Is this fair? -- your personal opinion

[Nightfall]

Chocolate cakes are very nice. German Cholocate cakes are even better. (with no coconuts anyway! Almonds are fine)

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Chocolate cakes are very nice. German Cholocate cakes are even better. (with no coconuts anyway! Almonds are fine)

Mmm, German chocolate cake. Now that, I have got to try. Is there a specific recipe you like?

 

[Agent Oracle]

Actually, according to the Trap designing sourcebook, A Reflex save of 30+ is only +2 to the base CR of the trap. Since the DMG only contains traps up to CR 10, it's entirely possible that the trap could have been higher than CR 10

 

[Nightfall]

Right well many magical traps could be designed like that.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Right well many magical traps could be designed like that.

I've done quite a few myself.

 

[Nyeshet]

Just for their cleverness I'd allow a PC using a rope to pull the lever an additional save to survive. Specifically, I'd allow a reflex save to drop the rope before the disintegration flowing up the rope reached their hands. If they failed that, then they would make the Fort save.

I suppose my main question here is: why wasn't Detect Magic used by a caster in the room? The rogue searched the lever and found no traps. That suggests that either there are no traps or that they are so well hidden that the trap is likely of high level (relative to the rogue and thus the party). If Detect Magic found something on the lever, it would be all but obvious that it is trapped with a high level - and thus potentially fatal - trap. Or it could mean something else. But in a trap and monster filled dungeon, any sane / cautious PCs will know better than to take hold of the lever once a trap check failed yet a detect magic succeeded.

The suggestion about Summon Monster I was a good idea for this, as was the idea of using a rope - although I would merely add a reflex save to drop it in time in that situation. I'm not sure about throwing a rock at the lever to move it. They would have to really really throw well - likely more than once - to move the lever full across to the opposite position, I think.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Actually, according to the Trap designing sourcebook, A Reflex save of 30+ is only +2 to the base CR of the trap. Since the DMG only contains traps up to CR 10, it's entirely possible that the trap could have been higher than CR 10

I would like to point out that any Monk who rolls a natural 19 is likely to successfully save against any such trap, even one CR +5 or CR +6 above his level equivalent, and if it is a Reflex save take 0 damage. A 10th level Monk is likely to have +12 or better saves across the board. DC 30? No problem!

While it is true that casting Detect Magic may have provided more options, in general a Rogue will be able to find the trap by simply using Search without the assistance of any magic whatsoever. Under 3e rules.

 

[pawsplay]

It's fair. There are a number of rules for a dungeon:

1. Do not pull levers in the middle of rooms without being damned sure what their function is.
2. Don't eat meals you find in empty or haunted banquet halls.
3. Don't wield the bad guy's demon sword.
4. Don't yell, "ANYBODY DOWN THERE?" Ever.
5. Lowering a halfling down on a rope should only be done with spare halflings.
6. Don't press the button labeled, "Press this button."
7. If a man-made tunnel abruptly ends, something bad is about to happen. It could be something bad from behind, or it could be something bad ahead. But you have definitely gone the wrong way.

Anyone who pulls a big lever in the middle of a room, thinking it will open a secret door, gets what they deserve. Who would put such a thing there, and why?

 

[Templetroll]

There is an online game, Kingdom of Drakkar, that has a door with a sign on it

If you open this door you will die. It's that simple.

Opening the door erased the character.

The game developer eventually 'locked' the door due to so many complaints from people who had heard from other players that it was an accurate sign but 'wanted to experience it'. But, when they did, they got upset. Go figure.

Back on topic, is the Tomb of Horrors fair? It has instant death traps. [edit: as noted ont he page I skipped. ]

If you ever want to end your campaign world put a big red button in a small room. Have a sign that says:

Do Not Push, This Will Destroy The World

See how long the campaign lasts after that.

 

[pawsplay]

I have no sympathy for players who push the Big Red Button, or who find a plate of eggs benedict in a strange, uninhabited cavern sitting on at a fancy table in the middle of an empty, dark, stalactite-filled room and say, "I eat the eggs benedict."

Simiarly, if you see a duck on the 9th level of Hell, don't try to feed it. Try to consider, just for a moment, what chain of events could lead to an ordinary, harmless duck wandering the wastes of Hell. Most likely, you don't want anything to do with that duck.