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Just for fun, but to also help along those DMs (or tricky Players) out there that want amazing puzzles and elusive riddles in their campaign.
I need your guys' help to compile a list of Puzzles and Riddles that would be appropriate to the campaign setting and that peeks the interest of Players and DMs alike.
Here's what I'm looking for in the Puzzles and Riddles!
I'll start:
"A thing there is whose voice is one;
Whose feet are four and two and three.
So mutable a thing is none
That moves in earth or sky or sea.
When on most feet this thing doth go,
Its strength is weakest and its pace most slow."
The Riddle of the Sphinx
or simply:
"Which creature walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?"
P.S. If you decide to design Mazes or Physical Puzzles (or want to share them from a site), please be very descriptive, show pictures, and/or provide a link. Have Fun!
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(This one is intended to be spoken aloud.)
"Me and Mi with him and Hym; her and Hirr, she and Shi.
Them and Thay were guests today, to House they brought much cheer.
Songs of mirth rang from their lips; how many did I hear?"
Naturally, riddles are tricks, so the answer is simultaneously dumb and clever. With an appropriate linguistics check (DC15-20?) the characters can recognize the tricks with mixing up names and (pro-)nouns, along with the odd grammar (in essense, show them the written form of the riddle), but a DC30 Linguistics, Perception, or Sense Motive check automatically recognizes the answer (each PC uses the one with the highest mod, so they only roll once).
I based on skill-check solution on the idea that, being PF, the characters are allowed to be more clever than the players, so a fall-back skill check should be possible. The answer is based on the Gygixian-style "gotcha!" tradition. The DC for the automatic-success check can be scaled based on the bluff of the asker (assume they take-10). For extra fun, the DC of the first linguistics check can be higher, but reduces if you know certain languages (e.g. DC25, but -5 if you know elven since you'd be more familiar with those names).
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"A precious gift, this,
yet it has no end or beginning,
and in the middle, nothing."
"A shimmering field that stretches far,
yet it has no tracks,
and is crossed with no paths."
"A strange earthen house,
that brings nought but disdain.
And yet those who stay there,
never complain."
"Like dogs shouting at the moon,
or armor worn by the trees.
Like a sharply spoken command,
or a tiny vessel upon the seas."
"This can only be kept,
if given first."
These all came from an awesome old pc game called Betrayal at Krondor; if you do a search for BaK riddles you're bound to come up with a sizable list.
Raging Swan Press has a bundle of Riddles for you.
@Stabity
Riddles are supposed to be solvable with only the information in them. So for that riddle to work there would have to be at least a hint that the riddler was deaf (unless the characters knew that some other way, from interact with them).
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@Stabity
Riddles are supposed to be solvable with only the information in them. So for that riddle to work there would have to be at least a hint that the riddler was deaf (unless the characters knew that some other way, from interact with them).
That's why I said it had a Gygaxian style "Gotcha!" Totally not fair, but it is what it is. But yes, the assumption is that the person is speaking it to them and that it is possible to tell that they are deaf (hence the checks to realize this).
Bump
I like riddles and puzzles in D&D/Pathfinder best when they can be unsolved without dead-ending the game. Having to fight the riddler, go through a trapped area, or go another way are all great options for failing to solve a riddle.
I also prefer it when there is no ability/skill check so it is all a combination of the player figuring it out and their roleplay of their character. With checks the actual riddle need not even be mentioned, you could go through it by saying the fey asks a riddle, linguistics check DC 30.
just make the answer 'a sphinx' every time
especially when a sphinx is telling you the riddle to begin with
Half an idea here.
Guardian gives three riddles.
In Golarion probably something referencing ancient Cyclopes' empires. "A portal to the soul of X empire." The answer to the first one is an eye.
Abadar's scroll for the dead. The second is a will for dividing a deceased's wealth.
The third will either be dye or singular for dice. I can't think of any good Golarion hook for either off the top of my head.
Then either have the guardian keel over on the spot, or fight the party to the death if all three are answered.