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Post by Anon Mous on Jan 2, 2018 0:05:31 GMT -5
Okay, so I've made mention of my "recent" infatuation with D&D and how I have been running a campaign. Just before the holiday I had the players do a Battle Royale as kind of a fun offshoot. Sunday we start back up again, and while I am good on the current story line I am lacking in areas for future stories in one area in particular. Thus I am calling on you all. The readers, the RPers, the gamers, the fantasy buffs. I need puzzles.
I'll take ones you found in retro games (these guys are not retro gamers) that were clever. I'll take mysteries from books that you all have found. I'll take puzzles you RPers have gone through or used yourself. My well is running pretty dry right now, and my players are only at level 4. It takes a lot of mental energy to run D&D. Let me know if anyone has any ideas.
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Post by Ambrienne on Jan 2, 2018 9:40:21 GMT -5
Well, one place I'd advise you to look for puzzles... is in the FAQs for the King's Quest series (don't know about that newest game that was made quite recently, though, as I have not played it), Quest for Glory series, and (possibly) the Laura Bow series (though that's not fantasy, it's 1920s era, but I remember having quite a challenge getting through the first one) on Gamefaqs. Sierra games was really good at the puzzling aspect in days of yore. ...Come to think of it, the Zork series was also quite diabolical in that respect, too. There're FAQs for that there as well.
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Post by Solana on Jan 2, 2018 9:41:08 GMT -5
Just to clarify, do you need riddles? Five minute mysteries? Dungeon puzzles? All of the above?
Also, what Ambrienne said. Space Quest, too, for the puzzles and awesome humor.
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Puzzler
Jan 2, 2018 22:27:26 GMT -5
Post by Anon Mous on Jan 2, 2018 22:27:26 GMT -5
Just to clarify, do you need riddles? Five minute mysteries? Dungeon puzzles? All of the above? Also, what Ambrienne said. Space Quest, too, for the puzzles and awesome humor. Yes. Riddles are good for either long term puzzles or the "answer my riddle" occurrence or secret. Five minute mysteries are okay for role playing, intrigue, and short things that blossom into other long things. Dungeon puzzles are good for just that. Example: My players are in a town worshiping Zero the Soul Stealer (chaotic God (not evil but the players don't know that)). In order to seal a wraith plaguing the town they have found half of an item to which they must find the other. When put together, the two halves say in Draconic "When daylight shines at night, "Weakness is revealed, "Two halves become one, "And the soul is sealed." The players need to cast the Daylight spell on both halves and put them together to have the key to sealing the Wraith. This is my first long term puzzle. I would like to do more, but those can be really hard to come up with.
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Puzzler
Jan 3, 2018 19:19:53 GMT -5
Post by Solana on Jan 3, 2018 19:19:53 GMT -5
King's Quest VI has some good ones, especially the Cliffs of Logic. (They start at 3:45.) Some of the answers come from the Land of the Green Isles guidebook, so if you have any lore in the lands that's vital... The circles one has a poem, something like 'Four circles all in a row, third from the left and down you go. The last, in order, lead you on- the oldest, youngest, and second son.'
Another good one from that game was how to make Death cry- hold up a mirror of truth.
If you've ever read the Redwall series, some of them have some good puzzles. Especially the first one, 'Redwall', and 'Pearls of Lutra'.
And if you want to be evil...
I'll just add as I think of more.
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Puzzler
Jan 5, 2018 17:17:30 GMT -5
Post by Rune Lai on Jan 5, 2018 17:17:30 GMT -5
When I think of old school puzzles I think of the crypt dungeon in Landstalker which gave my brother and I many puzzles in the days when if you got stuck you could actually call Sega's 1-800 number and they would give you the answer for free. My brother eventually repurposed some of these in his high school D&D campaign, so it's been done! "BETTY STITCHED A BORDER YELLOW, RED, AND WHITE IF EVERYTHING'S IN ORDER EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT" This riddle would drop three colored slime monsters into the room. They need to be killed in the yellow, red, white color order. "JACKY COULD INTUIT THE WAY TO WALK ON AIR AND IF YOU'LL JUST HOP TO IT HE MAY STILL BE WALKING THERE" There's an invisible platform the player can only find by jumping around. "LARSON E. HAD A ZEAL FOR THINGS THAT WERE NOT HIS THAT IF YOU STEAL YOU'RE SURE TO FAIL THE QUIZ" Treasure chests are in the room. Don't take anything. (This can be a real struggle for any kind of gamer. ) "MARIA WAS A JEALOUS WIFE SHE THREW THE POTS AND PANS I THINK SHE EVEN TOOK A LIFE WITH A BOULDER IN HER HANDS" Monster can only be killed by a boulder.
