Traveller Dungeon Crawl Traps & Puzzle Ideas

[DeHammer]

I'm having a blast creating my own Traveller version of a dungeon crawl. I've also enlisted ChatGPT to assist with creating some images and handouts.

But I'm looking for some concepts to use for traps and puzzles for players to work through while exploring an ancient Aslan warrior's crypt.

One idea I have is a stone pedestal that challenges the players to select the 'best' weapon. The challenge is that it requires some understanding of ancient Aslan culture to know what they considered 'the best'. In this case... the weapon that could result in the most 'honor'. Selecting the correct weapon results in the player being able to safely draw it from the stone. Selecting the wrong weapon results in a plasma shock.

Looking for other ideas.

 

[actionman]

Here's one:

Spoiler: GM Only!

The group has to cross a long deep pool filled with vinegar.



If the team inspects the vinegar, they'll see that it's ordinary food-grade vinegar, and probably try to swim across because of their ignorance of this fine point, and down they will go. If they are not wearing a sealed suit, they'll be in trouble.

 

[Galadrion]

Here's one:

Spoiler: GM Only!

The group has to cross a long deep pool filled with vinegar.

View attachment 7292

If the team inspects the vinegar, they'll see that it's ordinary food-grade vinegar, and probably try to swim across because of their ignorance of this fine point, and down they will go. If they are not wearing a sealed suit, they'll be in trouble.

Spoiler: Clarification

There's a problem with your premise: it is easier, not more difficult, to float in/on a denser liquid. If your characters can swim in water, they can swim in vinegar - although you are correct that it is acidic (not great to have on one's skin, in and of itself) and can be corrosive in high enough concentrations - food grade is not concentrated enough to be corrosive to human skin/flesh, at least in a relatively short term. (If you're spending a quarter-hour or more in it, that may be a different matter, but only a few minutes wouldn't be a problem - if you keep it out of your eyes and other mucus membranes.)

 

[agentwigggles]

How are you handling the PC knowing about Aslan culture?

 

[To Tha Moon!]

Here are some Starfinder Traps and Puzzles. You could rebuild them for Traveller.

https://www.reddit.com/r/starfinder_rpg/comments/d62jbh/puzzles_and_traps

Traps - Rules - Archives of Nethys: Starfinder RPG Database

 

[agentwigggles]

Something I've wanted to do for a while but havent gotten a chance, is to have a character in a zero g environment, and the character cant reach any surface. They're just stuck floating.

 

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

Something I've wanted to do for a while but havent gotten a chance, is to have a character in a zero g environment, and the character cant reach any surface. They're just stuck floating.

Unless they are naked they always have something they can throw. Even then they can spit or urinate for a small acceleration (which air friction will dampen so they won't move far). If the life support is running there will be air flows pushing them along. Tidal effects also apply if not at the centre of gravity, again small.

Small effects if steady are useful in all but the hugest volumes.

 

[DeHammer]

How are you handling the PC knowing about Aslan culture?

I have already introduced an unconventional male Aslan merchant (NPC) named Trasko. At an early age he realized that he was not suited to be a warrior himself. Living on H'Radus which is a mostly Aslan planet inside The Third Imperium, he instead took the very unorthodox path to become a merchant of equipment and weapons. He now specializes in ancient artifacts, and funds expeditions to recover armor and weapons from ancient Aslan crypts. Normally he would be considered a dishonorable male. But because the nature of many Aslans living inside The Third Imperium has 'degenerated' and become more 'liberalized'... broken from fundamental Aslan culture... he has managed to create a hugely profitable business buying and selling weapons & armor, both historically significant and modern. At this point he's highly regarded as a source of weapons, so warriors now instead respect him for what he can get for them. They don't necessarily know where he's getting any of his gear though. In fact, he's also connected to a piracy ring behind the scenes.

He is a bit of an expert on ancient Aslan language and culture, and one of our players... a scientist... has become a student of the Aslan language. Trasko, who is funding their expedition in exchange for the acquisition of specific artifacts, will be sending along some language software he's been developing, to be used by our PC scientist in interpreting ancient Aslan language and connotations.

