Lockpicking

Most locks in the game world can be picked. Player-owned locks, such as the doors to inn rooms, are the main exception; to prevent excessive PvP, these can only be unlocked if you have the appropriate key. The most common place you will encounter locks is on boxes dropped by certain monsters.

Pickable locks will often have traps, which should be disarmed before picking the lock. Attempting to pick a lock with an armed trap will cause the trap to go off, resulting in various harmful effects depending on the specific trap. A single lock can have multiple traps, and each must be disarmed separately. A single trap may also require multiple steps to disarm, which must be completed in a specific order.

Overview of steps

Inspect the box for traps by using inspect OBJECT, e.g., inspect my box. Repeat until you find a trap or you are reasonably certain there is no trap.
If you find a trap, appraise it (or refer to the table below). E.g., for "a copper nozzle", you would appraise nozzle. This will usually tell you how to disarm the trap.
Follow the steps the appraisal laid out, utilizing the tools specified with the command disarm OBJECT with TOOL, e.g., disarm my box with my awl.
Repeat the above steps until you are reasonably certain there are no remaining traps.
With a lockpick or skeleton key in your hand, pick OBJECT with PICK, e.g., pick my box with my skeleton key. Repeat until box is opened.

Table of traps

Short description	Tool
small red orb	absorption rod
narrow brass nozzle	awl
small bladder	pliers
small steel needle	pliers
a pair of metal rods	screwdriver
spiked iron ball	screwdriver then snips
meticulous obsidian tracery	file
small pouch	snips
green vial	snips
black chamber	pliers
small steel barb	wrench
screened metal spout	hook
A small cube	Pliers
Red crystal	pliers
onyx runestone	Awl twice
slender copper nozzle	Plyers then Awl