General Locks at varying tech levels

[Commander Truestar]

Hi All,
So many of our characters want to learn "lock picking"....
But, what is lock picking?
At TL 0, there is no such thing as lock picking...
At higher tech levels, the locks are first mechanical, then electronic, then computerized, then....?

So, I decided to give you my list of lock types at varying tech levels and see what you would add to the list.
This is not "how to defeat the lock"......this is basically "what lock types would you add to this list:
Locks through the ages:

TL 0 (Primitive-No Tech) - No Locks, items may be buried, hidden in caves, covered in holes

TL 1 (Bronze or early Iron age) - No Locks, items may be buried, hidden in caves, covered in holes

TL 2 (Renaissance) - Early locks that are metal/mechanical or puzzle locks

TL 3 (Early 19th century/Steam and Mechanical) - locks and keys tend to be large unless expensivly crafted

Complex puzzle or "hidden" works mak locks more secure

TL 4 (Industrial Revolution-1880's-1914) - more complex mechanical locks
- early combination locks

TL 5 (1950's/60's) - Complex mechanical locks
- Complex combination locks
- Time-based locks
- Very early electronic locks

TL 6 (Early Space Age/Bulky computers) - Complex mechanical locks
- Complex combination locks
- Time-based locks
- Electronic locks
-Remote controlled locking and security

TL 7 (Orbit-capable/Sats and computers) - Complex mechanical locks
TL 8 (Early Inter-planetary/Fusion) - Complex combination locks
TL 9 (Grav-Manip/In-system colonization) - Time-based locks
TL A[10] (Jump 1/early Grav-drives) - Electronic locks
-Remote controlled locking and security
- Computer-based locks and security

TL B[11] (Early AI/Jump-2/Grav-enhanced architecture) - Complex mechanical locks
- Complex combination locks
- Time-based locks
- Electronic locs
-Remote controlled locking and security
- Computer-based locks and security
- Early AI-based Conversant locks(w/batt. backup & phys lock)

TL C[12] (Jump-3/Thruster plates) - Complex mechanical locks
- Complex combination locks
- Time-based locks
- Electronic locks
-Remote controlled locking and security
- Computer-based locks and security
- Basic AI-based Conversant locks(w/batt. backup & phys lock)

TL D[13] (Jump-4) - Complex mechanical locks
- Complex combination locks
- Time-based locks
- Electronic locks
-Remote controlled locking and security
- Computer-based locks and security
- AI-based Conversant locks(w/batt. backup & phys lock)

TL E[14] (floating cities/Jump-5) - Complex mechanical locks
TL F[15] (Jump-6) - Complex combination locks
- Time-based locks
- Electronic locks
-Remote controlled locking and security
- Computer-based locks and security
- Advanced AI-based Conversant locks(w/batt. backup & phys lock)

 

[mike wightman]

Top tip - before jumping to TL conclusions check the interwebs:

Lock and key - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Commander Truestar]

Top tip - before jumping to TL conclusions check the interwebs:

Lock and key - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Thanks,
But that is still very limited except for current day locks and some limited theory for digitals..

Nothing for future tech

 

[mike wightman]

It shows lockpicking is a thing eight thousand years ago
late neolithic to early bronze age. It also shows that your descriptions for TL1-3 probably need a revision.

Biometric locks - based on DNA, blood, retinal pattern or a whole host or combination
Quantum encryption locks.
Wafer tech based locks.

 

[Grav_Moped]

It shows lockpicking is a thing eight thousand years ago
late neolithic to early bronze age. It also shows that your descriptions for TL1-3 probably need a revision.

Biometric locks - based on DNA, blood, retinal pattern or a whole host or combination
Quantum encryption locks.
Wafer tech based locks.

Psionics-based locks.
Lower tech ones are mechanical (puzzle locks requiring telekinesis and perhaps clairvoyance to open), very high tech ones incorporate AIs with psioinic transceivers to identify authorized users.

 

[kilemall]

I’m not seeing Indiana Jones/D&D traps as locks. Disappointed.

 

[infojunky]

Note for reference this was covered in at least one article of jTas... (jTas #18, page 11, Ship's Locker)

Just a refferance.

 

[Commander Truestar]

Note for reference this was covered in at least one article of jTas... (jTas #18, page 11, Ship's Locker)

Just a refferance.

Thank you for mentioning that, I had forgotten it.
Still, I just re-read it and it basically covers what I had with some additional detail on TL 8 & 9 items.

In addition to that, I'm hoping for more ideas for higher tech locking systems.
One example a friend of mine mentioned is a "Photonic Key" lock, where those who have access would have a "laser pointer-like" device able to be set to a variety of wavelengths. So, an access person would set the laser to a given setting and shine it into a port to unlock the portal.
More expensive varieties would have a "time length" requirement, or demand a pattern of wavelengths.
Further systems could include a "reaction" when more than two failed attempts are made, similar to a starship anti-hijack system.

