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"tech" traps in dungeons
Oct. 17th, 2020 12:03 amI'm not talking high tech stuff. I'm talking things that are quite simple. Some even the Egyptians could have used if they'd stumbled onto some things.
Otheres require "special" materials, but ones that wouldn't be that hard for mages/alchemists/whatever
Lodestones have been known since the bronze age if not before. Rocks that attract/repel similar rocks, and come the iron age, attract iron as well.
So developing strong magnets isn't a reach, and mages will have played with them.
So simple magnet trap: Large magnet mounted in wall or floor. Anybody wearing or carrying iron/steel gear is going to have problems.
Fancier trap: use a magnet to trigger a trap. No pressure plate or tripwire. At least not visible. But when that fighter in his chainmail or plate gets near the wrong spot. Ouch!
It gets even more fun if you can use magic (or fancy mechanical setups) to spin a large, powerful magnet. This will not only try to drag iron and steel around the room, but the induced eddy currents will drag *non*-ferrous metals as well (though not as strongly)
The metals will heat up too, but not a lot unless that magnet is *really* spinning. Probably not possible mechanically, but if it can be done magickally?
( Read more... )
Otheres require "special" materials, but ones that wouldn't be that hard for mages/alchemists/whatever
Lodestones have been known since the bronze age if not before. Rocks that attract/repel similar rocks, and come the iron age, attract iron as well.
So developing strong magnets isn't a reach, and mages will have played with them.
So simple magnet trap: Large magnet mounted in wall or floor. Anybody wearing or carrying iron/steel gear is going to have problems.
Fancier trap: use a magnet to trigger a trap. No pressure plate or tripwire. At least not visible. But when that fighter in his chainmail or plate gets near the wrong spot. Ouch!
It gets even more fun if you can use magic (or fancy mechanical setups) to spin a large, powerful magnet. This will not only try to drag iron and steel around the room, but the induced eddy currents will drag *non*-ferrous metals as well (though not as strongly)
The metals will heat up too, but not a lot unless that magnet is *really* spinning. Probably not possible mechanically, but if it can be done magickally?
( Read more... )
