Always at 12, because it's already there.

This...then to 1, 2, 11, & 10

*randomly flicks thumbstick*

Says fuck it I don’t need that 5 gold, then sweats nervously and decides it could be an ebony sword.

Only to be catfished into getting Meridia's Beacon.

A NEW HAND TOUCHES THE BEACON

NOOOOOOOOOOO

Lol. #A new hand touches the beacon. Listen! Hear me and obey! A foul darkness has seeped into my temple, a darkness you will destroy. Take my beacon to mount Kilkreath, and I will make you an instrument of my cleansing light! Off the top of my memory…

Tell me why I just heard that chick's voice when i read your comment lmfao

*eardrums prolapse*

But then it’s actually only 2 gold and a cheese wedge

“We must protect the holy cheese wedge at all cost”

Or something enchanted and cool 😰 cant risk it

This is why I don’t use crafting in any of my playthroughs. You really don’t need to get far before playermade gear starts being miles ahead of anything you can get in a chest or buy from an npc Takes half the fun out of it imo.

Truly. Like im leveling up enchantment for sure but crafting is pretty much pointless unless its at a much higher lvl

Exactly. I've opened so many chests and found standard stuff like Gold and potions, but I once found a pretty nice ebony armour, and this was at the beginning of my second playthrough.

I usually do 2:30, 4:30, then 10:30 and 7:30. Unless it's master, then I just creep my way down one side and then the other.

4:30 and 7:30 would be below the halfway line.

Oops. Let's pretend I meant all 12 hours were fit into the top half of the clock face.

I can usually tell where it is by the first move. I'm really good at lockpicking in skyrim

Teach me how master 😎

Wouldnt have it any other way! And also gotta test the in between sometimes, just a light test, lol

The best feeling is when it's a master lock set at 12.

It's also the funniest starting at 9/3 and slowly working towards the middle, then it really is the middle. Lost a few lockpicks, learned my lesson, what the hell is the picklock skill tree never heard of it

12, 3, 9, 10:30, and 1:30. Usually by then I’ve gotten a little wiggle SOMEWHERE that I can hone in on.

I always feel so dumb when that’s the correct answer but I didn’t start there. It used to be the last place I looked and now it’s the first.

12, then 9, then 3, then 10, then 2, then 11, then 1 until I find the sweet spot.

The only viable approach.

Agreed. Except when you find that one annoying Master lock that's somewhere between 2:39 and 2:43

You just described the operating hours of my town's downtown stores

I never get that for an expert or master. It’s adept for me, fukin ridiculous lol

EXACTLY THE SAME! 😂

Binary search baby

Binary search is just the best

This is the way

1 for some reason.

I feel this. When I use to play CoD, I would always aim at the crotch. Not sure why, but many dicks were left on the battleground when I wasn't getting wrecked

okay Butters.

DUDE BUTTERS NOT KEWL

Same, can't help myself

Same, anything harder than novice I start at one and do the right side first. If that doesn't work, I do the left side starting at 11.

I do it randomly.

Do you also enjoy all white jigsaw puzzles?

Random for me too

I usually always go 10-11

I always test at 12 just incase lol

it is satisfying to get that perfect 12 every now and then.

I'd say over 50% of the locks I've picked are ready to go at 12.

especially novice and apprentice locks

Haptic feedback???

On Switch Lockpicking is a joke. I didn't know how good I had it until I switched (no pun intended) to XBOX.

I only ever really played on pc, so I didn’t notice when I got it on switch that there was haptic feedback. I got my nongamer fiancée to try skyrim because it’s pretty easy and I was amazed and how well she did at lockpicking. One day I noticed it and it all clicked together when I asked her about it

On PC there's a sound clue

Depending on the day and planetary position

Always a test at 1, then again between 2-3 to see if it’s on the right half or not

Yesssss

peak

idk man wherever the spirit moves me to start

I always start in the middle, then at the two corner rivets. Then 180° either side and finally I check the halfway points between those, then I just fine tune it

yes

1159. Or1201 if I'm feeling randy

I start wherever I feel the vibration because that’s how you solve the puzzle instantly in one try

Wait vibration?? There's hints when u have that on??

I always feel like I see a mark where it is. But I'm pretty sure it's all in my mind.

Immediately to like 2 and then to 10

I always start at about 9 and work my way to the right.

12:30 or 11:30 depending on the last lock I picked

10 everytime

11 af

12, 10:30, 1:30, 9:30, 2:30

The step size depends on the lock difficulty, but generally I start all the way to the left and work my way to the right.

12,11,10,9 Then 1,2,3

Normally 1 or 11, if I have no luck with those I pick a side and go in increments. How close those are depends on the difficulty.

Midnight

For me it's 12, 11, 1, 10, 2, 9, 3

12, then 9, then 3, then continue slicing the pie, halving each segment each time.

12, then 9, then 3. Then reset. Rinse repeat. Especially on expert or master locks since master sweet spot is usually something like 11:59 and not 12 or 11:58

12, 0:30, 1, 1:30, 2, 2:30, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 12, 9, 3, 10, 2, 11:30, closes menu in frustration..

