I think whatever math determines what is too far above you, is a little broken. Two different boxes, both giving the same IDed difficulty (so pretty tight difficulty range), which is "You can unlock the wooden strongbox with only minor troubles." However the first one gives 0 bits of experience when picking blind, and the second does (not enough to bump a mindstate, but still more bits than 0).


sR> pick id
You can unlock the wooden strongbox with only minor troubles.
Roundtime: 2 sec.
sR>
Learned: Perception(0), Locksmithing(0)
s> pick blind
With a dramatic flourish, you pull out a strip of cloth and tie it around your head, covering your eyes.
You then deftly remove a lockpick from the lockpick case and begin to work at somehow blindly picking open the strongbox.
You are unable to make any progress towards opening the lock.
You return your lockpick to the lockpick case.
Roundtime: 8 sec.
sR> pick blind
With a dramatic flourish, you pull out a strip of cloth and tie it around your head, covering your eyes.
You then deftly remove a lockpick from the lockpick case and begin to work at somehow blindly picking open the strongbox.
You are unable to make any progress towards opening the lock.
You return your lockpick to the lockpick case.
Roundtime: 7 sec.



sR> pick id
You can unlock the wooden chest with only minor troubles.
Roundtime: 2 sec.
sR>
Learned: Perception(+1), Locksmithing(0)
sR> pick blind
With a dramatic flourish, you pull out a strip of cloth and tie it around your head, covering your eyes.
You then deftly remove a lockpick from the lockpick case and begin to work at somehow blindly picking open the chest.
You are unable to make any progress towards opening the lock.
You return your lockpick to the lockpick case.
Roundtime: 7 sec.
sR>
Learned: Locksmithing(0)
sR> pick blind
With a dramatic flourish, you pull out a strip of cloth and tie it around your head, covering your eyes.
You then deftly remove a lockpick from the lockpick case and begin to work at somehow blindly picking open the chest.
You are unable to make any progress towards opening the lock.
You return your lockpick to the lockpick case.
Roundtime: 6 sec.
sR>
Learned: Locksmithing(0)
You feel fully attuned to the mana streams again.

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TG, TG, GL, et al.

"Disagreement with the fundamental plan at this point is akin to supporting Richard III vs the Tudors." -Raesh

>It's been stated that failed attempts will no longer grant experience.

That's not what was said:

>Accordingly, if you fail to pick a box that grossly outclasses your skill level, you will no longer gain experience.
>For all other boxes, if you fail to pick them, you will gain only a tiny fraction of the experience you would have gained if you had successfully picked the box.

http://forums.play.net/forums/DragonRealms/Abilities,%20Skills%20and%20Magic/Game%20Master%20and%20Official%20Announcements/view/468

---

TG, TG, GL, et al.

"Disagreement with the fundamental plan at this point is akin to supporting Richard III vs the Tudors." -Raesh