Let’s Talk Locks!
“CLICK”
It’s such a great feeling to open a lock. Any kind of lock. And they’re often needed for your adventure- you don’t want strangers opening the box because it has no lock, right?
This is a quick guide to three basic types of locks, and some “best practices” and ideas for using each.
Here’s how I’ll break it down:
Keyed locks
Combination locks
Unique locks
Keyed locks are pretty obvious, but there are different types. Combination locks vary from letter locks to number locks. While the Unique locks range wildly- everything from a simple directional lock to a “puzzle lock”!
KEYED LOCKS:
These are usually the first that come to mind. You can easily find them at any hardware store (or online). There’s a good chance that you have a Masterlock laying around, but it’s so much easier to spruce things up with an Antique-style lock. The gameplay around a keyed lock is pretty straight forward. They find a chest with the lock, and then must find the key (or vice versa). Keys are FANTASTIC because they can be hidden anywhere. There are already plenty of “hide a key” options.
Note: It’s extremely important that you make instructions CRYSTAL CLEAR if you’re going to incorporate something like this. If you’re nervous about leaving a key out in the wild, you can always have someone hand it off.
Final note, most keyed locks come with an extra key. Always know where that extra key is and think about a way you could get it to your player in case something goes awry with the first key.
COMBINATION LOCKS:
Combination locks allow for SO many more options. Most people think of the old school dial combo locks that were used on lockers at school. I don’t recommend those. They require a lot of steps and it’s very easy for the nuance to get lost in translation.
My recommendation: 4-digit number or letter locks. These are just complex enough to keep your player from brute forcing the answers. But simple enough so your player can figure out the correct answer, pop the lock and move on. If you’ve read the other blogs posts or checked out the Constructed Adventures Youtube Channel, you’ll always hear us harping on clarity. It is very important that once your player makes a solve, they know what to do next. These types of locks allow for just that.
If you’re wondering how these locks can be incorporated, you have a ton of options. You could start simple: Your player finds a chest with a lock and next to it is a pencil puzzle. They solve the puzzle and open the lock. Works great if they’re sitting down for a meal. But beyond that, the world is your oyster! You could have them collect numbers or letters posted in a room or on a street corner! There are tons of options.
One last note on the the word locks: This is one of the rare times we would recommend incorporating riddles into your adventure. Once you buy your letter lock, you’ll have a list of potential answers that you can use. Once you’re there, either look up a riddle with that answer, or make one up. If you’re nervous about it, hop into the playtesting channel in the Constructed Adventures Discord and get the community’s feedback.
UNIQUE LOCKS:
Full Disclosure, these locks can totally fit into the other two categories, but they’re unique enough that they deserve a spot of their own. Each one has different quirks and can really add something special to an Adventure!
This one is very common and can be found in most hardware stores (also online). It fits into the “combination lock” category but is wildly versatile. For starters, you can create a directional puzzle. On top of that, each lock comes with a bunch of stickers. You have letters, numbers, symbols, even the four playing card suits! Best of all, you can reprogram as many steps as you’d like! I played a video game-themed escape room that once incorporated the Konami Code!
This is such a fun easy addition to any Adventure. It gives your player an experience that they’ve probably never had: picking a lock. Keep in mind that this is a step that could take ten seconds or twenty minutes (depending on how adept your player is). If you’re worried about time, I recommend incorporating it as a “pre-adventure tease” (Maybe they get a chest the night before. They get it open and inside is a message telling them where to go the next day.) Another option is to send them to a restaurant and have the chest waiting on the table. They have 45 minutes to pick the lock and eat. Plenty of time!
There’s quite a few puzzle locks out there you can purchase, but the one that comes to mind first is this behemoth. (Note: you’re going to need a big hasp for this one. This one requires a BUNCH of locks to pop it open. Heck, you could build an entire in-home hunt dedicated to finding all the keys and then opening the lock. If you’re going to use this one, make sure your players know they need to find a bunch of keys. Otherwise they might become frustrated.
How have you used a lock or locks in your own adventures? Tell us all about it on the Constructed Adventures Subreddit, or tag us on the Constructed Adventures Instagram using the #ConstructedAdventures hashtag! If you want some help with your adventures, need a puzzle playtested, or just want to chat, come join us on the Constructed Adventures Discord!