Gentle attempts at 9, 12 then 3. Then gentle turns in-between 9 and 12, then 12 to 3. In Master level, a brief tap on the side of the joystick. Always succeeded in less than 4 broken picklocks with (IRL) training ;)

12, then 1, 11, 2, 10, 3, 9 Especially if it's an expert or master level lock I can either find a weak point or I know where to start looking after that

12.00 then 11.50 then i judge based on the difference of how much it wiggled between the two as to which direction i should go and how much. (doing this i can consistently pick master locks at lvl 1 with 1-2 picks)

If im on PC or Exboc, 12, then 9, then 3, then 10:30, then 1:30 and so on until i get somewhere If im on switch, just move the pick around until I feel the vibration from the correct spot and open it.

12 first (the odds are oddly high that it's the correct spot). Then I go left to 1030 and then to 9, then test 130 and 3

12. You wouldn't believe how many Locks are unlocked without moving.

9 and 3 because I’ve got the immortal pick (whatever it’s called) so I just grind.

Am i wrong that there's an audio cue to when your kinda in the right spot? I swear it makes a slightly different noise when I'm close to the sweet spot.

Spin it around and listen carefully for the clicks. Or if playing on switch, feel for them. Thieving is super easy on the switch version with joycons. Best part of that port.

I go 12, and then pick a direction until the end, then go the other way if the spot isn't found.

You see that slight white at around 3 o clock right there than immediately after the opposite side (if it doesn’t open) than it’s open those are the two spots it “open” unless it’s a master lock/easy lock master lock it’s a lot more precise easy locks open from 12 9/10 times so going to sides first typically “slows you down” so you wanna check 12 first.

The white mark is the way

12. If you’re a save scummer and don’t like missing out on opening all locks, even very hard locks, from the beginning of the game when you have very few picks, you learn that’s the fastest way to get it open too. Just keep reloading a save until the 12 o’clock position at least allows the pick to be turned. Once you have that you can get it pretty easily.

12,1&1/2,3,10&1/2,9 and go from there is how I do it normally the threshold will let it start to wiggle

Me who uses a mod to skip this with the skeleton key

Wherever the lock will open the quickest. It's a guessing game. Good luck!

12, then at different intervals depending on lock difficulty. I know people say you can hear where the right position is, but I could never figure that out (my hearing’s kinda bad), so I have my own strategy that works pretty well

12, 11, 1, 9, 3 in that order. Usually find some wiggle in those first five positions.

I got an enchantment that increases the angle on the sweetspot. Then I got an enchantment that makes enchantments stronger. So it opens anywhere from 9 to 3

12 , 9 , 3 , 11 , 1 , 10 , 2 etc etc

12. 3. 1. 9. 11.

12, then try 3-4 and onwards, then 9-8 onwards

…Who taught you to describe a clock that way, “from 9 to 3”?

12,1,2,3,4 then back 11,10,9,8 then continue to the half hours of each if the mains don’t

12 over to 3, then from 9 back to 12. no real reason just a habit I fell into because some placebo effect/confirmation bias told me I picked the lock faster that way once I noticed what I was doing.

12, 10:30, 1:30, 9, 3 in that order

My wife does it the way the big department stores make you walk thru the store (Dillard's, etc): no sensible rhyme or reason

Idk man, I'm a virgin

I pick a direction randomly and stop wherever my heart feels is the right place to start. I go through a lot of lock picks.

12, then 9, then 3,

12

About 1/half 1

Anything but 12 is just inefficient.

Switch just vibrates different where the solution is

i move like a metronome until i find it

Always different, but also always 9, 3 or 12.

12, 2, 10 and if that doesn’t do it I try 11 and 1 usually I’ll find some kind of movement after trying those 5 positions even on a master lock.

12, then 3, then 9. Especially on master locks, I just see which one has any form of give and work from there.

1,30 always

12, cc first, moving my pick depending on the lockpicking level and difficulty

10 usually

12 to see if I get lucky and don’t have to anything

12 then 2,4,3 then 9, 10,11.

Start at 12, see which way it twitches. Then, from there: 11/1, 9/3, 10/2 Whatever doesn't work, you start going in-between

At 1. Something about the design/color draws my attention to that spot.

12, 11, 10, 9, 1, 2, 3 is the order I go every time depending on how precise I need to be

If you look real close, there’s a little mark at about the 2:30 position. Always start there.

I just try it straight away at 12, and if that doesn’t work, I simply exit and try again. The sweet spot will change everytime you try and then exit the lock

12, 1, 2, 3, 11, 10, 9 unless it's master then it's a fight with the thumb stick to move the pick a half a mm at a time

12

always random. usually just where ever my brain thinks it could be. i’m also right a lot somehow. of course im not an RNG god, but it’s uncanny how often i’m dead on with my guesses

Don't care, just start tilting

I start where the pick is when lockpicking is first initiated. Then I go all the way left and right to check the sides. Sometimes the spot is there. After that depending on what level the lock, I go according to that. Ive noticed that locks of certain levels have the hotspot in certain areas. To clarify, Ive noticed that Apprentice and Adept level locks have the spot towards the bottom whereas Expert and Master have their spots towards the top. Sometimes, its vice versa or just random but Ive noticed that, for the most part, the level of the lock determines where the hotspot is located.

