What Happens if You Commit Crimes in Oblivion Remastered

One of the defining features of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is its dedication to player liberty. You can be a hero, a thief, a mercenary, or even an assassin, but there is an aftermath to every action. Just as it is in reality, crime in Oblivion Remastered does not pay. From theft to outright murder, all actions are tracked by the game's justice system, such as bounty systems, guards, and the option to go to jail or face the law in other ways. While RPGs tend to let players live the life of an outlaw, Oblivion Remastered gets its criminal system to bear the weight. You can steal, trespass, or even attack nobles in their castles, but the moment a guard catches sight of you, the feared "Stop! You’ve violated the law! ” rings out. At that moment, your fate depends on your next move: pay the fine, serve your sentence, or resist arrest. Understanding how crimes work in Oblivion and knowing how to get out of jail can make the difference between a clean slate and a death sentence.

What Counts as a Crime in Oblivion Remastered

Oblivion Remastered's justice system is relatively advanced for its time. Nearly any suspicious activity you do has the potential to attract a mark of crime. The most common crimes include theft of goods, lock-picking, pickpocketing NPCs, or breaking into private property. Stealing a horse or attacking a non-hostile NPC are serious crimes, and murder, unless in self-defense, is the worst. Each crime you commit adds a bounty to your name, which influences how enthusiastically guards will pursue you and how much gold you'll need to pay to have your name cleared. The size of your bounty depends on the crime. Theft of a few worthless items might cost you only a few Septims, but murder or theft of a valuable item can result in astronomical fines and universal hostility from guards. Every city and hold in Cyrodiil has its own legislation, but your bounty is noted province-wide, so escaping one city does not put you in the clear in another.

What Happens When You Commit a Crime?

The moment there is a price on your head, guards will actively pursue you. When you are caught by a guard, you will have three choices: pay the fine, resist arrest, or go to jail. If you choose to pay the fine, the guard will escort you to the local castle to settle your debt. Every stolen item in your inventory, marked by a small red hand icon, will be confiscated from you, even if it was not related to the crime. Paying your bounty is generally the easiest option, but it will leave you impoverished and without some of your most valuable items. Paying the fine for your crimes in Oblivion Remastered is one of the ways to resolve your offenses, but it is expensive. Going to jail is another option, but with a penalty. When in prison, you can either do your time by sleeping in your cell or try to escape. Doing your time has a consequence of losing progress, as some of your skills will be depleted after release, depending on how high your bounty was. The higher your bounty, the longer you’ll stay and the more skill levels you’ll lose. If you decide to resist arrest, things get ugly. The guard will pull out his weapon and attack you immediately. You can try to flee, fight, or surrender, though surrendering isn't always effective if the guard is too angry or you're already engaged in a fight. Killing guards to escape adds to your bounty, so resisting arrest might seem like fun, but it tends to cause more problems than it's worth.

How to Surrender and Avoid Execution.

If you have engaged in combat but would wish to halt the fight without any bloodshed, you may surrender to a guard. To do this, hold the block button and, simultaneously, press the interact button while facing the guard. If they accept your surrender, the dialogue box will reappear and present you with another choice to pay your fine or go to jail. But guards are not always ready to accept a surrender, particularly not if you're in the middle of a jailbreak or have killed one of their friends. Knowing when to surrender can save you from pointless deaths and increased bounties. Timing and location are everything; guards in castles or in the midst of active pursuit are less forgiving than those who assault you in the open world.

How to Escape Jail in Oblivion Remastered

When you’re caught and choose or are forced to go to jail in Oblivion, you’ll wake up inside a small, grim cell with nothing but a single lockpick and ragged clothing. There are two ways to leave: serve your sentence or escape. To serve your sentence, simply sleep in the prison bed. This passes the time until your release, but decreases several of your skills based on the length of your stay. The longer your jail time, the more progress you’ll lose in random abilities. Should you not wish to spend your time in Oblivion, you may attempt to escape from jail. Lockpick the cell door with your single lockpick, or, if you're skilled in pickpocketing, risk stealing the jail key from a nearby guard. Be careful, though; jailers will attack on sight should they catch you in the process, and you'll garner an additional bounty for attempted escape. Once free of your cell, you'll have to make your way through the dungeon undetected. Near the exit is the Evidence Chest, which holds all of your stolen equipment. Pick it up on your way out. If you don't, your equipment will be permanently marked as stolen when you come back for it later. Guards will remain hostile for the entire escape, so stealth and timing are your allies. While breaking out of jail can be thrilling, it’s rarely worth it. You’ll retain your original bounty, and the act of escaping will add more to it. The game encourages cleverness, but in most cases, it’s better to pay your dues or use stealth to avoid capture in the first place.

How to Stay Out of Trouble

Avoiding crimes in Oblivion Remastered altogether is easier said than done, especially if you’re a member of the Thieves Guild or Dark Brotherhood. Still, there are a few smart strategies. Store stolen items in your home before entering towns, as guards can confiscate them if you’re caught with them in your inventory. Use stealth to avoid being seen when committing crimes, and invest in spells like Chameleon and Invisibility to make your work more subtle. Alternatively, if you do intend on living life as an outlaw, become a member of the Thieves Guild early on in your playthrough. Fences within guilds can purchase stolen items from you, allowing you to make gold without appearing on the guards' radar.