Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 russlarkin Jul 06, 2011 20:05:49	Hello, I'd like to include a door puzzle leading to a treasure cave, for one of my players who really enjoys them. The idea I have stuck in my head, is to have a relief on the door carved into the shape of a figure, with one of its hands facing palm upwards. With the premise being that the party will need to give the figure something in order to gain access to the treasure. Now, I figured it would be too obvious to make that something be gold or some other treasure, so I'd like the solution to instead be something completely different. Here's what I have: You see a grand door carved from the stone, decorated with the relief of a figure with one hand held out, its palm facing upwards. Inspection of the figure reveals: The figure is dressed in fine clothing, a crown sits upon his head, jewellery hangs around his neck, and each finger holds a magnificent ring. He is overweight and his cheeks are plump with apparent food. In one hand he wields aloft an opulent sword wet with blood, the other is outstretched in expectation. The solution I had in mind, is that the figure has attained his apparent wealth through murder and pillage. In order to give the figure what he is due, the party must chop off his hand, or at the very least attack the figure. I'd like to ask for your opinions and suggestions, as I don't think it's working as it is. Do I need to go further with the description and make further note of his atrocities, or maybe add something like "Gift my hand, of that which I am due."? Any suggestions will be much appreciated.
#2 ToeSama Jul 06, 2011 20:20:25	The door is to vague as is, but characters of a particular strength minded persuasion (typical int dumping fighters and the like) would probably figure it out just by attacking it out of sheer annoyance anyways. One way of making the players eager to chop his hand off is to litter the areas beforehand with tales of his atrocities, either through murals or books detailing such events sitting in the open (possibly with other things of interest for ritual casters or spellbook wizards). Another alternative is to reinvent the door. In such a scenario, I'd have a Paladin champion of some kind going above and beyond the call of his duty to ensure peace in his homelands. His hand would be turned to the side, and the players would have to offer him a handshake for his past efforts to open the chamber to the treasure. No matter how you do it, make the players interested in the figures history, possibly by making the entire purpose of entering the cave to find and return something of value to the figure in the door from the chamber to someone related to the figure. Otherwise, you're efforts on this puzzle are wasted on what seems to be a common roadblock for the players.