Anybody else having a hard time picking locks?...I break about 8 or 9 Lockpicks per attempt, even on the lower level locks

im very used to it thanks to way to meny hours spent in fallout 3 and new vegas, but at the higher level locks i still tend to break alot of picks there way more fragile in skyrim then there are in fallout.

No, I find it quite easy. Hmm... if you are having trouble with Lockpicking, then I suggest getting enchanted apparel that boosts lockpicking. An easy one to get (that makes Lockpicking 15% easier) is acquired when joining the Thieves Guild.

Are you looking for the 'sweet spot'? Try rotating the pin in 5-8 evenly distributed places around the lock, pressing A or W quickly until you find the spot. Novice locks should be relatively easy, even with little experience. Just keep trying.

You could always activate the Tower Stone as well. Unlocks any Expert level lock or lower once per day.

Not here. I can master locks in less than 8 attempts. One reason why I'm good at it. The same reason why almost everyone is good at it. Thank you Fallout. I had 100's of hours practicing for Skyrim.

Here's a tip. Take a pick and start on one side and work your way around using the marks on the lock. Eventually you'll find the sweet spot. Also don't turn it to hard. On lower level locks you can get a few attempts just from one pick. Or enchant some gloves or gauntlets just for lock picking.

I'm just assuming but you've probably never played Fallout 3. You should. Even if it's not for you at least you'll come out a master lockpicker lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oslc28vRqbk <-- I used this just a few hours ago, and I'm already smashing through Expert locks at lv 20 picking only losing one or two picks. It becomes even easier on the consoles because you can actually turn the lock with a measure of sensitivity as opposed to having to stab at A and D like a [censored].

Use the perks, it makes it a lot easier. I don't even bother trying if I don't have the perk.

Exactly. Fallout: New Vegas served me well too.

Anyways, when I saw this thread I started thinking about my strategies. I just realized it, but my first attempt is at 10:30 and then at 1:30. Who knew.

I had no lockpicking perks, and I did just fine. Just tap 'A' once and see if it turns a little or jiggles. Use that to make your assumptions as to where the sweet spot is, point is don't hold down the key too long.

Or

Easy way to get used to picking is to look at the lock as if its a clockface. Try picking "on the hours" till you get a nibble and adjust accordingly.

ya most of time i start at the 9 oclock, then the 10:30 then the 12 then the 1:30 then the 3, sweet spot in usaully near one of those spots

Listen, too. It doesn't always work but I've found that sometimes I can get in the general vicinity of the sweet spot by listening intently as I slowly rotate just the pick itself. Sometimes, I hear a little "click" and if I concentrate on that area, I succeed. As I said, it's not foolproof but just something else to try.

As you get further along, you'll have so many picks, you won't worry about losing 8 or 9 (but as you get better, you also won't lose as many). My current main has over 150 picks in her inventory, just from looting and opening chests.

And, as others have said, practice coming over from Fallout 3/NV probably helped, too .

Well, im almost as bad, but not usually. But I have close to 300 lock picks just from looting corpses. Why does every character have lockpicks in this game? Good or bad does not matter they all have lock picks.

Well think on it like this; If you were a bandit in Skyrim, wouldnt you want a lockpick or two hidden about your person for emergencies?

in case they forget there house keys?

Really? Wow. I've never played fallout or any game that features similar lockpicking, but I got used to it fast. I think it's easy, takes me 2-3 lockpicks for all the locks to around medium difficulty, the hardest ones depend on my skill, but I practically never use more than 10 or so picks on top difficulty locks.