Solve this puzzle (actual puzzle from a campaign)

[Quasqueton]

I just don't understand your problem with having the speaker identify which key. You're fine with them speaking the language (as clued in the writing on the wall), fine with them identifying the elemental by name (as clued in the writing on the wall), but not fine with identifying the key (as clued in the writing on the wall).

As as I said, the Players had no problem identifying the key. They said it several times. They had no problem identifying the elemental. They said its name several times. They had no problem knowing which language to speak. They spoke it several times. I don't even think they were dumb for not getting it right quickly. I think they were over thinking it, and had too many people speaking at the same time.

I was posting this as an example of how something that seems very simple on paper to a DM can turn into something terribly complicated in actual play with several Players. How you took it as a DM insulting his Players and pretending to be a brilliant puzzle-maker is a mystery to me.

Quasqueton

 

[Driddle]

I think they were over-thinking it...

But your arguments here would suggest otherwise: Your players weren't thinking it through to what you believe would be the logical next step. They were under-thinking your "simple" expectation.

And that you continue to belabor this point suggests that you're trying to justify to yet more people (us) that your attitude was OK. You're in the right.

 

[moritheil]

But your arguments here would suggest otherwise: Your players weren't thinking it through to what you believe would be the logical next step. They were under-thinking your "simple" expectation.

And that you continue to belabor this point suggests that you're trying to justify to yet more people (us) that your attitude was OK. You're in the right.

Which, of course, completely clears you to jump on him and deride him for being the scum of all DMs.

 

[Pielorinho]

Moderator's Notes:

There's an interesting thread here, but it's in danger of being buried under personal attacks. As tempting as recriminations are, y'all are going to have to drop it. No last words, no defenses, no returning jibes. Thanks! (If you've gotta express last thoughts, email them to me.)

Daniel

 

[Quasqueton]

You might as well close it now. The [repeated] personal attack has ruined it.

Quasqueton

 

[Darthjaye]

So the answer was not unlike "The Fifth Element" in that they gave the corrosponding element it's due. That is, they hand the earth element a pile of dirt. They hand the water elemetal water....and so on and so on.

 

[Pielorinho]

Moderator's Notes: thread closed at request of OP. If folks want to start a thread on an analogous subject (handling puzzles in-game, for example), y'all are free to do so; obviously you gotta do so without engaging in personal attacks.

Daniel