So I was in Ansilvund, level 18. I found an Expert chest that had some good leveled loot. Lydia could open this one, she had zero lockpicks.

Later on in Ansilvund Catacombs I found a Master Gate, leading in to what looked as a cage. Lydia could NOT open this one, even if I gave her lockpicks. I managed to open it, you know how it is - sometimes it takes 40 picks and sometimes 1 pick. Inside were an Unlocked chest, which contained 13 gold. Worth it? Nope.

Later on I found another Expert Cage, which was mandatory to open. Lydia could not open it.

Focus:

Should the Expert and Master locks always contain something good? Funny thing is the Door was Master but the Chest was unlocked so the Lock level on the door probably won't affect the Chest of course.

Is Lydia suppose to be able to open locks? If not, why could she open one Expert chest but not an Expert door?

It's quite frustrating sometimes when you spend quite a while on a master lock and then find 18 gold and a pair of leather boots. Even now whenever I see a chest with a master lock on it I still think to myself "must be something really good in there" but of course that's not always the case is it.

Have you guys gotten the random crap master chest with a fork in it ? Ive gotten it on 2 playthroughs its hilariously frustrating.