Smooth-Talking Pickpocket

Open Alpha Cohort 10 presents its Fall 2024 game, Smooth-Talking Pickpocket!

Smooth-Talking Pickpocket is a narrative-driven pickpocketing adventure set in a quirky, New London, where players navigate conversations and theft through a Trust Bar system and stealth-based minigames. Players explore a hub area connecting four core locations in New London, meeting colorful characters like Crazy Dave, a mysterious bishop, and a venture capitalist, each with unique items to steal. With a five-day structure culminating in a gala, players' choices, relationships, and stolen items impact the story's outcome. The gameplay blends exploration, dialogue, and skillful pickpocketing to create a fast-paced, choice-driven experience.

This game puts you in the shoes of a daring pickpocket competing to become the best in New London. Over five days, you'll encounter a colorful cast of NPCs, each with their own quirks, unique items, and challenges. Your goal? Steal as many items as you can—especially the unique ones tied to each character. These special items not only make your final day at the gala easier but also affect your ending, with higher currency and better items unlocking the best outcome.

The gameplay revolves around a mix of dialogue-based interactions and a pickpocketing mini-game. While talking to characters, you'll need to navigate a maze, manage a trust bar, and choose dialogue carefully to buy time. If you succeed, you’ll snag their items—but fail, and Detective Gwydir might send you to jail, costing you precious opportunities. As you progress, the stakes rise, leading up to the ultimate challenge: stealing the Queen's tooth crown at the gala.

With a cast of eccentric characters like Crazy Dave, the musty shopkeeper, and Elon Gates, the out-of-touch venture capitalist, this game combines humor, strategy, and storytelling. The blend of quirky character designs, evolving locations, and high-stakes gameplay ensures every day feels fresh and challenging. Will you prove yourself as New London's top thief, or end up in the stocks facing a less-than-glamorous fate?