Checking containers belonging to NPCs

[Arthandas]

Sometimes when you examine containers belonging to NPCs you get to see the items, and they won't go hostile until you actually steal something but on other occasions merely clicking on a container initiates combat.
It feels totally random, you can safely check the shelf, locker and footlocker in Kareem's Bar but opening the fridge makes you a public enemy. You can examine every container in SGS but touching a shelf in the smuggler's den in the lower passages makes everyone freak the fuck out. Is there any rule to this?

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

Doesn't Pillars of Eternity 2 have a symbol telling the player that interacting with container will flag NPCs? I remember liking it. Arcanum handled this well and made the day/night cycle relevant. I liked burglarizing shops in the dead of night.

 

[Reinhardt]

if we paid for the game all your containers are belong to us

 

[buffalo bill]

idk about poe2, but underrail definitely tells you if opening a given container will cause aware npcs to go agro

 

[Arthandas]

idk about poe2, but underrail definitely tells you if opening a given container will cause aware npcs to go agro

No it doesn't, it gives you a generic red hand cursor indicating the container belongs to a NPC but it doesn't tell if they'll go hostile after checking it.

 

[curds]

I don't know about underrail specifically, but I think this makes sense. If you're at your mates house looking in his drawers he probably won't get upset unless you actually steal something. But unfriendly people would likely become aggressive if they saw you simply rummaging.

 

[Zlaja]

On opposite spectrums of the extreme we have Daggerfall and Witcher 3. In the first, if you're spotted stealing, guards will immediately get notified and half a dozen of them will instantly teleport inside your rectum. In the latter, everything is free for the taking, and people are just chilling while you grab everything that's not nailed down in front of their noses.

 

[SpaceWizardz]

Doesn't Pillars of Eternity 2 have a symbol telling the player that interacting with container will flag NPCs?

Nobody ever reacts to disarming traps/picking locks/peering inside but the item backgrounds inside will be shaded red if picking them up will initiate combat.

 

[Trashos]

One rule is that it depends on who sees you (eg, a member of one faction may not give a crap if they see you stealing from another faction). I haven't paid attention whether this rule covers all occasions where this happens.

Just assume that everyone will aggro (but you may also save and try it in case they don't).

 

[Cat Headed Eagle]

Would you like it if a guy with Main Character complex went through YOUR stuff? What if they find The Sock?

 

[Tyrr]

 

[ShaggyMoose]

"That is not virtuous Avatar"

Fuck of Iolo, I do what I want.

 

[Tweed]

On opposite spectrums of the extreme we have Daggerfall and Witcher 3. In the first, if you're spotted stealing, guards will immediately get notified and half a dozen of them will instantly teleport inside your rectum. In the latter, everything is free for the taking, and people are just chilling while you grab everything that's not nailed down in front of their noses.