The Stratagem’s Archive

Tag: lock picking

  • Achievement Unlocked: My First Lock Opened

    Video games might have tricked me into thinking this would be easier than it seemed.

    How I Picked My First Lock as a Beginner (Lock Sport Journey Day 1)

    A few days ago, I got my first ever lock picking learning set from Covert Instruments. Then, yesterday, I had published my introduction to lockpicking, or my introduction to lock sport, Learning to Pick Locks Like In Video Games, here.

    Today I made progress with opening my transparent padlock in 1 minute.

    It could have took me less time, but I recorded myself opening my lock to ensure that my first attempt wasn’t a fluke. That I had done it myself and my second attempt was the result that my eyes weren’t deceiving me.

    In the video, I used a rake pick — I called it the ‘wavy pick’ because I didn’t know what these new tools were called. I had to shift my mind away from what I had assumed lock picking was about — finding the sweet spot, yes — but that isn’t all there is though.

    Video Games Lock Picking Mechanics Aren’t What It’s Like in Reality

    In my first post, I shared that I wanted to try lock picking because of games, such as Fallout 4, Assassin’s Creed: Unity, and Dying Light: The Following.

    In Dying Light, when you find doors or chests that are locked, you use a paper clip and what looks like a knife from a multi tool. You adjust the paper clip and you open it from where there’s no resistance. Any resistance breaks the paper clip until you find the right spot to open the lock. You do need patience to find the right spot because it grows smaller the higher the difficulty is present.

    In Assassin’s Creed: Unity, when you find locked treasure chests, you have a live trigger event. A live trigger event means that you have to stop the slide at the right time and this grows becomes difficult the more pins a chest has. The only skills you need is timing and patience too.

    Assassin’s Creed 3 had an extremely difficult lock picking mechanic; you had to use the tools to find the tension once your controller vibrated. Once it did, then you’d have to find the pins when the controller vibrates again. Then you’d have to hit the trigger buttons repeatedly and, since there was a timer, if you didn’t unlock it in time, the system would reset. Once it reset, then you’d have to do everything all over again.

    As a gamer, starting from the beginning of something as though lost progress is annoying in my opinion.

    Fallout 4 has the very same mechanics as Dying Light does, so not much to share there, except you use a flathead screwdriver instead of a multi tool knife.

    What I Learned in a Minute Raking the Lock

    I can say that video games obviously oversimplified, or made it extremely difficult (I’m looking at you, AC: 3), lock picking because it is far more complicated than it seems.

    When using the rake pick, even the single pin pick before I switched tactics, locks push back. Locks need proper pressure, patience, and practice to open without breaking your tools. They speak a language that video games didn’t bother learning because they had to choose what parts of the game they could be expedient with.

    It makes sense when lock picking isn’t even the main body of the game, but I know that I was taught to fail before I even got my first set.

    I’m glad that I got real experience, first hand exposure to what lock picking is really like. It’s simple in principle, but difficult as a beginner using game mechanics as a template. I need to feel for the pins, learn to apply the correct amount of pressure and tension. Since I used a transparent padlock, I’ll need to practice using feeling than seeing since real locks keep their inner workings hidden.

    What’s Next in My Lock Picking Journey

    The next step is learning to do single pin picking. The rake pick is easier because you have more curves that can raise multiple pins than the single pin pick. However, if you can’t see how many pins there are, then feeling them one at a time would raise my intuition for sure if I pursue non-transparent locks.

    For now, one step at a time as I raise my real lock picking EXP with more practice and application. The first click was the sign that this skill, this hobby, is learnable. It’s doable, and I’m able to do it.

    If you made it to the end of this post, then I’d like to thank you. It means a lot that you read everything to the end. Below are more posts you could check out, I talk about other topics beside practicing to pick locks, and I’ll see you all later in the Archives.

    About The Stratagem’s Archive and The Person Behind The Screen:

    Learning to Pick Locks Like In Video Games

    Do You Ever Feel Like You’re Writing Into A Void?

    The Stratagem’s Manifesto

  • Learning to Pick Locks Like In Video Games

    The tools I got to learn my new craft and hobby of Locksport. From Covert Instruments.

