Clever Mechanics for Mini-Games and Puzzles

Hey all! Christmas is right around the corner, and I've run annual Christmas night one-shots for friends of ours that are otherwise alone that night. I usually stick with simple systems that get out of the way of merriment and storytelling, and almost always have various mini-game style encounters. But I'm looking for more ideas! Things we've done in the past - Mazes and connect-the-dots using the pencil drawing tool to function as lockpicking Jigsaw puzzle made using tokens all players had control of Hidden messages/images using transparency in background and images, and a token with an aura One player on a sheet with only vision on themselves, while other players viewed the map on a second page to verbally guide them through Moving through snowdrifts by randomly adjusting the page scale at the start of every turn Various "games within games" -- Get Bit, Wavelength, Zombie Dice I have an idea of creating a "Scooby-Doo" type scenario using the token teleport api -- players trying to regroup with each other as doors take them from sheet to sheet, but I'm interested in seeing if anyone has done anything else unique with the Roll20 mechanics. Thanks!   

Nice thread. That is a sophisticated list of VTT methods. I've done a few of those. It took me a minute to understand the Snowdrifts idea, now I get what it is.&nbsp; Emerlda Did you get the free bonus Add-On game from Roll20CON? If not go to the site, enter your Email where it asks, maybe it will still send it to you. This product is a series of, essentially that, mini-games. <a href="https://con.roll20.net/" rel="nofollow">https://con.roll20.net/</a> On Marketplace listing: "Not For Sale"&nbsp; <a href="https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/gameaddon/13364/the-festival-of-emerelda" rel="nofollow">https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/gameaddon/13364/the-festival-of-emerelda</a> Tooltips Feature Emerelda coincides with introducing the Tooltips feature in Roll20 recently, and shows it off. With the ideas in Post #1, Nicholas, you'll have no trouble thinking of numerous uses for the Tool Tips technique. The tooltip text shows when a player Mouses-over (hovers cursor above) a token that has this feature enabled.&nbsp; It can be a way to let Players search around the tabletop using their pointer, and discover text information or detect location indicators bit-by-bit. My games My latest puzzle is a mite less sophisticated than your jigsaw puzzle, it was simply a large pile of Tokens (all moveable by Players), with the clue they were looking for hidden UNDER those tokens. Additionally i miniaturized it, scaling all those tokens waaay down from the size we're accustomed to, therefore the nameplates kinda crowded the scene... until you really zoomed in well beyond 100%. They needed merely to move a bunch of barrel tokens on top, to find what was peeking-out from underneath. This was in DUNE: Adventures in the Imperium RPG on here so it was the spice melange. Ran the same puzzle for 3 groups. It was pretty fun the first 2 times. 2 out 3 ain't bad. The third time I rushed them (GM mistake, limited timeslot in Roll20CON). The earlier runs I was patient and only mentioned they could zoom-in to 150% to notice more about the pile. That was fun because it was both in-character, and out of character, the player saying "Wait. Is there something under this pile of barrels?" followed by, "Look, everybody, help me move these barrels. You can click them." Next.. Here is a Handout in one of my games, text copy-pasted from somewhere, called Tavern Mini-Games, this is in a Public shareable External Journal so it MIGHT open for you on the www? Or does it require you to join the game to see this? <a href="https://app.roll20.net/campaigns/journal/214613/handout/-M7B_EXfO69QujWxvshc" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/campaigns/journal/214613/handout/-M7B_EXfO69QujWxvshc</a> I've done puzzle-like offerings on holidays here too. Halloween, Christmastime, New Years. Some people are looking for an online group to reach out and socialize over the holidays. It is a kindness. Hope your games are fun. Cross reference also, of course: API forum is full of techniques that can spawn ideas, <a href="https://app.roll20.net/forum/category/46806" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/forum/category/46806</a> Since you already use PRO features, API scripts, there would be some ideas stemming from Roll20 AM (Audio Manager), a way to trigger sounds to blast-off upon touching a token. TokenMod is very powerful, we should be able to think of some gamey ideas with its powers. Innovative solutions thread is very rich, <a href="https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/5899495/roll20-tips-and-tricks-innovative-solutions-to-common-problems/?pagenum=1" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/5899495/roll20-tips-and-tricks-innovative-solutions-to-common-problems/?pagenum=1</a> Add-Ons Incredible list of Play Aids, Puzzles, and Idea Prompts that can be directly added to your existing tabletops (Add-On products): <a href="https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Addons:Idea%20Prompts|Addons:Puzzles|Addons:Play%20Aids" rel="nofollow">https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Addons:Idea%20Prompts|Addons:Puzzles|Addons:Play%20Aids</a> Amazing collection of Card Decks in Roll20 Marketplace I say use them AND REPURPOSE for your own uses as minigames of any sort, mix and match to GM taste: <a href="https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Card%20Decks" rel="nofollow">https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Card%20Decks</a> Classic category but so VTT Ultimate roll20 Market collection of what's labeled "Classic" style, but really is largely VTT-optimized, VTT-implemented, board games and card games: In this category ones like The Quiet Year (drawing tools, to collectively create a map and a history), and Spoken Magic, are 2 of many examples that could inspire or port to Holiday mini-games using Roll20, whether it's to play with your Players, or to "have their Characters playing this game in a tavern". <a href="https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Classic" rel="nofollow">https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Classic</a> Strategy games, Family games, Party games for sale here: <a href="https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Strategy|Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Party|Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Family" rel="nofollow">https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Strategy|Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Party|Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Family</a>

