D&D Puzzles #71 - Skeleton Court - Wally DM Puzzle Ideas

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  • Опубликовано: 19 авг 2024

Комментарии • 79

  • @greatmoustache8731
    @greatmoustache8731 3 года назад +7

    Nice puzzle. Like the alternatives.
    Maybe making it so the gemstones are keys later on in the dungeon. If they don't grab it they'll have to go back and get them, and if they did, then it can be used there.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад +2

      Oh my goodness! Absolutely! Great point here, my friend. In fact... the gems from the Skeleton Court could very well be placed into the Prismatic Owl puzzle. What a great connection. :)

    • @LunarFerns
      @LunarFerns 3 года назад +1

      Oh, I love this idea!

  • @filipsipos4835
    @filipsipos4835 3 года назад +3

    You are one of the best DMs and D&D content creators, I love your book

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      Thank you Filip! I really appreciate this. Cheers to you and thank you for being a subscriber to the channel. On to the next!

  • @StevenBryceWroten
    @StevenBryceWroten 3 года назад +5

    It sounds like there isn’t a penalty for moving the chests, so even trial and error could work if given enough time, especially if they look into one of the wrong chests.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад +2

      Yep, I don't think we discussed putting them in the wrong places... perhaps a beam of sickness or damaging energy erupts from the gems in the skeleton's eyes? Who knows? But, definitely something that could be up to the GM or Dungeon Master that is running the puzzle, for sure. Thank you for watching Steven, I appreciate it. Cheers!

    • @fenixmeaney6170
      @fenixmeaney6170 Год назад +1

      Especially because there's only 6 combinations total for the setup, and knowing that all 3 are in the wrong spot, you either rotate them all 1 right or 1 left

  • @MrSeligas
    @MrSeligas Год назад +1

    I used this pizzle but put my own spin on it. I had three statues with each holding a scepter. Each of the scepters is capped with gems on either end.
    It was effectively the same thing without needing a superfluous magic item. The hint was in a riddle. The following is part of a larger riddle that gave you hints for the whole dungeon, this part of it is the last part, the only part pertinent to this puzzle. The dungeon is the tomb of the Lord of Deceit, so the gimmick has been that every hint the riddle gives you is a lie. You need to do the opposite of what it tells you to:
    Three dark lords astride their thrones,
    All scepters each in proper hand,
    Blood, then Poison, then Liege in line,
    At last, before your prize you stand.
    The lies are that the scepters are not in their proper hand and the statues are not in the order listed. The solution involves putting the scepters in the hands of the correct statues; it's basically self-evident, because you know that the configuration the riddle gives you is wrong and the configuration it's currently in is wrong.
    Solving this puzzle grants access to the tomb's treasure room/burial chamber. Or if the players choose to, they can abscond with the lesser treasure of the scepters. "At last, before your prize you stand," is another lie made to make the players think this is the end of the dungeon, assuming they somehow haven't caught on that listening to the riddle has been a death sentence the entire way up to this point. If they solve this properly, they can even take the scepters on their way out as additional treasure.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  Год назад

      This is really good! Well done. Thank you for sharing your ideas!

  • @InquisitorThorn
    @InquisitorThorn 3 года назад +2

    This reminds me of the closed bag of marbles and dark room with different socks mind teasers.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      Oh heyyyy.... I forgot about that already. It is in our Discord, correct? I can't remember, was that your original idea? If so... we need to do this on the channel!

    • @InquisitorThorn
      @InquisitorThorn 3 года назад

      @@WallyDM No, they are just classic mindteasers, though I'm sure they can be converted pretty easily.

  • @colin-bate
    @colin-bate 3 года назад +1

    Oh yes I’m certainly using this one. As Thorn mentioned this is a variation on the bags of marbles classic interview question, which gives me all sorts of ideas... hmmm.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      I think I need to record a video on these "bag of marbles". Thank you for reinforcing the idea. Cheers my friend!

