The Outer Worlds Stealing | Should I steal?

In The Outer Worlds, stealing is a harsh yet true reality. It can be hard to know what to do, should you steal items if no one is looking?

[NecrumOddBoy]

Steal if you want get caught. No Karma as far as know (lots of stealing may be a Flaw though).

[Cobra951]

Yes. You can steal all day every day, as long as you don't get caught. There is no penalty of any kind. Loot doesn't get flagged as stolen, and your rep doesn't suffer in any way.

I suppose this might be a development shortcoming that they address in a future patch. For now, it's a literal free for all.

[VivaChe]

Do NPCs have to actually witness you in the act? Like, can I take stuff from a close-door room and no NPCs will notice it missing? Because I've been avoiding stealing, thinking that they might "know" I stole somehow.

[NecrumOddBoy]

I think they have to see you do it.

[UnHoly_One]

You're in the clear as long as they don't witness it.

And they are far less observant in this game than most Bethesda games.

In Bethesda games, people will tend to follow you around their shop or house if you try to go into another room, but not in this game. Go into another room and close the door behind you and just take everything that isn't nailed down. lol

Just be careful, your followers may open the door, but you can park them somewhere first so they don't follow you.

Also, picking a lock will get you in trouble as well if somebody sees you. I mean, they have to visually see you while you are in the process of holding the button to lockpick. Once it is open you can sit there looking at the contents and they won't care unless they see you take something.

[VivaChe]

@ Necrum and @UnHoly - Oh my god well then it's 24/7 theft for me from now on!

[winter_hill]

Nah not pirating this. Gonna buy it.

[Spurg]

Pirating when there is gamepass....damn

[winter_hill]

I don't use gamepass, I like to own my games.

[BizarroUltraman]

okay even if you like to buy your own. why so many disagrees for someone saying play it on Gamepass instead of stealing. I mean you can play the game for like $2 or cant you mofos afford $2. You sure can afford to hit that dislike button. Douches! My take is do whatever the hell you want. Buy it pirate it, it doesn't hamper my enjoyment of the game which Im playing on Gamepass and I used that $60 to buy CoD MW.

[ZeekQuattro]

Lie. Cheat. Steal. It's the name of the game. Just don't get caught. Your teammates cheer you on to boot. Lol

[AK91]

Up to you and what kind of character you want to be.

[CoNn3rB]

There's no consequence so I tend to lift everything that's not nailed down.

[Elwenil]

There is no consequences if you don't get caught. If you do get caught you lose reputation with whatever faction you are stealing from. But in many cases all it takes to get away with it is to shut a door so no one can see you. Some places it is impossible to steal certain items without being caught due to them being in the open around various NPCs.

[yomfweeee]

With enough dialog points, you can easily talk your way out of getting caught the first time without any rep loss.

[BizarroUltraman]

I've been stealing everything I can, but I got caught and my trust went down for that faction so I have to be more careful. I was so mad cause I closed the door thinking there was noone there. I stole something and it was a leader of the post in edgewater. I was like damn.

[yomfweeee]

My favorite is when you close the door, but your companions open it up to follow. So then you have to learn to go far enough into the room for them to follow and then close the door.

[Cobra951]

Or direct them to a point inside the room, then close the door. I learned that one early. (Was just about to pick a lock when the door opens. Eek! My mechanic walks in. Never again.)

[yoshatabi]

Omfg I hate posts like this. Just play the damn game and do what you want.

[VivaChe]

The post is not about whether you morally "should" steal, but whether you'll pay a price if you do, ie. will NPCs shoot you on sight and so forth.