Jayzhee's page

Riddles and puzzles are okay, if used sparingly. I try to keep it to one per game session. I think my sessions are on the short side, though.

How about asking your players how they feel about riddles?

It could turn into a good roleplaying exercise Perhaps if the Int 5 Barbarian's player figures it out, he tells the Int 19 Wizard's player, and they cooperate to find a good way to roleplay it out.
Maybe the Barb player could roleplay an inadvertent hint that would make the wizard yell, "That's it, Korg! You're a genius!"
Then Korg's all, "What?"

Also, it could be a memorable moment if big dumb Korg stumbles upon the answer...

I like the idea of giving the players Int or Wis rolls for hints, but make sure you have some hints ready. At least two more than you'd think you need. It's easy to underestimate the difficulty of a riddle when you already know the answer.

The riddle wasn't super-hard.

TheRedArmy's sphinx idea is a good one, but that's what sphinxes are for. If you think a sphinx would be too hard or easy, etch the riddle on a golem of some type. If the PCs fail to solve it, they fight and the key is in the golem-rubble. If they succeed, the Golem opens the door.

I use chart paper with a 1" grid from an office store, so I often make maps ahead of time in crayon. I put each map on the table as we get to it, but I have some blank ones just in case my players make unorthodox decisions, which they often do.

Unless your map needs to be incredibly detailed, I would draw it up when the PCs see it.

If you have more than one mat, you can draw the most detailed map and keep it covered until you need it.