It really chafes my butt cheeks when I go through 30 lockpicks trying to get in to a master locked chest. And when I finally do, I'm rewarded with 14 gold and an iron ingot. If a chest is master locked, you should be guaranteed something of value.

I was under the impression that the quality
of loot degrades for every broken lockpick, therefore giving incentive to actually level lockpicking.

I've actually broken through a Master lock with one lock pick and still receiving bad loot. I've also got through a master lock after breaking 50 lock picks and still received very good loot.

For me the reward of master locked chests is more locking experience than I would get with an easier lock. Besides, I accumulate so many lockpicks I can't find enough locks to ever run out.

I've picked a master lock on my first try without breaking any picks and had the reward be a goblet and a petty soul gem.
My lockpicking skill is at 100. I don't need experience. I need a reward appropriate to my time and effort.

Hopefully you didn't waste any perk points in lockpicking like I did at least! And I agree, unless there is a quest object in a locked container, 99% of the time it's not worth the time or the effort to open any locked container you find; of course I always do it anyway because I'm a loot [censored].

I totally disagree. There should be absolutely no connection between difficulty and loot.

Hmm maybe a higher chance for better loot in a master chest (Roleplay wise you could say that enemies often get better locks when having something valueble), but i wouldent want it guaranteed.

I've always felt the same way. Glad to know it's not just me.

"I have 5 gold. I'm going to spend my life's savings on making a lock that shall be impossible to break!"
"I have more money than I know what I'm going to do with. Let me just stuff this money under a conspicuous rock somewhere."

There should -absolutely- be a correlation between difficulty of lock and loot.

This.

Superstition. Easily debunked by saving and opening the chest without failing.

Not at all. The loot is purely random. It is set when the player enters the cell and does not change.

I agree with the OP. I often just bypass chests because I just know I will be disappointed. I mainly have a problem with being forced to use a Lockpick to start with. Mages should cast spells and Warriors should use force.

The access success should be based on the skill of the character and not the player. Spells and Weapon force would allow that.

1. I have put the most powerful lock on this chest here and I'm going to fill it with treasures incomparable. But first I go into the forest to see if there are bears around. (gets eaten by bear).
2. I have plundered this chest with this incredibly difficult lock. I will now close it again because I'm the type of guy who closes locks.
3. whatever

Another idea: make locks optional. Why not? Who are we to say players should not have the option to make it optional? Don’t' like it don't use it blabla blabedibla…


Edit: and if you are really bothered about this, than make safe before you start working on a master lock. If the loot turns out to be disappointing, go back to your former safe. Problem solved.

I do think Mages should be able to open locks via magic. I miss that from OB

The better something is locked the worse the items inside are. Nothing new there, been like that since Oblivion atleast.

I suppose the most reliable ones are the "boss chests" at the end of a dungeon Otherwise, locked chests are just annoying. I just hate lockpicking, so i downloaded a mod that would tell me the correct location of the lockpick when i attempt to open a chest

Its exceedingly disappointing and infuriating when you spend a good amount of time lockpicking a chest only to get rubbish inside. Oh, sure its realistic, but it doesnt reward the player for effort spent.

Makes sense..
If someone throws something in a chest and locks it with a simple apprentice/novice lock.. Then it shouldnt be much of a value except the person in question might just wanna store it away with "some" security..

While someone slaps on a master/expert lock.. Then something valuable should be inside, cause the person storing an item with such security should store something neat and really shiny

But why should you always be rewarded? Surely it's better to go with the realism of it?

...Why? "Hmm, yes, let me just lock away this 5g in a chest with the best lock I can buy and hide where nobody can find it!"

this is a good point in oblivion you had a lockpick spell why did they get rid of that? coz it was handy!

i personally feel that its more a curiosity thing that makes me want to open chests n stuff rather than the loot itself......although decent loot is obviously appreciated!