and I put this on the wrong board [Archive] - Wizards Community

and I put this on the wrong board [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
On_the_wings_of_TPK
05-28-05, 01:38 AM oops

So i gues sniffing glue was not such a hot idea after all. :D
Draco Strang
05-28-05, 01:47 AM Hm.....good puzzle ya got going.

Well, for number two I can help you right off the bat. Use anagrams (switching the letters around to make words) or simple substitution. However, give the substitution a twist: Move each letter of the alphabet two letters to the right. That said, A=C, B=D, etc. You get the idea. It will throw them into an absolute conniption fit until they catch on.

For the first one.......let me think........thinking...........

Ok, I got it. Maybe the message that they unravel could say something like "Things aren't quite what they seem, and should be examined more closely. Be sure to look through this."

Or something to that effect. They'll realize that something isn't right, and believe that the telescope is merely a tool to examine what's actually important. Eventually, they'll figure out that they need to actually look through the telescope itself, instead of looking at other things through it.

Help any?
Vanigo
05-28-05, 02:00 AM Well, first of all, I'd allow some kind of Disable Device or Search check or something to notice that there's something a bit strange about the telescope. Very hard but not undoable. Say... DC 40 Spot on casual examination, DC 30 Search or Disable Device (whichever's higher) if they take a good hard look at it. (Depending on level, anyway.)

Why don't you put the riddle on the inside of the telescope itself in colored ink, so that it can only be seen if you look through the telescope at the sea? It's not something that they're unlikely to do anyway. Once they've found it, a simple substitution cipher like Draco suggested should do fine - it's dead easy to crack, but you don't want to make things too difficult anyway.
On_the_wings_of_TPK
05-28-05, 02:24 AM Well, first of all, I'd allow some kind of Disable Device or Search check or something to notice that there's something a bit strange about the telescope. Very hard but not undoable. Say... DC 40 Spot on casual examination, DC 30 Search or Disable Device (whichever's higher) if they take a good hard look at it. (Depending on level, anyway.) This is a good idea and it may work some, but I person feel jypped when a riddle is solved with a skill check. I mean I as DM can not make a skill check to write out the riddle, why should the players get one to solve it. This is just how I personally feel and it is kinda hard to express.

Why don't you put the riddle on the inside of the telescope itself in colored ink, so that it can only be seen if you look through the telescope at the sea? It's not something that they're unlikely to do anyway. Once they've found it, a simple substitution cipher like Draco suggested should do fine - it's dead easy to crack, but you don't want to make things too difficult anyway. I edited my earilier post so that it is more clear. The map is already on the inside of the telescope, the riddle is to get them to open the telescope. or at the least give them a non-metagame reason to do that.

I really hope that none of them are reading this. Their one major problem is the they are all nuaghty metagamers. I think that that shall be my next project....:plotting: but that is a post for another time.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
On_the_wings_of_TPK 05-28-05, 01:38 AM	oops So i gues sniffing glue was not such a hot idea after all. :D
Draco Strang 05-28-05, 01:47 AM	Hm.....good puzzle ya got going. Well, for number two I can help you right off the bat. Use anagrams (switching the letters around to make words) or simple substitution. However, give the substitution a twist: Move each letter of the alphabet two letters to the right. That said, A=C, B=D, etc. You get the idea. It will throw them into an absolute conniption fit until they catch on. For the first one.......let me think........thinking........... Ok, I got it. Maybe the message that they unravel could say something like "Things aren't quite what they seem, and should be examined more closely. Be sure to look through this." Or something to that effect. They'll realize that something isn't right, and believe that the telescope is merely a tool to examine what's actually important. Eventually, they'll figure out that they need to actually look through the telescope itself, instead of looking at other things through it. Help any?
Vanigo 05-28-05, 02:00 AM	Well, first of all, I'd allow some kind of Disable Device or Search check or something to notice that there's something a bit strange about the telescope. Very hard but not undoable. Say... DC 40 Spot on casual examination, DC 30 Search or Disable Device (whichever's higher) if they take a good hard look at it. (Depending on level, anyway.) Why don't you put the riddle on the inside of the telescope itself in colored ink, so that it can only be seen if you look through the telescope at the sea? It's not something that they're unlikely to do anyway. Once they've found it, a simple substitution cipher like Draco suggested should do fine - it's dead easy to crack, but you don't want to make things too difficult anyway.
On_the_wings_of_TPK 05-28-05, 02:24 AM	Well, first of all, I'd allow some kind of Disable Device or Search check or something to notice that there's something a bit strange about the telescope. Very hard but not undoable. Say... DC 40 Spot on casual examination, DC 30 Search or Disable Device (whichever's higher) if they take a good hard look at it. (Depending on level, anyway.) This is a good idea and it may work some, but I person feel jypped when a riddle is solved with a skill check. I mean I as DM can not make a skill check to write out the riddle, why should the players get one to solve it. This is just how I personally feel and it is kinda hard to express. Why don't you put the riddle on the inside of the telescope itself in colored ink, so that it can only be seen if you look through the telescope at the sea? It's not something that they're unlikely to do anyway. Once they've found it, a simple substitution cipher like Draco suggested should do fine - it's dead easy to crack, but you don't want to make things too difficult anyway. I edited my earilier post so that it is more clear. The map is already on the inside of the telescope, the riddle is to get them to open the telescope. or at the least give them a non-metagame reason to do that. I really hope that none of them are reading this. Their one major problem is the they are all nuaghty metagamers. I think that that shall be my next project....:plotting: but that is a post for another time.