If a puzzle is too simple, players will assume the solution is a red herring, and the actual answer is something more complex. Let us not forget how the entire Fellowship of the Ring was stumped by a door that told them how to open it, because they thought it would be more secure.
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If a puzzle is too simple, players will assume the solution is a red herring, and the actual answer is something more complex. Let us not forget how the entire Fellowship of the Ring was stumped by a door that told them how to open it, because they thought it would be more secure.
DM: “Written on the door in beautiful caligraphy carved directly into the stone are the words ‘Pedo mellon a minno’.”
Party: …
DM: “You recognize it as Elvish. It translates to ‘Speak friend and enter.’”
Party: …
DM: “It’s telling you, in elvish, to speak the word ‘friend’”.
Party: …
DM “You can just say the word for ‘friend’ to gain entry”
Party: “Friend!”
DM: “No, no, say the word for ‘friend’ in Elvish.”
Party: …
DM: “It’s literally written on the wall in the text of the riddle.”
Party: …
DM: “I just said it, and it is written write there.”
Party: …
DM: “It’s ‘mellon’.”
Party: …
DM: “Say ‘mellon’ and the door will open.”
Party: …
DM: “SAY MELLON!!!”
Party: “Uh… ‘Mellon.’”
DM: deeeep breath “The door swings open revealing a dark tunnel in front of you.”
Party: “Crap, I don’t have have dark vision. Can we go back to the village to buy some torches?”
DM: …