First Fallout 3 Character

[Alceister]

It is possible to get through the game without Lockpick, but you miss a lot of loot that way. An alternative is to get Science skill for hacking, since a few goodies are locked in electronic safes, but I find hacking even more frustrating, and additional dialogue options it allows aren't quite helpful.

 

So really the optimal triumvirate of skills would be Lockpick, Repair, and some weapons skill. In all cases you should have some points in small guns to start with, since they're going to be your main weapons for most of the beginning of the game, and melee and unarmed specialists need some kind of back-up weapon either way.

 

To properly lockpick, move the bobby pin around, and keep pushing with the screw driver. The more it turns, the closer you are to unlocking. You generally find enough bobby pins to pretty much ensure success every time.