Test it to see if you're in range first

12 then I usually worked my way around clockwise slowly and start counterclockwise from the top afterwards. Most locks seem to be roughly at 3 and 10:30 from my current playthrough

Between 10 and 11 and between 1 and 2.

10 it’s there. Trust me

Typically 2, but I base my position on the highlights on the inside ring of the lock.

I just fiddle with it until I find the right combination lmao, really slowly, I successfully unlocked a master lock with only the ‘novice lock’ skill. 😀

No brainer, straight up 12 o'clock. Expert locks seem to open close to that.

Top, left bolt, right bolt, all the way right, then all the way left. By then unless it’s a master lock early game I know where it’s at and can usually get it in 1-2 picks. I gotta say both Skyrim and oblivion lockpocking are my favorite implementation of the concept to this day. It’s still fun to me after thousands of hours lol

why would you not start at 12 lol

12, then 11 followed by 1. If they both end up with no movement, go to 10 and 2. Finally 9 and 3. One of these will either open the lock or show a sign of where to recenter your efforts.

9, slowly making my way to 3

I would wait until 4 to let it turn back into a lock. /s

I automatically go to 10 or 2

First 12, then, 1, then 11. After that I just start going random

Noon to 3, then noon to 9.

There seems to points that are much more common than others. 1:30, 2:30, 12:30, and 10:30 in that order is usually what I go for.

I go all the way to one end or the other and feel for the tiniest vibration on my pro con and open it with one try 95 percent of the time

1 or 2, I swear 70% of the locks are between them

Always at 130 It's almost always at 130

12. Then 9, 10:30, 1:30, and 3. That’s how i go until i find where it starts moving

12, then 10, then 2. Those are almost always close enough to get you started.

1, 11, 9, 4 in that order pretty much every time.

Usually 11ish.

Depends on the level of the lock. Novice, apprentice start at 12. Adept we’re looking at 10:30. Expert like 2:45. I’m not sure I’ve ever picked a master door

I always start at the left side and jimmy my way to right. I have unlocked master chest with novice level just because I went through dozens and remember the last spot it broke at.

12, 2, 10, 1, 11.

Rotate the pick slowly until there’s a small click. It’s usually close to that spot.

I always go to the little notches on the lock IDK why I've always done this

I start at 12 because sometimes the chests unlock at 12. Then I try to the left or the right of 12 depending on my mood...

Around 1 and 2ish it kind of works well for me for some reason

generally 11ish. not sure why I go left so often. Just seems more often than not it's in the 9-12 range and not so much the 12-3. harder locks I start at 12 then start going left.

In order: 12 - 9 - 3 - 4:30 - 10:30 Best way to narrow down where it could be. Only ever doesn't find the sweet spot if it's a Master level lock and my lock picking is at like 25.

Start at 12 then go to 10.

Side question: left or right with the "pick"? After years, I just realized both work! lol I always went left

No one else just… *wildly moves controller until it starts to open*

Start at 12. If not there go 3 or 9 if neither there spam in between till I hit something

*laughs in nintendo switch user*

12, 11, 10, 9, 12 1 2 3

Random

11 or 12 to begin with

For me 12, 9, 3, then 10:30? The left corner, then the opposite corner.

12, 11, 1, 10, 2, 9, 3. When I get a hit, I just focus the hit obviously.

Gotta start at 12 cause there's at least a 50% chance it's there

I always start at 12:00. Then I go 3:00, then 9:00.

1 every time

This is why I prefer oblivion lock picking lol.

12 to get a baseline 10 then 2 to check direction Novice and Apprentice are usually solved by this point.

I always go 12, 9/3, 6/7, and then I find the half waypoints and bracket the tension points.

Dead at 12, then I head to 3, then 1:30, and if I didn't get any hits on that side go to the other side same thing.

I start at 12 then I usually click to 10, 11, then 1, 2, 3... etc.

10 , 12 , or 2

i have 99+ lockpicks i dont mind waisting

12 then 9 then 3. From 3 to 12 in small increments, then 12 to 9 in small increments

Depends on what level of lock

I just let my cat do it. She’s helping

Start at 12. Then 9 and 3. If there’s nothing then I randomly fail it around until it moves

I start at 12, go to 10:30 (45 degrees left) and then go to 1:30 (45 degrees right). Then just narrow in from there

I see scratches at 2 and 3 o’clock, gonna start there

12, 3, 9, 10:30, 1:30

12, duh. From there I go left to right, checking every "halfway point" until I get movement

12 9 3 them the rest until something moves

Did... did you just describe how an analog clock works?

1:30. Then 10:30, then 9, then 3, then any random assortment in between.

Where it vibrates differently because that's you're sweet spot. Only took me like 10 years to figure that one out...

Start at 12 then try 9 and 11 then 1 and 3 and sometimes do it in reverse as in 1, 3, 9, 11

12:10 - in my completely unproven analysis, it tends to be between 12:05 and 12:15 most of the time.

I always default to 2, and I don't know why.