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Post by Anon Mous on Jan 6, 2018 1:29:34 GMT -5
When I think of old school puzzles I think of the crypt dungeon in Landstalker which gave my brother and I many puzzles in the days when if you got stuck you could actually call Sega's 1-800 number and they would give you the answer for free. My brother eventually repurposed some of these in his high school D&D campaign, so it's been done! "BETTY STITCHED A BORDER YELLOW, RED, AND WHITE IF EVERYTHING'S IN ORDER EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT" This riddle would drop three colored slime monsters into the room. They need to be killed in the yellow, red, white color order. "JACKY COULD INTUIT THE WAY TO WALK ON AIR AND IF YOU'LL JUST HOP TO IT HE MAY STILL BE WALKING THERE" There's an invisible platform the player can only find by jumping around. "LARSON E. HAD A ZEAL FOR THINGS THAT WERE NOT HIS THAT IF YOU STEAL YOU'RE SURE TO FAIL THE QUIZ" Treasure chests are in the room. Don't take anything. (This can be a real struggle for any kind of gamer. ) "MARIA WAS A JEALOUS WIFE SHE THREW THE POTS AND PANS I THINK SHE EVEN TOOK A LIFE WITH A BOULDER IN HER HANDS" Monster can only be killed by a boulder. This is what I'm talking about. This gives me a great idea for a creepy old mages crypt. My guys are newbies, so reuse should not be an issue.
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Puzzler
Jan 7, 2018 16:47:00 GMT -5
Post by Solana on Jan 7, 2018 16:47:00 GMT -5
What keeps the rain off, and you only have it because you lost it? A wig.
What animal walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening? Humans. (Crawl as a baby, walk as an adult, use a cane in the later years.)
I wish I could remember more of the Redwall puzzles and the Good Magician's Challenges, but did remember one from 'Harpy Thyme'.
There's a cranky monster with tangled hair that won't let you pass until you can comb its metal hair. Its hair is knotted up into 'locks'. (Yay, pun puzzles!) Padlocks, multiple locks in one (combination locks), etc.
There are several items around that may help you- slinky, flunky, monkey, turkey, murky water, chunky peanut butter, cranky person, etc. These are all 'keys'. The right answer was the slinky, to unlock the hair and make it flow nicely.
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Puzzler
Jan 8, 2018 23:31:39 GMT -5
Post by Anon Mous on Jan 8, 2018 23:31:39 GMT -5
What keeps the rain off, and you only have it because you lost it? A wig. What animal walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening? Humans. (Crawl as a baby, walk as an adult, use a cane in the later years.) I wish I could remember more of the Redwall puzzles and the Good Magician's Challenges, but did remember one from 'Harpy Thyme'. There's a cranky monster with tangled hair that won't let you pass until you can comb its metal hair. Its hair is knotted up into 'locks'. (Yay, pun puzzles!) Padlocks, multiple locks in one (combination locks), etc. There are several items around that may help you- slinky, flunky, monkey, turkey, murky water, chunky peanut butter, cranky person, etc. These are all 'keys'. The right answer was the slinky, to unlock the hair and make it flow nicely. The wig one may be better for a more modern setting, but I like the obscurity. The riddle of the Sphinx, unfortunately, everyone knows. I'm unsure about the monster with pun hair, but I do like the idea of things ending in 'key' being the key to a lock. May be even better if I make it a pun in something like Dwarvish, so that it doesn't translate in common. Yes. I like that.
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Puzzler
Jan 18, 2018 0:04:06 GMT -5
Post by Anon Mous on Jan 18, 2018 0:04:06 GMT -5
Not really on topic for this, but I'm so excited because the first episode second campaign for Critical Role is up. We get to see the players start at level 1. Plus, it has the best intro.
Note: if you have never seen the show, the players don't look that stereotype nerdy.
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Puzzler
Feb 8, 2018 11:00:06 GMT -5
Post by Solana on Feb 8, 2018 11:00:06 GMT -5
Anon, do you have a B&N near you? The bargain area is my domain up here, and when working on projects, I noticed that we have a lot of books of puzzles with different themes. (Sherlock Holmes inspired, Alan Turing, Tesla, Houdini, etc.) Since they're bargain, they're about six or seven bucks apiece. People are welcome to grab some, sit in the café, and see if any would work for you. I'm also happy to share my membership if you want.
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Puzzler
Feb 8, 2018 21:43:31 GMT -5
Post by Anon Mous on Feb 8, 2018 21:43:31 GMT -5
The B&N is a little out of my way, but it is an idea. My issue at that point will be finding the time to do it. I'll think about that.
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