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<blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 5011641" data-attributes="member: 82106">This is a good point and I was kind of thinking the same thing myself. Chances are the plot will require a specific lock to be picked. You can handle it within the rules though, simply make the guy's skill bonus high enough that he CAN pick the lock. Its a repeatable skill, so unless its a huge time crunch situation he only needs to be able to manage to actually do it on a roll of 20. The DM gets to set the DC of the lock, so arranging it is perfectly simple. As for the combat capability of such an NPC, if the situation is not going to be dangerous for him then don't even bother with combat stats, he picks the lock, takes his fee, and exits stage right. Even if the PCs have a scuffle with him he probably STILL doesn't need combat stats, just have them whack him one and he reacts however you want him to (surrenders, dies, whatever). He COULD be a minion, but unless the scene involves some doubt about who's going to win or the party needs to do something special to defeat him combat stats won't matter. 4e is VERY free-form and its best to approach it from the standpoint of &quot;what makes the plot of my story work and is fun for the players&quot; than from a hard and fast rules based perspective.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="AbdulAlhazred, post: 5011641, member: 82106"] This is a good point and I was kind of thinking the same thing myself. Chances are the plot will require a specific lock to be picked. You can handle it within the rules though, simply make the guy's skill bonus high enough that he CAN pick the lock. Its a repeatable skill, so unless its a huge time crunch situation he only needs to be able to manage to actually do it on a roll of 20. The DM gets to set the DC of the lock, so arranging it is perfectly simple. As for the combat capability of such an NPC, if the situation is not going to be dangerous for him then don't even bother with combat stats, he picks the lock, takes his fee, and exits stage right. Even if the PCs have a scuffle with him he probably STILL doesn't need combat stats, just have them whack him one and he reacts however you want him to (surrenders, dies, whatever). He COULD be a minion, but unless the scene involves some doubt about who's going to win or the party needs to do something special to defeat him combat stats won't matter. 4e is VERY free-form and its best to approach it from the standpoint of "what makes the plot of my story work and is fun for the players" than from a hard and fast rules based perspective. [/QUOTE]

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