  • @dougpresley2220
    @dougpresley2220 3 года назад +3

    I like this one. It's exactly the sort of thing my players will over think lol.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад +1

      Haha! Nice... I love it when players overthink... and their face when they find out how simple it actually was... mwahaha! lol. Thanks Doug, Cheers!

  • @stm7810
    @stm7810 3 года назад +1

    I make sure not to use excuses like a high level wizard since it feels too gamey, but whatever works for you. my plan was to try all 6 combinations and save the charge for later.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад +1

      lol, the "high-level wizard" has been a running gag on my channel for a while now. Sometimes its a 36th level wizard and other times its a 147th level wizard. Haha! Also... by the way... welcome to the channel! Great to have you aboard!

    • @stm7810
      @stm7810 3 года назад

      @@WallyDM It's a fun explanation, My players loved the cat puzzle!

  • @pandarpha7778
    @pandarpha7778 3 года назад +1

    Man, do I love the work you put into this

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      Thank you for this @pandarpha. Made my day! And... stay tuned... new puzzle video coming out on Wednesday. We'll be taking a look at another puzzle from Tasha's Cauldron. Cheers!

  • @immortalorigins9446
    @immortalorigins9446 3 года назад +4

    Very detailed and a simple solution that requires careful thinking...I like it Wally!
    I think if my players fail the puzzle they get to fight the skeletons but that is just something I would do lol
    Also...bonus points for the zelda jingle and for the planechase dice as pedestals for the chests =P
    The skeleton minis turned out awesome! good job Wally and Nye! ^^

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      lol. Thank you my friend, I always appreciate your positive feedback. I definitely thought that you would love the Zelda jingle when I put it in there, lol. And great eye catching those Planechase dies! I love being creative with my terrain. Also... I'm back to including end-credit scenes... did you catch it? Talk to you soon, my friend!

  • @dunker-roo9552
    @dunker-roo9552 3 года назад +2

    Or... each or the skulls float off the bodies and they have to fight some combination of flame skulls and demiliches. Unless they give the eye gem back.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад +1

      Now I want to run this puzzle just to have the Flame Skulls. Well done. I dig it.

  • @timcoultas1512
    @timcoultas1512 3 года назад +3

    I'd prolly have the skeleton kings wake up & try and get their treasure back - when they're defeated the party get bonus weapons from each of the kings.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      I dig it and I'm on board. Makes sense the Skeletons aren't going to let the treasure go that easily. Great idea Tim, cheers!

  • @HowtoRPG
    @HowtoRPG 3 года назад +1

    Nice solution and puzzle. I like the Crypt Thing.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      I'm a fan of the Crypt Thing as well, lol Thank you Fred! Always appreciate you watching my videos. :-)

  • @mmardh799
    @mmardh799 2 года назад +1

    fun, thank you

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  2 года назад +1

      Glad you enjoyed this one! Cheers!

  • @TheAceman1100
    @TheAceman1100 3 года назад +1

    Really interesting puzzle and great video as always! Nye made some awesome minis for sure

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад +1

      Thank you my friend, and absolutely, those minis are dope! I really like how they came out. Hard to believe they were bright pink at one point, lol.

  • @azathothwakesup
    @azathothwakesup 2 года назад +1

    Yay, i guessed the right answer!

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  2 года назад

      Hooray! I love it when folks play along. Cheers Nell!

  • @dr.feargood2669
    @dr.feargood2669 3 года назад +1

    As always great video!

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      Thank you my friend. Cheers!

  • @LunarFerns
    @LunarFerns 3 года назад

    Thank you for the idea! Interesting and simple, exactly what I need for my players :) You can customize it into three dragon statues - copper, silver, and gold. And fill chests with copper, silver, and gold coins. Or you can be reeeeealy cruel and place a Tiamat statue with five chests each with different gems. And give the magnifying glass two charges.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад +1

      Hi there Lunar! I really like the Copper, Silver and Gold ideas. I may have to do something with that. Well done.

