If you have good sound, it's all skill. Lockpicking perks are just silly.
In my opinion, it's a skill. Of course there is some luck involved, but, with finesse, you can pick almost any lock. Sure some of the experts take a couple of tries, but, practice makes perfect. It's all about finesse. I haven't really paid attention to the sounds, but, there is usually a clue on the appearance of the lock in my opinion with some spot, grove, dent or nub indicating for me. I have been picking all types of locks since about level 4 with success and, although I'm up to over 90 on my lockpick #'s on the tree, I have yet to get any of the perks. I will probably just legendize it when I get to 100 and move them somewhere else.
I heard that too. I found it to be false.I heard somewhere that when you break a pick, the pick breaks in the direction you need to go. This works a lot for me, but I doubt that it is an "intended" function.
My sweet spot us usually about 1/4 over on the right (most locks start there for me), but there are the occassional lefties as well.Never start in the center because the resistance won't tell you what side to go to in that case. I like to start about a tenth of the way left of center on my first turn and feel it out from there.
i heard the same thing, it is false as far as i know, lock picking is more patience than anything once you find a spot that lets you turn even a little bit that means you are on the sweet spot lolI heard that too. I found it to be false.