In contrast to other Bethesda role-playing games like Skyrim, Starfield doesn’t allow players to directly remove clothes from non-playable characters (NPCs). However, an alternative method involving the Manipulation Social skill has surfaced, thanks to the Starfield community on Reddit. This article dives into the details of this newly discovered tactic and what players need to be aware of when employing it.

The Traditional Bethesda Approach: A Brief Overview

In games like Skyrim, Bethesda has provided players with straightforward mechanics to acquire items, including stealing clothes from NPCs. Players simply engage in the act of pickpocketing to relieve characters of their attire. This has been a feature that many players enjoyed and used extensively.

Manipulation Social Skill: A New Twist in Starfield

In Starfield, the Manipulation Social skill serves a unique purpose. It allows players to command NPCs to perform various actions, including tasks that the player would rather not do themselves. Interestingly, this extends to acquiring clothes from other characters.

A Reddit user named Zorping discovered that if you use the Manipulation skill on a nearby NPC after committing a murder, you can order that NPC to “Inspect” the deceased. The manipulated NPC then proceeds to loot the body, taking all belongings, including the worn clothes.

The Catch: Further Steps Required

While the Manipulation skill enables the looting action, it doesn’t allow players to directly acquire the looted items from the manipulated NPCs. To get your hands on the stolen clothes, an additional step is required: another murder. By eliminating the manipulated NPC, players can then loot the stolen items.

Reddit user Zorping states, “It is risky with the double murder but if you really want to steal clothes, it’s doable.” This method, though complicated, does accomplish the end goal of obtaining the attire.

The Risks Involved: Bounty and Ethical Considerations

Though the method allows for a roundabout way to acquire NPC attire, it does come with risks. The most apparent one is the potential for incurring a bounty in the game. Starfield does not encourage lawless behavior without consequences.

Moreover, the psychological and ethical implications of using NPCs to do one’s “dirty work” can also be a point for consideration. Players forcing characters to loot corpses means inflicting a form of psychic trauma on these digital beings.

Community Sentiment: The Drive to Acquire Unique Items

The community’s reaction to this discovery has been mixed. While some find the method to be a satisfying workaround, others express their dissatisfaction that stealing clothes is not as straightforward as in previous Bethesda games.

One Reddit commenter mentioned their desire for “big pancake hats people wear in new Atlantis,” showcasing the community’s eagerness to acquire unique items, even if the process involves multiple steps and risks.

Conclusion

Starfield offers a unique twist on the traditional Bethesda mechanics for acquiring items, including NPC clothes. Through the Manipulation Social skill, players can force NPCs to loot bodies, and then claim those items by eliminating the manipulated NPCs. However, this method is not without its risks and ethical considerations. Players should be cautious of potential in-game consequences like bounties and weigh the ethical dimensions before deciding to proceed.

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