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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Voadam" data-source="post: 9812447" data-attributes="member: 2209">If he has a 60% chance to pick it I expect him to not be able to pick it 40% of the time.Giving the thief a 60% chance to pick a lock though is a style/preference choice to have success be random as opposed to certain on specific tasks.It would be easy to have a power/ability/skill where you just know how to pick locks no roll necessary. It is how the knock spell works in many editions of D&D. In AD&D thieves have a chance to move silently that can increase per level but also has a (usually big) chance to fail in the attempt. In AD&D elves and halflings can just move silent with no roll. The difference can be to differentiate based on source of the ability (developed skill versus expendable magic resource or innate magical being nature). The reason to have uncertainty at all can be as you say to create an uncertainty in the play so that things can play out differently and it can go either way of working or not. Maybe if they fail they have to find the key, or break down the door, or use magic to teleport inside. Maybe it is an unsolvable mystery for this party and it haunts and taunts them about what they might have been able to get. For some things adding an element of uncertainty adds to the gameiness of the activity, making it a bit of a gamble and requiring some adaptability depending on how things go.If you are DMing 14 5e and feel that people who know how to pick locks know how to pick locks and won't reasonably fail (a position I have seen people take) then don't call for a roll for those with proficiency in lock picks/thieves' tools, just say they pick it. A DM is well within their rights RAW to make such a judgement call. The 5e default though is that sometimes it works for a skilled person but not always and more experienced people are better at it.</blockquote>

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