FALSE DOORS

You arrive at three doors guarded by a Goblin, a Halfling and an Orc. Above the doors, you read:

ONLY ONE IS A LIAR

The Goblin says, “There’s no treasure behind the Gnome’s door. Just a delightfully violent trap.”

The Gnome says, “Sorry folks! No treasure behind my door!”

The Orc says, “Treasure is behind my door.”

Which door do you take?

Solution:

The treasure is behind the Goblin’s door!

If it were behind the Gnome’s door, everyone would be a liar.

If it were behind the Orc’s door, everyone would be honest.

That leaves just the one option! The Goblin and Gnome are honest while the Orc is lying.

Notes for the Dungeon Master:

• If players enter the wrong door, a nice trap can give them a nasty surprise.

• You can substitute treasure for “the path is behind my door.”

• Be ready for players to get creative:

Try interrogating the guards but they pretty much repeat their statements.

Try an insight check but it’s hard to read these guards.

Try an honesty spell but a powerful counterspell is causing magical static.

Try to sneak by, but the doors are shut and the guards are attentive.

Try fighting but these guards look tough.

If your players clearly don’t want to do the logic puzzle, they can use another tactic.

• If your players love the logic puzzle, I suggest What is the Name of this Book?’ - A logic book from the 1970s with plenty of clever riddle prompts. This puzzle was inspired by the Portia’s Portrait riddle.

• Players may wonder, why are three unlikely guards watching the doors? I’ll admit it’s an unlikely scenario. Let’s just say an eccentric Elf hired them for kicks.

• For soundtrack, I’d suggest some lelegant thinking music.