Lockpicks (possible spoilers)

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:42 am

Hiya.

I'm having a lot of fun playing an thief/vampire character. The traits that come with both proficiencies require me to break in people's houses often and I can't seem to find a steady source (or two) for lockpicks. Can anyone recommend me some places where I can easily buy them? I'm having trouble locating them myself.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:59 am

Well, my char is not a Thief, but she still uses a lot of lockpicks! And I haven't found anywhere to BUY them yet, either. BUT, if you go around the outer coastline of the Lake around Imperial city you will discover a number of locations where you can find lockpicks on bandits, in chests, etc. Not a great supply, but handy.

The other thing I do is SAVE before attempting a locked chest or door, so that I can reload and try again if I'm breaking a lot of lockpicks. I suppose it is sort of 'cheating', but lockpicks seem so scarce I feel almost forced to do it. I HATE not being able to open things, and having to leave the stuff behind!

And be careful when you pick the lock: locate the pick carefully, push it up with your left mouse button and IMMEDIATELY afterwards hit the right button to fix it in position. Doesn't always work, though. You will lose some picks whatever you do, but you can minimise the break rate, with care.

Also, if you are any good with spells, you can get ones (School of Alteration)that will open increasingly difficult locks without lockpicks.

Not that I've used a magic Open spell yet. I only have the spell for Open Very Easy Lock.

In passing - imo, every char should have Restoration and Alteration magic.

mordib · Post by **mordib** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 5:03 am

the key is to find goblin caves, there are loads of them scatered about. for some reason the little buggers always have one or two on them. plus after time they respawn.. i'm assuming there is a more sensible solution though, i just dont know it

Ashen · Post by **Ashen** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:04 am

If you are in the Thiefs Guild you can buy them from Ongar the World Weary in Bruma. If you are not I believe Shady Sam over near the Imp. City sells some but the trick is finding him - go out from the Talos District door and face the bridge across the lake. From there turn right and hug the wall until you pass the horse ranch and a large boulder. In one of those little alcoves is the man himself - or as they've said hunt goblins. I do.

gothy · Post by **gothy** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:16 am

The easiest way to get lockpicks would be to join the thieves guild. All the fences sell lock picks. You can get 100 each time they restock themselves

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:25 am

Lockpicks are a respawn item that regularly show up in outside barrels, crates, etc, throughout most cities in the game. If you're going through them all very quickly, perhaps your Security isn't high enough, or you're attempting locks that you shouldn't.

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:36 am

Well, I'm no master yet but I need about 6-7 lockpics to open up an 'average' level lock. I'm not really near any goblin caves atm, but I'll pay more attention to the crates in the imperial city (where I'm at now).

Is it just me or did Morrowind have a greater number of shopkeepers who would sell them? Sigh.. it really wouldn't be such a big deal if I could just feed 'bloodlines' style instead of having to break in every night to bite them while they're asleep.

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:15 am

[QUOTE=Tricky]Is it just me or did Morrowind have a greater number of shopkeepers who would sell them? Sigh.. it really wouldn't be such a big deal if I could just feed 'bloodlines' style instead of having to break in every night to bite them while they're asleep.[/QUOTE]

Yes, but now lockpicks are free. Free, but you have to search for them. Whereas before, they cost, but you could always find plenty of places to buy them.

moltovir · Post by **moltovir** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:31 am

There's an easy trick to break less lockpics: when you push one of the jumpers up, try to listen if it makes a slow, double click. If it doesn't, push it up again or choose another jumper. When it makes a "click--click" sound, quickly press the mouse button before the second click ends. If you practice on this a bit and learn to recognize the sound you should be able to open very hard locks with a single pick.

RUFFINATOR · Post by **RUFFINATOR** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 5:05 pm

good trick moltovir...im gonna have to try that...though i dont really mind when i break picks cause every tumbler raises your security skill some and i have oh about 250 lockpicks(thieves guild member)

moltovir · Post by **moltovir** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:47 am

Lockpicking is almost too easy now that I understand the system... yesterday my barbarian Orc accidently got the attention of the guards (not that accidently... I stole a sword but the owner cought me so I knocked him unconscious) and since I didn't have the gold to pay his fines, I was stripped of all my items and brought to jail. There I noticed that the guards had taken everything except a single lockpick, so I used that to pick the cell door and made a run for the exit, chased by a dozen of guards. Outside I jumped into the water, swam to the other bank and disappeared into the forest. It was one of the most fun moments I've had while playing Oblivion.

Bottomline is, a level 1 Orc with 5 skill in security can pick a Very Hard lock with a single lockpick.

mordib · Post by **mordib** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:43 am

[QUOTE=moltovir] yesterday my barbarian Orc accidently got the attention of the guards (not that accidently... I stole a sword but the owner cought me so I knocked him unconscious)....[/QUOTE]

Sounds like something your character might say

as for the listening method of lockpicking, thanks for pointing it out, i had been doing it visually up until now which works quite well but not great. I guess if you pick enough locks (with the sound on) you will start to subconsiosly start recognising the right sound hence getting better at lockpicking... quite clever really.. until you figure it out

Ashen · Post by **Ashen** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:16 am

Sweet, thanks for the tip! I was getting quite good with my visual method, this will make it easier

Though in all honesty isn't this making the security skill a bit redundant? I am not even up to 25, there isn't a lock I can't open. (Am not mentioning magic since I am on middle dif spell there, so not up to the hardest ones yet)