There was something that I didn't like about this. It took me abit to work out, but I have it now. For this to work the GM needs "stage direction" and for the thing that the hag says to be changed a teeny bit. First I will lay out the changes that need to be made and then I will show how precisely this must play out. So, the numbers are wrong. If the hag is telling the truth then there would be two vessels that are poison free, (1) the cauldron and (2) the ladle. Therefore what the Hag says would need to be changed to "Two of these are poison-free." I would also add a line between "Pick a mug and drink the tea." and "Only truths have you heard from me." That line being "Do so and I shall set Bogkettle free." Everything else can stay the same but when the Hag speaks her saying it would have to play like this: When she says "Here you see these vessels three." she should point at the table. When she says "Two of these are poison-free." she should sweep her hand in the air over the cauldron/kettle ladle and table on which sits the mugs. I think that the GM should do these movements because saying them out loud would make it far to obvious how she was trying to mislead them while still technically telling the truth. Only in this manner would everything that she is saying be true. Also it is abit more devious in that it may lead the party to think that (if they weren't paying close attention) they only had a 1 in 3 chance of being poisoned. Also if you wanted to add this as an added jab/twist, this hag said that she would set Bogkettle free, but if the heroes figure out what to do and pass the test, the hag could admit that she sets Bogkettle free but she can not speak for her sisters. OR after the PCs drink they, even if they drink from the poisoned mugs, they will almost certainly think that they have passed the test being that the poison doesn't act immediately. Then the hag may say to Bogkettle "Go with them." or "You may go with them." This could be an added layer to the trap in that the hag would still have possession/control over Bogkettle (with or without Bogkettles knowledge). The hag of course still claims his establishment. Anyway the hag could use Bogkettle against the PCs from a distance. There are many magical ways to do this, I won't go into details about how as this post is long enough.
I much prefer this interpretation and if I could add another layer to the ruling for passing the test. The Hag clearly states "pick a mug and drink the tea". The test has two conditions for passing, choosing a mug AND drinking the tea, but she never says that the tea has to be drunk FROM the mug you picked. If the players deduce that all the mugs are poisoned and choose to drink the tea straight from the cauldron or ladle then they've passed only one of the two conditions, and the Hag can refuse to let Bogkettle go. So the way to go about it would be to choose any mug, pocket or toss it, and then drink from the ladle or cauldron.
Yeah, the setup bothered me, too; cause the rhyme very much implies directly that one of the 3 mugs is not poisoned, especially if you don't have some way to communicate to the players that the "three" in question are not the mugs on the table. I think I would find someway to just remove the "three" from the rhyme altogether to make it more fair and then less emphasis needs to be made as to where she is gesturing or looking, as it leaves the number of locations to drink from undefined and potentially unlimited.
Oh, here's is the trick about the numbers. Or at least my interpretation. The Hag says: "Only truths have you heard from me." That's a lie. She lied when she said "One of these is poison free", the three are poisoned. In fairness. When someone has to say "Trust me, I told you the truth" you should probably not trust them.
I appreciate the solution that is presented - I think it's a good one - but I'd like there to be an actual solution to the puzzle itself, meaning that there be some clue to which mug might actually be poison-free.
100% behind you on this. I think there are plenty of different ways to change this up. In fact, I would probably run this a bit differently in my own game as well. Thank you Sisyphus. Cheers!
I like this and offer a humble change to the rhyme to make it a bit more friendly to the solution of using another receptacle. "Here you see, these vessels be. One of them, is poison free. Pick now and drink the tea. Only truths have I said to thee." Leaving out the three and the mug makes the solution more in line with the stated "rules" of the riddle. The other small changes are just personal preferencepreference.
I really like this Zen Zin, thank you for posting this idea. I felt the riddle was a bit wonky myself, so its good to see so many kind folk offering fantastic ideas to change things up. Cheers!
