Remove locks from owned gates without key

[Mr_Bober]

QoL improvement that allows a claim owner to remove locks from a gate placed on their personal claim, without the need for a master key.

A few scenarios where this would be useful:
- You lost your master key. You can now replace the lock without needing to tear down the gate and make your whole base vulnerable;
- A criminal got your master key and changed your locks, locking you inside. Normally this would require you to have a wrecking ball, or to stop playing because you can no longer go outside. Not it doesn't anymore.
- You find an abandoned settlement and would like to move in. You no longer need to waste days to replace all the old gates, you just need to claim the place for yourself to fix it up.

It could work with the lock-pick mechanic too. I don't see any downside, and it would make master keys slightly less important (aka no need to keep a copy on an always-offline vault alt).
You would still need a key to operate the gate normally.

[MagicManICT]

I don't see any downside

In just a few minutes I can think of several. Most are inconsequential as if you lose the claim, it probably doesn't matter, though one comes to mind: You lose your claim (already a noob trap), but are smart enough to keep a master key on an alt or hidden on the claim that the new claim owner can't get to without bashing in a wall. With this change, the person could, in theory, change the locks leaving you stuck in your claim. Without it, you can let yourself out of the claim, and if you feel brave enough, take the better items with you (though it'd leave theft scents). If you lost the key, well, you'd be boned either way.

[Mr_Bober]

I don't see any downside

In just a few minutes I can think of several. Most are inconsequential as if you lose the claim, it probably doesn't matter, though one comes to mind: You lose your claim (already a noob trap), but are smart enough to keep a master key on an alt or hidden on the claim that the new claim owner can't get to without bashing in a wall. With this change, the person could, in theory, change the locks leaving you stuck in your claim. Without it, you can let yourself out of the claim, and if you feel brave enough, take the better items with you (though it'd leave theft scents). If you lost the key, well, you'd be boned either way.

It's such an unlikely scenario that blocking an QoL improvement because something like this "could technically happen" is just faulty logic.

It's already pretty unlikely for someone to siege an active place to take it over by claiming it for themselves. It's even less likely the scenario you're talking about, where a vault alt has Theft or even just Trespassing skill that would allow him to open the gate. Also it's not something that happens quickly:
- 24h minimum for them to breach your palisade (if they can get in without breaching, you can get out the same way);
- 24h more to set the wrecking ball in place to destroy your claim stake.
- 8h more for their new claim to be active.

Even if they had a claim ready outside, and just expanded over you, it's still gonna take them two days to get your place, during which you should move out your alt if that's something you care about.

Let's be realistic: that is never gonna happen. And definitely not a good reason to block something like this.

[Sevenless]

It's such an unlikely scenario that blocking an QoL improvement because something like this "could technically happen" is just faulty logic.

I regret to inform you this is a very frequent occurrence. My village has only casually raided but has gotten iirc 2 hermit claims studied out from the original owners so far. I've passed by a couple hermit claims "owned" by memmed enemy faction fighters who don't live there while nomading. One of my village mates got KOed and didn't remember to renew his well claim bond for 4 days.

Arguably, this is a pretty major problem that it isn't rare. The game doesn't give you any particularly noticeable hints about what's happening.

[Mr_Bober]

It's such an unlikely scenario that blocking an QoL improvement because something like this "could technically happen" is just faulty logic.

I regret to inform you this is a very frequent occurrence. My village has only casually raided but has gotten iirc 2 hermit claims studied out from the original owners so far. I've passed by a couple hermit claims "owned" by memmed enemy faction fighters who don't live there while nomading. One of my village mates got KOed and didn't remember to renew his well claim bond for 4 days.

Arguably, this is a pretty major problem that it isn't rare. The game doesn't give you any particularly noticeable hints about what's happening.

What does studying someone's bond have to do with this?
In that case you lose the claim over several days, which gives you plenty of time to get outside your gates if you need to. (or to just renew the bond...)

This suggestion wouldn't make it easier to lose claims. It doesn't touch that mechanic at all. All it does is making it less annoying to replace locks on claims you already own. Anyone who takes over a claim to use it, is gonna build either a new palisade around it or wall of the old gates before tearing them down. That's if they even care about using the place, instead of just damaging the previous owner.

It sucks for your friend, but it's on him if he lost the well. He had plenty of time to fix the situation, and btw this suggestion wouldn't have changed a thing, would have?

[MagicManICT]

It's such an unlikely scenario that blocking an QoL improvement because something like this "could technically happen" is just faulty logic.

Any time PvP is involved, you have to design around the edge cases, else the hardcore players are going to come in and rape your game.