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Unearthed Arcana: Traps Revisited
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<blockquote data-quote="Chaosmancer" data-source="post: 7709567" data-attributes="member: 6801228"><p>I completely see your point [MENTION=45197]pming[/MENTION], and I agree with you on the simple traps being speed bumps.</p><p></p><p>But what about the complex traps, if anything, doesn't work for your style? I think those are more than a resource drain, much like placing a mummy in a temple is more than a resource drain. </p><p></p><p>Genuinely curious, since to my eye those complex traps are made for more killer/narrative DMs</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I think this in part comes down to table expectations and DM information-giving, like you said.</p><p></p><p>At quite few of the tables I've been at, it is "There is a Trap there" followed by "I disarm it". The DM doesn't give any details about the nature of the trap and the player isn't expected to ask. </p><p></p><p>Even if more information is given, some players will only hear "This statue spits fire out over this area when you walk in front of it" and then the player will say "I disarm that trap" not expecting to be asked how they are going to do so. The DM didn't tell them if it was a pressure plate, a laser tripwire, or simply magic so they don't know how to proceed. And the trap is simply slowing down the game, even if the rogue wants to spend 5 minutes talking out the intricacies of the trap, the other players may start to get bored and want you to hurry it along, this trap (in general) is not important to the story, and they want to get to content that is.</p><p></p><p>Not saying you don't give enough info or that your players would get bored with the rogue showing off, but just illustrating that certain expectations come with certain tables. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I think most groups, upon hearing there is a series of finger sized holes in the hallway, would immediately know it is a trap, and most likely a trap that shoots arrows/bolts/darts ect. </p><p></p><p>In fact, to me, if I was told the stone inside the holes was discolored... I wouldn't know what to make of that. Could be poison, could be a low-grade acid (depends on the type of stone), could be fire, could be necrotic energy, or actually any sort of magic, could be burrows for creatures. </p><p></p><p>How do you stop it? Well.... that depends. Trap it probably has a pressure plate. I'm either going to spot it or not, once I do I should be able to just not step on it. Or perhaps we spend 10 minutes stuffing rags into the holes. Which as soon as we step on the pressure plate and unleash the highly destructive hellfire is going to do squat. </p><p></p><p>The line is a very fine one I think, and definitely changes from group to group, about how useful any given information is. Once my players think there is a trap in the area, everyone except one of the rogues backs off 15 ft, then the rogue starts trying to disarm or figure out how to avoid the trap. And they will do nothing else until they have an answer that satisfies them because they know this is a trap, and they know there is an answer that will make it safe. </p><p></p><p></p><p>I will however third that the pressure plate mine scenario is a brilliant one that could potentially be very exciting.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Chaosmancer, post: 7709567, member: 6801228"] I completely see your point [MENTION=45197]pming[/MENTION], and I agree with you on the simple traps being speed bumps. But what about the complex traps, if anything, doesn't work for your style? I think those are more than a resource drain, much like placing a mummy in a temple is more than a resource drain. Genuinely curious, since to my eye those complex traps are made for more killer/narrative DMs I think this in part comes down to table expectations and DM information-giving, like you said. At quite few of the tables I've been at, it is "There is a Trap there" followed by "I disarm it". The DM doesn't give any details about the nature of the trap and the player isn't expected to ask. Even if more information is given, some players will only hear "This statue spits fire out over this area when you walk in front of it" and then the player will say "I disarm that trap" not expecting to be asked how they are going to do so. The DM didn't tell them if it was a pressure plate, a laser tripwire, or simply magic so they don't know how to proceed. And the trap is simply slowing down the game, even if the rogue wants to spend 5 minutes talking out the intricacies of the trap, the other players may start to get bored and want you to hurry it along, this trap (in general) is not important to the story, and they want to get to content that is. Not saying you don't give enough info or that your players would get bored with the rogue showing off, but just illustrating that certain expectations come with certain tables. I think most groups, upon hearing there is a series of finger sized holes in the hallway, would immediately know it is a trap, and most likely a trap that shoots arrows/bolts/darts ect. In fact, to me, if I was told the stone inside the holes was discolored... I wouldn't know what to make of that. Could be poison, could be a low-grade acid (depends on the type of stone), could be fire, could be necrotic energy, or actually any sort of magic, could be burrows for creatures. How do you stop it? Well.... that depends. Trap it probably has a pressure plate. I'm either going to spot it or not, once I do I should be able to just not step on it. Or perhaps we spend 10 minutes stuffing rags into the holes. Which as soon as we step on the pressure plate and unleash the highly destructive hellfire is going to do squat. The line is a very fine one I think, and definitely changes from group to group, about how useful any given information is. Once my players think there is a trap in the area, everyone except one of the rogues backs off 15 ft, then the rogue starts trying to disarm or figure out how to avoid the trap. And they will do nothing else until they have an answer that satisfies them because they know this is a trap, and they know there is an answer that will make it safe. I will however third that the pressure plate mine scenario is a brilliant one that could potentially be very exciting. [/QUOTE]
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