Riddles in RPGs

[soggie]

How about hangman style?

Low Int: Y_ _ _ _ C _

High Int: YO_ S _ C K

That would be too easy, I think higher intelligence should maybe give somekind of a subtle hint, but not make the riddle pointless.

"Subtle" is subjective in this case.

It is impossible to "balance" for the player's intelligence, and in an RPG you're supposed to role play your character, not the other way around. This is the reason why I don't think complicated riddles have a place in RPGs at all, unless there's a way to figure it out or the game takes into account your character's INT score completely. A compromise would be nigh impossible to create in this situation.

 

[DraQ]

High int or character knowing exact solution - conventional approach with either textbox or alternative solutions as dialogue options.
Otherwise - autofail.

 

[Black]

Ever since I made this thread I couldn't sleep, it kept me up at nights, all night, every night, but I finally came up with the answer.
A retard 1 INT character solving complex riddles and completing difficult puzzles in rpgs is no different than knowing the answer to a question even before the question happens. At worst it's violation of the sacred 'character vs player' divide. At best it's just metagaming.
Someone who can't tie their own shoelaces wouldn't be able to complete such a task and therefore should not be able to even if guided by some supernatural power from above, looking at him at about 30 degree angle.
Thank you all, I consider this matter solved.

Praise be RPG Playing Games.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

At worst it's violation of the sacred 'character vs player' divide.

There is no divide, they're two halves of a whole.
Your conclusion is correct tho. Being unintelligent should simply make the character completely unable to solve the riddle. The opposite side of this isn't that the character should automatically be able to solve the riddle, but that the player is allowed to solve the riddle.

 

[Black]

The opposite side of this isn't that the character should automatically be able to solve the riddle, but that the player is allowed to solve the riddle.

That is correct.

 

[Raghar]

But what if he knows the answer to that riddle from his parents?

 

[Black]

But what if he knows the answer to that riddle from his parents?

Roll to see if the tard even remembers it or if he listened to his parents.

 

[mondblut]

The opposite side of this isn't that the character should automatically be able to solve the riddle

Nope. He should.

Better yet, get rid of this riddle shit altogether.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

The opposite side of this isn't that the character should automatically be able to solve the riddle

Nope. He should.

Better yet, get rid of this riddle shit altogether.

you failed the irl intelligence check

 

[Raghar]

But what if he knows the answer to that riddle from his parents?

Roll to see if the tard even remembers it or if he listened to his parents.

From my experience with office women, they extremely well remember how to discredit people. Thus no roll is necessary.

 

[mondblut]

The opposite side of this isn't that the character should automatically be able to solve the riddle

Nope. He should.

Better yet, get rid of this riddle shit altogether.

you failed the irl intelligence check

If you lift your game design ideas for an RPG from here, you should find another job. Simple as.

 

[KörangarTheMighty]

Riddles are fine as long as they're sensible and don't require me to guess what's in the developer's pocket. The only ones I despise are math problems. "If a group of knights have four retainers, two male and two female and the male retainers eat three times as much as the female retainers who eat half as much as..."

No, I will not run and get a paper and pencil to solve for x. Fuck that shit, as a kid I had enough homework as it stood. Straight to GameFAQs.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

I have reversed my position on riddles, every game should be filled with riddles as an idiot filter.

 

[Viata]

I have reversed my position on riddles, every game should be filled with riddles as an idiot filter.

Only works if the riddles are math theorems that requires the player to prove it. Even if they look for it in textbooks, the proof will be "left as an exercise for the reader", making it an ever better idiot filter.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

I have reversed my position on riddles, every game should be filled with riddles as an idiot filter.

Only works if the riddles are math theorems that requires the player to prove it. Even if they look for it in textbooks, the proof will be "left as an exercise for the reader", making it an ever better idiot filter.

Just need some basic logic riddles to keep both combatfags and storyfags out.

 

[Viata]

I have reversed my position on riddles, every game should be filled with riddles as an idiot filter.

Only works if the riddles are math theorems that requires the player to prove it. Even if they look for it in textbooks, the proof will be "left as an exercise for the reader", making it an ever better idiot filter.

Just need some basic logic riddles to keep both combatfags and storyfags out.

They will just google the answer.

 

[mondblut]

I have reversed my position on riddles, every game should be filled with riddles as an idiot filter.

Only works if the riddles are math theorems that requires the player to prove it. Even if they look for it in textbooks, the proof will be "left as an exercise for the reader", making it an ever better idiot filter.

Just need some basic logic riddles to keep both combatfags and storyfags out.

Puzzlefags already got a genre designed explicitly for them. GTFO.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

I have reversed my position on riddles, every game should be filled with riddles as an idiot filter.

Only works if the riddles are math theorems that requires the player to prove it. Even if they look for it in textbooks, the proof will be "left as an exercise for the reader", making it an ever better idiot filter.

Just need some basic logic riddles to keep both combatfags and storyfags out.

They will just google the answer.

monitor all network traffic and delete the game if it detects google being used during puzzles

 

[KörangarTheMighty]

monitor all network traffic and delete the game if it detects google being used during puzzles

I'll just phone a friend. You can't stop me!

 

[rusty_shackleford]

monitor all network traffic and delete the game if it detects google being used during puzzles

I'll just phone a friend. You can't stop me!

the assumption they won't have friends is a good one

 

[Ranselknulf]

Just give retarded characters a helper npc of some sort. You can make a story or mechanics to justify it if you want, but the helper npc will solve all the big brain things.

It works for anime, why not for smart guy arr pee gees. The helper npc companion can also randomly call you a retard or offer to adjust the straps on your bicycle helmet.

Once you level your INT enough, the helper goes away.

 

[Krice]

There isn't a single true answer to this, but if INT has anything to do with the internal gameplay system then it's something to think about when you design puzzles.