Lockpicking

[General Malarky]

So... Are there any chests that actually make it worth maxing out lockpicking? Or are all top-tier chests full of lame crap like bottom-tier chests? It really feels like I rolled up a Rogue for no reason. "Man, I cannot believe how many locked chests I am having to leve behind. Lellianna, you're useless." *starts new game as Rogue* "Oh.... Lellianna wasn't useless, the chests were." *as I pull yet another pair of leather gloves out of the T4 chest.*

Also, if it were not for the various mercenary missions (blackstone, chantry, etc) acquiring gold would be a hell of a task, in this game.

[insolent1]

I don't think there is anything important in tier 4 chests aside from some random loot, there is a chest in the village of haven which has one of the best bows in the game so it might be worth using a talent to get it if your character is an archer.
If you have a high cunning rogue you only need the first talent to open every locked chest in the game.
Most of the best stuff has to be bought or got through quests/locations.

The best money making is the precious metals quest
http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Precious_Metals

You can make potent lyrium potions for loads of money once one of your characters has tier 4 herbalist. You buy loads of raw lyrium from the merchant in the circle and then go to inn in denerim to buy rest of ingredients. If you are dwarf noble you can sell the lyrium potions to Gorim for lots of money.

[Mr.Mad]

Lockpicking isn't particularly useful, it's true. I actually didn't know until now that a high cunning allowed rogues to open everything even without having the skill maxed. Guess I should have read into it a little bit more before my most recent run. You do get experience for every lock you pick, but the amount gained is miniscule.

Anyway, you didn't roll a rogue for no reason. Lockpicking and stealth might not be that useful, but rogues can do tons of damage. I had tried in the past to play them and always bounced off, never quite clicking. I sat down and decided to make it happen on my most recent playthrough, and ended up having a lot of fun. I'd recommend a high cunning one, but I'm sure you could make a strength rogue work as well.

[insolent1]

Dex based rogue is the best as your defence will make enemies unable to hit you apart from special attacks(orge grabs/overwhelm) and spells.
I find stealth to be pretty good as it allows you to get into position to target the most danagerous enemies(mages) as soon as combat begins.

[Xerica]

i just download the mod to bash open chest and doors and use my skill point for something else more useful. rogue is great for back stabbing but i prefer warrior and mage .

[General Malarky]

Yeah.... The whole game experience has turned sour for me, for various reasons, and I have uninstalled. Got up to Orzammar before giving up out of boredom. It just was not a compelling story and, aside from Morrigan's mammaries, I kind of didn't care about any of the NPC's, either.