Lock Picking Skill?

[EldritchFire]

I was going through the skill list earlier today and noticed there is no listed way to pick mechanical locks.

Sure, Mechanics or Electronics (Computers) could be used to bypass computerized/electronic locks, but what about low-tech burglary? Would that fall under Profession (Thief)? Or am I missing something?

 

[AndrewW]

Traveller Core Rulebook covers this on page 144, or 152 for 2nd edition.

Mechanical: Requiring a key or combination. These can be opened
with an Average (+0) Mechanic check or by stealing a key or learning
the combination.

 

[EldritchFire]

Traveller Core Rulebook covers this on page 144, or 152 for 2nd edition.

Mechanical: Requiring a key or combination. These can be opened
with an Average (+0) Mechanic check or by stealing a key or learning
the combination.

I didn't think to look in the Spacecraft Operations chapter, thanks!

 

[Jame Rowe]

Traveller Core Rulebook covers this on page 144, or 152 for 2nd edition.

Mechanical: Requiring a key or combination. These can be opened
with an Average (+0) Mechanic check or by stealing a key or learning
the combination.

This idvwhat I do, though for electronic locks I would use the Electronics or Computer skills.

 

[Condottiere]

Ideally, a chip embedded mechanical key that has to be turned.

 

[AndrewW]

This idvwhat I do, though for electronic locks I would use the Electronics or Computer skills.

That's covered as well. (Electronic, Biometric, Intelligent).

 

[nats]

Average mechanical skill check seems wrong to me should be higher. Locks have a purpose to stop people getting in. I suppose if its a high security lock it might get a boon to the roll as opposed to a standard lock. But still seems a bit strange.

 

[Infojunky]

Average mechanical skill check seems wrong to me should be higher. Locks have a purpose to stop people getting in. I suppose if its a high security lock it might get a boon to the roll as opposed to a standard lock. But still seems a bit strange.

Most lock just require the right set of tools. They aren't hard to open. Heck most locks succumb to a thin screwdriver and a couple of bent paperclips...

 

[steve98052]

I'd say that defeating a mechanical lock would be an easy Mechanic roll -- if you're trying to drill it out. If you're trying to open it without damaging it, you'd need Profession (Locksmith) or both Profession (Burglar) and Mechanic. To do it with Mechanic alone, it's a difficult roll.

 

[Reynard]

You can determine a standard Task Check for a category of locks then assign a Task difficulty depending on the quality and complexity for a particular lock.

 

[DickTurpin]

Mechanical locks are quite easy to open with the right tools. I had read about the process but never tried it until the subject came up in my gaming group. The GM had a set of picks and challenged me to try and open a simple lock. It took me only a couple of seconds to unlock it. A lock picking gun would make it almost automatic. A strong character with a heavy screwdriver might be able to shear the pins with enough force. Or you can just pull out the lock core and open it with your fingers or a pair of pliers. Or drill the lock, saw through the latch, if you are on the right side of the door you could just pull the hinge pins, no matter what type of locking mechanism it was using.

The Mechanic skill offers many ways to defeat a mechanical lock. Just adjust the difficulty to reflect the lock quality, add a Bane without tools, and add a Boon if they have specialized lock picking tools available.