Skeleton key seems to fail more than regular lockpicks?

[Trevelyan]

I often fail far more often using a skeleton key than using regular lockpicks. Admittedly, I haven't done too many level 6es, but from around 10 or so, the first 6 or 7 were fine - I succeeded first time. However, after switching to a skeleton key, I often fail with the latest chest having two items destroyed (resulting in nothing except the artifact in the chest being worth taking).

Anyone else have any thoughts or comments on the skeleton key's fail/success rates?

 

[Myna]

agree, i dont see an advantage to use the key .... using lockpicks wont let me fail more often

 

[G.v.P]

Map 	Map Descr.  	  Minimum Lockpicking      Magery
1 	Plainly Drawn 	  36.0 skill 	           50
2 	Expertly Drawn 	  76.0 skill 	           100
3 	Adeptly Drawn 	  84.0 skill 	           no effect
4 	Cleverly Drawn 	  92.0 skill 	           no effect
5 	Deviously Drawn   100 skill 	           no effect
6 	Ingeniously Drawn 100 skill 	           no effect

When does lockpicking begin to fail? I've only done LVL 1-3 so far and no fails on pick with normal lockpick (I have 100 LP).

 

[Lady Arwen]

I seem to be failing quite alot with the skele keys also. I just recently swiched back to the regular lockpics.

 

[LeBaiton]

I failed on opening one particular level 3 t-chest three times with normal lockpicks with a GM lockpicker. Mind you, that is the only time this happened to me. I regulary seem to fail on opening a level 4, so on 4´s it´s not a 100% chance at GM anymore...

In the past I never failed on level 1 to level 4, only on level 5 and 6. Guess we need a new table

 

[G.v.P]

Hm. So no reported fails on LVL 2 or down, but fails on 3 and up.

 

[Saris]

They sure do, something is wrong, ive done 30 or so L6 maps I last 6 maps with skele keys and 3 of the 6 failed 7 times and a grubber spawns. With reg lock picks never seen a grubber and rarely fail more than one time if that.

 

[Old Man of UO]

I'm doing mostly LVL 6 maps, and the skele keys seem to cut the failed attempts in half for me. I've only had the Grubber show up once with the skele keys. But this is all subjective and would take a bit of testing to see how much difference they make.

In the mean time, since they don't work well for you, please kindly pass them on to me for umm... testing... on my treasure chests.

 

[koris]

Did anyone find out anything more about this? I have done ~ 20 level 6s in last 3 weeks. I have never succeeded first try with skeleton key. I agree with the poster that Skeleton keys fail too often. Every time i hear gas i cant help but think " there goes another forged pardon".
Is there a formula that tells us how much more lp a skeleton key will give?

 

[Pinco]

skeleton key grants a +10% success chance
master skeleton key instant-open the chest

So I think you have only a bad rng because you can't have more success chance with lockpicks

 

[cdavbar]

I have WAY more luck with skele keys than with regular lockpicks. I used to sell my skele keys, now i keep em all for my lvl 6s and 7s

 

[Doubleplay]

Where has anyone found any official info as to how these keys work? Lots of conjecture about many items recently. How does bait work? How do the fishing quests work? How do the various weapon and shield mods work?

I guess the devs want us to find out on our own, but as is the case with luck, disagreements and misconceptions could last for years.

 

[Olahorand]

In the past, as I still worked actively on this, I had also the feeling, that with a skill below 100 I had less average fails than as GM. For crafter skills as well as for lockpicking.
*Salute*
Olahorand

 

[Symma]

I don't care if Skeleton Keys fail occasionally. I'll still use them because they're lighter, don't lose uses on a failed attempt and don't break.

Plus I got **** loads, so might as well use them.