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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BookBarbarian" data-source="post: 7290242" data-attributes="member: 6802553">Yes, but modern locks don't necessarily translate to their fantasy equivalents.There are techniques for quickly picking locks, such as raking, which would be a good approach as long as you are not concerned with leaving behind scratch marks. Likewise inserting a tension tool and hitting the lock with a hammer can occasionally cause all the pins to rest correctly so a lock can be opened, but it's obviously not a sure thing. Works better on Padlocks then door locks. Also still a technique for modern locks and not fantasy ones. What DM is having commoners describe their approach to an action that also requires the DM to call for the commoner to make a Dexterity (Thieve's Tools) check to determine success or failure? It is perfectly within the purview of a DM to state that an approach fails without setting a DC. "You're a commoner, you don't know how to pick locks" works just fine. It also works fine for PCs. On the whole I am very much against things like "this type of lock has a DC 20" to me DCs are set by a DM after a PC has stated an approach to a scenario and the DM has determined the outcome of the approach is uncertain. The PCs approach can greatly effect what DC I choose to set for a DC on any check. If I as a DM set a scenario where the time it takes to pick a lock, whether a few seconds, or an hour, or 5 hours, has no bearing on success or failure the i should just let any character succeed at the action, because there is clearly no drama to it.I think it's better to just set up better failure outcomes that advance the story. Like if they fail to pick the lock the door/chain/ etc will rattle loudly and alert nearby denizens to the parties presence works much better than just "You fail to pick the lock, no other consequences happen" Agreed. Bring a crowbar.</blockquote>

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