Should You Steal in The Outer Worlds?

My recommendation is to steal selectively rather than habitually. While stealing can provide situational benefits, the potential downsides make unrestrained theft a risky strategy in The Outer Worlds. Use discretion instead of grabbing everything in sight.

The Outer Worlds offers players extensive freedom in how they interact with NPCs and factions, including the option to freely steal items throughout the game world. However, excessive theft can negatively impact your experience. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll cover when stealing can pay off, factors to consider before pocketing items, tips for successful theft, and how stealing fits into different character builds and playstyles.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Stealing

Stealing in The Outer Worlds confers certain advantages, but also comes with drawbacks to factor into your decision-making.

Potential Benefits of Stealing

• Early Advantages – Taking weapons, armor, and consumables early from faction strongholds can give you an edge in the first 10 levels. However, these benefits diminish over time.

• Extra Funds – Selling stolen goods generates bonus bits, but at a reduced 20% rate from fence vendors. Around 7,000 bits can be earned from selling all stealable items.

• Access – Stealing keycards grants access to restricted areas with storage containers holding rare loot. However, this loot does not respawn.

• Materials – Breaking down stolen gear provides crafting components. But component availability is not limited.

• Roleplaying – Thievery fits certain personalities and moral alignments. It can be used selectively to reflect a custom background.

Downsides of Stealing

• Reputation Loss – Stealing from factions reduces reputation by -10 to -20 points, closing off quest rewards, discounts, and companion options.

• Guards Attack – Getting caught stealing makes all nearby guards hostile, forcing reloads or combat with multiple attackers.

• Companion Disapproval – Party members like Parvati and Felix will react negatively through comments and decreased loyalty.

• Reduced Merchant Funds – Vendors have less money to trade if you‘ve stolen their wares, reducing sales.

• CrimeStat Perks – High theft gives the Flaw "Kleptomania", reducing carrying capacity by 20kg per rank.

• No Resale Value – Quest items and unique named gear cannot be sold for profit if stolen.

Stealing Strategies

If you do choose to steal, utilize these strategies to improve success:

• Save First – Quicksave before theft attempts in case you get caught. Reload avoids fights with now-hostile NPCs.

• Sneak Unseen – Crouch to enter sneak mode, pick locks out of sight, and steal when NPCs are facing away. This avoids detection.

• Wait for Opportunities – Steal when towns are empty and NPCs like shopkeepers aren‘t home. Time passing and entering/exiting buildings resets this.

• Prioritize Hostile Factions – Focus theft on factions like outlaws that you won‘t return to. Stealing has no consequences with enemies.

• Leave Essentials – Avoid stealing unique quest gear as this cannot be replaced. Only take quest items when critically needed.

• Watch Companions – Don‘t steal near companions like Parvati who react negatively. Dismiss them first or steal while alone.

• Use Fences – Sell stolen goods only to fence vendors or vending machines to avoid guard interference. Fences include: Reggie (Edgewater), Lopp (Groundbreaker), and Gladys (Stellar Bay).

Stealing Based on Build

Stealing synergizes well with certain builds and playstyles:

Solo Thief Build

• Attributes: High Perception, Temperament, Dexterity
• Skills: Sneak, Lockpick, Persuade, Lie
• Flaws: Fear of Heights, Drug Addiction
• Perks: Pack Mule, Night Vision, Perk from Flaw

This build focuses heavily on stealing by maximizing stealth and charisma skills. Bringing no companions avoids disapproval of theft. The ability to consistently sneak, pick locks, and talk your way out of trouble enables rampant theft.

Balanced Thief Build

• Attributes: Above Average Perception, Dexterity, Temperament, Intelligence
• Skills: Sneak, Lockpick, Hack, Lie, Persuade
• Flaws: Drug Addiction, Cotraphobia
• Perks: Pack Mule, Night Vision

A more balanced thief uses stealth skills selectively when needed, while also investing in combat abilities and technical skills. Some theft can be used situationally without making it a sole focus. Hacking also enables access to restricted areas.

Non-Thief Builds

• Attributes: Charisma, Intelligence, Strength, Temperament
• Skills: Leadership, Medical, Engineering, Lie, Intimidate
• Flaws: Drug Addiction, Hemophobia
• Perks: Bonus Damage, Carry Weight, Extra Companion

Non-thief builds like a leader, scientist, or tank minimize investment in stealth skills. Theft is avoided except when critically needed for a quest. Companions disapprove of stealing.

Expert Stealing Tips and Tricks

These advanced tactics will enable thieves to maximize success and value:

• During the day, sneak into backrooms of stores and loot containers while shopkeepers are outside sweeping.
• Pickpocket guards while they are asleep at night to steal ammo and other items. Crouch and approach from behind.
• Once inside restricted corporate areas, knock out scientists before looting lab equipment to avoid detection.
• Engineering 100 allows dismantling of alarm panels to disable turrets guarding high value loot areas.
• When pickpocketing, save first and quickstep backwards after taking an item to avoid getting caught.
• Use long range silenced weapons and sneak attacks to kill lone NPCs patrolling outside settlements at night, then loot their bodies.

Stolen Goods – Vendor Price Comparison

As shown in the table above, fences provide no additional value compared to normal vendors when selling stolen goods. Both offer reduced 20% prices. The only benefit fences provide is avoiding hostility from guards.

Conclusion

In summary, stealing can be a high risk, high reward playstyle. It works best for solo thief builds highly invested in stealth and charisma skills. More balanced builds should use theft selectively to enable quest progression or roleplaying moral choices without going overboard. Non-thief builds can avoid stealing entirely with no major downsides. When stealing, proper strategies help maximize success and value gained. While the option to steal items adds freedom and fun gameplay opportunities in The Outer Worlds, restraint is generally advisable to avoid potential penalties and conflicts outweighing the dubious rewards.