Wulf Ratbane said:
It means you'll automatically succeed given (a) enough time and (b) enough skill.
Succeed defined as:
(a) pick a lock
(b) find, but not disable, traps
(c) find secret doors
It is a shame these things stop being obstacles by 3rd level.
Your last comment hit it on the nail in my point of view.
The ability to "take 20" really does bork some of these situations up, as far as providing obstacles for the party to overcome.
I really do miss the old 3.0 mechanic of rolling a 1 or 20. Especially where skills are concerned. Roll a 1, the result gets a -10 penalty to the final result.
Oops... The lock just jammed.
Oops... "Hey.. I think I found the trap over here." ... *click* ... *shunk* ... "Ouch!!! Dammit!!! Yup, I found it" ... *falls to the floor*
Oops... "Nope... no secret door over here. But hey, I DID find my lucky copper piece I thought I lost."
To... rolling a 20 and gaining a +10 bonus to the check.
Hot Dang... "Picked that sucker in record time."
Hot Dang... "Don't worry guys. The trap is rigged to work for us now." *pats self on back*
Hot Dang... "Seek and yeah shall find. Found the door over here AND my lucky copper piece I lost yesturday. Was in my boot the whole time."