    • @LunarFerns
      @LunarFerns 3 года назад

      ​@@WallyDM I said I used 3 of your puzzle last game, but it was actually 4 lol! I used this one for the door for the final boss of the Tiamat-cultist-themed dungeon. Here were five sculptured heads with glowing eyes - red, blue, green, black, white and a table with five spheres (they are a part of the world's lore) with random marking not connected with the colors and magnifying glass with 3 charges ( i KNEW they will spend one charge for random stuff like check what's inside the kobold player ). Inside spheres, there are gems of certain colors. So they solved it easily. If they put the wrong gem sphere they get 1d4 of damage related to head color (as Tiamat heads). Great puzzle! Easy but fun and helps to add lore. Thank you again! 😄❤

  • @lorenzohot5234
    @lorenzohot5234 3 месяца назад +1

    Ima ganna try this one out

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 месяца назад

      Fantastic. Good luck!

    • @lorenzohot5234
      @lorenzohot5234 3 месяца назад

      @@WallyDM it went off splendidly! They said it was the favorite part of the session. Going to have to keep the puzzles flowing. It was the first puzzle I’ve ever ran.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 месяца назад +1

      @@lorenzohot5234 Hooray! Glad to hear things went well! And, feel free to reach out any time. With my puzzle book, Discord server, and the videos on this channel, you should have plenty of ammo for quite a while.
      Super stoked for your success! Cheers!

  • @Foerick
    @Foerick 3 года назад +1

    Haha Xel is immune to necrotic damage

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад +2

      I have other way. So many other ways. Mwahaha!

  • @StoneC0ld5345
    @StoneC0ld5345 10 месяцев назад +1

    Nice little puzzle.. However, I can think of another method of solving it that requires no puzzle-solving skills, whatsoever.... And, this exploit just happens to be the very first thing I thought of when trying to solve the puzzle.... However, not sure I want to outright say it and likely spoil it for any DMs planning to use this puzzle in their campaigns.... And, this exploit does not even require the magnifying glass, and is guaranteed to work.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  10 месяцев назад

      I'm definitely intrigued. Feel free to leave a comment with your revelation!

    • @StoneC0ld5345
      @StoneC0ld5345 10 месяцев назад

      @@WallyDM
      It's simple: A bruteforce hack.
      Rules as written for the puzzle, the party can simply attempt every possible combination for chests in a systematic sequence. Even if you ignore the part about all three chests starting off in incorrect locations, you're guaranteed to find the correct combination in 5 guesses or less.
      If you do factor in the part about all three chests starting off in incorrect locations, you eliminate three possible combinations. As a result, if players can figure out and skip invalid combinations in this systematic hack, you're guaranteed to find the correct combination in 2 guesses or less.
      While the DM is free to allow this if he/she so chooses, I would personally likely add a minor consequence to incorrect guesses. After any incorrect guess is committed to, the party would be teleported to one of a number of predetermined locations throughout the dungeon/tunnels/whatever--chosen at random, which would force the party to have to find their way back to the puzzle room to try again. Doesn't outright prevent this hack, but makes it tedious and time-consuming. Possibly enough so that it might convince the players to attempt to actually solve the puzzle as written.

  • @liamcage7208
    @liamcage7208 2 года назад

    If the PCs remove the gems from the eyes to bad, so sad. There is no need for magical interventions to stop them. Hopefully the PCs learned from earlier adventures not to be so hasty and greedy and take a moment before going straight to the gems. If solving the puzzle was required to move the plot along, I'd give the most intelligent player (wizard probably) an Intelligence check to see if he remembered the gem locations before the Rogue got in there and pocketed everything. If the PCs still failed I guess its trial and error, after all there is only so many combinations it could be.

