Why are all of the chests Simple locks?

emeraldbay · July 2014

Seriously. I've seen MAYBE two Master locks, and only a handful of Intermediate/Advanced locks, and I've been playing steadily since release.

I'm thinking the difficulty of the locks should be more evenly spread out. I expected to see harder locks when I got into higher leveled zones, but that's unfortunately not the case.

Obviously this isn't as important as the current FPS or phasing issues, but I'd like to see this tinkered with.

indytims_ESO · July 2014

Been ages since I've seen an Advanced/Master lock at all. 99% of locks I've seen the past couple months have been Simple, with maybe one Intermediate spread in there once in awhile.

Amazingly, the most Masters I ever found was in the beginner zones. lol.I guess when you're just starting out, EVERY lock is difficult.

ers101284b14_ESO · July 2014

I saw one in Early access that said "Impossible" Haven't seen one of those since.

Falmer · July 2014

Because a lock has a level and what you see is different based on who is trying to open it.

If I transport my level 3 characters to Cold Harbor, every chest is going to be IMPOSSIBLE.

Since I tend to be the kind of player that is over-leveled for any given area I am questing in, I will always find simple locks, because the lock levels are always going to be below me.

Sihnfahl · July 2014

They realized how silly those 'impossible' chests were and took them out.

Then they made up for the silliness with junk items all over the place.

Reivax · July 2014

I have noticed the same. I have only seen Simple in last few weeks.
Funny thing is, I thought Intermediate was easier than Simple.
I think only real difference is how fast the timer goes. I wish they'd put the skyrim/fallout 3 style lock over this oblivion/morrowind one.

Artemiisia · July 2014

since the nerf of chests in dungeons with only two in them (Group) something has happen with the world chests as well, I haven't seen a master chest since, the highest I have seen in a long time is intermediate

SFBryan18 · July 2014

Falmer wrote: »

Because a lock has a level and what you see is different based on who is trying to open it.

If I transport my level 3 characters to Cold Harbor, every chest is going to be IMPOSSIBLE.

Since I tend to be the kind of player that is over-leveled for any given area I am questing in, I will always find simple locks, because the lock levels are always going to be below me.

Interesting.

Sihnfahl · July 2014

Reivax wrote: »

I think only real difference is how fast the timer goes. I wish they'd put the skyrim/fallout 3 style lock over this oblivion/morrowind one.

Yep. It's always the same number of tumblers, regardless, and you just get less time to do the tumbers the harder the lock is.

Which is kind of silly. Especially when the tumblers really only have 3 positions for all difficulties.

Brandoid · July 2014

Falmer wrote: »

Because a lock has a level and what you see is different based on who is trying to open it.

If I transport my level 3 characters to Cold Harbor, every chest is going to be IMPOSSIBLE.

Since I tend to be the kind of player that is over-leveled for any given area I am questing in, I will always find simple locks, because the lock levels are always going to be below me.

That's fine and all except The loot from higher difficulty chests was better. I get ~60 or so gold and maybe a piece of green, usless non-set, gear for a simpl chest in craglorn.

AngryWolf · July 2014

Same here...I run across a lot of chests they all tend to be simple. On the odd change I'll get an intermediate on and almost pee my pants in excitement, but the loot is just as 'blah'...so I don't know if the difficulty of the chest is supposed to denote the quality of the loot.

SirAndy · July 2014

Is your character several levels above the zone level? If so, that's why.

The chest difficulty is based on the difference between your characters level and the chest base level, which depends on the zone the chest is in.

If you're in a level 20 zone and your character is level 25, pretty much all of the chests will be easy.

Conversely, if your character is level 20 and you're in a level 30 zone, you will see a lot of hard and even impossible chests.

Impossible means you're too low compared to the zone. This is to prevent you from getting loot that is much higher in level than your character.
;-)

Sihnfahl · July 2014

SirAndy wrote: »

Is your character several levels above the zone level? If so, that's why.

Level 36 Templar in Eastern Alik'r (almost done). Doesn't seem out of range to me... that's expected for the zone.

Armianlee · July 2014

emeraldbay wrote: »

Seriously. I've seen MAYBE two Master locks, and only a handful of Intermediate/Advanced locks, and I've been playing steadily since release.

I'm thinking the difficulty of the locks should be more evenly spread out. I expected to see harder locks when I got into higher leveled zones, but that's unfortunately not the case.

Obviously this isn't as important as the current FPS or phasing issues, but I'd like to see this tinkered with.

Too many people couldn't open them, so they nerf'd those?

I don't know. I've not seen a Master in over a month.

Curragraigue · July 2014

I was seeing advanced and intermediate chests when I was getting materials two zones above my character level recently. I was seeing impossible chests when I was one zone above a month or two ago.

They may have just changed the difficulty of chests to make them easier.

Cody · July 2014

I have found ONE master level chest. It was in a dungeon, first month or so of release. took me several tries, but got it. forgot what was inside. have not seen a master since, and never have seen an "impossible" chest. I have seen a few advanced and intermediates the past few weeks, though I don't know which one is higher:/
perhaps when the thieves guild gets added and more stealth and thief like mechanics and elements are added, this may be tinkered with. cause I am getting a little tired of seeing 98% simples myself.

Curragraigue · July 2014

NookyZooky wrote: »

I have found ONE master level chest. It was in a dungeon, first month or so of release. took me several tries, but got it. forgot what was inside. have not seen a master since, and never have seen an "impossible" chest. I have seen a few advanced and intermediates the past few weeks, though I don't know which one is higher:/

Advanced is higher

Arsenic_Touch · July 2014

T

SirAndy wrote: »

Is your character several levels above the zone level? If so, that's why.

