[Cha. & PH] Puzzles, Codes & Traps

[Funksaw]

I'm currently working on a scenario idea which I might write-up for DH if Dave likes the idea (once I have a rough outline!)

But I could use some help. Essentially, this is going to be a "mad mad mad world" style puzzle-solving romp (okay, yes, I've been watching 'Treasure Hunters' and it makes WWTBAS look positively inspired,) and although I have a few ideas for the overall plot, I could really use some help coming up with the actual puzzles.

Here's the trick: The puzzles have to be something that could be put together by Americans or Europeans who lived between 1760 and 1820. They also have to have some "gordian knot" alternate solution -- because players hate nothing more than an unsolvable puzzle. (Indeed, the -solution- to the puzzle shouldn't matter so much as GMs should just take the first puzzle solution that "sounds right.")

This'll be my first attempt at constructing a scenario... so I might be biting off more than I can chew... but I think it'll be -- if nothing else -- interesting. If I can't get it to work, I'm going to give the forums my notes so that maybe someone else can take a crack at it.

[Lethosos]

Deduction is your best skill-friend.

Other than that, don't hurt your head over the authenticy--just figure out what it might look like if it was thunk up by those people.

[Mike W]

I'm currently working on a scenario idea which I might write-up for DH if Dave likes the idea (once I have a rough outline!)

But I could use some help. Essentially, this is going to be a "mad mad mad world" style puzzle-solving romp (okay, yes, I've been watching 'Treasure Hunters' and it makes WWTBAS look positively inspired,) and although I have a few ideas for the overall plot, I could really use some help coming up with the actual puzzles.

Here's the trick: The puzzles have to be something that could be put together by Americans or Europeans who lived between 1760 and 1820. They also have to have some "gordian knot" alternate solution -- because players hate nothing more than an unsolvable puzzle. (Indeed, the -solution- to the puzzle shouldn't matter so much as GMs should just take the first puzzle solution that "sounds right.")

This'll be my first attempt at constructing a scenario... so I might be biting off more than I can chew... but I think it'll be -- if nothing else -- interesting. If I can't get it to work, I'm going to give the forums my notes so that maybe someone else can take a crack at it.

You should put a maze in it. Garden mazes were hugely popular in Britain in the 19th century.

[Captain Obvious]

Use references from Classical Greece and Rome. That was the basis for higher education in those days, and anyone with any amount of learning knew the major myths and historical works of those times.