Magpies?? The birds?
Bandits only started dropping them for me once I headed for Pribyslavitz. I have only found the merchant at Talmberg selling them - a grand total of 1. For all the Millers are supposed to be dodge I haven’t seen one in their inventories yet.
With lockpicking so crap on console controllers, the fact they can’t be made, and the amount of locked chests in the world and too slow the skill development to open them I hope something will be done. I don’t want locks to open with a glance but I would like the more lockpicks even if the effort required doesn’t change
The lockpicking practise is dumb coz you are given a set number, rather unlimited until successful, and if you try and talk to the miller close to dusk he ignores you until after sleep, but you can’t try again cos he doesn’t have any to buy.
I’m still trying to close the damn ring quest but can’t and I’m level 9.
I agree. Its not at all balanced in that aspect. I keep going around with my one and only lockpick all the time that i dont want to waste on any uneceasary chests and unless i spend a saviour snapps before… which results in very slow skill improvment since im never picking any locks…
yea I gave up the ring quest a while ago cause it was impossible. Figured id come back when i had more skill and lockpicks. I have slightly more skill now cause i spent money on training but not much. AND still only one lockpick!!
Yes. They put shiny things in their nests… some valuable. Some useful… others not so very much of either.
I see!. Ok. Well i have checked some nests and found some coin and jewelry but not lockpicks. I will keep hoping…
Also… There is another way.
You don’t actually have to lockpick to get the ring and unlock the millers as fences. (And a supplier of picks)
You mean trying to pickpocket him instead? Or fight him?
Right now tho, i have hit another more serious dead end. Im now also a victim of the save game bug where i cannot save a game at all without the entire game crashing in an endless loading screen… so i cannot move on from here… Have to leave this game and fail report and hope they fix it soon… 
You can buy it from him for 15g, that’s how I got the ring.
I would not suggest fighting him, if you’re not leveled properly, tried that got my ass handed to me. Even with just hand to hand.
I checked my inventory and I’ve collected 49 from fighting bandits and Cumans around Pribyslavitz
What during the battle or just 49 bandits around the area?
Yes, it did happen for me as well - after one failed attempt, all my 25 lockpicks disappeared. Must be a bug. After reloading, I resorted to storing them on my horse and only having a few on myself. Hasn’t happened since…
I went to scout Pribyslavitz as part of the quest. Went across the brook and skirted the encampment perimeter clockwise and sneaked in through the wooden shed from the forest. Entrenched myself in the area down the steps with the water, after getting their attention, then picked them off with a bow that’s highest for my level and tonnes of long range and decent arrows. If you have the knack for the bow you can fire from an angle that creates a 6 inch gap between the wall at the top of the steps and the roof of the ‘cave’ entrance.
I killed about 12 Cuman and Bandits, got 49 lockpicks and some decent armor upgrades and a long sword with 109 defense. Made my way to the top camp, led them back to the cave to repeat the kills. Got another 8 lockpicks (some bandits and Cuman drop 3 at a time btw) and killed Radan who I had lost while charging after Timmy in that quest.
the miller north along the river that peshek sends you to with the ring