D&D Puzzles - Pay 1 Gold for a Key? Why an Origami Boat? - Dungeons & Dragons

Pay 1gp for a key to open the door. Easy enough. Right? Hmmm... this gatekeeper has an amazing business model. What will YOUR character do?
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[@PrippyMontyPoppyCock]

Seems like a nice and simple puzzle you could place in just about any dungeon. If the players make it to the other side I would go for a witty social encounter, I feel like that gargoyle would have some funny stories to tell!

[@WallyDM]

This is what I'm thinking too! I love the role play, social encounter part of it. Absolutely. All-in-all, the gargoyle is probably a really nice monster. Just trying to make a living, lol. AND... thank you for the SUPER THANX Prippy! I appreciate it. Cheers!

[@christopherdaurio2617]

If a player gets through to the other side (or if multiple get through at once), the Gargoyle slowly shuffles over to them (one at a time, if a bunch of them get over all at once), picks them up, places them on their loot pile, and sends over a key (or 1 per player, one at a time, as it places them on the pile). The player(s) is (are) now worth 1gp, and any attempts to leave the pile will prompt the Gargoyle to pick them up again, and gently move them back to the pile. If the players ask the Gargoyle what it is doing, it will make some comment like "Oh ya know, just working the ol' grind." followed by "Don't worry though, I get off soon, and then we'll head to the bank!" (where it intends to deposit any players and loot its collected). (And, if you want to make this interaction more challenging, you could have it not speak common, so the players would have to find a way to speak rock -> or "Terran" -> to communicate with it.) If players protest to the point where they annoy the Gargoyle, or get violent with them, they'll provoke a fight with it. (see below for suggested changed to its stats) If players wait until the end of the Gargoyle's shift (which can be as long as you want, maybe only about an hour), it'll ring a little magical bell on its side of the wall, opening up a portal to the Elemental Plane of Earth on the wall opposite it (via a modified version of the "Word of Recall", "Plane Shift", or "Gate" spell, or some other planar travel spell), and then attempt to haul the players and its loot through it (perhaps with some big chest it either gathers up it's gold into, or has already placed it's loot and the players into, which it carries like a business briefcase). (If you don't want PCs to have access to planar travel, even if it's only to the Plane of Earth, you can rule it that the bell doesn't work if removed from the wall, or that it only opens a portal in one specific spot on the wall opposite where it hangs.) If you want to discourage travel to this element plane, make it obvious to the players that there is no breathable air on the other side of the portal (as it leads to the plane of EARTH, not air, possibly with some clearly poisonous gasses or thick choking dust spilling out through the portal, which the players would some sort of "Potion of Rock Breathing" -> like a "Potion of Water Breathing" -> if they'd rather not suffocate on the other side). For this interaction, personally, I think it would be funnier/more effective with an oversized, big lumbering 15ft tall Gargoyle, which when paired with its mild mannerisms, will hopefully give the players pause before they default to just fighting it (though, that's fine too, cause we can then beef up its stat block because of its increased size, in some or all of the following ways: • Increasing it to a size "Large" creature. • Adding an additional +1 or +2 onto its bonus to hit. • Giving it an extra claw attack. • Giving it an extra point or two in its strength score. • Maxing out its HP. • Bumping up its damage dice by and additional 1d4 or 1d6. • Giving it an additional +1 to it's AC. • Adding a combat feature that lets it make a grapple check against a creature it successfully hits with its claws. • Giving it a bonus action where it can shove a creature it has had grappled for at least 1 round into is gold/loot chest, burying them under its loot and restraining them, until they can make an appropriately scaled ability check to get out from beneath the loot. Though, this will most definitely increase its challenge rating, so be aware of that). If you read through everything above, I hope you found at least some of it informative and not too long and rambling, and have a fun time interacting as a big rock monster with your PCs! And, lmk if there's anything I missed, or anything else you would add onto an encounter with a big stone boi, who's just working its way through its shift. 👍

[@etchexiledangel883]

to be fair, in my world, the gargoyles need precious metals to feed themselves, so it is food! The Gargoye would be sad, half starved, (Hence his haste) and have a sad little home set up. if the players can find a way for it to leave the dungen, it would offer a different, more relaxed path through an upcoming encounter!

[@WallyDM]

Oh my goodness. This is absolutely amazing. What a wonderful scene and potential for role play. Well done, I enjoyed reading this. Cheers!

[@jccraftmage2313]

Another great wholesome trap. I imagine the gargoyle being real ocd like " no! That's not how you were supposed to do it!"

[@WallyDM]

lol. Yes! That would be hilarious. I love the idea of giving the gargoyle a quirky personality. Cheers!

[@greatmoustache8731]

Invoke water walking on the gold coin, then let it float on top and around! =P Love the business more so, and the potential NPC idea.

[@WallyDM]

Water walking coin is brilliant. You always have some of the best ideas!

[@dr.feargood2669]

I like simple, inventive puzzles with more than one way to solve and even get an encounter out of it.

[@WallyDM]

Me too. This one was fun, for sure.

[@givemeanaxe]

I guess my question is, why is this door so popular that this gargoyle realized it was a lucrative business to gatekeep it.

[@WallyDM]

Perhaps it is a secret hideout, a portal to another dimension, or it could simply be a secret location of a rumored speakeasy. That is what I love about the puzzle, you can include it in your game for a variety of different games. So, with that in mind... what do you think, is beyond the door? Cheers!

