Voadam
Legend
So I was reading OD&D Supplement I Greyhawk and it says thieves can "open locks by picking or foiling magical closures" I hadn't known they could originally open magical closures as an open locks check.
So I checked 1e and was surprised to find they can there as well. Page 27: "Opening locks includes figuring out how to open sliding puzzle locks and foiling magical closures. It is done by picking with tools and by cleverness, plus knowledge and study of such items."
This seems to be missing from 2e's rogue thief ability. Page 56: "Open Locks: A thief can try to pick padlocks, finesse combination locks (if they exist), and solve puzzle locks (locks with sliding panels, hidden releases, and concealed keyholes)."
So I guess that means hold portal and wizard lock can be picked by an OD&D and 1e thief. 1e hold portal explicitly says it is a magical closure, but wizard lock does not and has some exclusive language on what can open it so there is still a judgment call on what takes precedence there. If in 1e it is not effective against wizard locks then it will be an even more super niche ability to find rare different magical closure obstacles.
OD&D:
Hold Portal: A spell to hold a door, gate or the like. It is similar to a locking spell (see below) but it is not permanent. Roll two dice to determine the duration of the spell in turns. Dispel Magic (see below) will immediately negate it, a strong antimagical creature will shatter it and a Knock (see below) will open it.
Wizard Lock: Similar to a Hold Portal, this spell lasts indefinitely. It can be opened by a Knock without breaking the spell. A Wizard Lock can be passed through without a spell of any kind by a Magic-User three levels above the one who placed the spell.
1e:
Hold Portal (Alteration)
Level: 1 Components: V
Range: 2”/level Casting Time: 1 segment
Duration: 1 round/level Saving Throw: None
Area of Effect: 80 square feet/level
Explanation/Description: This spell magically bars a door, gate or valve of wood, metal or stone. The magical closure holds the portal fast just as if it were securely stopped and locked. The range of the spell is 2” per level of experience of the caster, and it lasts for 1 round per level. Note that any extradimensional creature (demon, devil, elemental, etc.) will shatter such a held portal. A magic-user of four or more experience levels higher than the spell caster can open the held portal at will. A knock spell (q.v.) or dispel magic spell (q.v.) will negate the hold portal. Held portals can be broken or battered.
Wizard Lock (Alteration)
Level: 2 Components: V, S
Range: Touch Casting Time: 2 segments
Duration: Permanent Saving Throw: None
Area of Effect: 30 square feet/level
Explanation/Description: When a wizard lock spell is cast upon a door, chest or portal, it magically locks it. The wizard-locked door or object can be opened only by breaking, a dispel magic, a knock spell (qq.v.), or by a magic-user 4 or more levels higher than the one casting the spell. Note that the last two methods do not remove the wizard lock, they only negate it for a brief duration. Creatures of extra-dimensional nature do not affect a wizard lock as they do a held portal (see hold portal).
So I checked 1e and was surprised to find they can there as well. Page 27: "Opening locks includes figuring out how to open sliding puzzle locks and foiling magical closures. It is done by picking with tools and by cleverness, plus knowledge and study of such items."
This seems to be missing from 2e's rogue thief ability. Page 56: "Open Locks: A thief can try to pick padlocks, finesse combination locks (if they exist), and solve puzzle locks (locks with sliding panels, hidden releases, and concealed keyholes)."
So I guess that means hold portal and wizard lock can be picked by an OD&D and 1e thief. 1e hold portal explicitly says it is a magical closure, but wizard lock does not and has some exclusive language on what can open it so there is still a judgment call on what takes precedence there. If in 1e it is not effective against wizard locks then it will be an even more super niche ability to find rare different magical closure obstacles.
OD&D:
Hold Portal: A spell to hold a door, gate or the like. It is similar to a locking spell (see below) but it is not permanent. Roll two dice to determine the duration of the spell in turns. Dispel Magic (see below) will immediately negate it, a strong antimagical creature will shatter it and a Knock (see below) will open it.
Wizard Lock: Similar to a Hold Portal, this spell lasts indefinitely. It can be opened by a Knock without breaking the spell. A Wizard Lock can be passed through without a spell of any kind by a Magic-User three levels above the one who placed the spell.
1e:
Hold Portal (Alteration)
Level: 1 Components: V
Range: 2”/level Casting Time: 1 segment
Duration: 1 round/level Saving Throw: None
Area of Effect: 80 square feet/level
Explanation/Description: This spell magically bars a door, gate or valve of wood, metal or stone. The magical closure holds the portal fast just as if it were securely stopped and locked. The range of the spell is 2” per level of experience of the caster, and it lasts for 1 round per level. Note that any extradimensional creature (demon, devil, elemental, etc.) will shatter such a held portal. A magic-user of four or more experience levels higher than the spell caster can open the held portal at will. A knock spell (q.v.) or dispel magic spell (q.v.) will negate the hold portal. Held portals can be broken or battered.
Wizard Lock (Alteration)
Level: 2 Components: V, S
Range: Touch Casting Time: 2 segments
Duration: Permanent Saving Throw: None
Area of Effect: 30 square feet/level
Explanation/Description: When a wizard lock spell is cast upon a door, chest or portal, it magically locks it. The wizard-locked door or object can be opened only by breaking, a dispel magic, a knock spell (qq.v.), or by a magic-user 4 or more levels higher than the one casting the spell. Note that the last two methods do not remove the wizard lock, they only negate it for a brief duration. Creatures of extra-dimensional nature do not affect a wizard lock as they do a held portal (see hold portal).