Entry Last Update: 04/24/2001
Description: Picking Pockets is the ability to take the coins on another's person, hopefully without them noticing.
Who Can Learn It: Only Bards and Thieves can learn Picking Pockets.
What It is Supposed to Do: Allow you to steal the coins off of someone else.
What it Does: Allows you to potentially steal the coins off another person someone else, though they may see you.
Activation: PICKPOCKET (PICKPOCKET [Target]).
Usefulness (Low Levels): Low. You will rarely succeed at pickpocketing, you won't be able to steal much when you do, and you'll usually be seen when trying.
Usefulness (Mid-Levels): Moderate. You usually pickpocket people successfully, but you are sometimes seen. You'll get a decent amount of coins when you are successful.
Usefulness (High Levels): Moderate. You will almost never be seen, and can pickpocket almost anyone with ease.
How to Practice: The best way to practice seems to be on another player in what is loosely called a "thieves' circle." Basicly, two people will pickpocket each-other constantly, exchanging coins between themselves in a sort of "circle."
Tips: Not all NPCs can be pickpocketed - especially not the "wild" ones. You can successfully pickpocket from hiding if your Stealth skill is high enough.
Unconfirmed Rumors (May or May Not Be True): Skill in Picking Pockets may decrease another person's chance to successfully pickpocket you. At the very least, it seems to increase your chance of noticing when you've been pickpocketed.
Note: Hiding and Stealth are both useful skills for pickpockets to have.