So, I am currently running ToA and my players got sucked into the og ToH. They started to get really torn as a group because of Acererak’s riddle. So one of the players decided, to write the riddle on a wall and read it through true sight. I’m a pretty new DM and this through me off a little bit. Can players cast or read a riddle with true sight? And if so, how would that work for the DM?
It's a bit like Eyes of the Rune Keeper or comprehend languages, I always rule that you might understand the literal words, but you won't necessarily understand the meaning. So, in the real world Cockney Rhyming Slang was a way of using the English Language to obfuscate the meaning of the language spoken. So, in Cockney the 'apples and pears' are stairs. Any skill that allows you to access a language you don't otherwise know like the two I mentioned above, would allow the player to hear only apples and pears. That is the literal meaning. They won't be able to understand the 'stairs' meaning of the words. I extend this out to both Thieves Cant, and Druidic because those are not 'true' languages to my mind but a secret code.
In short, I'm not aware of a divination spell or skill that would reveal the literal meaning off the top of my head. Which means the answer to your player is...it doesn't work that way.
Truesight like through, say, a Gem of Seeing? it can help you see in the dark and through illusions. however, it's not a substitute for Comprehend Languages and even that spell wouldn't decipher a riddle. maybe a Linguist feat with a good Int roll or a bard with a convincing background could get some strong clues from the DM. using x-ray specs to peep at the writing on the wall? not so much, i'd think.
...but you're the DM and if they're really stuck then maybe that's how things work in your world. it's called the "rule of cool" and you get to decide when it overwrites plausible reality.
Truesight like through, say, a Gem of Seeing? it can help you see in the dark and through illusions. however, it's not a substitute for Comprehend Languages and even that spell wouldn't decipher a riddle. maybe a Linguist feat with a good Int roll or a bard with a convincing background could get some strong clues from the DM. using x-ray specs to peep at the writing on the wall? not so much, i'd think.
...but you're the DM and if they're really stuck then maybe that's how things work in your world. it's called the "rule of cool" and you get to decide when it overwrites plausible reality.
If you're going strictly rules as written then even [feat]Linguist[/feat] wouldn't decipher codes...though it does allow you to create them
As Rumlover points out though it is your world and you can choose to disregard the rules if that's what you want to have happen. One of the major reasons that I homebrew my worlds is that when I create a riddle or a puzzle I know it inside and out and have a greater ability to modify it on the fly. If the players are struggling with something I can find another way that they can succeed.
That said, I've also had to abandon puzzles or riddles and just flat out have the players fail them. Sometimes a group of players just don't 'get' the puzzle and they aren't going to be able to make progress. In those circumstances it's a matter of good design to never hide anything crucial for progress behind said riddle or puzzle. However, if you want to give the players a break and some aid, I'd choose that moment as one of the rare ones where I force a check on the party. So, I might get one of them to roll history, or arcana, or maybe even investigation...that way even if the players can't figure out the solution the characters can. That's my break glass in case of emergency though.
So, I am currently running ToA and my players got sucked into the og ToH. They started to get really torn as a group because of Acererak’s riddle. So one of the players decided, to write the riddle on a wall and read it through true sight. I’m a pretty new DM and this through me off a little bit. Can players cast or read a riddle with true sight? And if so, how would that work for the DM?
Players don't have true sight... do you meant they case the spell True Seeing?
Yes, they see the wall for a wall, and see writing on the wall as writing on the wall.
There is nothing in that spell description that should make them believe the answer to a riddle would be reveled to them.
Neither truesight nor True Seeing is going to help with that.
It's a bit like Eyes of the Rune Keeper or comprehend languages, I always rule that you might understand the literal words, but you won't necessarily understand the meaning. So, in the real world Cockney Rhyming Slang was a way of using the English Language to obfuscate the meaning of the language spoken. So, in Cockney the 'apples and pears' are stairs. Any skill that allows you to access a language you don't otherwise know like the two I mentioned above, would allow the player to hear only apples and pears. That is the literal meaning. They won't be able to understand the 'stairs' meaning of the words. I extend this out to both Thieves Cant, and Druidic because those are not 'true' languages to my mind but a secret code.
In short, I'm not aware of a divination spell or skill that would reveal the literal meaning off the top of my head. Which means the answer to your player is...it doesn't work that way.
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Truesight like through, say, a Gem of Seeing? it can help you see in the dark and through illusions. however, it's not a substitute for Comprehend Languages and even that spell wouldn't decipher a riddle. maybe a Linguist feat with a good Int roll or a bard with a convincing background could get some strong clues from the DM. using x-ray specs to peep at the writing on the wall? not so much, i'd think.
...but you're the DM and if they're really stuck then maybe that's how things work in your world. it's called the "rule of cool" and you get to decide when it overwrites plausible reality.
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If you're going strictly rules as written then even [feat]Linguist[/feat] wouldn't decipher codes...though it does allow you to create them
As Rumlover points out though it is your world and you can choose to disregard the rules if that's what you want to have happen. One of the major reasons that I homebrew my worlds is that when I create a riddle or a puzzle I know it inside and out and have a greater ability to modify it on the fly. If the players are struggling with something I can find another way that they can succeed.
That said, I've also had to abandon puzzles or riddles and just flat out have the players fail them. Sometimes a group of players just don't 'get' the puzzle and they aren't going to be able to make progress. In those circumstances it's a matter of good design to never hide anything crucial for progress behind said riddle or puzzle. However, if you want to give the players a break and some aid, I'd choose that moment as one of the rare ones where I force a check on the party. So, I might get one of them to roll history, or arcana, or maybe even investigation...that way even if the players can't figure out the solution the characters can. That's my break glass in case of emergency though.
DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
Thank you so much, this has been super helpful and illuminating 😋