Do you pull the chain?

[Wik]

It seems that most people would pull the chain/lever, and then declare a resulting death as unfair.

Bullgrit

I can't speak for everyone else, but I can tell you that for yours truly, I'd pull the lever, die, and then tell the story for years happily. And the next time there was a lever... I'd pull it.

 

[Scribble]

For discussion in a different direction, let's say pulling the chain does not zap the puller (like in the other thread/poll).

What do you think would happen when the chain is pulled? What would you consider a legitimate result of pulling the chain in this set up? This is a question mostly for those who would pull the chain without precautions. If not a bad result to the puller, what result? Should it open the secret door?

Bullgrit

Usually, a standard "I'll call you!" followed by a mild bit of regret, and a silent vow never to get that drunk again.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

For discussion in a different direction, let's say pulling the chain does not zap the puller (like in the other thread/poll).

What do you think would happen when the chain is pulled? What would you consider a legitimate result of pulling the chain in this set up? This is a question mostly for those who would pull the chain without precautions. If not a bad result to the puller, what result? Should it open the secret door?

Bullgrit

Actually, I'd be a little surprised itf it did open the secret door. I'd expect the ceiling/floor to fall in; the chain puller to become stuck and get yanked up; water/acid/lava to fill the room; a bunch of ethereals/earth elementals/extraplanars to charge through the walls; a teleport/flamestrike/plague to pop off; whirling blades to swipe from the walls; or something.

The secret door would only open after the travail, and it would be a mundane broom closet. Perhaps with a broom, albeit a very nice one.

 

[Cor_Malek]

You’ve finished off your objective in this dungeon, but your mapper points out an area in the back corner of the complex that your group never checked. Going there, you find a room empty except for a pull-chain hanging from the ceiling. You search the room and find a secret door in one wall. You can’t find a way to open the door. The rogue searches the door and the chain for traps, and finds none.

- Do you really expect me to pull this unmarked mysterious chain?

- No, Mr Bond - I expect you to die.

 

[Bullgrit]

Why has the GM put it there if not to be pulled?

This raises an interesting consideration.

Do you [general "you"] see the chain as placed by the DM or as placed by someone/thing in the game world?

The answer does probably make a big difference in how one should approach the chain.

Bullgrit

 

[Cor_Malek]

For discussion in a different direction, let's say pulling the chain does not zap the puller (like in the other thread/poll).

What do you think would happen when the chain is pulled? What would you consider a legitimate result of pulling the chain in this set up? This is a question mostly for those who would pull the chain without precautions. If not a bad result to the puller, what result? Should it open the secret door?

Bullgrit

Well I like to to hope that the games I play are somewhat logical. If I built a dungeon, I'd see fit not to include a self-destruct mechanism. And even if - that it'd be at least child-proof.
Similarly, if you make a room with hidden door, then what's the point if they are opened by the single thing anyone can see in said room? Why would you build a room to contain only said chain and doors? Had spare stones?
So we have an empty room with a chain in it. I know that the kind of people who rush in and kill everything that moves but doesn't give quests - will pull the damn chain. So I say - let the chain drop the ceiling on them. Since the PC-trap is not at the enterance of my beloved lair, it probably guards something. My phylactery perhaps?
Alternative - it is simply a oversized ringbell. The idea is to make sure that whoever wants to open the door is in the center of room, and thus easily disposed of if he is not welcome (fireballs, concaves in walls with golems inside, that kind of jazz).

(hah, this was going to be an edit, but Bullgrit posted an important qualifier. I see the chain put there by someone, probably designer/builder of this place. DM is simply telling me what I see.)

 

[Stalker0]

pull the chain...bah! I break down the secret door!

 

[deganawida]

It’s interesting to match this poll with this one:
http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/172293-fair-your-personal-opinion.html

It seems that most people would pull the chain/lever, and then declare a resulting death as unfair.

Bullgrit

Nah, it's totally fair. What's not fair is not having any way to find out what the chain does when pulled. If you put something in the game and then draw players' attention to it, have some way for the players to interact with it. The interaction with a fictional world is what makes RPGs so cool.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Yes. Of course I would pound a piton in under the chain, secure a rope the end of the chain, run it through the piton and then string the rope through the doorway and pull it from there!

After IronWolf has triggered the clever (and deadly) trap under the chain, I pull the chain, careful not to slip in IronWolf's blood and viscera.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Cast Augury to determine the answer.