First and foremost, trapsmiths are engineers, and not every project concerns itself with the destruction of intruders. Waste disposal is a daily concern for most dungeons and once collecting and carting it away becomes cost inefficient. Trapsmiths are contracted to deal with the problem — and sometimes they make the solution a bit of a […]
Trapsmith: The Refuse Pit Read More »
When the sun’s rays shone through the airshaft and struck the corridor’s murals, the Maruvian caste-nobles ended their long vigil and touched the door of their father’s tomb, whispering their final farewells. The caste-nobles gathered where the corridor led out, patiently waiting for the Lifesinger priest to appear. When he finally arrived, he struck his
Trapsmith: the Mauruvian Harp
and the Corridor of Remembrance Read More »
Rushing water is as deadly as fire, and can carry away the largest ogre in a moment. The Passage of Devouring Waters is an elaborate defense that uses the power of water to augment a larger structure with a deadly surprise. If things go as planned, your party may never crawl into a villain’s lair
Trapsmith: The Passage of Devouring Waters Read More »
Ultimately, a traps’ function is one of protection. Many things deserve protection; it all depends on the perspective of the traps’ buyer. The altar and its various ceremonial and sacred items are cherished by clerics, and thus they often build the hand of god trap in their temples. Hand of God Trap “From the temples’
Trapsmith: The Hand of God Read More »
Magic defeats magic. This simple rule explains why trapsmiths refrain from using it in their designs. If any wizard’s apprentice can detect the trap, what is the point of using it? For instance… Burning Hands Trap CR 3; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); automatic reset; spell effect (burning hands, 5th-level wizard, 5d4 fire, DC 11
Trapspringer: Hellish Fire Read More »
Clang! The grate slams to the floor, sealing the exit — and alerting every monster in hearing distance…. Most traps are active defenses, contesting every foot of the dungeon. However, a passive defense can be a valuable deterrent as well. Two entry-level passive traps are the portcullis and the razor-wire trap, which we’ll re-design this
Trapspringer:
Portcullis and Active Defenses Read More »
The box looks like a fat, heavily pregnant woman with fangs instead of teeth. Her copious belly contains a rather grotesque image of an infant with three heads, each with an open mouth like a key-hole. No ordinary receptacle will do for treasure in the Land of Gothic Horror. The infuriating Ustalav Doll Casket is
Trapspringer: Ustalav Doll Casket Read More »
No one can deny the destructive qualities of fire, but sometimes a designer of traps wants something insidious, something unexpected: the unrelenting force of water. [More…]
Bursting into the chamber, your triumphant shout of “I have you now, villain!” dies in a surprised gasp. This room is a mass of turning cogs, swinging pendulums, and immense gears. Your enemy laughs, ducking behind a giant spring and into an obscuring burst of steam. “Foolish heroes,” he says. “I told you that my
Tuesday Traps: The Watchmaker’s Lair Read More »
T’was the night before Christmas and throughout the guildhouse, no thief was stirring, not even the king mouse…. In the second year urchins’ dormitory, the children gathered within a fortress of pillows and blankets and discussed the imminent heist. “He enslaves elves,” someone whispered. “I heard he’s an Eladrin,” claimed another, “that’s how he gets
Tuesday Traps: The Xmas Files Read More »
Doors, rooms and corridors need not be the only trapped things in an adventure. Likewise, curses need not be the only dangerous thing attached to items. Traps have their place here as well. The following items can find their way into PC’s possession in the usual ways. An evil merchant agent of the primary villain
Tuesday Traps: Trapped Items Read More »
Most traps aim to kill or maim, overlooking the importance of capturing victims intact. Fur traders use mantraps to protect their investments, but not many creatures intent on protecting their stronghold do the same. Typical traps and snares used for game must be modified to catch larger and more intelligent humanoid victims because — especially
Tuesday Traps: Mantraps Read More »
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