The chest difficulty is based on the difference between your characters level and the chest base level, which depends on the zone the chest is in.

If you're in a level 20 zone and your character is level 25, pretty much all of the chests will be easy.

Conversely, if your character is level 20 and you're in a level 30 zone, you will see a lot of hard and even impossible chests.

Impossible means you're too low compared to the zone. This is to prevent you from getting loot that is much higher in level than your character.
;-)

This is correct.

phaneub17_ESO · July 2014

I find that Master Locks are a little easier when it has almost no give in shakes makes finding the unlock point easier. I've seen a couple last week, but mostly in solo or public dungeons.

Gwarok · July 2014

I gave up opening up chests.

Reason: Tired of getting the same old (worthless) GREEN frost staff that I've out leveled 3 zones ago. Simple, Intermediate, Advanced, Master; it don't matter it's the same ole, same ole staff

Curragraigue · July 2014

Gwarok wrote: »

I gave up opening up chests.

Reason: Tired of getting the same old (worthless) GREEN frost staff that I've out leveled 3 zones ago. Simple, Intermediate, Advanced, Master; it don't matter it's the same ole, same ole staff

I open a lot of them. You get blues and set pieces in them sometimes, so it can be worth it. I know what you mean though I seem to get the same green staff a lot of the time.

MonkeyAssassin24 · July 2014

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed this. I found quite a few master chests early after release (and usually did better at opening those because the pressure was on not to make more than a mistake or two) but have not seen one in a very long time. It can't be due to level/zone because the same thing has held true in vet zones. Pretty much 8/10 chests are simple with the occasional intermediate and VERY rarely an advanced. I hope this wasn't an intended stealth nerf I really enjoyed the fact that you could "treasure hunt" in this game

Orchish · July 2014

Because they all contain basic loot.

Horrum · July 2014

I just open them for extra soul gems. Can't have too many of those and they spawn often in chests.

EDIT: After only finding Simple chests for a while, and Master and Advanced became more scarce, I assumed it was a character level thing - as if we all have a lock-picking passive hooked to our level. Even in areas for which my level is appropriate (after hitting vet) all chests are Simple.

Longman · July 2014

I think hard locks were too hard and they took them out tp please the casuals.

What was the matter of harder locks anyway. the loot was the same as with simple locks. Impossible locks were a mechanic to keep low lvl players from farming chests in higher lvl regions.

SpAEkus · July 2014

I think something happened when the achievements got borked because before that I had high levels of ability to force locks on many levels of chest.

Now all my force levels are 0%. Unless that is still a display problem? I haven't tried to force one in a while. Have to test that tomorrow

Fuxo · July 2014

Hard locks are waiting for introduction of thief guild skill line passives

fromtesonlineb16_ESO · July 2014

Nothing's changed as I see it, for instance last night at level 39/40 I saw several Intermediate and a few Advanced chests in Reaper's March, as you would expect given the zone level range, and also one Master near Dune.

'Impossible' is a bit odd though, I saw one in an earlier AD zone when I was at the top level for that zone, and had plenty of lockpicks.

DeLindsay · July 2014

emeraldbay wrote: »

Seriously. I've seen MAYBE two Master locks, and only a handful of Intermediate/Advanced locks, and I've been playing steadily since release.

I'm thinking the difficulty of the locks should be more evenly spread out. I expected to see harder locks when I got into higher leveled zones, but that's unfortunately not the case.

Obviously this isn't as important as the current FPS or phasing issues, but I'd like to see this tinkered with.

First did you or do you run around in zones that are much higher than your level? If so I can guarantee you will find up to and even a few Impossible chests if you go to a high enough zone. All difficulties of chests can spawn in any zone, but it's YOUR character level that matters most. If you are at or higher than the zone level you will more often get Simple chests. If the zone far outlevels you then you will more often get at least Advanced chests. The only caveat to this is many, including myself, have had Impossible chests spawn in zones AT level which is the only type that seems less respective of zone > character level gap.

There's also a few folks on various forums that believe there is a background counter for your own lockpicking skill, which in turn would effect what difficulty of chest spawns. ZoS hasn't confirmed that, and there's zero effect on the ability to force lock even if you've successfully lockpicked 10,000 chests so take it as you will.

Elad13 · July 2014

SirAndy wrote: »

Is your character several levels above the zone level? If so, that's why.

The chest difficulty is based on the difference between your characters level and the chest base level, which depends on the zone the chest is in.

If you're in a level 20 zone and your character is level 25, pretty much all of the chests will be easy.

Conversely, if your character is level 20 and you're in a level 30 zone, you will see a lot of hard and even impossible chests.

Impossible means you're too low compared to the zone. This is to prevent you from getting loot that is much higher in level than your character.
;-)

I have to disagree...my lvl 33 is in lvl 35 quests/area but the chest are all still simple.

Sharee · July 2014

Gwarok wrote: »

I gave up opening up chests.

Reason: Tired of getting the same old (worthless) GREEN frost staff that I've out leveled 3 zones ago. Simple, Intermediate, Advanced, Master; it don't matter it's the same ole, same ole staff

You get a nice chunk of XP for the opening(even in VR it levels up your slotted skills etc.). Then the chest has 60g cash and 40-50g item. It adds up.