I am unsure if this is correct-making my guess before the reveal. The skull is a red herring-while it would seem like the least desirable choice, it is actually the only one the player can survive choosing, since all the tea is poisoned. A ladle of tea poured into the wooden or silver cups will remain. A ladle of tea into the skull cup will run out the eye and nose holes. When the player lifts it to their lips and tilts it back, they will only ingest a few drops of the poisoned tea at most. Now to check.
I like that answer. I think she needs to hand out a few more clues. I think her and the goblin sampling the tea as the party enters would be one clue. Id have her point to the three cups say See here these cups three and wave her arms wildly saying two here are poison free, then drink from one and we will see. Only truths you have heard from me. So wildly including everything in the room is the second clue that the ladle and pot are poison free. Perhaps in the bottom of each cup is something black , a hags tooth which can be seen if you check out each cup. Its the source of the poison. Clue three.
Excellent deduction and reasoning. The "choose a mug" clue subtly points to the skull since mug = face. I would 100% accept your solution since it makes sense.
at 3:34 the hag says ONE of the vessels three is poison-free but at 4:09 you contradict her statement with the complete opposite : 'the hag tells you straight up that one of these might be poisoned'.
Yeah, the rhyme riddle is a bit wonky on this one. I definitely recommend the game master making it their own with any necessary adjustments they feel is necessary. As always, my videos are about idea sharing. I love it when game masters take the idea and make it better. :-) Thank you for watching, cheers!
This was intended. The fourth line (and that a hag is presenting it) implies that the entire riddle is made of lies. There are not 3 choices, but 4. Of the 3 addressed, none of them are poison free. The hag was chosen specifically for her deceptive and cruel ways. The first, unspoken part of the riddle is realizing not to trust the information she presents as true.
My version of this puzzle is intended for ~10th level players in a large dungeon, so it creates a race-against-time if the players are able to figure out what they just drank.
Thank you, my friend. You are too kind. I'm really hoping to have you in my next puzzle playtest. I'm running a bit behind, but will definitely reach out when it is time. Cheers!
🌹 FREE PDF on launch! To get it, click "Notify Me on Launch" on my Kickstarter page for Quintessential Guide to Monster Encounters: www.kickstarter.com/projects/mrtarrasque/the-quintessential-guide-to-monster-encounters
I'm not a native English speaker, so I couldn't really figure it out( But my current character (battle smith artificer) would make some tests on tea in mugs, after which (in case she succeeds) she would declare that all three are poisoned, and the hug doesn't play fair. Or would give it to her steel defender, who is immune to poison (in case the DM would allow it). If neither would get her anywhere... She would probably say "screw it, I can take it" and drink the poison. Also, she would take home as much poisoned tee as she could, and possibly try to buy or steal one of the mugs (for no particular reason, just an interesting specimen). Actually, convincing her warforged companion (another player's character) not to start the fight would be the main issue) (It's OK for everyone at the table.) But we are level 5, so it's not that much risk for us. I'm not sure how I would solve it as a level 1 or 2 character (unless it's a paladin).
NO worries at all. Thank you for leaving a great comment with ideas that your character might try. I love the idea of your steel defender trying it. And you are correct, hags do not play fair. Thank you again for watching the video. Cheers!
i'm not sure I understand the automatic assumption that the characters will have any problem with this hag with a goblin minion you seem to think people are automatically going to either attack the hag for owning a goblin or have some instinct to free the goblin goblins are pretty nasty little creatures and if the hag has it under control I don't know why anyone would have a problem with it she's clearly putting the goblin to good use and making tea.
