How to Write Riddles?

Purpose & Satisfaction

• Simple 1st
• Balance works through Progressiveness.
• Make the 1st Riddles easy.
• Or they may appear easy.
• Make the Riddles progressively more Complex.
  • Each part of the Riddle must still be clear.
• How can you Simplify this Riddle while keeping the Interest?
• How can you Simplify this Riddle while keeping its Uniqueness?

• Coherence & Adjustments
• Your main objective is to Preserve the coherence.
• You only need to Display the Themes.
• And to Preserve the Themes.
• In order to Enhance the Narration changes can be implemented.
• You can Modify details.
• When you hand your Story to a friend, consider to their Input.
• Ask for a detailed procedure on how to ease the Riddle.
• Let this person make a case for their alternative solution.
• See if it fits the Story better.

• Dissatisfaction
• Which Restrictions could make your Riddle Unsatisfying?
• Riddles may appear to be Punishing.
• That is, if the Characters, and the Public, can’t resolve them.
• Not all Riddle must be solved easily.
  • Otherwise you’ll sacrifice diversity.
• Exacerbated difficulty may make it Disengaging.
• The lack of Reaction from the environment may make the riddle disengaging.
• Characters needs to see the consequences of their actions.

Integration to the Story

• Environment
• Which elements of this Environment make it Unique?
• Which Peculiarities will you use?
• Use specific objects.
• This will make your Riddle memorable.
• Which elements should be used in this Riddle?
• Settings themselves can be use as Complex Riddles.
• Each room can be turned into a piece of the Riddle.
  • It can turn into a Puzzle.
  • If it turns into a Puzzle, indicate it Clearly.
  • You want to keep the difference between Puzzles & Riddle clear in the Beginning.
• How does the Riddle enhance the Setting’s Atmosphere?
• You can use elements of the Architecture.
• Also living creatures.
• And physical/chemical properties of the Setting’s Atmosphere.

• Letting the Public participate
• Games create Engagement.
• Riddles create Engagement.
• They can be used to develop the Public’s Implication.
• How should it be done?
• Create Relatability.
• The Public should Want to help the Characters.
• Create Predictability.
• Offer Clues.
• Consider the Public’s Capabilities.
• Enhance them.
• Provide the necessary Knowledge.
• Offer Choices.
• Provide less pertinent information.
• Failure is an Option.
• Create Consistency.
• Present an appropriate solution.
• Appropriate to the Setting.

• Tale
• The Riddle is A smaller tale.
• A tale Embedded into the Story.
• It can be Entertaining on its own.
• While at the same time creating connection with future events.
• Which Information should be given?
• Riddles can be Used to foreshadow an event.
• It’s easier to perceive & to prepare oneself for an upcoming Events this way.
• Offer Information on Events which will occur in the short or medium term.

• Manage Predictability as the Story goes by integrating more difficult Riddles.

Diversity & Pace

• Away from Combat & Sleep
• Actions scenes & Resting scenes needs to be punctuated with another type of Scenes.
  • Games Scenes.
• Games can be extenuating, much like Crisis.
• They can be soothing, much like Rest.
• They remain, most of the time, in the middle.
• They should not Stop the Story.
• Games are here to entertain, not to distract.
• These scenes give you Information on the rest of Story.

• Difficulty
• What creates difficulty?
• What is the nature of the Duress?
• Are there many Threats other than the Riddle?
• Integrating adjacent threats is an effective way to maintain pressure.
• Maintained Pressure create the Urge to find a solution.
• Picking Threat is therefore essential.
  • Threats that are surprising are more effective.
  • Fast, but weak Threats that come in waves are an easy way to manage rhythm.
• What if the Characters Fail?
• Failure is a possibility.
• Therefore you need to display its Consequences.
• Display Immediate Consequences.
• Display Long term Consequences.

• Collaboration
• Why would the Characters Collaborate?
• Collaboration’s main goal is Survival.
• If the Characters are not directly threatened the goal becomes Success.
• What would the Characters gain from Collaboration?
• What would they lose?
• Displaying the Losses is as essential as showing clearly the Reward.
• A loss is not only a singular Loss, it can be the impossibility to act in a certain manner.
• Being a team?
• Trials allow the Characters to Develop their Relationships.
• Games are Trials.
• How do the Characters behave during the Riddle?
• How do they assist each other?
• Do they Take advantage of all their Skills?
• Make everyone participate.

Develop Flexibility

• Consider Limitations
• What are the Main limitations of the Setting?
• What are the Main limitations of the Riddle?
• Considering Time.
• Considering the Setting’s Limitations.
• Considering Enemies.
• Considering other potential Threats.
• Considering Unexpected complications.
• What can the Characters still do?

• Multiple Solutions
• Let the Character describe All Solutions available.
• Then discriminate the Most Applicable to the Situation.
• Choose the Easiest to implement.
• Also consider the Fastest to implement if Time is the uttermost threat.
• Let them also consider the resources necessary.
• Which Options is the most Effective?

• Laterality
• What are the means available?
• Let the Characters consider All tools available.
• It gives the Characters, and the Public, the opportunity to use a Different Procedure.
• To update their approach.
• To use Different Tools.
• Let them catalyse their sense of Alternative.
  • In order to generate Creative Outcomes.