Less Visible Lockpick

[mortaine]

Right now, when someone uses the "lockpicking tool," it's very obvious, and you can easily see when they have it on their person.

I propose, instead, that the option to make a smaller, lighter, more... secretive lockpicking toolset be available. It should require less actual material than the current item (to make logical sense), but requires a more complicated process (for game balance). Probably needing a peen hammer to manufacture. And maybe a soldering iron, if you want to be really difficult.

In any case, the object would not be visible when someone looks at you, and, optionally, would not be visible when someone attempts to open a lock with it (that would require reprogramming, though, and isn't strictly necessary). In addition, it would not break the lock, since it's not a brute-force object, but rather a finesse item.

Applications could include being more able to sneak out of prison, as well as being able to open a locked building to check on and rescue a sleeper or retrieve a key if a sleeping owner has died inside (thereby not ruining a good lock just because someone died inside with the key).

[Where are all the monkeys]

[Slowness_Incarnate]

Although I like the notion, it's too dangerous. Shouldn't be done...because there is already enough trouble with people just being violent in nature..now this would allow sneak in thievery..the crowbar is better it's an intimidation factor..it's like saying "I have a gun!" and whipping it out. Scares people, you get to bully them more with a crowbar

[formerly known as hf]

I agree that there should be more than a crowbar that 'picks' a lock, but the action should still appear on the events page

[Cookie]

Yep it's not like your not going to notice the local village idiot fidiling around with a paperclip in your house lock.

[mortaine]

Farmer: As I said, that part wasn't strictly necessary, though if secrecy for other actions becomes available, then I think it ought to be.

There is an intimidation factor to having the current lockpicking tool, but not everyone wants to RP with that factor, and not everyone thinks it's appropriate for their characters.

Consider the two following possibilities:

A thief who has a visible lockpicking tool goes into a town, steals stuff, gets beaten to death because they know locking him up will be futile. This character feels no impunity in being violent, because he has a visible lockpick and is confident that people will kill him if they catch him.

A thief who has an invisible lockpick set goes into a town, steals stuff, gets dragged into jail, picks the lock and frees himself, runs away. Since he did not break the lock in doing so, and didn't harm anyone in the process of his thievery, what are the chances the people will just ignore his escape?

I'm not wild about thieves, but I think more options for all characters would be better. Part of the problem with the current criminal element in Cantr is that they're limited to either being brutal murderers, snatch-and-run thieves, note thieves, or saboteurs, and all of the crimes result in one of a very few set of penalties: get killed, go to jail to die, or successfully escape, usually by stealing the fastest vehicle or boat. The lockpick set would permit them to be more like cat burglars, even non-violent burlgars, it would permit escape through stealth, it would give some options and variety to what is, let's face it, an otherwise really dull crime scene.

[Cookie]

The lockpick might be 'invisible' mate, bout the fool pushing it in the lock aint, is he!

[Slowness_Incarnate]

I'm glad that the lock pickers can be seen. That's how it should be, they will be beaten to death if they're stupid enough to walk into a populated town and try to steal. Serves them RIGHT. That's like walking into a base with a concealed gun....there are likely people there with BIGGER guns

[formerly known as hf]

As crass as Mr. Monster put it, I kinda agree. If not on the events page - it should certainly be on the activites page - visible - but only for the more aware? Also, I agree that criminals need more options. I'm getting bored of grabbing and running. Thievery should be about skill - it's one of the few things that seems to still be down to pure luck since skills have been introduced

[The Sociologist]

Although I like the notion, it's too dangerous.

I agree.