What version of the game is GoG selling? The first version was buggy but pick pocketing worked, The last patch hit some bugs but killed pick pocketing dead. I have the 8.0c version but would buy it again in a heart beat if it was the 8.0a or 8.0b

GOG version = Latest patch version Wiz8Patch2001_12_23

Pick pocketing was bugged prior to the last patch. It was too easy. They merely made it work as intended.

Are mods necessary for this game?

no... in fact most of them stuff it up

True (some small mods like 'WIZ8_Fast' many seem to find useful) for the most part but I would reccomend everyone get Mad God's "Cosmic Forge" editor for Wiz 6-8 because even if you are not a modder you can use it to patch additional bugs as well as things like changing RPC behaviors (so you can prevent RPCs in your party from leaving because of prohibited areas for example). Use a search engine to find "Mad God's Tiny Hut"/"Cosmic Forge" as I don't have the link handy ATM.