I'm trying to figure out why I keep getting a bounty on my head. I'm very careful not to commit any crimes when any NPC is around, but the bounties keep coming. Do unobserved crimes count in this game?

I'm wondering if maybe it's because I'm playing a stealth archer build, and often take advantage of the surprise attack bonus. Do I need to wait until enemies attack me to avoid being guilty of murder?

I realize this post is 6 months old, but I just saw it now...

I admit I'm uncertain about Nehrim, but since it's built on Oblivion, I suspect the second part of your question is the answer; I think it's the stealth attack thing. Though if it's like in the base game, then that should only apply if you're stealth attacking non-hostile characters/creatures. If you're hitting a monster then it should be fine.

I apologize for answering without knowing for certain, but logically this makes sense, and no one else had even tried to help you. If you have already figured out the answer for yourself in the meantime, it would be great if you would reply and provide what you've learned. :)

Thanks for your thoughts. I finished my playthrough a while ago and unfortunately don't remember if I ever figured out the cause of my repeated bounties. But I don't think I did. (And as I recall my sneak attacks were always against bad guys who would attack me if they saw me first.) I do remember that I got in the habit of steering clear of guards and/or making sure I had enough money to pay the fine if/when they caught me (I don't like going to jail with the associated penalties).

I do clearly remember at one point being stuck when I needed to chat with an NPC to advance a quest. I had a bounty on my head (reason unknown), and a guard was patroling near the NPC. I also had almost no money. So I abandoned the current quest and went off to do other things until I had more money, then returned and continued, got caught, paid the fine. Not a great way to play, but doable (and perhaps "realistic" if you think of my character as a habitual criminal who never has any money :-).

Too late to help you if you've finished your playthrough, but I'm nearly certain that this is the source of your bounties then. I still haven't played Nehrim, but in Oblivion itself, there are a number of NPCs that will instantly turn hostile and attack when they see you (mostly certain NPCs that are members of Mythic Dawn, if I remember right, but there may be others), but if you sneak attack/kill them before they turn hostile, then it counts as a crime. As long as the hostile switch gets flipped first, then you're defending yourself, which is allowed under the crime/bounty rules, but you lose the ability to do the sneak attack in that case. Maybe not the most enjoyable way to deal with the situation, but as you say, certainly doable, lacking any real alternatives. :)