I'll be running the Reckless Steps puzzle from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything this weekend (if all goes according to plan).  Just wondering if anyone else has run that puzzle, and if they have any tip on making it go smoothly?

Thanks in advance!

Yes, I actually ran that last week.  Players loved it.  I don't do too many puzzles so they liked the change of pace (I need to start doing more).  

• I told them there was a narrow strip along the edge of the room where they started so they could step on any tile they wanted to start out.  
• I would definitely make enough copies of the handout for each player to have one to look at, and it is very helpful to use miniatures even if you don't normally.
• If they are really stuck you might let them make checks as suggested in the "hints" section, but the words kind of pop out anyway.  My players are age 11 and 14 (my kids) and they figured it out pretty fast without me giving hints, I mean it's fairly obvious once you read the inscription on the wall.  I allowed an arcana check for the character to remember the names of the eight schools of magic once they figured out what they were looking for.
• I used the optional rule where the different schools of magic do unique things.  I think this added a lot to it and I would recommend it.  I don't think it increases the overall challenge by much really.  The worst one to step on is probably necromancy.  Other than that there is potential for a lot of cool moments.  One of the PCs got polymorphed into a frog, so I took his sheet away from him since frogs can't read.  Then luckily someone stepped on the one that casts 9th level dispel magic so he changed back.  Would probably have just taken enough damage to change back eventually anyway but it was fun.  Also the one that casts Suggestion was interesting.
• If you use the optional rule be sure to have the stat blocks for Giant Frog and Animated Armor bookmarked.
• Make sure you (and the players) are familiar with the jump rules for both standing and running jumps, and decide in advance how you want to handle it if they want to jump diagonally (I did a rough calculation of the distance, and decided to allow diagonal jumps with an athletics check needed if it was a close call).
• My 11 year old started walking around the room trying to see what every different effect did.  Luckily his brother talked him out of it before he got too beat up or stepped on Necromancy.  Not so much a recommendation as a funny story, but also it goes to show the puzzle is more "fun" than "deadly" for level 5 PCs, especially once they get the hang of it.
• In the Latin alphabet, "Jehova" begins with an "I"

Overall it was a great experience, have fun!