I used CHatGPT to help develop some ideas I had around cultural nuances of the ancient Aslan word for 'honor', represented by the word 'Khairek'. Khairek was intended to convey 'most honorable' but through the evolution of the language is now used more loosely as 'the best'. The scientist will have to do some research then suggest an interpretation, and how accurate his interpretation will be, will depend on an 'Language (Aslan)' skill check. I'll make the challenge difficult (10+), and add some advantage based on the use of the special software... such as a DM+1 or boon dice. One of the 'warrior' in the group will then have to select a weapon to try to remove based on how they feel each weapon might fit the interpretation. I'm thinking a few players might make their selection based on the weapon they would hope to take away.

I'll let them roll after each wrong choice, until they get it. Meaning a few of them are likely to get some nasty shocks. When they select the correct weapon, they will get to keep it and it will be worth a good deal of credits. It will also then open a hidden passage when pulled from the stone, so they can travel onward.

 

[DeHammer]

Something I've wanted to do for a while but havent gotten a chance, is to have a character in a zero g environment, and the character cant reach any surface. They're just stuck floating.

This is actually something I'm playing with in this particular dungeon. So far, I have a concept of a pit, and a possibility of falling into the pit. I might make a narrow beam they have to cross, doing a DEX roll to cross successfully. At the bottom of the pit is an array of upward facing spikes. But if they fall into the pit, they will only fall part way, because within the walls of the pit are reversed grav-plates. So, the center of the pit between the grav plates is a bit like a reversed 'Lagrange Point'. They will essentially be floating, and if they try moving toward any particular grav plate they will have to exert more & more power to do so. The only 'easier' way out is straight up. If they had the means to propel themselves upward, they might be able to more easily escape the gravity well. The key to getting through will maybe be having someone able to cross successfully, then toss a rope down to anyone trapped. I'm still thinking on it.

 

[rinku]

Unless they are naked they always have something they can throw. Even then they can spit or urinate for a small acceleration (which air friction will dampen so they won't move far). If the life support is running there will be air flows pushing them along. Tidal effects also apply if not at the centre of gravity, again small.

Small effects if steady are useful in all but the hugest volumes.

Breath would also work. And apparently does work fairly well.

However, if they're also in a vacuum (and presumably suited up), it does mostly come down to things you can afford to throw away. Or venting suit gasses or fluids.

 

[agentwigggles]

So throwing, is net zero gain. Remember your newton law. Its an equal and oppisite reaction. Same with expelling fluid. Might give yourself a spin though. Air currents may move you, though I am curious how much that could get you to move. Air currents arent that aggressive and human body is poor square footage to mass. But yea, over long enough time, it probably can.

 

[agentwigggles]

This is actually something I'm playing with in this particular dungeon. So far, I have a concept of a pit, and a possibility of falling into the pit. I might make a narrow beam they have to cross, doing a DEX roll to cross successfully. At the bottom of the pit is an array of upward facing spikes. But if they fall into the pit, they will only fall part way, because within the walls of the pit are reversed grav-plates. So, the center of the pit between the grav plates is a bit like a reversed 'Lagrange Point'. They will essentially be floating, and if they try moving toward any particular grav plate they will have to exert more & more power to do so. The only 'easier' way out is straight up. If they had the means to propel themselves upward, they might be able to more easily escape the gravity well. The key to getting through will maybe be having someone able to cross successfully, then toss a rope down to anyone trapped. I'm still thinking on it.

So depending how "Real" you want to be. This would be falling damage. As striking an object, isnt what hurts you in a fall. Its the sudden violent deaccelerations.

 

[DeHammer]

So depending how "Real" you want to be. This would be falling damage. As striking an object, isnt what hurts you in a fall. Its the sudden violent deaccelerations.

Except there's no actual falling damage, or any kind of damage as they are caught in the gravity well and suspended midair in the pit. The 'spikey' bottom is just there to suggest it would be damaging to fall in.

 

[rinku]

So throwing, is net zero gain. Remember your newton law. Its an equal and oppisite reaction. Same with expelling fluid. Might give yourself a spin though. Air currents may move you, though I am curious how much that could get you to move. Air currents arent that aggressive and human body is poor square footage to mass. But yea, over long enough time, it probably can.

Uh, no. That's literally how Newton's 3rd law does not work. If you throw something, you travel away from it with an equal and opposite motion from the thing you threw. Dirtside, local gravity and friction and air resistance tends to offset the effect. But in freefall you take away the first of those; in a vacuum you take away the last; if both are in play and you're not attached to anything, it's just you, your loose objects and Newton.

