I found 3 chests sitting in the mountains all by themselves, but since I'm not thief and the locks were Hard and Very Hard, I couldn't pick them. I had my weapon equipped so I got a note saying I couldn't pick or bash while it was engaged, so my question is: How do I bash a chest when I can't pick it? Do I just keep whacking at it with a sword, or is there a specific command for bashing?

Unless you have a mod that allows bashing (instructions should be in the readme), it can't be done.

Oh really?? That's a bummer...so I'm gonna miss out on all the good loot cause I can't pick Hard+ locks? That svcks.

To practice lock-picking when not a thief...
Do the Daedric Shrine quest (sorry, I forget which) with unbreakable lock-pick as reward. Besides trying to open every non-red wilderness lock you see, visit the various mage and fighter guild halls IF you are a member. Most of them will have non-red locked display cases you can practice on. Since you don't really need the contents of those displays, just work a lock until all but one tumbler is positioned. Then exit the mini-game and start afresh. If that feels too much like cheating then just work 'em all until opened.

A word of caution. Holding that lock-pick will slow advancement, and at some point stop in altogether. So keep collecting regular lock-picks off fallen enemies, and periodically store the Daedric one so updates come quicker.

-Decrepit-

Nocturnal.

I don't really have any plans for my character to become a master lock pick, it's not in her personality. I guess I'll just have to miss out. Or find a way to bash them.

I think that the lockpick you get instantly boosts your lockpick level to 100.

Alternatively you could make a spell.

I'll mark them on a map, and we'll see what comes up later =)

Lockpicking/an Unlock-spell are the only ways to get at the contents of locked containers in unmodded Oblivion. There are probably some bash-mods out there, if you're on PC.

you can pick very hard locks without being a master at security.

buy some picks off Shady Sam

I only have Security 18, so the hardest lock I can pick is Average. And even that's a biatch =(

With the mini-game it's possible to pick any kind of lock at just about any level, isn't it? Quicksave before starting to lockpick, and keep reloading that save if you run out of picks. You just have to get the tecnique down and after that lockpicking's easy.

Or do Nocturnal's quest and get the Skeleton Key, which saves you loads of hard work.

It might be a mod I have installed (OOO maybe?), but I can't even attempt to pick Hard and Very Hard locks. And I svck at it anyway, I go through 3-4 picks trying to open am Easy lock.

Yep, OOO won't let you lock pick hard or very hard locks until you have a high security skill.
And the Lock bashing system they implemented in OOO is confusing, and I haven't been able to find any help on it.

Yeah, I thought there might be a way to bach in OOO since I got the message 'You can't pick or bash locks while in combat'. I'll do some searching too, let me know if you find it!

Alright after some googling, I found this solution:
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=27424 It will disable OOO's awful lockbashing system.
And get http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25040, Which from what I read in the description, Hit the locked door or chest with your weapon(Don't need to activate the chest first, or so it sounds) and then it does its thing. It will damage your weapon, or armor if you use your fists while wearing Heavy gauntlets, both your health and light armor,using light gauntlets, or just your health using Hand to hand to smash the lock.
And the comments make the mod look promising.

Cool, I'll try that. Reward time!

Edit: Oh, then you first disable one, then install another, which in turn requires a third mod and the hell begins. Gah, I hate all those referring mod requirements =/. Yeah, I'm sticking with the OOO bashing. Apparently all you have to do is power attack the chest. Not too complicated.

By the way: is the mini-game getting easier lock-picking when you advance into higher levels of Security?

No, other than less of the sliders fall down every time you break a pick.

As your security level increases it is easier to unlock through auto-attempt option.

it is a lot easier, yes. the sliders move much slower too. so at times u really have to wanna blow it not to unlock chests / doors.

I found a book in a dungeon once that described a theif who used a torch to make the metal in the lock softer so the tumbler springs would be easier to manage. It just sounded like story-telling to me but I fingured I'd ask anyway. Does it help to have a torch equiped when picking a lock?

I dont know about anyone else, but I find lockpicking extremely easy in this game. I can open a very-hard lock with maybe 1 or 2 picks breaking (level does not matter at all, I can do it at lvl 1)

I need a lesson then, cause I have no patience for flippin lock picking and go through 3-4 on an easy lock and don't even bother with average+ anymore.

honestly, i find the minigame tedious. actually, O does a very bad job at all miniquest.