 

[Dragoner]

Maybe falls under electronic locks, though many place use the rfid key fob systems, including cars: https://www.dorfidtag.com/What-is-r... tag,and contain RFID chips and a copper coil.

 

[Condottiere]

Earliest lock is probably a knot.

Which would make the knife the earliest lockpick.

 

[Grav_Moped]

Which would make the knife the earliest lockpick.

An Alexandrian implement. (Link: Wikipedia, "Gordian Knot")
... which is what the painting in your post illustrates.

 

[Commander Truestar]

At TL 0, there is no such thing as lock picking...
At higher tech levels, the locks are first mechanical, then electronic, then computerized, then....?

So, here is the updated list of lock types to this point:
Locks through the ages:

TL 0 (Primitive-No Tech) - Stone/Bronze age pin-locks per the article provided by @mike wightman

TL 1 (Bronze or early Iron age) - Stone/Bronze age pin-locks per the artical provided by @mike wightman
- puzzle box locks - provided by @mike wightman
- Gordion Knot style security method - Provided by @Condottiere

TL 2 (Renaissance) - Early locks that are metal/mechanical or puzzle locks
- puzzle box locks - provided by @mike wightman

TL 3 (Early 19th century/Steam and Mechanical) - locks and keys tend to be large unless expensively crafted

Complex puzzle or "hidden" works make locks more secure

TL 4 (Industrial Revolution-1880's-1914) - more complex mechanical locks
- early combination locks

TL 5 (1950's/60's) - Complex mechanical locks
- Complex combination locks
- Time-based locks
- Very early electronic locks

TL 6 (Early Space Age/Bulky computers)
TL 7 (Orbit-capable/Sats and computers) - Electronic locks
-Remote controlled locking and security

TL 8 (Early Inter-planetary/Fusion)
- Photonic Key" lock (users have a light pointer device with a variety of wavelength settings) matching a single or combination
of settings (including a timed-entry sequence)
- RFID chips/copper coil mechanisim locks - Provided by @Dragoner

TL 9 (Grav-Manip/In-system colonization)
TL A[10] (Jump 1/early Grav-drives)
- Biometric locks - based on DNA, blood, retinal pattern or a whole host or combination - provided by @mike wightman and @infojunky
- Computer-based locks and security

TL B[11] (Early AI/Jump-2/Grav-enhanced architecture) - Early AI-based Conversant locks(w/batt. backup & phys lock)
- Wafer tech based locks - provided by @mike wightman

TL C[12] (Jump-3/Thruster plates) - Basic AI-based Conversant locks(w/batt. backup & phys lock)
- Quantum encryption locks - provided by @mike wightman

TL D[13] (Jump-4)
- AI-based Conversant locks(w/batt. backup & phys lock)
- Psionics-based locks - provided by @mike wightman
- AIs with psioinic transceivers to identify authorized users - provided by @mike wightman

TL E[14] (floating cities/Jump-5) - ??

TL F[15] (Jump-6) - ??

 

[Timerover51]

Then you also have the very old-fashioned bar on the door locks, along with the various permutations of that.

 

[Grav_Moped]

Then you also have the very old-fashioned bar on the door locks, along with the various permutations of that.

For which the "key" is to be let in by a person on the other side of the door.

 

[Commander Truestar]

For which the "key" is to be let in by a person on the other side of the door.

Or, to pick the lock, slip a thin but strong piece of metal in through any gap between the door and the jamb and lift it to lift the bar, hoping it will fall off.
It it is held on both sides instead of pinned to the wall on one side to rotate, then you have to lift it high enough it will slide and pull loose.

 

[whartung]

Then you also have the very old-fashioned bar on the door locks, along with the various permutations of that.

"I'll be back."

TL10 lock picking in a TL7-8 world.

 

[infojunky]

Or, to pick the lock, slip a thin but strong piece of metal in through any gap between the door and the jamb and lift it to lift the bar, hoping it will fall off.
It it is held on both sides instead of pinned to the wall on one side to rotate, then you have to lift it high enough it will slide and pull loose.

Or the judicious application of TK...

 

[Commander Truestar]

@whartung and @infojunky .... Very true, but I am looking for ideas what kind of locks a group of players might face. How they chose to "pick" the lock is up to them

"LUKE!!!! We're About to have company!!!"

 

[BackworldTraveller]

I like the assumption that mechanical locks become more complex as TL increases. Some of the most complex and unpickable mechanical locks are Victorian: After that cheap manufacture and adequate security replaced complexity because other types of locks did a better job at that top end of the market.

 

[BackworldTraveller]

@whartung and @infojunky .... Very true, but I am looking for ideas what kind of locks a group of players might face. How they chose to "pick" the lock is up to them

"LUKE!!!! We're About to have company!!!"

You are only supposed to blow the .... doors off!