Or do you mean inhaling and exhaling in the same direction cancelling out? I guess that scans. But if you were to inhale or exhale and then held your breath, there would be motion imparted on your body. Given that humans can usually hold their breath for a few minutes, in an emergency it might be enough to exhale to get yourself to a handhold.

This may be relevant:

If an astronaut got stuck in the middle of a space station, can he propel himself towards a wall by blowing air out of his mouth?

Consider the astronaut as floating in the middle of the "Kibo" (ISS module) without him having any initial motion. The module has a diameter of 4.2 m (inner), and the goal is to reach any...

physics.stackexchange.com

The page only discusses inhalation, if you were inhaling in one direction and exhaling in the opposite direction in theory you could combine them. For example, by starting a slow spin using your hands as paddles.

Of course, in free fall you should be able to very slowly swim, much as you can underwater. That might end up being the pro way to move around. Maybe arms held by the side and flapping the hands?

 

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

This is actually something I'm playing with in this particular dungeon. So far, I have a concept of a pit, and a possibility of falling into the pit. I might make a narrow beam they have to cross, doing a DEX roll to cross successfully. At the bottom of the pit is an array of upward facing spikes. But if they fall into the pit, they will only fall part way, because within the walls of the pit are reversed grav-plates. So, the center of the pit between the grav plates is a bit like a reversed 'Lagrange Point'. They will essentially be floating, and if they try moving toward any particular grav plate they will have to exert more & more power to do so. The only 'easier' way out is straight up. If they had the means to propel themselves upward, they might be able to more easily escape the gravity well. The key to getting through will maybe be having someone able to cross successfully, then toss a rope down to anyone trapped. I'm still thinking on it.

If more than one is in the trap they can push each other in opposite directions. If you have 3 then 2 can push one in the optimum direction with more acceleration for the one than for the 2.

 

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

Of course, in free fall you should be able to very slowly swim, much as you can underwater. That might end up being the pro way to move around. Maybe arms held by the side and flapping the hands?

If you have clothing take off your shirt. Roll it up. Extend your hands in the direction you want to go, unroll the shirt hold it wide in both hands and pull it (and air) towards you, you will gain acceleration in the opposite direction of the pulling in motion on the shirt. Repeat as needed.

Or just keep a pair of folded fans such as women used to use to fan themselves in centuries past in your pocket to use as emergency propulsion.

A few rubber balls to throw (and ideal catch on the rebound) gaining thrust by the throwing and again on catching them on the rebound would also be a good thing to carry. Learn to juggle and you have an excuse to carry them and they are a useful improvised weapon, if you become well known for "your balls" you could even smuggle small things in them undetected.

 

[rinku]

Getting back to traps... you can have a lot of fun with holograms.

 

[To Tha Moon!]

Something I've wanted to do for a while but havent gotten a chance, is to have a character in a zero g environment, and the character cant reach any surface. They're just stuck floating.

Scary.

That has to be some kind of space phobia, I'd think.

 

[agentwigggles]

Scary.

That has to be some kind of space phobia, I'd think

The scene I wanna use it in, us during take off. The ship is sabtage near the edge of space. The ship loses power and starts to free fall.
Then I would have the closest character who was a belter wake up unable to touch any surface and fill the rest of the narrative with a memory of how this how belters would torture folks. They get stuck in a zero gee room. Left alone for days. They get covered in their own flith bubble.

Add to the panic and anxiety as well as the terror of the free fall.

 

[rinku]

I dunno. As discussed above, it's probably not THAT hard to get moving in an air-filled room in freefall. And as soon as the ship makes any kind of maneuver, even slight attitude jet corrections, the wall will start moving towards the floater. Air conditioning (VITAL in a freefall environment to avoid suffocation) will circulate the air and slight air currents will probably be enough to get them moving too. However, locked in a chamber without any gravity... and then the belter goes joyriding for a bit. That would be effective torture even on characters with Zero-G skill.

For actual suspension torture, you'd need to either tether them spreadeagled (maybe with just enough slack on the lines to make any ship movement disorienting), or use an active grav suspension (in which case, it's a different style of "stranded in the centre of the room").