Defeated by puzzle - campaign over: Here is the offending puzzle!

[Roman]

Ok, there are 68 triangles, 60 arrows, and 62 circles in the puzzle. The puzzle is 15 by 15, which is 225. I can ASSUME that there's supposed to be 75 of each symbol, which would equal 225. So somewhere, I need to add 7 triangles, 15 arrows, and 13 circles.

I still don't SEE a pattern though.

This was one of the things we tried, but we did not know where to put which of those symbols, so we never found out whether it was correct or not.

 

[Ottergame]

This was one of the things we tried, but we did not know where to put which of those symbols, so we never found out whether it was correct or not.

Since that's the only sense at all I can pull from this, I'm not to sure if even that is true. But since it's all I have, I'm goign to keep trying to work with it till I get something.

Turning the puzzle on it's side and comparing it with the original doesn't help me yet, either. I had kinda hoped since it was an equal dimension puzzle that that would have been a good place to start. But it doesn't look like it.

 

[Ottergame]

I solved the puzzle. The answer: Your DM is an ass.

Seriously, there doesn't seem to be any logical answer to this thing. Most likely there's not, the DM just convinced himself that he's smart, and made an "oh so clever" puzzle to prove how smart he is.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I solved the puzzle. The answer: Your DM is an ass.

It's interesting, because my answer came out to be "never again game with anyone who hinges an entire campaign on such an "unfun" puzzle."

Actually, though, I'm curious as to whether the players asked the DM what he was thinking when he made this puzzle the make-or-break element of the campaign? Some of us have a hard enough time finding and keeping together a group without discouraging players like this.

 

[Wild Gazebo]

This is probably way off, but might the proper symbols be squares. As in: lines, triangles, circles and sqares? Perhaps it's a riddle puzzle?

 

[shilsen]

Actually, though, I'm curious as to whether the players asked the DM what he was thinking when he made this puzzle the make-or-break element of the campaign? Some of us have a hard enough time finding and keeping together a group without discouraging players like this.

I was wondering the same thing. If something like this came up while I was a player, I'd have either asked for a time-out and spoken to the DM about it and his general expectations for the game, or spoken to him about it after the session, but I'd definitely have had a discussion about it.

Roman, did you and your DM ever have such a discussion? If so, what did he say?

 

[thalmin]

I enjoy a good puzzle. Let us know if you encounter one.

I couldn't vote. Your poll is lacking the "Who cares?" response.

 

[Algolei]

Are there any other clues?

Is the original hand-drawn? If so, is that important--does the DM hand-draw everything, or would he have typed it if possible?

Which way do the triangles point?

What is the background of this puzzle? Where did you find it? What will be accomplished by solving it? Who is supposed to have created it, and why?

 

[Gez]

If you'd allow me...

O O O ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ O       ∆ ∆
O O O ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ O     ∆ ∆ ∆
O O O ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ O O     ∆ ∆ ∆
O O O O ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ O     ∆ ∆ ∆ O
O O O O ↔ ↔ ↔ O O     ∆ ∆ O O
  O O O ↔ ↔ O O O     ∆ ∆ O O
  O O O ↔ ↔ O O     ∆ ∆ O O O
↔ O O O ↔ ↔ O O   ∆ ∆ ∆ O ∆ O
↔ O O O ∆ ∆ ∆ O   ∆     ↔ ∆ O
↔ ↔ ∆ ∆ ∆     O         ↔ ∆ O
↔ ↔ ↔ ∆ ∆     O     ↔ ↔ ↔ ∆ O
↔ ↔ ↔ ∆ ∆   O O ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ∆ ∆
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ∆   ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆
↔ ↔ ↔ ∆ ∆   ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆
↔ ↔ ↔ ∆ ∆   ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆

There, it's prettier this way.

 

[nerfherder]

Are there any other clues?

Is the original hand-drawn? If so, is that important--does the DM hand-draw everything, or would he have typed it if possible?

Which way do the triangles point?

Yes, is how it looks significant, or are the triangles, etc, just randomly chosen symbols. I'd like to see exactly what you were given by your GM.

Also, did the context give any clues? e.g. was it found in the temple of the god of mathematics...?

Cheers,
Liam