Sebastian Francis
First Post
Here's an interesting question that came up in our thread on Take 10/Take 20. Rather than threadjack, I thought I'd start a new thread here.
The example we were discussing was Gandalf standing outside the door/gate/whaddever to Moria and not knowing how to open the door. Frodo figures out the riddle. The door opens.
In D&D terms, we could say (as we discussed in the thread) that Gandalf fails a Knowledge (arcana) check, but Frodo succeeds at a straight Intelligence check, thus giving him the answer to the riddle.
Here's the question: would you DMs allow your players to solve riddles by a simple intelligence check? Or do you actually make your *players* (as opposed to their characters) solve the riddle?
OPTION 1: CHARACTERS ROLL TO SOLVE THE RIDDLE
Pro: High IQ characters are rewarded, low IQ players aren't punished.
Con: Reduces problem solving, supposedly an integral part of RPGs, to a simple roll of the dice.
OPTION 2: PLAYERS MUST FIGURE OUT RIDDLE ON THEIR OWN
Pro: Doesn't reflect ability of *character*--brilliant player whose character is a dumb-ass half-orc barbarian can easily solve the riddle.
Con: Emphasizes *player* problem solving, makes game more than mere die-rolling.
Discuss.
(By the way, I always go with Option 2. Both have pros and cons, but I'd rather have my players thinking than rolling).
The example we were discussing was Gandalf standing outside the door/gate/whaddever to Moria and not knowing how to open the door. Frodo figures out the riddle. The door opens.
In D&D terms, we could say (as we discussed in the thread) that Gandalf fails a Knowledge (arcana) check, but Frodo succeeds at a straight Intelligence check, thus giving him the answer to the riddle.
Here's the question: would you DMs allow your players to solve riddles by a simple intelligence check? Or do you actually make your *players* (as opposed to their characters) solve the riddle?
OPTION 1: CHARACTERS ROLL TO SOLVE THE RIDDLE
Pro: High IQ characters are rewarded, low IQ players aren't punished.
Con: Reduces problem solving, supposedly an integral part of RPGs, to a simple roll of the dice.
OPTION 2: PLAYERS MUST FIGURE OUT RIDDLE ON THEIR OWN
Pro: Doesn't reflect ability of *character*--brilliant player whose character is a dumb-ass half-orc barbarian can easily solve the riddle.
Con: Emphasizes *player* problem solving, makes game more than mere die-rolling.
Discuss.
(By the way, I always go with Option 2. Both have pros and cons, but I'd rather have my players thinking than rolling).