You pay Durnan, grab the rope or hop in the bucket (not clear to me whether there is anything attached) and Durnan operates the winch so you are lowered down.
I'm assuming he'd then pull it back up for the next potential adventurer going down.
In DOTMM it then says that to go back up you need to send 1gp up in a bucket. But how do you do that? Wouldn't Durnan have to first send a bucket down, wait for you to drop the coin, and then pull it up? But how does Durnan know to do that?
Or do you just yell up from 140ft depth and hope you are heard over the tavern noise?
I’d guess there’s a small pail on a rope with a bell on the end in the tavern; you drop your sovereign in and tug it a few times, and someone pulls it up to confirm the deposit before sending the big bucket down.
It’s very simple to have two buckets at either end of one rope over one pulley. When one bucket is lowered, the other is raised; they pass each other in the middle. You can add a winch, a handle or a block and tackle into the system as needed but the general idea remains the same.
It's best not to over-think these sorts of things.
I imagine a second pail on a string that is too weak to hold the weight of any individual but is perfect for a coin. You drop a coin, tug the string to ring a bell (see idea in thread), and then holler, "I want up!"
It’s very simple to have two buckets at either end of one rope over one pulley. When one bucket is lowered, the other is raised; they pass each other in the middle. You can add a winch, a handle or a block and tackle into the system as needed but the general idea remains the same.
I thought about that too, but that's not compatible with how it's explained in the books or illustrated in any of the art. It says it has a rope-and-pulley system with a winch that needs to be operated in the tavern. The extra role is coiled around the winch when the "elevator" is up - it doesn't hang to the bottom.
It's best not to over-think these sorts of things.
I imagine a second pail on a string that is too weak to hold the weight of any individual but is perfect for a coin. You drop a coin, tug the string to ring a bell (see idea in thread), and then holler, "I want up!"
Then you wait and hope.
So, two ropes, then? One for the coin and the other the actual system that lowers the adventurers down?
It’s very simple to have two buckets at either end of one rope over one pulley. When one bucket is lowered, the other is raised; they pass each other in the middle. You can add a winch, a handle or a block and tackle into the system as needed but the general idea remains the same.
I thought about that too, but that's not compatible with how it's explained in the books or illustrated in any of the art. It says it has a rope-and-pulley system with a winch that needs to be operated in the tavern. The extra role is coiled around the winch when the "elevator" is up - it doesn't hang to the bottom.
The rope that operates the winch is not the rope that the buckets are attached to.
It’s very simple to have two buckets at either end of one rope over one pulley. When one bucket is lowered, the other is raised; they pass each other in the middle. You can add a winch, a handle or a block and tackle into the system as needed but the general idea remains the same.
I thought about that too, but that's not compatible with how it's explained in the books or illustrated in any of the art. It says it has a rope-and-pulley system with a winch that needs to be operated in the tavern. The extra role is coiled around the winch when the "elevator" is up - it doesn't hang to the bottom.
The rope that operates the winch is not the rope that the buckets are attached to.
So two separate systems? One for the bucket and one for adventurers?
It’s very simple to have two buckets at either end of one rope over one pulley. When one bucket is lowered, the other is raised; they pass each other in the middle. You can add a winch, a handle or a block and tackle into the system as needed but the general idea remains the same.
I thought about that too, but that's not compatible with how it's explained in the books or illustrated in any of the art. It says it has a rope-and-pulley system with a winch that needs to be operated in the tavern. The extra role is coiled around the winch when the "elevator" is up - it doesn't hang to the bottom.
The rope that operates the winch is not the rope that the buckets are attached to.
So two separate systems? One for the bucket and one for adventurers?
That does seem to be what several people have suggested, yes.
I just found that older publications (pre 5e) said you are supposed to bang on the shields at the bottom to make noise and signal that someone wants to be picked up. Then, the bucket is lowered to pick you up. You pay the 1gp upon arrival or surrender all your gear if you can't pay.
