Starfield Lockpicking: An Annoying Event
Many Bethesda role-playing games have relied mostly on lockpicking to let players access limited areas and priceless riches. Though ostensibly simple, Starfield's lockpicking technique adds a frustrating component that many players find aggravating. Unlike the conventional lockpicking mini-games of past games like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, Starfield makes use of a futuristic "Digipick" system that adds an extraneous degree of complexity.
Digipick Mechanics: A misguided design
Starfield locks using pin patterns aligned with matching notches. Although this sounds basic enough, it often results in frustration. Even if it looks to fit the lock, players may choose the incorrect pin configuration. If the error is discovered late in the puzzle and players must use another Digipick to undo their error or start over, this can especially demoralize them. This creates a situation whereby players may have to use several Digipicks on one lock, so adding needless difficulty and tedium to the experience.
Digipicks: A Resource Waste
The single-use character of Digipicks is among the most divisive features of Starfield's Lockpicking. Unlike earlier Bethesda RPGs where lockpicks could be used several times, each lock in Starfield requires at least one Digipick, independent of the player's activities. Players must thus aggressively farm for Digipicks, which can feel like a chore. Using several Digipicks even for mistakes aggravates this problem even more.
Empty Loot's Problem
To exacerbate matters, Starfield's Lockpicking technique sometimes provides no assurance of reward. Players could spend many Digipicks on a sophisticated lock and discover nothing within the container. Players feel deceived and demoralized by this lack of reward as well as by the difficult lockpicking technique.
Starfield's lockpicking represents a lost chance for interesting gameplay.
Many gamers have noted that Starfield's lockpicking mechanism is readily fixable. Bethesda might use a contingency in the loot table to guarantee that even less valuable objects are discovered within locked containers instead of punishing players with empty loot. This would guarantee that, even if the goods aren't especially valuable, players are always rewarded for their effort.
Advice for Enhancement
Like past Bethesda Role-Playing Games, let Digipicks be used several times. This would help to lessen their constant farming demand.
Guaranteed Loot: Though it's a low-value item, make sure every container—including those with basic locks—contains at least some loot. This would stop gamers from feeling duped following a protracted lockpicking session.
Clearer visual signals inside the lockpicking mini-game will enable players to find the proper pin arrangement.
Rewarding Lock Difficulties: Make sure the value of the loot inside directly determines the lock's difficulty. Players ought to believe that the work required to unlock a challenging lock is well worth it.
Finally, a lost chance.
Though ostensibly straightforward on the surface, Starfield's lockpicking system suffers from its single-use Digipicks, lack of reward, and annoying mechanics. Players feel disappointed and demotivated as the system seems to be a step back from earlier Bethesda role-playing. Bethesda could readily solve these problems with a few basic tweaks, so enabling players to enjoy lockpicking as a more fulfilling activity.
