aren't scripted, and need to find thier own path, or needed item, like dogs will (i expect) need to either find food on the ground or beg thier master for some.

plus "picking up " is different on oblivion. as in, you can actually pick things up and not suck them instantly into the gigantic vacum that is your inventory. im betting if that you pick something up and keep it then they will have a go at you, but if youre just tossing stuff around a table they probably wont mind.

I actually saw in the 12 hour demo last night on gamespot (I only saw like an hour of it) that at one point the player accidentally stole something while trying to sit up from his chair or some non sense. The store owner told him to get the hell out and that was it, he didn't do anything, but because he was reported as having stolen goods a guard saw him just a few minutes later and arrested him.

Yeah, it seems like the prison system is even more annoying than in morrowind. If you're not in the thieves guild you better not break any laws because the guards will dog you like crazy.

Do you happen to know what goes down when you go to jail?

Do you lose attribute points without losing a level? I heard you did, so I'd worry about for dark brotherhood chars them end up having like 10 strength or endurance.

Um... well don't worry for DB because they can probably get out of jail. You have a choice, sleep it off in which I believe you lose skill points, but it might be attribute points I don't remember. It would be cruel to make you lose attribute points though, you can get skill points back, attribute point you have to wait and level.

Anyway, here are your options upon arrest, resist, pay fine or go to jail. pay fine will have some time expire as you have to go through some quicky court preceding and you just load up in town with less money and all your stolen items gone. Resist, and you can run away or fight and die. Even if you get good and kill one guard more will keep coming.

If you go to jail you have several options, either you can waste all your time tryinhg to pick an impossible lock pick, or you can try to charm a passing guard, and I believe there's a third option involving a prisoner, I don't remember all the details with that. You might even be able to pick pocket a guard which is good if you have high sneak but low security. I suppose if you have high hand to hand skill you can also kick his boat, the options are as wide as your ability to come up with them are. So, if you can't get out of jail at all you can sleep it off, and yes, lose some points... some where.

where is this 12 hour demo.

O and one more thing, when you get caught by the guard and pay the fine do you lose some of your items even the ones you didnt steal?

You can start a fight with the other prisoner, and make the guard come in the cell for some pwnage.

If someone catches you stealing (or even moving objects that aren't your for that matter) they'll either attack you, call the gaurds on your inexperienced (in stealth) boat, or both. There' probably more, but I've only been caught stealing once or twice so....

the first time i started the game (it took me a couple of goes to be satisfied with my character) i got arested for stealing, and all i did was move a cup! i used the new grab tool and picked up some meaningless item in a shop for a better look, and the shop owner went apesh*t at me. a little unfair i think! so now whenever im in a shop i make a point of jumping on the counters and tables to knock the goods all over the floor

the shop keeper calls for guards, they will hear within 140 feet, and respond as they always have: pay, stay, or play (refund gold, fo to jail, or fight for your life). If there is no guard nearby, which isn't likely, then you got away with it, congratulations. both grabbing and pocketing the item will sound the alarm, but grabbing has less of a cost to it I think, though I haven't stolen anything yet...and gotten caught.