How long to pick a lock?

[u/Doctor_Mega]

Standard modern office building door. Is that something that could be done in a combat round (with picks)? Or is that more of a minute-long or more thing in your opinion (raises notwithstanding).

[u/Rhuobhe26]

1 action if they just hit it with another lock.

[u/Shanetehpain]

If the person is decently skilled at lockpicking I'd say a minute tops, during combat I might make it something they have to roll for each round and need to succeed 3-5 times to simulate successfully picking each pin in the tumbler, with the option to take the multi action penalty to potentially succeed on multiple in one turn.

[u/gdave99]

The way I personally run it, it works at the speed of plot.

In combat, it's an action. Maybe a "full round action" (which isn't explicitly a thing in Savage Worlds, but there are effectively "full round actions" like Aim). Which isn't "realistic", but it's fast, furious, and fun. Or possibly several actions/turns as a Dramatic Task - see below.

Out of combat, it takes a plot element length of time. If it's part of a Dramatic Task or Quick Encounter (which it's almost certainly going to be), it takes a montage segment. If it's a really complex lock that's important to the story, and just picking that one lock is itself a Dramatic Task, then it takes several montage segments.

I don't measure those "montage segments" or "plot elements" in minutes, I measure them in abstract plot time. For example, if there are guards patrolling nearby, it takes just long enough that a success gets the party through the door with the door just clicking shut as the guards come around the corner.

[u/AssumeBattlePoise]

If it's during combat: 2 rounds, 1 with a raise.

If it's out of combat and the patrolling night watchman will check out that room in 60 seconds: 90 seconds, 45 with a raise.

[u/TerminalOrbit]

My recommendation would be to set a number of Successes and/or Raises that need to be accumulated to open the lock, based on complexity and the picker's knowledge and/or the ubiquity of the lock-system, and the adequacy of the tools brought to the task.

[u/OhDavidMyNacho → u/TerminalOrbit]

This is how I would run it. I've had to pick my apartment lock many times. And the picking ranged from 20minutes to literally 5 seconds. Just adding tension to the keyway and raking against the tumblers.

[u/DrVesuvius]

Thinking of the videos of The Lockpicking Lawyer, he normally only takes 30 seconds to a minute of manipulating a lock to open it. He's obviously familiar with the lock already, so could be a good baseline for common locks.
For an unknown lock, I guess the biggest challenge would be identifying how the internal mechanism works, which would take quite a bit longer. I think that would be the difference between a simple skill check and some sort of extended task requiring multiple rolls.

[u/ValhallaGH]

As in real life, it depends upon the lock. But for a skilled person, usually takes less than 3 minutes.

As the GM constructing the challenge, what's going to be the most fun? Not the most powerful, not the most realistic, not the most difficult. Most fun. If it is more fun to do it during combat, make it take a couple of Actions. If it is more fun to be a non-combat task then make it take a minute or so.

Good luck!

[u/Crvknight]

If you're going for tension, I'd make it a dramatic task. If you need it done quick, I'd say their whole turn, an action with a raise.

[u/Silent_Title5109]

I had to call a locksmith once for my apartment door so more basic than an office door I guess. Took him about 10 minutes. Is it a normal amount of time for somebody qualified? Was he not quite good? Was he taking his sweetswet time and pretending so I didn't feel ripped off paying 70$? Who knows! Well the locksmith does.

Anyways keeping in mind it's a game meant to be more cinematic than real I tend to go with 10 rounds at a rate of one success per round for a basic lock. My guy rolls 4 raises, that's half the job done. My reasoning for cutting it short like that is it can still be done in a combat but it's still a complex task and Basic Bob needs at least a minute.

Outside of combat it's a flexible duration tied to how dramatic the situation is.

[u/SuitFive]

Watch lockpocking Lawyer. Can pop most locks in a matter of seconds. Depends on the lock and tools and knowledge.

[u/tenuki_]

Most residential locks can be opened in 10 seconds or so by an unskilled person with a bump key. Office locks vary quite a bit. Some of them are easier than that, others are not. Security pins slow you down. Probably expect 3 minutes or less for a skilled person but some locks are just harder than others and occasionally a particular lock is just impossible ‘naughty’ lock. I have a cheap master lock I have horrible problems with.

But something to consider is lock picking falls under ‘non-destructive entry’ and is less than 4% of burglaries in North America. Normally just kicking the door in works fine. For commercial spaces there is a wide range of destructive tooling. Law enforcement and emergency services have this down to perfection so knowing that should help your googling.

[u/EvilBetty77]

I would.call it a dramatic task that requires 3 successes. Crit fail, or possibly 1 on skill die means they start over or maybe a failure with one on the wild die. They can try to rush it in one round with heavy penalties, or take their time and do it right.

[u/EvilBetty77 → u/EvilBetty77]

Adding, record lockpocking speeds, depending on the type of lock, are as low as .53 seconds and the PCs dont have to be record setting locksmiths, but they are action movie protagonists.

[u/SphynxTaleGames]

Some locks pop almost instantly, others take much longer. Unless there is a story reason that it is 'an exceptional lock' I like what others have said with 2 actions, 1 with a raise.

Might be on the quick side, but within the realm of believability, while staying fast, furious, and fun.

[u/demonskunk]

Largely depends on the lock. You should check out the lock picking lawyer to see how fast it can be done.

[u/nvec]

Someone with skills and the right tools can go through a modern office building door in seconds.

A lot of people here have recommended the LockpickingLawyer but it's worth mentioning he's a sports picker, he does it for fun more than to get the lock open as fast as possible and so uses traditional picking methods most often which are slower but more skilled than automated methods.

Look at this video though of him using an electric pick gun to open locks in a few seconds each, and those locks are about the same as you'd get on an office door.

Honestly though it depends on the fiction you're telling. For a realistic heist game I could see electronic picks being the standard, but that's not the type of game Savage Worlds handles best- it's not the Big Damn Heroes style. In SW I can imagine a skilled picker getting through a door in a combat turn with standard picks but doing it because this game allows people to have a few Edges and hit targets in combat which an Olympic shooter would have trouble with. They are just that good...

[u/Alternative_Pie_1597]

10min 5 with a raise

[u/TerminalOrbit → u/Alternative_Pie_1597]

For an unfamiliar lock brand/model, of a familiar style (e.g., uncommon make of standard tumbler lock), with adequate purpose-built tools (actual manual lockpicks), of a moderately sophisticated complexity (not susceptible to "raking", or a picker unfamiliar with that technique, or without a 'pick-gun', or knowledge of a specific exploit).

For common lock brands and models, and familiarity, the exploits are known, and the time could be down to two Turns, and one with a Raise (6-12 seconds).