Basic Guide to Booby Traps
One of the main things to be aware of when investigating ancient ruins, is booby traps. This guide is ment to give you a basic knowledge of what to look for, and how to avoid traps. However there is always going to be a trap that is not listed. A trap that is specific to that world. Never assume you know everything when it comes to traps, that is what gets you killed.
Trap triggers
Trip Wires
One of the most common things to watch out for is a trip wire.
Trip wires are most often strung across doorways, or hallways at ankle level. If disturbed a trip wire will release a mechanism holding back the trap. Keep in mind that the traps the trip wire sets off are aimed at the location of the trip wire. Get out of the way immediately.
Common traps associated with trip wires are; sharp objects that shoot out, swing or drop. The can also just make you trip, down stairs or into spikes.
Pressure Plates
Pressure plates are another common trap trigger.
They fall into two categories, ones that trigger when pressure is added, and ones that trigger when pressure is removed.
Plates that trigger with pressure are often found in floors with a brick pattern. Places where a unusual seem in the floor will not be noticed. Again traps will be aimed at this spot, get out of the way.
Plates that trigger with a release of pressure, are usually the last line of defense, placed under a valuable object. If you keep a continual even pressure, equal to that of the object it is possible to avoid these traps. Nearly impossible, but still possible.
Traps triggered by pressure plates are the same kinds of traps trip wires trip.
Pressure plates and trip wires are still used in worlds with more technological advances. Pressure Plates have stayed the same and lasers take the place of physical wires. Traps are usually replaced with alarms.
Types of Traps
Darts and other projectiles
Projectiles are a common trap type. Look for small holes in the walls. These holes will often be disguised in carvings. The size if the holes can very but are usually evenly spaced. They are often located on both sidesof a hall or room, at about chest or head hight.
Always assume the darts are poisoned. Always bring a wide spectrum antitoxin.
Spikes
Spikes are a veritile trap type. They can come out of the walls, floors and ceilings. They can be placed at the bottom of pit falls, or attached to moving walls. Watch out for gaps in walls or large holes that spikes could come out of. Look up spikes that drop from the ceiling are rarly hidden because people don't look up.
Large spikes can impale you, causing to to die instantly or bleed out. Spikes may also be poisoned in case they only graze you.
Pit Falls
Hidden pits under the floor, step on it and fall. Pit falls are some of the hardest to detect, there aren't a lot of obvious signs. Odd seems in the floor, or unusual patterns could indicate a pit fall. Use a long stick to tap the floor and listen for unusual echos or hollow sounds.
Carry a rope to help you get out of a pit fall. Unfortunately if it is particularly deep or if it has spikes at the bottom if you fall you die. Try to grab for the edge or anything else that could stop your fall.
Falling objects
Look up, falling objects could be anything heavy enough to do damage to a careless adventurer. Pay attention to anything that looks precariously balanced. Even if it is not a deliberate trap, it could be dangerous. Halls and other tight spaces are the perfect place to drop something, because you need less of whatever is falling.
Protect your head, and get out of the way.
Moving walls
Look for odd scuff marks on the floor or other walls, like something heavy was dragged. Halls and small spaces are the usual places for these traps. Walls move slowly run, try to get out of the section that is moving. Look for levers or other ways to stop the walls. There is usually a way to reverse them so the hall can be used again.
Just run, if possible. Don't try to jam them open this rarely works and just causes shrapnel when whatever you used inevitably breaks.
Bones and skeletons are one of the most obvious signs that there are booby traps. Spent darts, scuffed walls or floors are less obvious signs.
Never assume there are no more traps. Do your research on what kinds traps have been documented in that culture before. There is alway new traps that haven't been discovered.
Stay safe and watch your step.
Most common in ancient temples.
Lethal traps are no longer used in most "modern" world
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