[RPG] What field-specific puzzles can I give to engineering and psychology students

gm-techniquespathfinder-1epuzzle

A few sessions ago, I gave my players a puzzle that involved converting a decimal number to binary to figure out the correct sequence to open a door. Since my group consists primarily of computer science students, I feel that the puzzle was enhanced by the fact that it was tailored specifically to their field of interest.

However, there is also a mechanical engineering student and a psychology student in our party, and I'd like to design some puzzles related to those fields as well, to allow them to take the limelight and feel like they're really contributing to the party with something only they can do.

Specific puzzles would be nice, but I would also like to know what kind of problem would be relevant to someone studying this field. For example, converting between binary and decimal is something every computer scientist knows how to do, and it often comes up in the course of a day. What would be some analogous, fairly simple puzzles for a mechanical engineer or psychologist?

Best Answer

Engineering -

Give them pulley and mechanical advantage puzzles:

EG: They've got a lever, and the long arm is needed to raise up to get to the ledge leading out... but in order to do so, they have to pick the right guy to go up - strong enough to lash it securely, light enough to be counter balanced by the others... and then let him use a pulley pair to work it from the top.

They need strength 320 to lift the gate... but their total strength is only 60... they need a 6-fold advantage... let them work out that issue...

Chem-E (Chemical Engineering)

Give them puzzles solved by picking the right reaction. For example, "In thirst I sit, and what flame will quench my thirst?" Then give three buttons:
•.
•• ..
••• .:

Answer: •. - representing a hydrogen atom.

Draw out a labyrinth which is a molecular diagram. For example, in the polymeric repeating molecule for polybutadiene, one could have each atom be one room, each valent bond a hall... and hide something with a given clue of "Between the place where the black stuff is double met... and as they map them, each room features something associated with its atom... Water in one hydrogen room, balloons in another... Carbon rooms could have wood, soot, and tar...

Psychology

play up a few NPC's for a while... then have some avatar test their wisdom by having them come up with the correct diagnosis.

Run some riddles based in the DSM. EG: I speak in words, but nothing do I convey therewith; I talk a lot and say nothing, I see everything but react to nothing... what ails me? (Schizophrenia - note the word-salad and delusional reactions to "nothing.")