Hi Emily, thank you for watching my video, I appreciate it. :-) To answer your questions: As stated at the beginning of the video, Bogkettle (the Goblin) is a beloved member of this town that owns a tea-shop. The townsfolk fear that a green hag has taken over his tea shop and ask the adventurers to investigate. Goblins can be "nasty little creatures", sure. BUT, they are also a Playable race in D&D 5E. I have a lot of NPCs and PCs in my games where goblins are good folk. Bogkettle, a tea shop owner, is one of those good-folk that needs the PCs help, as stated in the beginning. Now then, I don't seem to thing its an automatic that the hag will be attacked, but when I present an idea on my channel, I like to cover as many contingencies as I can. Some DMs run combat-heavy games, so seeing that a local tea-shop owner (the beloved goblin) is under the spell of a hag, there is definitely a chance combat is entered from the beginning of the encounter. On this channel I simply present an idea and demonstration. Fellow GMs can then either take the idea I presented and use it "as is", use the idea in their own unique way, or simply think, hmm... neat video, but not something I would use. Anyways, hope this helps clear up any confusion. Hope you can find a trap or puzzle idea on this channel that you might be able to use. Great to have you hear. :-) Cheers!
Lovely puzzle, like the fun story it creates, and could see using it on an NPC shopkeeper the players like so they are more motivated. Think I'd tack on some interesting curses rather than poison. Cursed to always receive a papercut when handling any parchment or the like. Cursed to always stub your toe. Cursed to always spill messy food on your clothing/armor.
Thank you, my friend. I'm really enjoying the comment section on this puzzle. So many fantastic ideas! Including yours, of course. I really like the idea of using curses. Especially the silly ones, lol. Not enough curses in D&D, for sure. Cheers!
There was something that I didn't like about this. It took me abit to work out, but I have it now. For this to work the GM needs "stage direction" and for the thing that the hag says to be changed a teeny bit. First I will lay out the changes that need to be made and then I will show how precisely this must play out.
So, the numbers are wrong. If the hag is telling the truth then there would be two vessels that are poison free, (1) the cauldron and (2) the ladle. Therefore what the Hag says would need to be changed to "Two of these are poison-free." I would also add a line between "Pick a mug and drink the tea." and "Only truths have you heard from me." That line being "Do so and I shall set Bogkettle free."
Everything else can stay the same but when the Hag speaks her saying it would have to play like this: When she says "Here you see these vessels three." she should point at the table. When she says "Two of these are poison-free." she should sweep her hand in the air over the cauldron/kettle ladle and table on which sits the mugs. I think that the GM should do these movements because saying them out loud would make it far to obvious how she was trying to mislead them while still technically telling the truth. Only in this manner would everything that she is saying be true. Also it is abit more devious in that it may lead the party to think that (if they weren't paying close attention) they only had a 1 in 3 chance of being poisoned.
Also if you wanted to add this as an added jab/twist, this hag said that she would set Bogkettle free, but if the heroes figure out what to do and pass the test, the hag could admit that she sets Bogkettle free but she can not speak for her sisters. OR after the PCs drink they, even if they drink from the poisoned mugs, they will almost certainly think that they have passed the test being that the poison doesn't act immediately. Then the hag may say to Bogkettle "Go with them." or "You may go with them." This could be an added layer to the trap in that the hag would still have possession/control over Bogkettle (with or without Bogkettles knowledge). The hag of course still claims his establishment. Anyway the hag could use Bogkettle against the PCs from a distance. There are many magical ways to do this, I won't go into details about how as this post is long enough.
You made some really fun adjustments here, for sure. Some fantastic ideas oh changing this up a bit. I dig it, well done!
I much prefer this interpretation and if I could add another layer to the ruling for passing the test.
The Hag clearly states "pick a mug and drink the tea". The test has two conditions for passing, choosing a mug AND drinking the tea, but she never says that the tea has to be drunk FROM the mug you picked.
If the players deduce that all the mugs are poisoned and choose to drink the tea straight from the cauldron or ladle then they've passed only one of the two conditions, and the Hag can refuse to let Bogkettle go.
So the way to go about it would be to choose any mug, pocket or toss it, and then drink from the ladle or cauldron.
