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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DonTadow" data-source="post: 2697685" data-attributes="member: 22622">I've read this twice, and I still don't see how puzzles equates to lack of role playing.  First its very prejudice of you to assume Ugh is a barbarian because of his name <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />.  But lets say he is.  Yes Ugh can not get further in the dungeon because he can not read.  They weaken barbarians by making them illiterate for this reason.  So if Ugh is going to go off solo adventurning, he better put a rank in speak language or make sure he's in a party.  If he's in a party and its good role playing someone in the party will explain the orbs to ugh.  And how does nothing happen.  It seem the major obstacle with roleplaying with puzzles is "why is there a puzzle there".  Well the same reason there is a monster or trap there.  And just like those if your character isn't skilled enough to deal with it then YES they will have to turn around and go home.  Do you handwave monsters that are too difficult for your opponent.  What if they did not prepare the right spell or weapon?  In my campaign, they will have to turn around and go back home.  Perhaps it should be said here that dms whom have puzzles SHOULD have ready made clues available as well.  Puzzles should be on equal footing as monsters.  If they dont roll well to receive the clues or fail to put the clues together after obvious hints then they should turn around and go home.  Again, if a rather nasty vampire is there and they have no means of destroying the body, nor fighting undead and you've given every hint that there was a vampire in the layer, do you just wisk it away?  Successful victory everytime?  That doesnt sound very challenging.  Why is puzzles treated like ared headed step child.  I've never observed puzzle solving like it is described by some.  The way i"m reading it, it sounds like the dm breaks out a puzzle, all players stop role playing and the dm allows it.  In my campaign, for 4 hours you're in character.  Puzzles are treated as if the characters had them in their midst.  The same role playing banter that normally goes on goes on while the puzzles is being solved.  My players don't even break their accents.  The thing I like about puzzles is that there is no skill or attribute directly assoicated with them.  Even the dumb half orc can get an idea.  it may be the only idea of his life but its possible.  the problem I see with dungeons and dragons sometimes is that characters (and us dms from time to time) get STUCK in sterotypes.  Ugh has a 6 intelligence and he can never have a thoughtagain.  Jimidy the wizard is 20 in intelligence he should be able to solve everything and get a rhode scholarship.  It's not giving meat to the character to generalize like this and traps characters  at times.</blockquote>

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