I don't know why WD:DotMM had to overcomplicate it like that.
You actually pay for your return trip upfront when you go down (and Durnham keeps it if you die). I guess he rolls the bucket back up after you descend to avoid something else hopping into it, and maybe you just shout from down there whenever you need him to lower it again (and hang on and wait a bit if you're being followed or attacked by something).
It's my understanding that paying the 1gp upfront is optional
It says that some adventurers choose to pay for both ways upfront, but the default it's paid by sending a bucket up (according to Dungeon of the Mad Mage) or upon arrival (according to The Ruins of Undermountain)
There is even a reference to a 1gp coin wedged into a crack in the wall at the bottom of the well, that some past adventurer hid there for their return trip, but either didn't need or never returned for.
About the visual aides: It's amazing how inconsistent they all are with the text. More than one adventurer going down, no pulley, no winch, someone other than Durnan operating it... it's like the people making the art never actually read the book.
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I don't understand how the Yawning Portal works.
You pay Durnan, grab the rope or hop in the bucket (not clear to me whether there is anything attached) and Durnan operates the winch so you are lowered down.
I'm assuming he'd then pull it back up for the next potential adventurer going down.
In DOTMM it then says that to go back up you need to send 1gp up in a bucket. But how do you do that? Wouldn't Durnan have to first send a bucket down, wait for you to drop the coin, and then pull it up? But how does Durnan know to do that?
Or do you just yell up from 140ft depth and hope you are heard over the tavern noise?
I’d guess there’s a small pail on a rope with a bell on the end in the tavern; you drop your sovereign in and tug it a few times, and someone pulls it up to confirm the deposit before sending the big bucket down.
But that would mean there are two separate pully systems? One for the small pail and one for adventurers?
Or is it one that's always in the bottom position by default and needs to pulled up first whenever someone wants to go down?
It’s very simple to have two buckets at either end of one rope over one pulley. When one bucket is lowered, the other is raised; they pass each other in the middle. You can add a winch, a handle or a block and tackle into the system as needed but the general idea remains the same.
I dunno
It's best not to over-think these sorts of things.
I imagine a second pail on a string that is too weak to hold the weight of any individual but is perfect for a coin. You drop a coin, tug the string to ring a bell (see idea in thread), and then holler, "I want up!"
Then you wait and hope.
I thought about that too, but that's not compatible with how it's explained in the books or illustrated in any of the art. It says it has a rope-and-pulley system with a winch that needs to be operated in the tavern. The extra role is coiled around the winch when the "elevator" is up - it doesn't hang to the bottom.
So, two ropes, then? One for the coin and the other the actual system that lowers the adventurers down?
The rope that operates the winch is not the rope that the buckets are attached to.
So two separate systems? One for the bucket and one for adventurers?
That does seem to be what several people have suggested, yes.
I just found that older publications (pre 5e) said you are supposed to bang on the shields at the bottom to make noise and signal that someone wants to be picked up. Then, the bucket is lowered to pick you up. You pay the 1gp upon arrival or surrender all your gear if you can't pay.
I don't know why WD:DotMM had to overcomplicate it like that.
You actually pay for your return trip upfront when you go down (and Durnham keeps it if you die). I guess he rolls the bucket back up after you descend to avoid something else hopping into it, and maybe you just shout from down there whenever you need him to lower it again (and hang on and wait a bit if you're being followed or attacked by something).
Some visual aid?
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It's my understanding that paying the 1gp upfront is optional
It says that some adventurers choose to pay for both ways upfront, but the default it's paid by sending a bucket up (according to Dungeon of the Mad Mage) or upon arrival (according to The Ruins of Undermountain)
There is even a reference to a 1gp coin wedged into a crack in the wall at the bottom of the well, that some past adventurer hid there for their return trip, but either didn't need or never returned for.
About the visual aides: It's amazing how inconsistent they all are with the text. More than one adventurer going down, no pulley, no winch, someone other than Durnan operating it... it's like the people making the art never actually read the book.