Can you retry failed lockpick checks?

[Ninth Hour]

So there is obviously no "take 20" rule for lockpicking, as there was in 3.5E, since- even if you are out of combat- you still have to roll normally (i.e. you cannot automatically add 20 to your lockpicking skill and appropriate bonuses to see if you beat the lock DC).

So what happens if you fail a lockpicking check? Can you retry it or are you just unable to open the chest?

I ask because, in town, I tried picking the lock on one of the chests (i.e. near the Scavenger representative) and failed but had no option to try again. I wasn't sure if this would be the norm for all chests or just this one, as- so far- I have not failed lockpicking attempts during the one quest I completed so far.

[Agony_Aunt]

Check your options. I think standard rules only allow one attempt (or one attempt per character?). You can change it in the options though.

[forcecomdr]

As an alternative to disabling the one time roll on them, you can give or keep thieves tools on dif characters and have them try.

[Ninth Hour]

Originally posted by forcecomdr:

As an alternative to disabling the one time roll on them, you can give or keep thieves tools on dif characters and have them try.

Not a bad idea except that not everyone has proficiency with thieves' tools.

[IgnatiusJ.Reilly]

I noticed that one can retry the lock after gaining a character level.

[tomyjp]

Originally posted by Ninth Hour:

Not a bad idea except that not everyone has proficiency with thieves' tools.

If the update haven't changed the game, lock-picking doesn't require the proficiency in Solasta.

https://solastacrownofthemagister.wiki.fextralife.com/Thieves'+Tools
> In Solasta, you do not need to be Proficient to use the Thieves' Tools to unlock a chest for example. All characters, with these tools placed in their Inventory, can roll one Dexterity check per lock. A proficient character (Rogue class or Lowlife background) adds his/her Proficiency Bonus to the roll.

[Ninth Hour]

Originally posted by tomyjp:

Originally posted by Ninth Hour:

Not a bad idea except that not everyone has proficiency with thieves' tools.

If the update haven't changed the game, lock-picking doesn't require the proficiency in Solasta.

https://solastacrownofthemagister.wiki.fextralife.com/Thieves'+Tools
> In Solasta, you do not need to be Proficient to use the Thieves' Tools to unlock a chest for example. All characters, with these tools placed in their Inventory, can roll one Dexterity check per lock. A proficient character (Rogue class or Lowlife background) adds his/her Proficiency Bonus to the roll.

Well, the in-game text might be misleading then, because there is a message that explicitly appears to let you know that a character is not proficient and cannot equip Thieves' tools

[Spicy Camel]

Thief tools are not equipable, you need to just have them in the inventory.

Message you getting is probably about character not having thief tools in the bag.

[Gundalf]

You could use the knock spell after failing a lockpick.

[Berserkr]

Just change it in settings to you can keep trying

[Aimee]

Every character can try 1 time, so you can do a check on a door or chest up to 4 times. You can also give buffs like Guidance, or Enhance Ability to make it easier. As a last resort you could use the spell Knock, it should unlock it.

[Ommamar]

I prefer turning the limitation off myself I found it a silly idea that a thief would only be able to attempt a lock pick once. In addition to the others suggestion there is a few items that have the knock spell who charges reset every long rest. They are plentiful in Lost Valley but less so in CoTM, although they do appear to be on the loot table.

[B Unit]

Originally posted by Ommamar:

I prefer turning the limitation off myself I found it a silly idea that a thief would only be able to attempt a lock pick once.

It is silly but at the same time, being able to retry until it gets unlocked kinda makes locked chests redundant. Not sure what the answer is but ultimately it would probably end up just being nothing more than an annoyance to the player so may as well just retry till it pops open.

[Grumpy Old Dude]

I'd prefer the option allow a retry after gaining a level. That's how we always DM'd it in tabletop. A failed roll meant the lock was "beyond your skills". Level up, then you can try again, as your "skills" will have improved. That would however, require a bit more coding than the way they have done it.

[Mrac Guilty]

It might be a bug but yesterday i had my dex 12 fighter (not lowlife) in heavy armor open a lock after the lowlife monk with 20 dex failed.

[Cartesian Duelist]

Originally posted by Mrac Guilty:

It might be a bug but yesterday i had my dex 12 fighter (not lowlife) in heavy armor open a lock after the lowlife monk with 20 dex failed.

It's not a bug, it's just the dice rolls. If you make a Rogue, you can put Expertise into thieves' tools to make it much more likely to succeed.

For clarification, in the settings the option is called "Reroll Exploration checks".