Thanks! I've certainly had fun each session, and I don't want to seem presumptuous and put words into the mouths of my players, but they seem to keep coming back, so something's going right! &nbsp;It took me a minute to understand the Snowdrifts idea, now I get what it is. I had a DM use this on us in a room with shifting space-time "stuff". It was trippy to see one player cross the entire map in one move, then the next player's token barely moves. Emerelda That's a very good call! I did actually grab it, but I hadn't even thought to look at it yet. The tooltips feature I hadn't even heard about, but that sounds amazing, has me thinking of the applications in a normal campaign as well... My latest puzzle is a mite less sophisticated than your jigsaw puzzle, it was simply a large pile of Tokens (all moveable by Players), with the clue they were looking for hidden UNDER those tokens. [...] Here is a Handout in one of my games, text copy-pasted from somewhere, called Tavern Mini-Games, this is in a Public shareable External Journal so it MIGHT open for you on the www? Or does it require you to join the game to see this? Don't sell yourself short, that is a great idea that would've served me well in past runs. I can definitely come up with a home for this somewhere. Handout opens perfectly, thanks! Cross reference also, of course: API forum is full of techniques that can spawn ideas, <a href="https://app.roll20.net/forum/category/46806" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/forum/category/46806</a> Since you already use PRO features, API scripts, there would be some ideas stemming from Roll20 AM (Audio Manager), a way to trigger sounds to blast-off upon touching a token. TokenMod is very powerful, we should be able to think of some gamey ideas with its powers. Innovative solutions thread is very rich, <a href="https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/5899495/roll20-tips-and-tricks-innovative-solutions-to-common-problems/?pagenum=1" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/5899495/roll20-tips-and-tricks-innovative-solutions-to-common-problems/?pagenum=1</a> Add-Ons Incredible list of Play Aids, Puzzles, and Idea Prompts that can be directly added to your existing tabletops (Add-On products): <a href="https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Addons:Idea%20Prompts|Addons:Puzzles|Addons:Play%20Aids" rel="nofollow">https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Addons:Idea%20Prompts|Addons:Puzzles|Addons:Play%20Aids</a> Amazing collection of Card Decks in Roll20 Marketplace I say use them AND REPURPOSE for your own uses as minigames of any sort, mix and match to GM taste: <a href="https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Card%20Decks" rel="nofollow">https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Card%20Decks</a> Classic category but so VTT Ultimate roll20 Market collection of what's labeled "Classic" style, but really is largely VTT-optimized, VTT-implemented, board games and card games: In this category ones like The Quiet Year (drawing tools, to collectively create a map and a history), and Spoken Magic, are 2 of many examples that could inspire or port to Holiday mini-games using Roll20, whether it's to play with your Players, or to "have their Characters playing this game in a tavern". <a href="https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Classic" rel="nofollow">https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Classic</a> Strategy games, Family games, Party games for sale here: <a href="https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Strategy|Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Party|Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Family" rel="nofollow">https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/search?category=Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Strategy|Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Party|Board%20%26%20Card%20Games:Family</a> Oh I've definitely been through some of the tips and tricks threads, they are fantastic. It's how I learned about the aura and transparent shapes for hidden messages trick. Good call on checking the marketplace for ideas-- that completely slipped my mind. Decks are great, I created a custom deck for our game last Christmas, simply for character creation (players were mischievous kids). Each player drew a random card, which had one of the things the narrator of "Nothin' For Christmas" got in trouble for doing. Since posting I have a few more ideas as well, I'll add them here for posterity. I also found this: <a href="https://imgur.com/a/jbx2gvT" rel="nofollow">https://imgur.com/a/jbx2gvT</a> Minesweeper-style maze. Inspired by Half-Dead, if you are aware of that game. Each room would have a number as a clue to avoid trapped rooms. Not as interactive as I'd like, Traffic Jam. It may have other names, but I've seen it as a puzzle in which you have to move cars around to get a target vehicle free. I think I could leverage dynamic lighting and walls to enforce the grid shape, I'd just have to make sure players respect the token boundaries, since they don't clip.