    Video Games Opened The Doors For Me—Literally

    I am a curious person — few things have fascinated me enough to actually carry it out IRL and this new venture that I’ll be undergoing were introduced to me from various media.

    From video games, such as: Fallout 4(Bethesda Studios), Assassin’s Creed: Unity(Ubisoft), Dying Light: The Following(Techland and Warner Bros), to an engaging series, like Nevermore by Kate Flynn and Kit Trace(WebToons).

    This new skill that I’ll be diving into head first had been something I only seen on a screen and, now, I’ll get to experience it in real life: lock picking.

    I Am Not a Crook

    “I am not a crook”— Ruby Rose to Weiss Schnee, season 2, episode 1 of RWBY by Rooster Teeth.

    No, I am not pursuing lock picking to start a life of crime. Quite the opposite—I’m taking control of what I don’t know into my own hands. In the games and stories I enjoy immersing myself into, you have different options to progress the story, quest, or overcome obstacles.

    Using brute force causes loud noises, gives away your location, and alerting nearby enemies or NPC’s that someone is up to no good. When you’re starting at level 1, getting swarmed will be the fastest way you end up seeing the, “You Died”, on your screen.

    So, what are our alternatives? The sneaky, quiet way in: finding an opening, slip inside, and leaving without a trace. What happens when you encounter a locked door or can’t blend in, though? That’s where lock picking comes in — the real stealth mechanic.

    For non-gamers, this is typically how gamers progress through the game’s map, uncover loot, or survive without getting into a fight.

    Seeing and Getting the Feel of Things

    Covert Instrument’s clear lock and key. “Real rogue shit happening here.”

    I won’t be picking locks any time soon, but I do want to share how interesting the clear lock is. I’ve always wondered why keys had different grooves — with the clear lock, I can see why.

    The key lifts the pins inside of the lock to the correct height until they align. This is called, “The Shear Line.”

    This is when each pin is raised evenly, you are able to turn the key, and see the lock open. It’s really fascinating when you get to see how complex something as simple as a lock really is.

    The grooves and ridges in the keys aren’t just for show, it’s by design, it’s done with mechanics. And that’s an addictive feeling — getting to uncover the secrets of something hidden in plain sight everyday.

    It grants a little creative leeway when playing a rogue character, at least in my opinion. It takes much skill and knows how to pick a lock fast enough to not get caught and leave without a trace.

    Is This How It’s Like In Real Life?

    This is the ultimate question I’ll be able to answer with learning locksport; whether which one video game was right on the money or making up their own system to engage the players with a new system and environment, than to actually learn to pick locks for reference.

    Turns out, the real way to learn something is to understand how the mechanisms work.

    Where My Journey Could Go

    I am not claiming to be an expert, I am allowing my curiosity to get the best of me. That’s how my brain will be able to get rid of the tension I carry from and at work while indulging in the things I’m curious about.

    I’m just someone who is simply asking, “What if I tried this?” I share the skill I want to learn, how I got introduced to such skill or hobby, I give it a try for X amount of days, then share what I’ve learned at the end of my timeline.

    I’m usually one to use force than patience, so likely learning to be patient with these tools could transfer over to being patient with people. At least, that’s the hope.

    Hey There — Let’s Chat

    I’d like to hear from you. Really.

    • Have you ever been curious about something, but never pursued it? What was it?
    • Were you inspired by media as well, be it video games, books, movies, or other?
    • What’s your equivalent to lock picking — something oddly specific, and a little taboo, that you wanted to understand?

    Drop your thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to know what doors you’re thinking about opening next.

    If not, that’s okay. You made it to the end and that means a lot more than you know, and I’d like to say thank you.

    The Stratagem’s Manifesto

    Otherwise, you can find my D&D inspired work or other tings I’m pursuing below. Until next time, I’ll see you all in the archives, another time.

    Quarantine Life: In The Confines of Comfort: Idea #1:

    The Town That Forgot How to Sleep: A D&D Prompt #2 (Seedling):

    Starting From Scratch: Learning to Code After a D in University: (Seedling)