In reply to Aldo Rathmus (msg # 925):

Agreed. GM is unlikely to set up a dungeon that specifically excludes one party member,

Oh really now? You obviously overestimate my kindness and consideration. ;)

Actually, truth be told I generally don't know the monsters well enough to recognize when such imbalances will occur, therefore placement of monsters is almost entirely based on what I think would be cool and makes sense. I also have made it a point in this game to use monsters I have never used in other games (e.g., stone guardian, roper, pedypalps, boggles, vulchlings and gibbering mouther.

Game balance or mechanics very rarely come into play, for good or ill.

.

Saliq, no adventure can always be about each of us! Besides, if the phantasmal forces become less useful, it should just make you more determined to find ways to make your magic work!!! I have faith in you...

Okay, okay. the GM is actually a psychotic megalomaniac!

OOC I'm a bit nervous about this door truth be told - could end up in the abyss or something, and after very nearly coming to a grisly end in that last encounter I wouldn't mind being in a place where my magic works better as well.

In character Eagle thinks they've cleared Demonstone, and getting a settlement of lizard men as a buffer, and sealing the door is the best approach for keeping the great wheel in balance.

BUT. I can see everyone else but Saliq is up for it, so if you can get that obviously magically booby trapped door open and through the other side without us all dying then Eagle will reluctantly follow. He'll be more than ready to turn into a bat though and fly off if it all goes pear-shaped!

Oh, don't get me wrong I do like seeing notraditional monsters about.  Makes the world seem more varied. :)

Anyway I can see the majority want to try the doors so I'm fine with going with the group.

In reply to Saliq Musfara (msg # 931):

Okay, I think in that case we progress for now, but be prepared to retreat if necessary...

Not good... though I suppose it could be from Eagle's spell (would Saliq be able to tell the difference?)

Make an Int check.

02:45, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 2 using 1d20 with rolls of 2. Int check (INT 18).

Saliq believes the magic aura is courtesy of Eagle's spell.

I don't have my handbook with me now so can't check, but I thought Dwarves could tell North underground, maybe I'm just making that up but it rings a bell???

That sounds familiar, but it might be a later addition, as I don't see it in my 1st ed. players handbook.

I don't see it as a druid ability either, though he can determine if water is pure or not. Weee...

I doubt it can be determined by spell. Does anyone know the trick about a sliver of iron rubbed on cloth to give it a static charge then left floating on water?

I also thought dwarves possessed that ability, but it is not listed in 1st edition. I just checked in the 3e book and it was not there either. It might be in 2e or 4e, but I am not sure. I could dig out the books later and check.

I do know there is a 0-level 3e spell (Druid, Bard) called Know Direction.

I don't have Unearthed Arcana anymore, anyone know if maybe it is a barbarian class ability in 1e?

At any rate, given what we do know, I was going to suggest Norion's dwarf stonecunning ability would apply here and assign a 3 in 6 (50%) chance of detecting direction underground.

Nope, not 2nd either, or even Basic. Hmm.

No barbarian class in 1st ed. Plus I'm not sure I am happy risking this on a 50/50 chance, if we can do better... can we do better?

<insert Princess bride reference>

Nothing comes to mind...

Sorry, for some gamers Monty Python rules supreme at the gaming table. For me, it's Princess Bride by a landslide!

:)

Seriously though, I don't know if you can do better. I guess it depends on what you come up with...Pitch me some ideas. ;)

I don't think anyone in this group would know the following:

Does anyone know the trick about a sliver of iron rubbed on cloth to give it a static charge then left floating on water?

3 out of 6 is better odds than 1 out of 8 :)

So what about go outside, guage the direction from the sun/stars whatever, then try to remember north as you come back?

Sure, one could try that. :)

What's the issue here, that there is a pressure pad that we need to cover exactly with the stone in the right direction so that it doesn't go off when we step on it? So would Eagle casting stone shape and making a raised stone 'bridge' across the pressure pad from the sides do any good?

I don't think the pressure plate is the trigger. Opening the doors is the trigger, and we need the stone in place to bypass the trap.

Oh I see. Can we tell wehther it's a magical deactivation or mechanical? By that I mean, do we just need the stone to fit snugly so it puts pressure on the plate or whatever, or do the glyphs have to line up with the floor as well?

In reply to Eagle (msg # 947):

Could Eagle use his stone spell again to block the rock from falling. A decent plinth of stone should hold it in place...

Bingo

It's a magical trap. The glyphs need to line up right.