Doors: what's the big idea?

Summary:

I got the idea from Weevil's revenge, a module for children. Now I won't let it go.

Doors: what's the big idea?

Ridiculossus 04 Dec 2011 14:21

Doorways are such an essential part of party fighting, but they also seem to be an essential part of dungeon design. I feel like I understand a lot more about wandering monsters and surprise when I looked closer at bothered to read the section on doors.

I was reading a D&D for kids game. Basically, failed attempts at opening stuck doors meant a chance of wandering monsters. I use this, and also use it to help determine surprise. A failed attempt to open a door is basically forfeiting surprise chances, it's not really about the party spending all day trying to open the door. How long will the occupants remain alert for? I don't know. 0e has doors opening only on a 1-2, and they are reluctant to stay open. Moldvay has the same thing.

This creates an unusual low-probability ideal scenario: to get the drop on the occupants, you have to hear them (1-2 on d6 with a thief or demihuman) and get the door on the first try (another 1-2 on d6 with average strength—high strength is a great leverage point here!)

When one considers that entering a new room and closing the door may frustrate pursuit from wandering monsters, it makes sense that there be some small tactical difficulty in exploiting doors and doorways. They seem set against the party!

Spiking a door fails on a 5-6 on a d6, too!

What do you think of this? Unfair? Common sense to you, already?

Last edited on 04 Dec 2011 14:26 by Ridiculossus Show more

Re: Doors: what's the big idea?

OtspIII 04 Dec 2011 18:23

Do you figure a failed door check should result in 'you make a lot of noise and don't open the door' or 'you open the door, but it takes a while and makes a ton of noise'? I've always thought that the 'just try it until it works' element of stuck doors was kind of boring, unless you're doing a wandering monster check for each person to attempt the door.

Re: Doors: what's the big idea?

Ridiculossus 04 Dec 2011 18:42

I've been using it as a sort of warning that others inside are alerted, but the door remains shut. then not requiring a subsequent roll if they try the same door immediately after. This way, choice remains theirs. Plus, if they attract wandering monsters and opened the door, it would seem particularly devious.

Re: Doors: what's the big idea?

Ridiculossus 14 Dec 2011 16:04

So, from a player's perspective, where's the holes in my thinking of this entry plan for the party with doorway fighting and lighting up any monster cluster that approaches?