Is it a good idea to pull a lever in a dungeon?

[MavrickWeirdo]

As it says in Sejs' sig

*roll* No, you don't find any traps, and in fact that big red lever over there appears to be made out of candy!

 

[Piratecat]

I want someoone else to pull the lever.

 

[EricNoah]

I would err on the side of pulling the lever. I would of course do reasonable things like inspect it, check it for traps, etc. But ultimately I want to know what it does. And I trust my DM to not punish me too harshly for my curiosity.

 

[havoclad]

I want someoone else to pull the lever.

Every party needs that guy. You know the one, he'll pull the lever every time!

 

[Rystil Arden]

Although I agree with the people here who say that there is not enough information and was not going to vote, the fact that I know why this poll was created coupled with the incredible bias in the way the Yes choice was worded forced me to vote for it out of a sense of foul play on the part of the one wording the question. Come on! You put an absolute on the side you want to lose and not the other--that's blatant confirmation bias. Ironically, the side with the absolute is winning

 

[Delta]

Ha!

The results of these discussions are more and more convincing me that I'm a grognard and the D&D game community has evolved beyond my interest as a gamer. It makes me want to also ask things like:

- You find a pool of refreshing water in a dungeon. Should you dive into it?
- You find a banquet table of mouth-watering food in a dungeon. Should you eat it?
- You meet a beautiful woman in a dungeon, who flirts with you. Should you kiss her?

To which the obvious answers seem to be: No, No, and Run like hell.

 

[Gold Roger]

From a cautious point of view- No, it's a bad idea.

From a metagame point of view- If there's a lever, I expect something exciting to happen- no matter wether beneficial or not. It may be bad for the PC's, but it'll be beneficial for the general game. And we all know how there's rarely a group of only cautious PC's...

I'd like to point out that I'd differenciate a simple lever from a "don't push me button", like a evil altar. Never touch the evil altar.

 

[Slife]

Mu.

 

[Michael Silverbane]

If the lever is made of something valuable, I saw it off at the base and take it back to town to sell it. Otherwise, it is of no use to me. Of course I pull it, levers are made to be pulled, that is their function. I wouldn't want to deprive this lever of possibly its only chance to fulfill its function, how rude would that be?

Later
silver

 

[AuraSeer]

I'd like to point out that I'd differenciate a simple lever from a "don't push me button", like a evil altar. Never touch the evil altar.

Right! Stand well back, and pee on it from a distance.

(...or do only my players do that?)