D&D 5E (2014) How to Build an Interesting "Mouse Puzzle Maze" Challenge?

[PoleVolt]

Struggling to think or piece together this type of scenario. I can't really say any official published adventure has covered this specific type of challenge in my looking.

It's my goal to have a single 12th-Level Fighter with base 148 HPs enter this "mouse puzzle maze". While the remaining party looks down upon them and tries to guide/help them through from other vantage points. To the end for that sweet cheese (in reality, a giant expensive gem). All the while on a time limit as poisonous gas fills the maze slowly killing the Fighter each round.

I know I want different obstacles to impede/slow them. Like blockages that will need to be cleared, dead ends, traps to avoid or be disabled and monster encounters. As for the Fighter, all close quarter. The remaining party, all ranged. However what they could be, frequency or deadliness I have no clue. Much like how much damage could be from the poisonous gas.

To end the maze prematurely. The remaining party could perhaps find a way into a control centre shutting it all off. Alas, this direction would defeat the whole purpose of the maze.

Any suggestions to help would be much appreciated. Or pointing me in any direction of some rules that can help me structure this challenge.

Thanks in advance

 

[lycanthropejeff]

Matt Colville's video on skill challenges that might give you some ideas on how to get those characters not actually in the maze a good mechanic for participating.

 

[CreamCloud0]

i'd say remember to account for attempting, and provide 'official' avenues for party assistance, but be clear (in universe) that both of these exist, don't let them just dimension door the fighter out or something(maybe the fighter gets harmed as punishment for 'cheating'), the maze has to be cleared on it's own terms or by finding the shutoff

if the party can provide 'official' boons to the fighter by completing their own puzzles this provides a decision point between trying to assist the fighter by completing their own challenges, leaving the fighter to fend for themselves in the maze while trying find the control room themselves or splitting their forces between those two solutions.

 

[Koloth]

Watch out for the save or die/fall unconscious/etc type traps. If the fighter goes down, probably end of challenge.
Similar for critters with interesting abilities.
Can the observing party members participate remotely? Cast helpful spells or shoot opposing critters?
Does the fighter have any meaningful trap finding/removing ability? A trap heavy maze with no ability to detect and remove will most likely end with a terminal splat.
Can maze critters target those pesky observers? Seems fair if the observers can target the critters.
Allowing direct interaction between the observers and maze critters could really mess with balance.

 

[aco175]

Build tension where you can. just save or random damage is not cool enough. Maybe there a re places where the PC can try to do something a bit like a skill challenge to slow the gas or waste time as a trade-off. Now there is a choice of moving fast and taking less damage or shotting the gas off or lowering the damage at the cost of maybe failing.

Create something for the others to do other than just watching one player play the game. Maybe they can bet or negotiate with other onlookers to make supple drops to the PC. Potions of heling or poison resistance come to mind, but also being allowed to cast a spell or send a note would be cool. Make it a tag-team event where another PC might trade places with the fighter all of a sudden or by making bets. If you have swinging logs you need to cross and can swap with the thief with a +10 in Acrobatics- great. If it is random and you swap with the wizard- maybe he has a spell- great.

 

[JamesLFlowers]

Remember the scene from the Dungeons and Dragons movie? The party is in a maze, hunted by displacer beasts, competing with others, and the maze changes on some frequency. Each piece creates a more elaborate puzzle.

 

[PoleVolt]

Matt Colville's video on skill challenges that might give you some ideas on how to get those characters not actually in the maze a good mechanic for participating.

Structuring it with skill challenges could work. I think with how I want it to feel, that would fit quite well. More flashy and cinematic-like. Treating the build up in a similar way of saved or failed death saving throws naturally adds a bit of tension to each roll.

 

[PoleVolt]

i'd say remember to account for attempting, and provide 'official' avenues for party assistance, but be clear (in universe) that both of these exist, don't let them just dimension door the fighter out or something(maybe the fighter gets harmed as punishment for 'cheating'), the maze has to be cleared on it's own terms or by finding the shutoff

if the party can provide 'official' boons to the fighter by completing their own puzzles this provides a decision point between trying to assist the fighter by completing their own challenges, leaving the fighter to fend for themselves in the maze while trying find the control room themselves or splitting their forces between those two solutions.

The maze will have safeguards in place for blatant cheating like dimension door or other-like spells. Although I do want the "roof" of the maze open for the onlooking party to see down upon. Firstly covered by an ever present "darkness" spell or some other hindering mist. Perhaps only after some skill challenges of their own, will portions of the darkness clear as one such example.

I was thinking about adding a cannon that needs to blow up a wall for a shortcut. Which needs to be operated and fuelled only by magical fire, but more powerful than a cantrip. Lower level spells won't be powerful enough to deal enough damage in a turn, taking up more time. Or higher powered spells will take less amount of turns.

 

[PoleVolt]

Watch out for the save or die/fall unconscious/etc type traps. If the fighter goes down, probably end of challenge.
Similar for critters with interesting abilities.
Can the observing party members participate remotely? Cast helpful spells or shoot opposing critters?
Does the fighter have any meaningful trap finding/removing ability? A trap heavy maze with no ability to detect and remove will most likely end with a terminal splat.
Can maze critters target those pesky observers? Seems fair if the observers can target the critters.
Allowing direct interaction between the observers and maze critters could really mess with balance.

Definitely I want the onlooking party to participate remotely from the maze. Hitting targets to raise doors or light the way through arrows with the Light spell cast on them. Or just simply things the Fighter won't be able to reach. Like a flying creature that has a key wrapped around its leg.

The Fighter has the Dungeon Delver Feat to help with trap damage and finding traps along the way close by. Although the party beforehand will have an opportunity to give this Fighter buffs.

The maze critters can target the onlookers... However I could limit that to only once. That would get out of hand. Could be an interesting switch though if the Fighter is instead waiting on them for once. Didn't think of that.

 

[PoleVolt]

Build tension where you can. just save or random damage is not cool enough. Maybe there a re places where the PC can try to do something a bit like a skill challenge to slow the gas or waste time as a trade-off. Now there is a choice of moving fast and taking less damage or shotting the gas off or lowering the damage at the cost of maybe failing.

Create something for the others to do other than just watching one player play the game. Maybe they can bet or negotiate with other onlookers to make supple drops to the PC. Potions of heling or poison resistance come to mind, but also being allowed to cast a spell or send a note would be cool. Make it a tag-team event where another PC might trade places with the fighter all of a sudden or by making bets. If you have swinging logs you need to cross and can swap with the thief with a +10 in Acrobatics- great. If it is random and you swap with the wizard- maybe he has a spell- great.

Yeah. I'd like to have something every member can do. Or split up into smaller onlooking teams. Which needs to be in different places to, say hold levers. To slow the gas as in your example.

The onlooking party could throw potions or buffs that don't require touch throughout the maze's duration. I don't think I'll stop that. I think keeping The Fighter and onlooking party separate to have their own challenges I'll keep for now. Maybe at the end I could have them come together.