Puzzle Path

Atlas501 wrote:Okay, it's time to post the mock.

For this mock, I'll be covering the following:

Basics of how the game would proceed.
The kind of problems to solve and the tools the players have at their disposal.
Character customization.
Running the game as the Dm.

Note:
As I have said before, this game doesn't rely on any template to run. Therefore, if you want to run this as a CL game, just replace the puzzles and you have a CL rp. Make it in WW2, and you have a WW2 rp and so on....

This mock won't have a specific template. It's really just the absolute basics.

And with that, let's introduce the 4 helpers for this.
Mr. Int. He is very knowledgeable about a lot of topics.
Mr.Wit. He loves wordplay and cracks some good jokes.
Mr. Wis. He is a man who always thinks about his actions.
Mr.In. He's not specialized in anything, but has good instincts.

Of course, they are named as such for a specific reason. Each of these characters specializes in a certain stat.
And with that, let's go over them:

CHARACTER CREATION:
Each character has four different stats.
These stats are abbreviated as W.I.W.I. (yup, totally intentional)

The base template you will all begin with is:
TEMPLATE:

Your Character Name
Wisdom: 3
Intelligence: 3
Wit: 3
Intuition: 3

Points Remaining: 5

Note:
You can put those 5 points into any of the 4 categories.
3 is as low as you can go, and is considered poor in that subject.
4-6 is about average.
7-9 is gifted.
10+ is extremely skilled.

As to what they do in the game, we'll go over that now.

Let's begin.

*opening roll*

You and your companions come together to investigate a dig site recently discovered. However the excavators have noticed that there are several areas that are still inaccessible to them. They have sent you four to see if you can unlock these areas for them. Be warned though, the traps are still active in this area, so failure might result in death. (game over)

You arrive in the area, and the first obstacle in the way is an old door.


On the door you notice a keypad:


Above that is a small screen, with the following already on the pad:

X..
...
-X..
-...
--X..
--...

What is the next in the sequence?

Number of attempts: 2

Note:
This is where I would let the players try to figure it out, but this is a mock, so we just go:

"I don't get this puzzle. I think there's some kind of pattern, but I can't see it."
"Indeed."
"I think I understand this puzzle. Just gimme a sec."

Mr. Int. tries to use his intelligence to look for a hint.

This kind of puzzle corresponds to intelligence. The intelligence stat is used to help solve problems that involves numbers or complex logical reasoning. In this case, this problem is considered a math problem. Of course, all disputes will be ended in favor of the Dm/Gm.

Note:
This is where the stats come into the play. The higher the appropriate score is, the better the hint is. If your score is high enough, you might outright be given the answer. Don't count on that happening though.

Mr. Int has a very high intelligence, so he would get a very good hint. In this case, I would chime in with something like:

"You notice that is seems to be some kind of number code. . appears to represent 1, X seems to be 5, and - corresponds to 10."

At that point:

"Hmmmm, then the numbers are 7,3,17,13,27,23.... then the next number is 37."

"I put in the sequence ---X.."

The door clicks open. Going inside you realize that there are several altars to each side of the room.



You take the one on the left first. This appears to be a simple slab, and with the following inscribed upon it:

Forward I am heavy, but backward I am not. What am I?

"Uhhh, I hate these kind of puzzles."
"I don't get it, again. I can think of a lot of heavy things, but backwards?"
"Silly little people, this is what happens when you waste a good joke on people. I think I get it."

Mr. Wit uses his Wit to try and solve the puzzle.

And here we use wit. Wit will be used in cases of word problems, as well as those that have elements of human interactions, such as logs or diaries. In this case, it's a simple riddle and the message Mr. Wit gets is...

"Think of the kind of units you would use for heavy things. You feel like one of them is the answer."

"Hahahaha! I get it! So clever of them."

"I put in the answer: Ton."

The altar clicks, and rotates out of the way revealing a door farther down the hallway. However, you feel that you should solve the other altar puzzles first.

Note:
In a normal game, you would have the option to go to any puzzle or area you want, as well as to split up if you so desire. However, for now, I'm severely restricting movement, just so that it gets the necessary information conveyed.

You go to the middle puzzle, which also appears to be inscribed on slab. The message reads:


Vanaheimr
Niflhel
Miðgarðr
Álfheimr
Niflheimr
Jötunheimr
Ásgarðr
Múspellsheimr
Svartálfaheimr

Farther down, you notice there are three symbols, each stacked one on top of the other. The highest, looks like a sun, the middle looks like the plains, and the bottom looks like a dark river. Each has a bit of space between them.

"Now these words are not as clear."
"Some of them end the same, but from what I can guess, we need to put them in categories?"
"I think I've seen these before, but where...."

Mr.Wis uses his wisdom to try and solve the puzzle.

And here is where wisdom would apply. Wisdom will be used in situations that require intimate knowledge on stories, such as mythology, as well as those that pertain to matters of judgment. This case, it is a mythology question, and the response for him would be.....

You recognize the names as the nine worlds in Norse Mythology. Each realm was located in a certain area, and several worlds were considered part of a group.

"Ahhh now I recall! Each of these were realms, and they were considered to be on different parts of the World Tree. The sun must be the heavens, the plains the Earth, and the dark river the underworld. In that case, it should be....."

"Mr.Wis puts in the answer:

Sun:
Múspellsheimr
Álfheimr
Ásgarðr

Earth:
Vanaheimr
Miðgarðr
Jötunheimr

Underworld:
Svartálfaheimr
Niflhel
Niflheimr"

The slab clicks, and reveals another passageway farther in. You decide to finish this chamber, and move to the last puzzle on the right.
Once again, it is a slab, with another inscription that reads:

#$%%)^* @)#( ? (!=o)

"Wtf?"
"Indeed."
"Likewise."
"Well it kind of looks like..."

Mr. In uses his intuition to try to solve the puzzle.

And here we come to intuition. Intuition is used to solve problems that are foreign in concept, as well as those don't have a readily understandable set of rules. In this case....

You feel that the symbols can be related to numbers, but you can't find a pattern to them. You sense that ) represents a, and % represents d.

"I got part of it, but I think I'll need more help."
"Ok, I'll try."
"Same here."
"All together then."

Mr Wis, Mr Int, and Mr Wit all try to use intuition to try to solve the problem.

Note:
You may have noticed that this problem requires a group effort. Some of the more difficult puzzles will require multiple hints, but only 1 hint can be given out per person. As such, it pays for your character to be good at several subjects, instead of just super-specialized in one. Since only Mr. In had a high intuition while the other didn't, the others only get a little information.

After a group effort, you believe that @ equates to n, and # is m, and * is s.

"okay, that gives "Middaxs namx?" and that !=0. I think "middays name?" in that case, it would be noon."

Mr.In puts in the answer "@!!@".

The slab clicks, and reveals a small little golden box, partially opened. Opening it, you are given a scroll that contains a small translation of the language of the tomb. You feel a little more versed in the language now.

All members have gained a permanent +1 to intelligence.

Note:
Some of the more difficult puzzles may not be necessary to get to the end, but they will provide helpful bonuses to the party for future puzzles. However, that doesn't mean that you don't have to do some of the harder ones, as they may be a part of your path. In other words, try every puzzle before simply ignoring it.

And this should conclude the basic tutorial. Of course, the normal game would continue until the party is stumped/dead, or until they reach the end, but that is far too long for me to mock.

Last note:
In the normal game, puzzles might not be completely independent of each other. Some puzzles might require you to find clues outside of the ones given, or possibly solve other problems first.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns or whatever, fell free to let me know.

Hope you enjoyed the mock!