tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958522416503442248.post8731761256636917777..comments2024-03-28T01:02:01.844-06:00Comments on Coins and Scrolls: OSR: 3 Level 1 PCs Solve 20 Black DoorsSkerpleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06393779599461560431noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958522416503442248.post-58614447445381785512017-10-16T22:34:02.331-06:002017-10-16T22:34:02.331-06:00Where's a high-school physics student when you...Where's a high-school physics student when you need one?<br />Look, if we assume a 10 degree slope, we can figure out the angle. We can then figure out the force required to push a person up the slope easily (overcoming gravity + air resistance). Skerpleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06393779599461560431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958522416503442248.post-42015110654848592382017-10-13T20:54:02.804-06:002017-10-13T20:54:02.804-06:00Probably *really* missing something here, but...
D...Probably *really* missing something here, but...<br />Door 13, "A frictionless corridor that gently slopes upwards. 80' long."<br />Tie a rope to the thief. Body-slam him hard, sending him like a shuffleboard puck up the slope. (Skee ball?) He can grab onto whatever's next, or perhaps slam a spike hard into the ground and work from there.<br /><br />Did the author mean *infinite* friction? So, like, one of those dreams where you try to run and can't move an inch?<br />TDWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14649920118018537733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958522416503442248.post-57581359912351957802017-08-29T16:24:40.050-06:002017-08-29T16:24:40.050-06:00So OSR games are all about resource trading. You t...So OSR games are all about resource trading. You trade HP for progress or treasure by fighting, you trade light and time for exploration, etc. <br /><br />Sure, spending 2 hours demolishing a wall isn't always going to be feasible. It's not always going to be safe. But if the PCs *really* want to get past the wall, they'll find a way, and either run away from the random encounters, fight them, or find a way to circumvent or use them. After all, the local goblins might know how to get the door open.<br /><br />The situations above are for PCs who are determined to spend all their resources to overcome an obstacle.Skerpleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06393779599461560431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958522416503442248.post-46203858674046725112017-08-29T15:08:41.930-06:002017-08-29T15:08:41.930-06:00I don't know that any solution that requires d...I don't know that any solution that requires dismantling masonry is a realistic solution to the problem in an OSR dungeon, because in most OSR dungeons, there is a punishment for poor use of time and also for making too much noise in the form of random encounter checks. Have these three first level adventurers murdered everything in the section of the dungeon they're currently in already, such that there are no random encounters that could interrupt them? <br /><br />(I know I'm challenging the basic premise of your post here, but despite that I really love you blog. It's one of my favorite recent finds. Also I'm not really meaning to challenge so much as clarify. )Caduceushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11417222072252761551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958522416503442248.post-39378516120259428902017-08-28T21:51:12.155-06:002017-08-28T21:51:12.155-06:00Oh yeah, no worries there. I wasn't posting it...Oh yeah, no worries there. I wasn't posting it as an example of "Durr hurr hurr, Evan Edwards can't design things." It's a good bad example, if that makes sense, and that's a valuable thing. There's a context where it works, sure... but without that context it's a really good example of what not to do. <br /><br />(Also, I put everyone's names as anagrams. It just so happened that, aside from yours, the anagram turned out to be identical to the original name. What are the chances?)<br /><br />And direct communication is good, but there's a 3rd option: implicit tutorials. You don't need to have an NPC say "To pass the door guarded by me / you guys must at level 3" or have a magic effect that does the same. You can put sneaky threats, distance, or more tempting targets first. Steering without appearing to steer is fun.Skerpleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06393779599461560431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958522416503442248.post-9991654732982912742017-08-28T21:21:24.184-06:002017-08-28T21:21:24.184-06:00And I'm gratified you spotted the same weaknes...And I'm gratified you spotted the same weaknesses with it that I didn't like. Outside of fiat and a GM proxy voice, the only direct way to deal with a table that doesn't understand the concept of a black door is over the table talk, ideally between experienced players and less experienced ones, and then falling to a GM reminder that not all encounters are calibrated to where the party is at any given time. Direct communication is my preferred method over either GM fiat or NPC theater.Evan Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09886208206688698124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958522416503442248.post-83187501343980984442017-08-28T21:17:10.175-06:002017-08-28T21:17:10.175-06:00A bit of context: The Fey one that you didn't ...A bit of context: The Fey one that you didn't like (Door II) was a response to a comment that most of these aren't obviously non-approachable obstacles and would result in certain type of parties banging their heads against them assuming they were missing something. It was also a "okay, how can I do a door that's not literally a door." I'd agree it's certainly an incomplete one, with the GM providing the tie in to the dungeon. In the right dungeon and with the right group it works. It's certainly weaker than the other two I added, mostly because of the two constraints I set up for myself when making it, and not a drop in dungeon element like most of the others.<br /><br />In the incomplete form, or as a generic drop in, I don't like it either. It's more of a concept to use that addresses the perceived problem than a finished door.<br /><br />(My name is Evan Edwards, not Edward Evans.)Evan Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09886208206688698124noreply@blogger.com