I am looking for some trap and puzzle ideas for a library sequence my group is going into. They are entering this arcane library and are given permission to enter the "Restricted" section of the library. Now because the information here is of top priority of not getting out I want the library to force them to find the book. I was thinking of having a specter library running the desk at the start of the "dungeon" and they have to tell it specifically what they are looking for (which in this case they can't because they don't know the name of the place they are looking for). What I want them to do is describe to the best of their ability (using their written notes for the campaign) to the specter what they are looking for. From there the specter allows them access and the library itself now forces them through puzzles and mazes to make their way to any text that might have that information. I want to make it challenging but also rewarding for them to passthrough and I could use a little help for that.
It would make sense for the test to relate to the knowledge they are after especially if it is dangerous knowledge. Then the library can just fade into an illusory test of sorts as they walk through it and you won't be limited to a library it can be anything you want.
Then to get to the point I'd have it that when they escape/pass the illusion they find themselves in the area with the book and if they try to head to other areas that aren't permitted they simply find themselves turned around. I'd only add all of the traps ect... if they do something they aren't supposed to.
As for defenses
Animated objects are a good idea but I dont like animated books in most libraries because it destroys the books, something like an animated/ possessed portrait Guardian Portrait can overlook an area can curse the party with what ever spell you like while sparing the books
If you do want books to be hazards then cursed books for example the pf2e final words haunt https://2e.aonprd.com/Hazards.aspx?ID=142 which carves the words on the skin of the reader maybe be a good choice. It may not even be a deliberate trap of the library but just a feature of a rare tome.
Thats all for awell maintained library so the traps there are meant to not damage the books and be magical effects some one might expect from a wizard. If it's an old run down library you can add collapsing areas, animated books, undead ect...
First off, many old tomes will be Wizard Locked. Or, Glyphs of Warding placed on them. And Glyph's can contain other spells, so that opens up a vast array of magical traps. Nothing like having some PC not know the key word, open a book they should not, and whisk them away to some unknown location, perhaps trapped on another plane.
Libraries are meant to be silent. If the players (not just the characters) raise their voices above a whisper, the librarian approaches. The librarian is some ancient and powerful entity that the players should be forewarned about.
Libraries are meant to be silent. If the players (not just the characters) raise their voices above a whisper, the librarian approaches. The librarian is some ancient and powerful entity that the players should be forewarned about.
In Baldur's Gate 3 there's an entity in a library that is basically a summoning portal called "The Librarian" but it also silences the entire area which I thought was a fun twist. Could totally see a "librarian" automaton/statue animate and silence everything for added challenge (no vocal spells, no communication).
These are also classic environments for a mimic and/or rug of smothering to be hiding in. Maybe the former is a book, or an entire bookshelf, or the entire library…? 😈
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You could put in tests that are designed to show how well they would protect the contents of the library by giving them some challenges. My first thought was to see how well they would protect a book by having one on a stand, open to a page that says:
Mark your spot in this book and close it in troth With bent corner or ribbon of soft cloth Then open to the mark and leave it behind Only then may your literary journey unwind
The idea being if they would bend the page on the book to mark their place, they should be denied access
Use word ladders to make them get clues (a word ladder involves changing a word to another word, one letter at a time, making real words every time).
Hey Everyone,
I am looking for some trap and puzzle ideas for a library sequence my group is going into. They are entering this arcane library and are given permission to enter the "Restricted" section of the library. Now because the information here is of top priority of not getting out I want the library to force them to find the book. I was thinking of having a specter library running the desk at the start of the "dungeon" and they have to tell it specifically what they are looking for (which in this case they can't because they don't know the name of the place they are looking for). What I want them to do is describe to the best of their ability (using their written notes for the campaign) to the specter what they are looking for. From there the specter allows them access and the library itself now forces them through puzzles and mazes to make their way to any text that might have that information. I want to make it challenging but also rewarding for them to passthrough and I could use a little help for that.
It would make sense for the test to relate to the knowledge they are after especially if it is dangerous knowledge. Then the library can just fade into an illusory test of sorts as they walk through it and you won't be limited to a library it can be anything you want.
Then to get to the point I'd have it that when they escape/pass the illusion they find themselves in the area with the book and if they try to head to other areas that aren't permitted they simply find themselves turned around. I'd only add all of the traps ect... if they do something they aren't supposed to.
As for defenses
Thats all for awell maintained library so the traps there are meant to not damage the books and be magical effects some one might expect from a wizard. If it's an old run down library you can add collapsing areas, animated books, undead ect...
You might be able to ocbble something to gether out of this article: https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/996-taliesin-jaffes-domain-of-dread-vendamir-a-land-of
Its a ravenloft domain of dread with a library aspect to it and has some interesting ideas.
This adventure has some very nice library themed puzzles.
https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/227382/burned-library
First off, many old tomes will be Wizard Locked. Or, Glyphs of Warding placed on them. And Glyph's can contain other spells, so that opens up a vast array of magical traps. Nothing like having some PC not know the key word, open a book they should not, and whisk them away to some unknown location, perhaps trapped on another plane.
Libraries are meant to be silent. If the players (not just the characters) raise their voices above a whisper, the librarian approaches. The librarian is some ancient and powerful entity that the players should be forewarned about.
I love all these ideas I'll be putting them into place this week.
In Baldur's Gate 3 there's an entity in a library that is basically a summoning portal called "The Librarian" but it also silences the entire area which I thought was a fun twist. Could totally see a "librarian" automaton/statue animate and silence everything for added challenge (no vocal spells, no communication).
These are also classic environments for a mimic and/or rug of smothering to be hiding in. Maybe the former is a book, or an entire bookshelf, or the entire library…? 😈
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
You could put in tests that are designed to show how well they would protect the contents of the library by giving them some challenges. My first thought was to see how well they would protect a book by having one on a stand, open to a page that says:
Mark your spot in this book and close it in troth
With bent corner or ribbon of soft cloth
Then open to the mark and leave it behind
Only then may your literary journey unwind
The idea being if they would bend the page on the book to mark their place, they should be denied access
Use word ladders to make them get clues (a word ladder involves changing a word to another word, one letter at a time, making real words every time).
Isn't the Librarian an orang-utan?
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