How the hell does lockpicking work????

[RM1985]

Been playing this game for a few days now and still haven't found out, how exactly this frickin lockpicking thing works! Tried it dozens of times, only got 2 easy locks open, mostly my lockpicks just break away!
Do you have to turn the lockpick with the lock or what?? Tried that, but lockpicks always breaks away!!

[pyxel]

Originally posted by RM1985:

Been playing this game for a few days now and still haven't found out, how exactly this frickin lockpicking thing works! Tried it dozens of times, only got 2 easy locks open, mostly my lockpicks just break away!
Do you have to turn the lockpick with the lock or what?? Tried that, but lockpicks always breaks away!!

You have to find the sweet spot. It is similar to how lockpicking works in Elder Scrolls or modern Fallout games. First you position the lockpick (mostly guesswork) then you have to turn the lock. If the lockpick starts shaking it is not in the right position and you need to reposition it. In the beginning, lockpicks will break really easily. You just have to get more and keep trying to level the skill up. The higher your skill the bigger the tolerance for the sweetspot. By unlocking masteries you get additional chances before the lockpick breaks.

[RM1985]

I still don't really get it!! Even if I find the sweet spot, the lock turns a bit and then my lockpick breaks again!!
What is actually the difference between easy and medium locks?? I have to unlock some medium locks for some quests, but I can't do it!!

[StormKitten]

I find the easy ones the 'sweet spot' is often the very top area. It will give a little as you get the right area, literally hit the button carefully and slowly, too fast and you'll break it. The second it does shudder then you you need to slightly move it to the left or right and do the same action again until the lock is able to completely turn and the line becomes horizontal in which case the container will open and you press E on the items to steal them.

The medium ones I struggle with, not even sure if I've managed one yet but i know i've broken countless picks since the new method was brought in and I wont even bother attempting the hard ones yet. Starting to try and level up the skill to see if that makes any difference so we shall see...