Hi,
Scoundrel (book 6) added a specific security skill. Paraphrasing, this it covers all types of mechanical and electronic security measures. However, it specifically states that other skills are required to pick locks. For old style manual locks, you need Security and Mechanic.
A summary table excerpt is here of skills needed to supplement the Security skill - note only skill level zero is required in the supplemental skill.
Skill Security System
Mechanic Mechanical locks
Engineer Electronic locks, passkeys
Sensors Cameras, sensors
Computers Computer systems, firewalls
Comms Phone taps, eavesdropping
Personally, I'm not sure how I feel about this - it feels a little like the Security skill is knowledge rather than a skill and I'm not sure what precedent there is for requiring more than one skill to undertake a task. For example, if I had mechanic skill I would expect to be able to fix an internal combustion engine, air conditioning, a photocopier and at the risk of straying into engineer territory, an elevator, a locomotive etc. A wide range of knowledge, and probably more than is reasonable for a real life mechanic (after all we tend to see specialisms e.g. car mechanic, office eqpt, etc.).
But that said, I have played a character with security skill, as per the rules, and the chances are that if you want to get the security skill as part of a back story/career you are likely to pick up (even at level zero) the other skills required.
Just somewhere to look and my 2 cents !?!
Thanks
Martin.
