The Puzzles
Flowchart Plan
Enchanted Escape
Having two possible puzzles routes makes it more unpredictable for the player. It makes it feel like there is a more complex world being built rather than a linear set of tasks. On a practical level it also means that more players can be in the room (working on different things) at the same time.
Caterpillar Path
Camouflaged in different places in room, players stumble across the first caterpillar, and then knows to find rest. When aligned in order with the slots in the floor, the message on the back of the caterpillars says, “Push down hard until green light and then look in”
Vine - Bird code Path
Opening the Tree
By looking at what is written on the board they see the bowl and water on the table, and figure out they need to pour the water onto the seed to uncover the heart, as shown in video.
Overview
Deciphering the message on the board leads the players to follow the vines to joints with colored string and choose the high path or the low path. The message was purposely put far from the vines so that one player has to stay by the message and read it out to the other player following it, encouraging collaboration
The switches (caterpillars) need to be held down at the same time to turn on the lights inside the tree. The switches are purposely put in a location that means that one person can not both hold down the lights and look into the tree. I designed the puzzle to need cooperation. Once the light inside the tree is on they can peer into the holes in the bark, and instead of seeing darkness, see letters
After getting both codes and unlocking the branch, the player thrillingly reaches in (further than they’re expecting) and pulls out an odd seed.
Hidden in the depths of the Stanford d.school is a wily forest that will take over unless stopped! Originating from a magical seed brought in by an unknowing professor, this growing forest includes enchanted birds, caterpillars, and vines.
Players of this escape room are told to “find and deactivate the heart of the forest, before it’s too late!”
Following the vines leads to the word BIRD which prompts the message “Listen to the birds”. At the point they pay attention to the ongoing -ambient- noise in the room: twittering birds. One distinct bird is chirping in morse code. The players find a morse code sheet and deciphers it giving them the code to one of the locks.
Reactions
Shock as he’s hearing the morse code for the first time
Joy as the first lock is opened
Excitement to decode the newly discovered morse code
Delight in the tree heart being revealed
Celebration in room completion
I added spongy foam under the turf so that it felt more like forest ground was growing under their feet and spreading out, taking over the floor
The bird chirping plays throughout the game, but only later on does it become relevant. Initially it is “ambient” noise that hits them as they open the door. The assumption is that it is for the typical use for scene setting, only when told to focus on it do they notice the chirps are morse code
World Building
I added details to the room to accentuate the idea that you are stepping into a magical world
I put green filters on the lights that are in the tree area. I wanted it to look like the forest’s magic was effecting the whole space…even the sky
A photo of the room in its usual state. I made the vines climb up onto the ceiling and down over the floor to engage the idea that the player should pay attention to all 6 faces of the room.
