For the newbies...

Just read about someone trying to open a chest with molotov cocktails cause they couldn't get it opened. That's was I used to do as well, until I know the hotkeys. So here it is:

<F1> -- "Walk" - Commands a Follower(s) to walk to a target location
<F2> -- "Attack" - Commands a Follower(s) to attack the selected target
<F3> -- "Stay Close" - Commands a Follower(s) to follow at a lesser distance
<F4> -- "Spread Out" - Commands a Follower(s) to follow at a greater distance
<F5> -- "Back Off" - Commands a Follower(s) to stop fighting its target

These keys are extremely useful. Press F2 when pointing to a chess will get your NPC to beat it open. But you can also initiate battle, then hold the ALT key and click on the chest to beat it yourself. It works for anything with hit points (e.g. doors).

 

However bashing chests/barrels/doors also damages weapons (some of them seriously) thus if one is a gunslinger it's better to shoot htings open. If you're a gealer you can order your followers to attack things with bare hands. Or you can also use some offensive magick spells or unlocking cantrip spell.

 

Except if you´re using an axe(which isn´t of low quality), which I always do until my lockpicking skill gets good enough to open just about anything. If you use an low quality axe then it will take damage though.

 

All that is from the manual . Also, it isnt much help to newbies

 

Arcane equipment isn't damaged by anything - axes or swords can hit whatever they want (Seething Masses, barrels, doors etc) without taking damage...which is good :smile:.