So far I'm about 12 hours into the game and absolutely loving it. One thing that has truly baffled me though is how easy it is to pick locks even with little to no training. I was walking through the Riften sewers for the first time when I came across an expert lock. I had 20 or so lockpicks at hand so I decided to give it a go. With a lockpicking skill of only 22, I was able to open it only breaking 3 lockpicks in the process. 3. This is my first Elder Scrolls game so I don't know what it was like before, but shouldn't there be some sort of incentive for people who put their hard earned perk points into lockpicking? I would feel cheesed knowing that I dedicated so much of my time and perk points upping something that makes little to no difference since just about anyone can do it using trial and error.

That's my opinion though. I'd be interested to hear other people's thoughts on this, especially those who use lockpicking as one of their main skills.

Its extremely easy! I haven't added one single perk into the lockpicking tree and i feel soooooooo pro

*Master Lock engage*

ok let's test this...
*moves lockpick, instant snap*

ok thats not it...
*moves slightly to the right, instant snap*
*moves all the way left, instant snap*
*moves all the way right, HOLY [censored] it wiggled, but snapped*

*7 attempts later get the lock free*

I'd say its easy

And alot of people where complaining how hard the Oblivion system of lockpick was too hard.

Now people are saying its too easy to use the fallout 3 system.

We should include a game setting call IQ. Pick your IQ level and the mini-games will differ accordingly.

Oblivion wasn't hard, it was just super annoying. I love the Fallout system.

Edit: I guess on topic though. Lockpicking is easy in Skyrim but I think you will also go through more lockpicks than other games. If that makes sense to you.

It's doable, but I don't think it's too easy (keyword: too). You still snap lockpicks every now and then. Sometimes you get lucky and hit the right angle but it's part of the mechanism.

I remember Oblivion's lockpick game was more of a challenge, but I still like this (fallout style) one more.

Please don't say that. it's one of the few things I am not having a hard time with.

They were probably novice locks. Adept are a little challenging and above that nearly impossible. Insta snap. I haven't spent any perks on lockpicking though. THere doesn't seem to be so many locked chests in Skyrim like Oblivion so that is kind of nice for non thieves who don't want to dump a lot of perks into lockpicking.

What system are you guys on? I'm finding it difficult on the 360. I played Fallout 3(similar to Skyrim lock picking) on PC and thought it was really easy. But I think you have better control with a mouse than a 360 contoller

I play on the 360 as well. Maybe I'm just used to the controls?

its hard as heck, for someone who does not carry too many lockpicks on him and has to deal with master locks

I have and will always hate mini games. Abstracting something in game, affected by attributes, perks, and other factors, to a player's real skill never seems to go off well. Like I've always suggested, if you don't have high enough skill levels, or in this case perks, then you can't attempt to pick the lock. It's that simple.

For warriors, they can attempt to bash in the lock/chest but will surely cause a racket and have a chance of breaking what it contains. Suffice to say it can never be relocked. Mages would use the unlock spell that would also make noise, but like thieves, would need to get up to master levels to unlock master locks.

I started a thread earlier about how difficult I was finding it. I found FO3 lockpicking easy enough, but for some reason I just can't get the knack of this and it is a real struggle, whenever I go dungeon diving I make sure I have at least 100 lockpicks with me in case I encounter a master level lock (I can do the novice and apprentice ones OK, I have the perks to make those easier!)

I find hedition's comment about IQ extremely offensive btw, I have a high IQ but I'm a bit cack-handed, by all means criticise my manual co-ordination skills, but suggesting that my intelligence is sub-par because I find a silly minigame difficult is ridiculous.

I saw your thread shortly after I posted this haha. One thing you touched on was how the lockpicks immediately snap when above adept level. I'm still able to get at least a wiggle or two with every lockpick, which really helps when adjusting. I'd suggest pressing lighter on the keypad/anolog stick when experimenting

On an unrelated note, nice username! I tried replaying OoT recently and am stuck near the end of the Forest temple

I'm using a keyboard and mouse, perhaps that's the problem because they are not anologue, it's becoming more and more apparent that this game was not designed to use them! Unfortunately due to arthritis in my thumb joints I cannot use a 360 controller because it hurts a lot.

What is OoT? Is it some Zelda game? Never played those. Epona is a celtic goddess of fertility and harvest, often depicted with a horse. Zelda took the name from that, as did I, I have never played the games but a lot of people who don't know the real origin of the name assume that I am a fan. :/

Hmm, didn't know that. I assumed the username was from Zelda Ocarina of Time, especially in a videogame forum. Yes, Link's horse in the game is named Epona. Now I know why

It takes a light touch. On Master locks you want to use just the tiniest bit of pressure as you test for the opening, and be ready to let go at the slightest resistance. This way you can usually avoid breaking the pick. I rarely break more than two picks these days even on Masters.

No, never played them - my family are all pagan, plus I studied Romano-Celtic religious synchretism and late pre-Roman Celtic belief systems as part of my archaeology degree, that's how I got the name. I've used it online on non-gaming forums for around 20 years now and I identify with it every bit as much as the name on my birth certificate, I'm not going to drop it when I am on a gaming forum just because some people think it means something that it doesn't!

I am a pure warrior and have been able to crack a master lock only a few hours into the game. It's easy if you're subtle and know how to test the pie chart you go through to find the sweet spot.