How to Pick a Lock in Fallout 3

Fallout 3, the long-awaited sequel to Fallout 2, takes the Fallout story into a 3-D world with a first-person view. As the world gets more realistic, so does the application of skills. Rather than simply having a high lockpicking skill, you actually need to simulate the picking of a lock in order to succeed. This can be a bit confusing your first few times.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Move your mouse left and right to rotate the bobby pin. Each lock has a certain "sweet spot" where you want your bobby pin to lie, although this will be difficult to find on your first try.

2. Use the W, A, S and D keys to apply torque with your screwdriver. Start by applying very gentle pressure and watch the bobby pin to see if it starts to shake.

3. Stop moving the screwdriver if the bobby pin shakes a lot. This is a sign that the bobby pin is about to break, and you should not continue. Reposition the bobby pin to the left or right, and then move the screwdriver again.

4. Watch to see if the bobby pin takes more or less time before it begins to shake. If it takes less time before you meet with resistance, that means you have moved in the wrong direction and should retry Step 3 by moving in the opposite direction. If it takes more time before you meet with resistance, that means you have moved the bobby pin in the right direction, and are closer to the sweet spot.

5. Twist the screwdriver as far as you can before you start to see the bobby pin shake. If you can get it halfway rotated before the pin shakes, you probably have the sweet spot, and can twist it all the way.

Tips & Warnings

• If you've already failed a few times, considering leaving the lock and coming back so your pins don't break.