Lockpicking
At first you may wonder why the lockpicking skill is even necessary, when it would seem that the magery spell Magic Unlock does the same thing. However lockpicks are capable of unlocking more difficult locks than the magic unlock spell can handle. The lockpicking skill is essential for any treasure hunter.
In addition to being able to open more difficult locks, lockpicking offers one more advantage over the magic unlock spell - discretion. Casting a spell takes time and everyone can see you doing it, whereas you can pick locks while hidden. This comes in handy in dungeons and in treasure hunts.
Though lockpicks will be able to open locks of higher levels, there are still some locks which are of magical nature that require magic to open.
In your travels you may come across skeleton keys and master skeleton keys. Skeleton keys are similar to lockpicks but are more effective; the chance of failing to pick a lock is reduced. Master skeleton keys are highly improved versions of skeleton keys; they can open almost any locked chest, but can only be used once.
Training
When training lockpicking it is sometimes helpful to consider the tinkering skill. First of all, to train lockpicking you will need practice boxes; these are created by a tinker/carpenter, and you need boxes made from tinkers at various levels from beginner to grandmaster. Secondly, you need lockpicks to train lockpicking, and it just so happens that one of the easiest ways to train tinkering is to make lockpicks. So one rough plan would be something like this:
1. Buy tinkering/carpentry/lockpicking to ~30.
2. Make small crates, hold on to them for later.
3. Train tinkering to 30 by making spoons.
4. Train tinkering to 45 by making hammers.
5. Train tinkering to 55 by making lockpicks.
6. Make small crates, keep them separate from your first set of crates.
7. Train tinkering to 80 by making lockpicks.
8. Make small crates, keep them separate from your previous sets.
9. Train tinkering to 95 by making lockpicks.
10. Train tinkering to 100 by making flour sifters.
11. Make small crates, keep them separate from your previous sets.
At this point you should have four sets of lockable crates and a big stack of lockpicks. Now train lockpicking by repeatedly locking the crates and picking the locks. Start with the forst set of crates you made, and as your skill increases, switch to crates made at higher levels of tinkering skill.
Lockpicking can be trained to a skill level of 95 by using tinker-made boxes. To raise your skill higher than that, you need to pick the locks of chests found in dungeons or treasure hunts.
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