I am rather overwhelmed at the response. Who knew there was such a huge, swollen balloon of hidden angst about lock-picking waiting to explode with a simple little prick? I guess I was the prick.
[Watches a tumbleweed roll by as he awaits his rim-shot. Only silence. Oh well.]
Excellent stuff, excellent stuff. Thanks a whole lot, folks. I was sitting here without an answer, and now I have a truck load of answers. Now to sort through them all and start play-testing.
To my knowledge, the following blog posts, or their comments, have addressed the lock pick/trap disarm added fun value question. If there are any others, please let me know so I can peruse their wisdom:
- http://rathergamey.blogspot.com/2011/04/you-can-pick-your-friends-and-you-can.html
- http://recedingrules.blogspot.com/2011/04/procedural-lockpicking.html
- http://dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com/2011/04/making-picking-locks-fun-disarming.html
- http://lasgunpacker.blogspot.com/2011/04/lockpicking-game.html
- http://rolesrules.blogspot.com/2011/04/building-on-locks-and-traps.html
- http://hackslashmaster.blogspot.com/2011/04/on-roll-all-dice-table-locks.html
- http://migellito.blogspot.com/2011/04/masterthief.html
Wouldn't it be cool is doctors and pharmaceutical companies had blogs? Some Endocrinologist could pop up and say "You know, this AIDS things suck. Anybody got a cure?" And then 500 bloggers would descend and formulate not only one cure, but 501 viable variations.
Okay, at least I can dream.
The boy has some concerns, though. He thinks that dice or flowcharts may not be the best way to open a lock. He told me - with a serious face and everything - that dynamite would be the best method.
- Ark






