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Message: <blockquote data-quote="wingsandsword" data-source="post: 5706697" data-attributes="member: 14159">Well, for purposes of explanation, here is how it went in the show:[sblock]A magical lock was protecting a portal that was essential the BBEG's plan.  The lock could only be opened by someone who sat in a metal chair, which immediately shackled the person to the chair so the could not leave, while arming an elaborate death trap over their head involving machinery and a huge axe blade, and setting up a chessboard to an a place late in the game where the player is at a strong disadvantage.A large pile of split/crushed skulls by the chair hints at what happens if you get this wrong.To win, you must checkmate the other player.  The problem is, it is impossible.  Every move you make moves the blade closer to slamming down lethally on the head (since you're held in place, for D&D reasons I'd definitely call it a coup de grace, with a magic greataxe, by machinery with an effective strength of 30+).  You cannot win by playing by the rules, it will take more than 4 moves to win, and I think it was in 4 moves the blade comes down and kills you.  The only way to win is to ignore the rules of chess and cheat.  The hero is forced into the chair because the BBEG needs the portal open for his evil plan.  Since the hero had met the creator of the trap more than a century earlier, she had an insight into how it was built, and wins by remembering the creator hated playing by the rules.  Thus, she takes a pawn and moves it all the way across the board in one move (like a Rook or Queen), taking the King.  The moment this is done, the trap disarms and the portal opens.[/sblock]That said, I think a trap just like that would make a lousy game trap, because it relies on PCs to ignore the rules laid out before them.  Most PCs would be killed quite dead, because they would assume that violating the rules would not work.  It could only work in a gaming context if, like the show, the PCs had some strong hint that you would have to cheat to win.  A trap that could be won by playing by the rules would be a little better, but still harsh.I was even thinking of that while watching the episode: I'd freaking hate to deal with that trap in a game because the only way you'll make it through that is plot fiat.</blockquote>

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