So, I spent a good hour yesterday trying to figure out a science to locks. I figured in Oblivion it was a combination of visual and audible queues so maybe this game is the same. I am surprised there isn't more out there on this by the way. Then again I haven't searched much yet, that spoils the fun.
This is in part a guide but also a question as I am not sure if I have figured this out entirely. Also forgive me if I am telling you what everyone knows already.
I practiced this on all locks but I spent the majority of my time on an expert chest somewhere in Riften. Oh I am playing on a PC and I do think that is significant ( more on this below ).
My lockpick level is like 35 or so I have not spent any perks nor I have I done thieves guild quest or have any gear/potions to boost my skill so I can't comment on the effects it has.
First, I believe all locks ( novice...expert etc ). have possible preset "green zones". The Green zone is where you can begin to turn the lock. Within the green some is the sweet spot that unlocks it. A higher level lock gives you 3 challenges - more presets and smaller green zone and less health to your pick.
For instance novice locks I believe have 3 green zones and they are very big. One at roughly 10 oclock, 12 oclock, and 2 oclock. Most often its right at 12 oclock. Maybe that's a bad analogy - upper left/upper right you get the idea. Very easy.
Each level lock roughly doubles the amount of green zones but again I haven't pinpointed or confirmed this. I think an expert lock might have 12 of them and they are very small meaning once you find the green zone you only have a couple pixels in either direction to play with or you break the lock.
Now for the part that was interesting. I am playing on a PC and I actually think this part is MUCH harder on a PC but..I don't have it on xbox. There is a way to move the pick and get an audible queue on which green zone to use.
First off, by default on the PC, your mouse sensitivity will be WAY too high to do this even by adjusting the slider in game. You have to go to your mouse properties or any sort of app you have for your mouse and set it very low. Thankfully I have quick buttons to adjust my sensitivity on the fly and this is a life saver. I set my sensitivity to the lowest setting.
Now you must move the pick clockwise at a speed where it is silent. You should hear NO JINGLING. This is actually difficult because as soon as your mouse moves slower or faster you get the jingle and your have to start over. If you can move it slowly all the way around with NO JINGLING you are listening for a very quiet "click". Its actually hard to distinguish from a jingle but it is there. I find this to be a challenge you have to move it the same speed all the way around.
When you hear the click, you found the green zone. However, lets add just one more wrinkle. On expert/master locks - I have at times had to move the mouse around as many as 8 times to find it. sometimes you dont hear it. And I have had occasions where I get false clicks.
By doing this correctly I will not break picks except expert locks. But I went from breaking like 14 picks to maybe 2-4. Still frustrating because just when I think I have cracked the code I come across a lock and just can't get it to work at all lol.
The irony of all this is, on novice-adept it seems like I can still do almost as good just by guessing, once you know the common spots, and they are MOST common at 10, 12 and 2 oclock. there are also little visiual queues on the lock, little groves and marks.
Hope this helps, maybe someone can try this and confirm I am not imagining it all and maybe I can move to guides. Or someone will point out this has all been posted already
This is in part a guide but also a question as I am not sure if I have figured this out entirely. Also forgive me if I am telling you what everyone knows already.
I practiced this on all locks but I spent the majority of my time on an expert chest somewhere in Riften. Oh I am playing on a PC and I do think that is significant ( more on this below ).
My lockpick level is like 35 or so I have not spent any perks nor I have I done thieves guild quest or have any gear/potions to boost my skill so I can't comment on the effects it has.
First, I believe all locks ( novice...expert etc ). have possible preset "green zones". The Green zone is where you can begin to turn the lock. Within the green some is the sweet spot that unlocks it. A higher level lock gives you 3 challenges - more presets and smaller green zone and less health to your pick.
For instance novice locks I believe have 3 green zones and they are very big. One at roughly 10 oclock, 12 oclock, and 2 oclock. Most often its right at 12 oclock. Maybe that's a bad analogy - upper left/upper right you get the idea. Very easy.
Each level lock roughly doubles the amount of green zones but again I haven't pinpointed or confirmed this. I think an expert lock might have 12 of them and they are very small meaning once you find the green zone you only have a couple pixels in either direction to play with or you break the lock.
Now for the part that was interesting. I am playing on a PC and I actually think this part is MUCH harder on a PC but..I don't have it on xbox. There is a way to move the pick and get an audible queue on which green zone to use.
First off, by default on the PC, your mouse sensitivity will be WAY too high to do this even by adjusting the slider in game. You have to go to your mouse properties or any sort of app you have for your mouse and set it very low. Thankfully I have quick buttons to adjust my sensitivity on the fly and this is a life saver. I set my sensitivity to the lowest setting.
Now you must move the pick clockwise at a speed where it is silent. You should hear NO JINGLING. This is actually difficult because as soon as your mouse moves slower or faster you get the jingle and your have to start over. If you can move it slowly all the way around with NO JINGLING you are listening for a very quiet "click". Its actually hard to distinguish from a jingle but it is there. I find this to be a challenge you have to move it the same speed all the way around.
When you hear the click, you found the green zone. However, lets add just one more wrinkle. On expert/master locks - I have at times had to move the mouse around as many as 8 times to find it. sometimes you dont hear it. And I have had occasions where I get false clicks.
By doing this correctly I will not break picks except expert locks. But I went from breaking like 14 picks to maybe 2-4. Still frustrating because just when I think I have cracked the code I come across a lock and just can't get it to work at all lol.
The irony of all this is, on novice-adept it seems like I can still do almost as good just by guessing, once you know the common spots, and they are MOST common at 10, 12 and 2 oclock. there are also little visiual queues on the lock, little groves and marks.
Hope this helps, maybe someone can try this and confirm I am not imagining it all and maybe I can move to guides. Or someone will point out this has all been posted already