  • @MarvelX42
    @MarvelX42 3 года назад +2

    Okay there are problems with this puzzle, at least in the way that you explained it.
    First being that all of the mechanisms that the chests are placed on work in tandem. This means that you do NOT know that all of the chests are in the wrong places you only know that at least two of them are.
    Second, if there is no limit to how many times you can change the chests position than you don't need any kind of magical magnifying glass or whatever to look into any of the chests, you can just randomly move the chests around until you get it right.
    Third, I really don't think that they need any clues to figure out what is in the chests.
    Fourth, if they can "only going to see one gemstone that's inside the treasure chest" that isn't going to help much being that the one with green and red stones will be a wild card in that if you look into any one of the chests you are going to see either
    (1) a red stone or
    (2) a green stone
    which would mean that any chest you look in (if as you said you can only see "one gemstone") could be the mixed one.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      Hmmm, well my friend, I do politely disagree with you this morning. Here is what I am thinking...
      I would probably counter with the following... I am presenting an idea... and I didn't state that nothing bad won't happen if they put them in the incorrect order. So, I left point 2 up to the DM... what would you, as the GM/DM have happen if they put them in the wrong order? This doesn't mean there is any problem with the puzzle... it just requires the DM to decide what happens (if anything) if they put them in the incorrect order.
      Point 3... I dunno... Reading through it in the book... I would, as a character, have no idea what is in the treasure chests. Just because they have gemstones in their eyes, doesn't mean that is what is in the chests. I felt this part really needed to be explained.
      Point 4... Um, actually, it helps a lot. Knowing that all chests are currently in the incorrect order, and to solve the puzzle, you have to look at the middle one. because we know for a sure that this one is either emeralds or rubies... not both. If it was mixed, then, it would already be in the correct gemstone. That is the puzzle part... being able to determine which chest to use that final charge of the magnifying glass on. If you look into the chest on the left or right, then, you more or less fail the puzzle and you go back to point 2 to determine what happens upon failure.
      Anyways, hope my insight helps, and sorry if the video didn't provide enough explanation for you. As always, I appreciate your feedback. :)

    • @MarvelX42
      @MarvelX42 3 года назад +1

      I think that I think about this kind of thing to much. Anyways what I said only points out the problems and offers no solutions, SO here are some solutions.
      (1) Make it so that they can see inside one of the chests totally and not just see one gem in any one chest.
      (2) Make it so that they can only replace the chests on any one pedestal ONE time.
      If they get it wrong they are kinda screwed, so I would
      A] Come up with someway for them to get whatever they were looking for some other way. I wouldn't tell them about it right then and there though. Let them think that they screwed up big time and let them sweat it out for awhile.
      B] Have something catastrophic if they get it wrong, something like
      I. The chests are locked in placed and can't be moved
      II. The room explodes destroying the chests, skeletons, pedestals, etc and they take alotta damage
      III. Some kinda critters try to kill them. Hey maybe the skellys come alive.
      C] TELL THEM that they can only replace the chests on any one pedestal ONE time. This could be from an NPC before they go or a note on the dead guy or a voice from nowhere once they are in that chamber or whatever.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      @@MarvelX42 Now these ideas I can get behind... some really great thoughts and alternatives here. Well done, I dig it!

    • @Foerick
      @Foerick 3 года назад +1

      The pedestals could vary their height depending if you have 1 right or none right, because having 2 right also means you have the third. So if you place one chest in the right place and the other two wrong the pedestals for all of them drop to halfway. You still don't know which is the right one though.

    • @MarvelX42
      @MarvelX42 3 года назад +2

      @@WallyDM If the PCs knew that all of the chests were on the wrong pedestals yes that would help alot, but you didn't say that they knew that, you just said that they were. Wording and being precise is very important, especially with puzzles. Also you said that if they look in the middle one they would be able to see ONE gem. Again, not much help because, it would only narrow that chest down to one of two chests. It helps, but not alot. Of course if (as I said) they can see ALL of the gems in any one chest, that helps alot more. Either way, thanks for making videos, puttin puzzles out there for people to use, etc. I hope that my comments don't come off wrong. Like I said before, it is alot easier to talk voice than it is to try to discuss this kind of thing in text like this. lol

  • @MorbusTechnicus
    @MorbusTechnicus 2 года назад

    Nice puzzzle, but it lacks a little plausibility for me. So why are all the chests in a wrong position? Let's asume the poor guy with the glass looked up one chest and it showed red, so he put it on the red skeletton, lets do as if it was the wrong chest containing red and green gems. So he would probably put one of the remaining two chest in the correct position, since he still has a charge left in his magnifying glass. If the next chest shows green and he puts it wrong, the third one shows red again and he knows he was wrong and vice versa. so never all of the chest would be wrong at least one is allway in the right position. And this should probably be the last one he positioned or am I wrong?

