Players can often be the source of their own problems. Using this idea combined with some simple principles to trap players can be an interesting mix of fun and frustrating. For today’s Trap Tuesday, we’re going to look at three traps and talk about the concept of unreliable information and player trust. Example Number 1: …
We’re coming out of the dungeons for this week’s Trap Tuesday and are going to look at some classic DnD Hunting Trap usage. In the 5th edition of Dungeons and Dragons bear traps are referred to as a hunting trap. Hunting trap rules are designed for the trap to be used by players, but traps …
The party pushes open the door slowly, making their way into the next room in the dungeon. As their torchlight pours into the open doorway it glints off gold and jewels in an open sack. Beside the sack is a goblin picking over a corpse for valuables. It sees the party, and in a quick …
The party enters a large, well-lit room. On the far side of the room they see a cage on a raised platform. Upon entering the room, something in the cage moves: a person who’s clearly seen better days. “Help me!” she shouts. “I don’t have much time!” As the cry for help reaches our heroes’ …
While walking through the dungeon, the players come to a dip in their path. Holding the torch aloft, they can’t quite see how long the dip is, but it descends down before leveling out and continuing. As the group presses forward into the dip, their torch immediately extinguishes itself and plunges the group into darkness. …
The party enters a plain room. Seeing nothing of interest, they make their way to the door on the far wall. Click. As soon as they hear the sound, they notice the door behind them slam shut as the door ahead does the same. Ancient gears whir to life as the ceiling begins to slowly …
The party walks into a cramped hallway, torch held aloft to light their way. Off in the distance they see what looks like a fallen adventurer, someone not quite as lucky at them. As they approach, they are careful to check for traps or monsters and see what may have spelled the end for this …
When designing traps, it’s easy to overlook falling in a hole due to its simplicity and the tropes surrounding it. A simple pit, the edge of a cliff, or a treacherous climb- each of these can become a trap if set up and used properly. For today’s Trap Tuesday, we’re going to look at how …
The consequence of a trap in DnD usually ends with players taking damage. Players come to fear if their next step will cause them to get spiked, fire-balled, pummeled, or worse. This can lead to paranoia that can hurt game play; you may find your players saying “I check for traps” every 5 minutes. If …
Traps that play on the obvious vs unexpected trope can be fun if used correctly and brutally punishing if used incorrectly. Let’s take a look at how a trap can subvert players’ expectations. Let’s dive straight into the trap. The Obvious vs Unexpected Boulder Trap When the players enter the room, they see a long …
