Puzzle: This is a noncombat encounter that tests the playersÆ mental skills in some fashion. Most puzzles involve logic, memory, or creativity. The riddle game included in J.R.R. TolkienÆs novel, The Hobbit, represents one kind of puzzle encounter.

Puzzles are an excellent way to make players rely on themselves rather than on their charactersÆ abilities. The best puzzles fit your gameÆs atmosphere; word plays on pop music lyrics or Disney movie titles arenÆt a good approach to puzzle making unless you are playing the adventure for laughs.

You can add some tension to a puzzle encounter by combining it with a trapùthe characters suffer damage or a magical effect if they give an incorrect responseùor guardianùwhich attacks if the correct answer is not provided.

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