  • @RIVERSRPGChannel
    @RIVERSRPGChannel 3 года назад +1

    I would have it have an artifact they need to defeat the BBEG

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад +1

      I'm with you. This sounds like an appropriate use for the puzzle, for sure.

  • @RIVERSRPGChannel
    @RIVERSRPGChannel 3 года назад +2

    Good puzzle
    Not too hard

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад +1

      Thanks Rivers, glad you liked it. :)

  • @the_random_ramenishere1890
    @the_random_ramenishere1890 3 года назад +1

    Hi I’m new to dnd and I’m trying to write my first campaign but I’m stuck on coming up with puzzles! If anyone could tell me some of their favorite puzzles they’ve encountered or good resources to find some that would be VERY Appreciated:-)! Thank you in advance!

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      Hey there, welcome to the channel! If you are new to puzzles, I recommend that you start with the Prismatic Owl. You can find it here on my RUclips channel. Puzzle #8. Pie Lady and the Deja Vu puzzle are two more I would recommend.
      I recommend that you watch this video series (over 70 puzzles) and pick up a copy of my book (for an additional 30 puzzles). Here is a link:
      www.drivethrurpg.com/product/317084/Wally-DMs-Journal-of-Puzzle-Encounters?affiliate_id=964873
      This is 100 puzzles to get you started... also, come and join us on Discord. We have more ideas there too. Hope this helps!
      Oh... and my two favorite puzzles are: Magic Mouth and the Prismatic Owl 3 (both found in the book). Cheers!

  • @stephenkaye8537
    @stephenkaye8537 3 года назад +2

    What is there to stop players trying the chests at random on each of the pedastals?

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      While not listed in the book for this puzzle, I should have offered some suggestions. I definitely believe that placing the chests on the wrong pedestals would cause a severe reaction. This could be the release of toxic fumes or perhaps the skeletons are an indestructible force that come to life and shoot red/green lasers from their eyes. Totally up to the DM/GM, but yes... I do believe some ill-effect should happen if placed in the wrong order.

    • @chaosthegod
      @chaosthegod 3 года назад +2

      @@WallyDM Maybe some poison gas is spread across the room with some deadly damage. Also, the dead adventurer could have died from this as he placed the chests in the wrong positions.

  • @deadpoolsmultiverse9157
    @deadpoolsmultiverse9157 10 месяцев назад +1

    Where did you get the skeletons in the thrones ??

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  10 месяцев назад

      Ah, actually... these were 3D printed for me by a friend. I've lost contact with them, but if I run into them again, I'll be sure to ask where they obtained the file. Thank you for watching, cheers!

  • @RubrDuky1
    @RubrDuky1 3 года назад +1

    Do you enjoy planechase?

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      I do enjoy it... in moderation. Our Planechase games have gone on for 2-3 hours and they always make for a great "see-saw" battle where the power of the table in in constant flux. But again, I'm up for a Planechase game every-once-in-a-while, but not on a consistent basis.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      This also reminds me there are a few rare Planechase cards I should try to pick up soon... Hmmm...

    • @RubrDuky1
      @RubrDuky1 3 года назад

      @@WallyDM yeah. My wife and I are the same way. It's more fun when it's not all the time.

  • @scottturner3831
    @scottturner3831 3 года назад +2

    72nd level wizard moves the chests to the wrong places... does not use magic... herniated 2 discs in his back.

    • @WallyDM
      @WallyDM  3 года назад

      Haha! Yes, absolutely. lol.