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<blockquote data-quote="Zadam" data-source="post: 2221846" data-attributes="member: 30468">It's been really interesting reading everyones take on this... I thought I would throw in a few thoughts on my own...&nbsp;&nbsp;1) I like puzzles in games, and I like when the players have to solve the puzzle. I don't think a puzzle should just be about making a dice roll to see if the character can solve it. HOWEVER... I don't think it should ever get to the point where a campain is over simply because the PC's couldn't figure out a puzzle. Firstly there should be enough information and clues given to them that they can solve it. Secondly, there should be ways of getting around the puzzle, although by doing so the characters are exposed to a greater level of danger than if they solved the puzzle. Perhaps being able to &quot;go around&quot; a door locked by a puzzle by going via another room, one filled with some kind of challenging monster etc.&nbsp;2) I started thinking, and a puzzle is basically an intelligence test right? If you are smart enough, you should be able to solve it easier than someone with a lower intelligence. I think this is actually similar to for example lifting a heavy boulder being a Strength test. What happens in a game for example if the character needs to lift a heavy boulder in order to proceed? Does the DM insist that the PLAYER lift a barbell with 100kg on it over their head? Or does the DM just roll a strength check? Likewise, perhaps in the case of a puzzle, if the party has shown they simply CANNOT solve the puzzle, don't end the campain, roll the damn dice and move on... I mean you roll the dice for so many actions in the game, why not this one more? Let me restate though that I like puzzles, and I think the &quot;roll an INT test&quot; should only be a last resort in this case... Let the players TRY and figure it out.&nbsp;Oh and I totally agree that puzzles should be realistic, ie no puzzles about solving rubics cube, no need for real life knowledge etc. It should be something that the CHARACTERS would be able to figure out / know.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Zadam, post: 2221846, member: 30468"] It's been really interesting reading everyones take on this... I thought I would throw in a few thoughts on my own... 1) I like puzzles in games, and I like when the players have to solve the puzzle. I don't think a puzzle should just be about making a dice roll to see if the character can solve it. HOWEVER... I don't think it should ever get to the point where a campain is over simply because the PC's couldn't figure out a puzzle. Firstly there should be enough information and clues given to them that they can solve it. Secondly, there should be ways of getting around the puzzle, although by doing so the characters are exposed to a greater level of danger than if they solved the puzzle. Perhaps being able to "go around" a door locked by a puzzle by going via another room, one filled with some kind of challenging monster etc. 2) I started thinking, and a puzzle is basically an intelligence test right? If you are smart enough, you should be able to solve it easier than someone with a lower intelligence. I think this is actually similar to for example lifting a heavy boulder being a Strength test. What happens in a game for example if the character needs to lift a heavy boulder in order to proceed? Does the DM insist that the PLAYER lift a barbell with 100kg on it over their head? Or does the DM just roll a strength check? Likewise, perhaps in the case of a puzzle, if the party has shown they simply CANNOT solve the puzzle, don't end the campain, roll the damn dice and move on... I mean you roll the dice for so many actions in the game, why not this one more? Let me restate though that I like puzzles, and I think the "roll an INT test" should only be a last resort in this case... Let the players TRY and figure it out. Oh and I totally agree that puzzles should be realistic, ie no puzzles about solving rubics cube, no need for real life knowledge etc. It should be something that the CHARACTERS would be able to figure out / know. [/QUOTE]

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