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Message: <blockquote data-quote="The Crimson Binome" data-source="post: 7507790" data-attributes="member: 6775031">But you are using your special abilities. You chose the ability "automatically bypass most traps and locks", which you use every time the DM compares your minimum check result to the DC and determines that no roll is necessary. It's like choosing to speak Giant, which lets you automatically understand ogres when they talk to each other. You should feel good that the ability you chose allows you to succeed, regardless of whether the DM makes you roll for it first.That is a much bigger issue, I will admit. At the high end, expertise lets you do crazy things under any reasonable interpretation of Bounded Accuracy, but reliable talent lets you stomp all over the world without even investing in anything. Every rogue is automatically proficient in Thieves Tools, and most rogues will have Dex 20 before they hit level 11, which means they can beat almost any lock without even trying. (The only real point of taking expertise in Thieves Tools, if the DM isn't specifically contriving challenges to match you, is to increase your chance of success at low levels; by the time you get to level 11, and you're guaranteed success, it's too late to change your focus.)Personally, I see that as a failing of Bounded Accuracy, and an indication that deeper changes are needed for the skill system. A simpler solution would involve changing reliable talent. In either case, though, it's beyond the scope of this thread.At least in theory, the reason to put a DC 23 lock into a level 11 dungeon is to reward the thief for investing expertise into Thieves Tools; and the reason to put a DC 19 lock into a level 11 dungeon is to reward the party for having the foresight to bring a thief along with them in the first place. Alternatively, those locks are there to keep out lower-level adventurers, against whom they might actually do something (although that may not actually be true, due to Bounded Accuracy).In any case, looking for locks to challenge an expert burglar is like looking for trolls to challenge a fire wizard. It's okay if they trivialize this one thing, because there are plenty of other challenges that they aren't specialized against.</blockquote>

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