Also... I dont know about you guys and gals, but i usually save before adept and harder locks... That way, if i break a pick, all i gotta do is load the save and try again. Ive only broken about 3 picks in 280+ hours, ive unlocked 176 locks and i have 265 lock picks. Lol.

Oh and ive noticed this:
If your pick is on the verge of breaking, it will be at the same strength (or lack there of) the next time you pick a lock. So even if you see a novice lock and think, "sh|||||ttt... This is gunna be easy", your pick will break just as easy as a master lock if you arent careful. The great thing about saving before you attempt a lockpick, besides the obvious, is that once you break a pick and reload, the pick will be at full strength, without wasting a pick. Beautiful.

If you have over 200 lockpicks, why even worry about one breaking? I had 400 lockpicks and I just sold 300, even 100 are too many LOL I rather break a lockpick than worry about re-loading the game!

Pretty much what the others have said. It's more a player skill than a game skill, but you'll soon get the hang of it. Pick locks as you find them and don't be afraid to loose 20 picks on a master lock in the early days - you won't run out if you're even a little careful, and that's without reloading.

Picking a master lock at level 20 was enough for me to go up two levels from what I recall - it's not a hard skill to level. Just wonder around the towns at night and try your hand...

First, this. Most higher-difficulty locks in dungeons are just little rooms with goodies inside. I recall very, very few Adept+ locks on "essential" doors, if any at all.

Also going to pile on this. It's really, really annoying sometimes but entirely doable assuming you have a sufficient supply of lockpicks (and the things are everywhere; even casually looting them you end up with hundreds).

That's the way to do it man

Lol. This is totally true. But see, if im not mistaken, in oblivion, it showed how many "lockpicks broken", and i never wanted that to be more than a big fat 0. (im anol retentive and a bit ocd) so... And trust me, i know... TES franchise is one of the most frustrating for people like me... Not saying its bad... Just the opposite...

Oh, so, i know skyrim doesnt have "lockpicks broken" in the stats... But i guess its just a habit from oblivion.

But, im workin on it. Thats why i allowed myself to break 3 on that master lock soo long ago. LOL.

Just save in front of the chest/door/locked thingy and try your best. When the lockpicks are out just reload the game and proceed where you left off; the lock will still have the same "solution" as when you failed last. Just keep trying until you find the right angle. =)

They dont have the same "solution" or sweet spot when you reload...

Nice pic. (;

They stayed permanently empty for my first character. I haven't done the TG quests though with my new character, but I will. Hopefully they will work better this time around.

it's not only torches that can warm the lock, I've used flames for it... it just takes a really long time and it's frankly easier and more effective use of my time to keep trying to pick the lock, even when it cost me a ton of picks while I figured out the how of it.

in my previous post I should have said that the perks will broaden your "sweet spots" on the locks and that having a higher level picking skill does reduce the aggrivation of picking a master lock... it still will not solve the issue if you're still basically misunderstanding the method of picking them.

you know, with all the mods and additional "homemade" code that associates to Fallout and Elder Scrolls games, I'm shocked there's not a simple little program online that you could download or access through a website and practice lockpicking for ages. I looked and there's nothing for either game. very disappointing because I thought I was on to something kewl and I haven't got the skillz myself.
(hello, smart programmer folks out there... really... easy and mostly useable. anyone up to the challenge? make it a contest or a game... the mechanic is the same in both games... shouldn't be too hard with all the past construction kits out there... pretty please with sugar onnit?)

lol

You should read my reply on the first page. It should help you out. But if you want practice, save in front of a lock. Pick, load, pick, load, pick... You get the gist. The sweet spot changes ever time you reload.

Good point...

...Shouldnt bethesda add this for training in the... Help section? That'd be smart.
Maybe not enough people are in need of help? Hmm...

Lockpick pro mod over at nexus-----always hated lock picking when playing as warrior. Still think a mother of a warrior with one heck of a big axe should be able to take on any lock with a smash or two. All it does is show you the sweet spot, you can hit it regardless of skill level. Use it a few times to get a feel for how the sweet spot changes by skill and difficulty, then delete if you want.