Yeah, the setup bothered me, too; cause the rhyme very much implies directly that one of the 3 mugs is not poisoned, especially if you don't have some way to communicate to the players that the "three" in question are not the mugs on the table. I think I would find someway to just remove the "three" from the rhyme altogether to make it more fair and then less emphasis needs to be made as to where she is gesturing or looking, as it leaves the number of locations to drink from undefined and potentially unlimited.
Oh, here's is the trick about the numbers. Or at least my interpretation.
The Hag says: "Only truths have you heard from me."
That's a lie. She lied when she said "One of these is poison free", the three are poisoned.
In fairness. When someone has to say "Trust me, I told you the truth" you should probably not trust them.
@@minimoose7890 Interesting thoughts on it.
I appreciate the solution that is presented - I think it's a good one - but I'd like there to be an actual solution to the puzzle itself, meaning that there be some clue to which mug might actually be poison-free.
I felt the same way I'd put a little spin on it above that you might like
100% behind you on this. I think there are plenty of different ways to change this up. In fact, I would probably run this a bit differently in my own game as well. Thank you Sisyphus. Cheers!
The bone mug was a skull, which don't make for good cups.
I like this and offer a humble change to the rhyme to make it a bit more friendly to the solution of using another receptacle.
"Here you see, these vessels be.
One of them, is poison free.
Pick now and drink the tea.
Only truths have I said to thee."
Leaving out the three and the mug makes the solution more in line with the stated "rules" of the riddle. The other small changes are just personal preferencepreference.
I really like this Zen Zin, thank you for posting this idea. I felt the riddle was a bit wonky myself, so its good to see so many kind folk offering fantastic ideas to change things up. Cheers!
I am unsure if this is correct-making my guess before the reveal.
The skull is a red herring-while it would seem like the least desirable choice, it is actually the only one the player can survive choosing, since all the tea is poisoned.
A ladle of tea poured into the wooden or silver cups will remain. A ladle of tea into the skull cup will run out the eye and nose holes. When the player lifts it to their lips and tilts it back, they will only ingest a few drops of the poisoned tea at most.
Now to check.
I like that answer.
I think she needs to hand out a few more clues. I think her and the goblin sampling the tea as the party enters would be one clue.
Id have her point to the three cups say See here these cups three and wave her arms wildly saying two here are poison free, then drink from one and we will see. Only truths you have heard from me. So wildly including everything in the room is the second clue that the ladle and pot are poison free.
Perhaps in the bottom of each cup is something black , a hags tooth which can be seen if you check out each cup. Its the source of the poison. Clue three.
Excellent deduction and reasoning. The "choose a mug" clue subtly points to the skull since mug = face. I would 100% accept your solution since it makes sense.
Another Puzzle I like. Hag's voice was great; I need to practice. It didn't feel made up.
Thank you, my friend!
i literally needed a hag puzzle for tomorrow. Thank you!
Hooray! Glad I could help. Be sure to check out all of the comments. There are a lot of helpful folks posting great ideas to change this up. Cheers!
at 3:34 the hag says ONE of the vessels three is poison-free but at 4:09 you contradict her statement with the complete opposite : 'the hag tells you straight up that one of these might be poisoned'.
Yeah, the rhyme riddle is a bit wonky on this one. I definitely recommend the game master making it their own with any necessary adjustments they feel is necessary. As always, my videos are about idea sharing. I love it when game masters take the idea and make it better. :-) Thank you for watching, cheers!
This was intended. The fourth line (and that a hag is presenting it) implies that the entire riddle is made of lies. There are not 3 choices, but 4. Of the 3 addressed, none of them are poison free.
The hag was chosen specifically for her deceptive and cruel ways. The first, unspoken part of the riddle is realizing not to trust the information she presents as true.
Wow
97 points poison damage
I like it
My version of this puzzle is intended for ~10th level players in a large dungeon, so it creates a race-against-time if the players are able to figure out what they just drank.
97 hp seems a little low, lol.
