REALLY Difficult Locks

[Anthony]

Realistically, high end locks are just unpickable, rather than having a lockpicking penalty, unless lockpicking is assumed to include more intrusive techniques such as using a drill.

[Rocket Man]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

If you want a super advanced lock why not just use one of the next TL? A prototype Fine mechanical lock of TL+1 is -10 to pick for Lockpicking/TL and costs x40.

I like that approach. It fits the system and would seem, at first blush, to pass the reality test.

"Unpickable" locks do have their place in cinematic fiction, and given a good enough campaign setup, could be an interesting part of the adventure. That said, remember that heroes are pragmatists. In Harry Turtledove's "Guns of the South," for example, the time-traveling bad guys had their secret room in the 1860s sealed off with what appears to be a high-quality TL9 lock ... impossible for any Civil War locksmith or cracksman to get through. So the good guys didn't. They used their perfectly normal TL5 explosives to blow a hole in the wall and bypass the door.

Above a certain level of complexity, it's simply more practical and efficient to break down the door than pick the lock. And that's probably what sets the high end of lock complexity.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Rocket Man

I like that approach. It fits the system and would seem, at first blush, to pass the reality test.

Of course that means a prototype Basic lock of the next tech level is only double cost, but just as good as fine lock of the current tech level.

[cccwebs]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Of course that means a prototype Basic lock of the next tech level is only double cost, but just as good as fine lock of the current tech level.

Yes, but that prototype is also much harder to come by...

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by cccwebs

Yes, but that prototype is also much harder to come by...

The important thing here is that I don't think you should generally allow higher-tech prototypes into your game that end up being cheaper than the current TL equivalent.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

The important thing here is that I don't think you should generally allow higher-tech prototypes into your game that end up being cheaper than the current TL equivalent.

Well, you're allowed to arbitrarily increase the cost of a prototype; that's why it's a prototype. Other than that, higher-tech equipment is normally better and cheaper.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Well, you're allowed to arbitrarily increase the cost of a prototype; that's why it's a prototype. Other than that, higher-tech equipment is normally better and cheaper.

I'm talking about the double cost for each higher TL rule.

[cccwebs]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

The important thing here is that I don't think you should generally allow higher-tech prototypes into your game that end up being cheaper than the current TL equivalent.

No, the important thing here is to remember that there is a lot more involved with implementing higher tech prototypes than just retail cost.

[DanHoward]

There was a Pyramid article called Lockwork that had a whole section on safecracking.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I'm talking about the double cost for each higher TL rule.

That's not the prototype rule; that's assuming you have contact with a higher tech society where you can simply buy stuff.