From: ccoprmd@prism.gatech.EDU (Matthew DeLuca)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Traps
Date: 23 Aug 92 19:20:28 GMT
Organization: The Dorsai Grey Captains

In article <RANNOU.92Aug22042158@zuse.info.polymtl.ca> Rannou@info.polymtl.ca (Patrick Rannou) writes:

[Trap from hell kills fighter instantly]

>My, why does that reminds me of Gigax's traps.

Heh...had fun with traps in the last adventure I DM'd:

The situation: a party (dwarven fighter, human fighter, human paladin, human
mage, elven mage, (half?)elven cleric, of levels 1-3) is exploring an abandoned
complex, and they come to a door.

DM: You see what appears to be dried blood on the floor in front of the door.

Dwarf: Hmmm...I search the door for traps.

DM: You find none.

Dwarf: I carefully open the door.

DM: As you touch the door, you hear a loud *click*.

Dwarf: I don't open the door.

(Insert much confusion and babbling here, as the party decides what to do.)

The situation now: The human mage is lying on the floor, looking under the 
door for any sign of movement.  The dwarf is at the door, holding his shield 
in front of him, as is (I think) one other player.  The rest of the party
is arrayed facing up and down the hallway on either side of the door, ready
for anything.

Dwarf: Holding my shield in front of me, looking carefully about, ready to 
       leap out of the way...[blah blah blah; trying to protect himself from 
       every possible eventuality]...I open the door.

Rest of party: We're ready for anything!

DM: *THWACK*  A large spear shoots out of the wall across from the door and
    hits you [the dwarf] in the back for <insert clatter of die> 5hp.

Dwarf: &^#$&$@*@*!!

DM: You notice that there are now two bloodstains in front of the door, one 
    much fresher than the other.

[The room is empty]

The party continues on.  After a few minutes, they come to another door.

Fighter: I'm going to open the door.

Rest of party: WAIT!!

(More confusion and babbling, as the party decides what to do)

The situation now: the human fighter is at the door, crouched low.  The rest 
of the party is arrayed in a close semi-circle around him, facing outward and 
crouched low, shields high.

Fighter: I'm opening the door.

Rest of party: We're ready for anything!

DM: As you open the door, a large stone block drops out of the ceiling, landing
    on top of you and causing <clatter of dice> 6hp damage.  

Fighter: &^#$&$@*@*!!

DM: After you stop seeing stars, you notice that all of your metal possessions 
    seem to have vanished.  

[The room is empty]

-----

During both of the door episodes, it was difficult for me to keep from 
laughing out loud...they did an excellent job of defending against almost
any conceivable trap, except for the one that got them. :-)

As a side note, they figured out where the metal gear had gone; they had seen
a pile of gear a ways back in the complex, and they quickly surmised that 
this was where the stuff had gone.  Sure enough it was all there, except for
the magical sword that the fighter had; it went elsewhere that they never
discovered...
-- 
Matthew DeLuca                      "I'd hire the Dorsai, if I knew their 
Georgia Institute of Technology      P.O. box."
Office of Information Technology                - Zebediah Carter, 
Internet: ccoprmd@prism.gatech.edu              _The Number of the Beast_