Lockpicking

Lockpicking is the ability to open a mechanical locking system withoput the aid of a key or other device made specifically for the lock. It includes the techniques of levering open bolted or barred doors and windows without causing damage. The difficulty of the lock usually depends on the ability of teh locksmith who created it, requiring an opposed test of Lockpicking versus Mechanisms skill of the crafter.

Where no skill value is provided for the lock a GM may adjust the difficulty grade of the Lockpicking skill instead, according to the lock's complexity. A thief attempting to pick an expensive and expertly crafted mechanical doorlock of a kind they have never seen before, might have to make their Lockpick roll one or two grades harder for example.

On a critical success the Lockpicker not only opens the lock silently and efficiently, but subsequent attempts to pick the same kind of lock becomes, for a short while, one grade easier.

A failure simply means the lock could not be picked

On a fumble the lock becomes jammed: lockpicks break in the mechanism, or the mechanism is damaged internally.

Professional Skill Base Skill Value: DEX x2