Awww yeah. Urgency for that antidote!
Mate I am in awe that you can come up with such interesting traps and puzzles all the time
Just awesome
Thank you
Cheers
Thank you, my friend. You are too kind. I'm really hoping to have you in my next puzzle playtest. I'm running a bit behind, but will definitely reach out when it is time. Cheers!
🌹 FREE PDF on launch! To get it, click "Notify Me on Launch" on my Kickstarter page for Quintessential Guide to Monster Encounters: www.kickstarter.com/projects/mrtarrasque/the-quintessential-guide-to-monster-encounters
I like the pocket dimension edit! Cool puzzle
Thank you, glad you dig the idea. And, thanks for watching. Cheers!
I'm not a native English speaker, so I couldn't really figure it out(
But my current character (battle smith artificer) would make some tests on tea in mugs, after which (in case she succeeds) she would declare that all three are poisoned, and the hug doesn't play fair. Or would give it to her steel defender, who is immune to poison (in case the DM would allow it). If neither would get her anywhere... She would probably say "screw it, I can take it" and drink the poison. Also, she would take home as much poisoned tee as she could, and possibly try to buy or steal one of the mugs (for no particular reason, just an interesting specimen).
Actually, convincing her warforged companion (another player's character) not to start the fight would be the main issue) (It's OK for everyone at the table.)
But we are level 5, so it's not that much risk for us. I'm not sure how I would solve it as a level 1 or 2 character (unless it's a paladin).
NO worries at all. Thank you for leaving a great comment with ideas that your character might try. I love the idea of your steel defender trying it. And you are correct, hags do not play fair. Thank you again for watching the video. Cheers!
i'm not sure I understand the automatic assumption that the characters will have any problem with this hag with a goblin minion you seem to think people are automatically going to either attack the hag for owning a goblin or have some instinct to free the goblin goblins are pretty nasty little creatures and if the hag has it under control I don't know why anyone would have a problem with it she's clearly putting the goblin to good use and making tea.
Hi Emily, thank you for watching my video, I appreciate it. :-) To answer your questions: As stated at the beginning of the video, Bogkettle (the Goblin) is a beloved member of this town that owns a tea-shop. The townsfolk fear that a green hag has taken over his tea shop and ask the adventurers to investigate. Goblins can be "nasty little creatures", sure. BUT, they are also a Playable race in D&D 5E. I have a lot of NPCs and PCs in my games where goblins are good folk. Bogkettle, a tea shop owner, is one of those good-folk that needs the PCs help, as stated in the beginning.
Now then, I don't seem to thing its an automatic that the hag will be attacked, but when I present an idea on my channel, I like to cover as many contingencies as I can. Some DMs run combat-heavy games, so seeing that a local tea-shop owner (the beloved goblin) is under the spell of a hag, there is definitely a chance combat is entered from the beginning of the encounter.
On this channel I simply present an idea and demonstration. Fellow GMs can then either take the idea I presented and use it "as is", use the idea in their own unique way, or simply think, hmm... neat video, but not something I would use.
Anyways, hope this helps clear up any confusion. Hope you can find a trap or puzzle idea on this channel that you might be able to use. Great to have you hear. :-) Cheers!
Lovely puzzle, like the fun story it creates, and could see using it on an NPC shopkeeper the players like so they are more motivated.
Think I'd tack on some interesting curses rather than poison. Cursed to always receive a papercut when handling any parchment or the like. Cursed to always stub your toe. Cursed to always spill messy food on your clothing/armor.
Thank you, my friend. I'm really enjoying the comment section on this puzzle. So many fantastic ideas! Including yours, of course. I really like the idea of using curses. Especially the silly ones, lol. Not enough curses in D&D, for sure. Cheers!
Really cool puzzle and great hag voice done by the discord dragons. And of course great presentation of them by the wonderful wallydm as always
Thank you Ace! Always appreciated. :-)