[@VladdViever]

I like the idea of the gargoyle getting annoyed that these people just broke into his house.

[@WallyDM]

Me too, lol. I really like this for lower level parties and would probably elevate the gargoyle's stat block in case the party decided to take it out and steal it's gold, lol.

[@VladdViever]

@wally though if they instead tried to steal a key without the gargoyle noticing, that would be cool

[@WallyDM]

@@VladdViever Absolutely! I would love this as well. There are so many fun and creative ways to get through this encounter, I am liking it more and more.

[@jonasmlgaardlilholt423]

Once again a great puzzle that can easily be incoorporated into my game. As it takes place in Theros i am considering placing a statue of Athreos (The god of passage) that the water flows underneath, as a hint to offer a coin. I might even consider using this as an entry puzzle to the Font of Keranos.

[@Lexaire]

Thank you so much for making this great video! I love seeing the enthusiasm from everyone, and seeing the trap come to life!

[@WallyDM]

You're welcome! Glad you liked it. We definitely receive a lot of amazing feedback on this puzzle. And, the almighty algorithm helped out a bit with those views, lol. As always, thank you for sharing your splendid ideas with the rest of the channel! Cheers!

[@mmardh799]

thank you, Wally! an easy and fun one. if they go to the other side, or one goes, then the gargolyte raises the tax --> social encounter. oh! or maybe the gargolyte is trapped there and if another intelligent creature enters the space it can get out = substituted -> so the other PC has to conviced it back,

[@WallyDM]

I like both of these ideas. Definitely setting up for a fun social encounter. Cheers!

[@tunkatodd4539]

That is very clever. I really love the puzzles & traps you showcase on your channel.

[@WallyDM]

Thank you Tunka. I am glad that you are enjoying the videos. I appreciate your support. Cheers!

[@timothyneiswander3151]

I would put something way more devastating then a gargoyle. Perhaps the hole the water flows through is a portal to another plane and there is a bored demon on the other side. Alternatively, there could be a hungry xorn who eats the gold and sends a key made of bone in return. If someone pops up on his side he will demand all your gold. Or you could easily make the opening too small for anyone to go through but I prefer the players being the harbinger of their own doom.

[@WallyDM]

You've got some great ideas here, thank you for sharing them! Bored demons are the worst... they are always out looking for trouble, for sure. And, I love the xorn churning its dietary choices into keys. Clever!

[@DiceandDungeons]

Cool idea..I liked and subscribed. As a DM who likes to do puzzles in our own persistent campaign, glad I found you.

[@WallyDM]

And, I am glad you are here. Welcome to our community!

[@HowtoRPG]

Very impressive.

[@WallyDM]

A fun little encounter for sure. Plus, I learned how to create an origami boat. :-)

[@TheAceman1100]

Love the video. I love the idea of this gargoyle just setting up shop in some random important place. If players make their way under I feel like the gargoyle would be sassy about it and take gold from the player and make them the vessel for the key to return

[@WallyDM]

That's awesome. I love that idea. Perhaps he could also have a powerful reduce spell and send them back in a vial or boat? That would be hilarious. Cheers Ace!

[@jasonstatham5879]

Oooh, thinking of how I could do this with the Dungeons and Lasers sewer tiles. :D

[@WallyDM]

I would love to see this! If you are able to put it together, be sure to get a picture and find a way to show me! Email, Twitter, Discord, whatever. I love seeing crafty fun stuff represented from puzzle vids. Cheers, Jason!

[@jasonstatham5879]

@@WallyDM I did link to a facebook post were I put it.

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

I like the puzzle. If the party gets to the other side the gargoyle will be annoyed and threatened to charge them more. If they threaten him or kill him the 172level wizard will hunt them down for killing him

[@WallyDM]

Haha, I love the idea of the price going up. Thank you Rivers!

[@lindybeige]

I don't get this style of puzzle. Why would anyone set up such an elaborate way of charging a tiny amount of gold to go through a door? Why do people come here often? Why does the gargoyle want coins? I don't see this room in a real world. What does the gargoyle do when not wring notes? How did he learn to write?

[@immortalorigins9446]

Simple fun puzzle with lots of roleplaying opportunity and a chance for a funny unique npc lol I love it! My take on if the players get to the otherside is, they find a stone gargoyle that does not move or speak Faced with this they can simple grab the key and the remaining GPs If they do this however...the gargoyle will follow them along the dungeon The thing here would be that the gargoyle remains motionless while a player looks at it but cannot be destroyed like this by normal means In other to get rid of it they have to return what they stole and pay for the key I would also have the gargoyle either attack them or try to steal what they took everytime they choose to ignore it... Thinking about it, what if they gargoyle simply curses them with locked doors? Lol I like the potential in this! Thanks for the ideas Wally! =D

[@WallyDM]

Thank you, my friend. I love the idea of the gargoyle dungeon stalker, lol. But, that curse? That's even better yet. Next video, "you find a door magically sealed by an angry, magical level 1 gargoyle". lol.

[@andrewmroch1920]

When the party meets the gargoyle, I’m going to make the gargoyle shy oh hello there many people usually fear me so they never really go through the door so hello there

[@WallyDM]

I like that idea. Sounds like a fun social encounter with the gargoyle. Hope it goes well for you!

[@Nysteria]

This one's funny, I like it xD

[@WallyDM]

Me too! It is a bit humorous, for sure. Cheers Liya!