Skill-Based Lockpicking (ESPless) Mod

Skill-Based Lockpicking

Description

Using some Stewie Tweaks magic, you can now attempt locks at any level and they will present a more reasonable challenge. All dependent on your lockpicking skill.

Skill-Based Lockpicking is a lightweight, script-only mod that analyzes the difference between your skill and the lock's difficulty right before the minigame begins. It then adjusts the game settings that dictate how the lockpicking minigame plays out. This makes investing points into the Lockpick skill feel more meaningful and impactful at every level.

Features

1. Dynamic Difficulty Scaling: The mod calculates your "skill advantage" or "skill deficit" for every lock. The greater your advantage, the easier the minigame becomes. The greater your deficit, the more challenging it gets.
2. Scaled Bobby Pin Durability: Your bobby pins become more resilient if your skill is higher than the lock requires, and more fragile if you're attempting a lock above your level. A master lockpicker will rarely break pins on simple locks, while a novice will need to be extremely careful on an Average lock.
3. Tumbler "Wiggle Room": The amount you can rotate the tumbler before the bobby pin snaps is now dynamic. High skill levels will have more room for error, making it easier to find the sweet spot. Under-skilled players will have a much smaller margin, demanding greater precision.
4. High-Stakes Unlocking: Attempting Hard or Very Hard locks while significantly under-skilled now carries a special penalty: the "sweet spot" itself becomes much smaller, making these locks a real test of your patience.
5. Lightweight & Scripted: It's a fackin' scriptrunner isn't it? Of course it is.

Installation

Install with your preferred mod manager (Mod Organizer 2 is the only option really if you value your save).

For manual installation (not recommended), extract the contents of the archive into your Fallout New Vegas\Data folder.

Uninstallation

Simply uninstall with your mod manager.

The mod is 100% safe to remove at any point in your playthrough. It does not use permanent scripts or alter save files.

Compatibility

Should work with anything, providing you have Stewie Tweaks installed. If you don't, then check the link in the requirements. It's basically essential at this point.

Credits

1. AshenBonfire for the inspiriation to create a modern version of this. Check out his mod here