“There goes my reputation,” Gavin mused. “Renowned trapsmith caught in baroness’s boudoir.” Being spotted by the household guards had been careless. Getting cornered by those same guards in the baroness’s chambers was unforgivable. If they caught him, well, that would be his undoing. Gavin took in his surroundings: he saw a steel mirror and a […]
Trapsmith: Impromptu Surprises (Part 4) Read More »
Maybe cheating these guys wasn’t the best idea he’d ever had—they were pretty determined to get him, but after touching the gold and silver coins in his pocket, Gavin felt better. The coins would get him— Rounding the corner Gavin’s thoughts fell silent for a moment, because he’d reached a dead end! Bad. Very bad.
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Shivering, Gavin longingly gazed at the dungeon’s exit, then at the dim light coming from the dangling, crude chandelier above him. All that stood between him and freedom was a burly half-orc. Gavin drew the bedroll he used as a makeshift cloak closer around his naked form as a cold draft started up. Ordinarily, a
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“Stop! Gods, I’m done.” Gavin’s chest and legs were on fire. Gasping for air, he looked at Thurmish. The giant oaf was barely out of breath. “Where is Zaron?” Thurmish gazed ahead, spat on the ground, and said, “His magic is helping him flee. He won’t return—not for us at least.” “And what of our
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The trap is a D&D icon. Classic dungeons such as Tomb of Horrors and The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan are famous for their mechanical ambushes. Traps are so central to the concept of dungeons that an entire class—the thief—was developed to deal with them (along with locked doors). In real life, of course, archaeologists have
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Faith must be tested! It is not enough to say the words and perform the proscribed rituals. Lip service is not faith. A true test of faith requires that the believer suffers, or so some trapsmiths and their clients believe. For this reason alone, trapsmiths have developed an extensive portfolio of faith-testing traps. Most of
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Rolling boulders are a dungeon staple, and their only drawback is that they are a one-shot deal: once evaded they lose their effectiveness. Magic can be used to upgrade the basic design. To see a good example of magic augmenting a trap, take a look at the ball of tentacles trap is a good example.
Trapsmith: Crushing Iceball Trap Read More »
A trapsmith must possess a certain degree of showmanship. A good trap consists of three parts ruthless efficiency and one part “you really shouldn’t be here.” Tomb robbers, trespassers, and adventurers are a persistent lot—they don’t reconsider their course of action easily, so it takes a certain measure of persuasion to make them do so.
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The deception of a trap lies in the perception. Trapsmiths control the environment, and you see only what they want you to see. It could very well be that the obvious solution to the problem or obstacle that you perceive is what will be your downfall. “A gaping hole opens up in the dungeon floor
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Tomb robbers bring friends or associates with them to help haul away the treasure that they seek. There is safety in numbers, but it also introduces certain group dynamics—exploitable group dynamics such as friendship, caring, trust, and a variety of other deadly virtues. You are on the southern threshold of a diamond-shaped room. At each
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Trapsmiths trust in greed. Greed is what drives the adventurer into the dungeon, and greed is the thing that brings about their demise. The trap below might be placed in a location that serves as a gateway to later locations in a dungeon or keep. The inhabitants know not to approach the statue, but those
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In a previous Trapsmith entry, we explored the merits of fear and how a trapsmith uses it in his designs. “Arrows of the Arbonesse” in Kobold Quarterly #20 introduces several new arrows that you can use to breathe life into the old arrow trap design, transforming it from the ubiquitous dungeon feature to something approaching dangerous.
Trapsmith: Fear the Arrow—The Return of Pain Read More »
(Illustration by Chris McFann) There are places where the border between realities is thin, places where the energies of the inner planes can easily pour through: places like volcanoes and the Blood Caves. [previously] The Thing That Cuts The thinning of the veil trap and the healer’s touch trap need something, someone, to activate their
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(Illustration by Chris McFann) There are places where the border between realities is thin, places where the energies of the inner planes can easily pour through: places like volcanoes and the Blood Caves. The Blood Caves A gateway between the surface and the night below, the Blood Caves are made more dangerous due to the
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(Illustration by Chris McFann) “He would not fail.” With a last glance toward the gathered clan, Bronn strode into the cave that held his last test, the test that would make him a warrior. “He would not fail.” The thought distracted him enough that the apparition startled him as it came into being. Scolding himself, Bronn
Traps. Devices devious and deadly. Understood to be a crypt’s most treacherous wards. Many so ghastly they become emblematic of a particular tomb’s history and character. What the Dust Hides In the spirit of preserving the tomb’s reputation as a place of unparalleled danger, this article series offers 10 macabre new traps for use in
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