Security/Locks is the dedicated bypass skill -- the art of opening things
that are meant to stay closed. It covers Mechanical lockpicking, electronic
mag-seal bypass, alarm defeat (disabling sensors, loop feeds, spoofing
triggers), biometric spoofing (with Computers support), and safe-cracking.
In the verse, every Operative worth their paycheque carries a set of picks,
a mag-probe, and a healthy respect for the difference between a standard
tumbler and a military mag-lock. Distinct from Hacking (deep network
intrusion) and Theft (palming/sleight of hand).
Rules Reference
Field
Value
Armor Check Penalty
true
Key Ability
DEX
Trained Only
true
Untrained Use
Cannot reliably bypass locks. Risks triggering alarms and damaging the mechanism.
Key Ability
DEX
Notes
Special: Bypassing a mag-seal requires at least 1 rank; electronic locks benefit
from +2 synergy when combined with Computers/Slicing. A failure by 5+
triggers the alarm (or worse).
Special: Bypassing a mag-seal requires at least 1 rank; electronic locks benefit
from +2 synergy when combined with Computers/Slicing. A failure by 5+
triggers the alarm (or worse).
Untrained: Cannot reliably bypass locks. Any untrained attempt risks triggering the
alarm and damaging the lock (DC 10 flat check on failure). No mag-seal
or biometric capability.
Descriptors
dc: 15
Field
Value
dc
15
task
Pick a standard mechanical lock
dc: 20
Field
Value
dc
20
task
Bypass an electronic mag-seal
dc: 22
Field
Value
dc
22
task
Defeat a monitored alarm without triggering
dc: 25
Field
Value
dc
25
task
Crack a biometric vault
dc: 28
Field
Value
dc
28
task
Bypass a military-grade mag-lock
dc: 30
Field
Value
dc
30
task
Open a warded alien-tech seal
Synergy
bonus: 2
Field
Value
bonus
2
from
Computers/Slicing
threshold
5
bonus: 2
Field
Value
bonus
2
from
Theft
threshold
5
bonus: 2
Field
Value
bonus
2
from
Engineering
threshold
5
Synergies
bonus: 2
Field
Value
bonus
2
ranks
5
skill
Computers/Slicing
bonus: 2
Field
Value
bonus
2
ranks
5
skill
Theft
bonus: 2
Field
Value
bonus
2
ranks
5
skill
Engineering
Uses
application: Pick a standard mechanical lock
Field
Value
application
Pick a standard mechanical lock
dc
15
failure
Lock holds; retry possible. Failure by 5+ jams the lock.
success
Lock opens; no alarm triggered.
application: Bypass an electronic mag-seal
Field
Value
application
Bypass an electronic mag-seal
dc
20
failure
Seal holds; failure by 5+ triggers alarm.
success
Mag-seal disengaged; door opens.
application: Defeat a monitored alarm without triggering
Field
Value
application
Defeat a monitored alarm without triggering
dc
22
failure
Alarm triggers; security alerted.
success
Alarm disabled or spoofed; entry undetected.
application: Crack a biometric vault
Field
Value
application
Crack a biometric vault
dc
25
failure
Vault holds; biometric lock may require original subject.
success
Vault opens; contents accessible.
application: Bypass a military-grade mag-lock
Field
Value
application
Bypass a military-grade mag-lock
dc
28
failure
Lock holds; anti-tamper may trigger security response.