I wrote previously about using puzzles and about playground rooms. This is another toy for fantasy heroes to explore.

The Temple of Laga

In the Temple of Laga, god of equality, there is a huge statue holding a great balance. A sage tells the players this and that his worshipers would toss gold coins into the balance. If the coins remain roughly equal, the balance descends slightly as a whole; if it descend all the way, the worshipers are given a great blessing.

If the coins get too far out of balance, the balance tips to once side, drops coins from the heavier side into a deep pit, and rises all the way back up–and the worshipers get a punishment.

In practice, the players roll 2d4 to determine where their coin lands and therefore how much their coin tips the balance. Naturally, they will throw coins on alternating sides. The balance starts with 2d1000 coins total (roll percentile dice and a third d10 for the hundreds place), balanced equally but with 1d6 more on one side (close enough that it appears balanced). For each player roll, add that count to the side chosen.

For each coin the character throws into one of the bowls, he or she gains 1 point of luck.

Failure, Success, and Desecration

If the count ever gets to be more than 6 greater on one side than the other side, the attempt has failed, and the heroes each suffer a different minor wild magic effect. With each toss that keeps the balance in equilibrium, it comes down one notch. It has 10 notches but starts 1d4 notches down from that.

If the heroes try to climb on the statue or influence the balance, they take 1d6 hp electrical damage and suffer a major wild magic effect.

Once the balance is down, each of the heroes who tossed a coin receives a boon determined by the GM, such as a permanent ability score increase, experience point bonus, a wish, the resurrection of a companion, or vision of the location of a magic item they desire.

The GM can also determine if it is possible to destroy the statue and/or rob it of the coins, but doing so should automatically cause a major wild magic effect.

A Variation

In a variant, the heroes get a minor pleasant enchantment for throwing 10 gold pieces in one balance bowl and reset the balance by throwing one gp in the other, but suffer a minor wild magic effect when they do. If the balance gets more than 12 points out of balance, it crashes, and the hero suffers a major wild magic effect.