Propbuilding help! I procrastinated too long

[kristof65]

So 6 months ago, I committed to my co-DM for our D&D game that I would build a puzzle prop we could give t the playrs piece by piece.

 

Well, at tomorrow's session, she'll be handing out the first of 7 pieces.  So I kind of have to get it built tonight. 

 

The concept is that it's a brass tube within which five lenses are fitted, and a map piece placed at the end. When the lenses are rotated to the proper position, and the viewer looks through, the treasure location is revealed upon the map.

 

I have the "brass tube" built, and the "map" made (a Pringles can with a view hole punched into the bottom, and the map pasted into the inside of the lid. The lens pieces are to be fitted into five different slots that I've made on the Pringles can, and can be rotated about 135 degrees.

 

Where I'm having a problem is figuring out how to actually decorate and punch the holes in the "lenses" to get them to line up with my map.

 

I can make it work by just punching some holes in the inserts, but that seems like it would be too easy to figure out. Only 2-3 of the lenses would be needed to confirm the location. 

 

I thought about each lens having a different set of rectangular slots, but not really certain how to get them to line up.

 

Any thoughts or advice? Examples?

 

[Suden]

I have no idea. But good luck, it sounds pretty cool.

[Dr.Bedlam]

Not sure if I totally understand what you're doing, but my thought would be to simply cut five plastic discs out of clear plastic sheet, like blister packs or overhead transparencies for an overhead projector or something. I'd cut 'em all from the same template, so they're all the same size.

I would then lay them in a stack, and put part of each map section on each transparent disc with... hell, I dunno, colored sharpie marker or something. And then I would do each disc, to the point where when all discs are present and aligned properly, the map can be seen.

I would then cut discs out of another Pringles can, to become cardboard rings. I would then mount each of the discs into a ring.

Then we cut slots in the first Pringles can, so that the discs can be inserted. When all the discs are inserted and rotated to complete the map...

That's just me talkin' through my hat there, though... any better ideas?

[kristof65]

Dr Bedlam - darn, darn, darn!

 

If only you had come along and suggested that 2 hours ago.   I already have 4 of my 5 discs done on cardstock- I never thought about doing them on transparencies. 

I did something similar to what you suggested, only I used varying sizes and numbers of holes on each disc.  When stacked and aligned properly, only one hole shows all the way through. 

[Qwyksilver]

Doc's is a good idea, but I'd use wet erase markers on transparencies.  I find they draw a little better.

 

An alternative would be to make one or two of the lenses be colored, to act as a filter to remove certain aspects of the map.  Like how little kids spy kits use a red filter of background noise to allow you to see the palest blue ink beneath it.

[Dr.Bedlam]

Doc's is a good idea, but I'd use wet erase markers on transparencies.  I find they draw a little better.

 

An alternative would be to make one or two of the lenses be colored, to act as a filter to remove certain aspects of the map.  Like how little kids spy kits use a red filter of background noise to allow you to see the palest blue ink beneath it.

 

...oh, now that's slick. Why didn't I think of that?

[Qwyksilver]

 

Doc's is a good idea, but I'd use wet erase markers on transparencies.  I find they draw a little better.

 

An alternative would be to make one or two of the lenses be colored, to act as a filter to remove certain aspects of the map.  Like how little kids spy kits use a red filter of background noise to allow you to see the palest blue ink beneath it.

 

...oh, now that's slick. Why didn't I think of that?

 

Because I've watched National Treasure a bazillion times (it was a favorite of kids at the hospital) and I instantly thought of the Ben Franklin glasses as a similar device that used the flip down lenses to decipher a map.

[Dr.Bedlam]

 

 

Doc's is a good idea, but I'd use wet erase markers on transparencies.  I find they draw a little better.

 

An alternative would be to make one or two of the lenses be colored, to act as a filter to remove certain aspects of the map.  Like how little kids spy kits use a red filter of background noise to allow you to see the palest blue ink beneath it.

 

...oh, now that's slick. Why didn't I think of that?

 

Because I've watched National Treasure a bazillion times (it was a favorite of kids at the hospital) and I instantly thought of the Ben Franklin glasses as a similar device that used the flip down lenses to decipher a map.

 

 

That's what I mean. I've never seen National Treasure, but we used a similar trick when I was in high school to do Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde onstage; have him come out under a red spot... and for the transformation, flicker back and forth from a red to a blue spot... and finish with the blue spot... and it knocked the audience for a loop every single time.

 

Our actor was wearing red makeup, lines crayoned on in red greasepaint... invisible under the red spotlight. When we switched to blue, his face went from "unmarked" to "lined and hideous." The same trick would work on those transparencies...

[kristof65]

So, what I was working on last night didn't work.  It broke completely when I tried to do the final disk.  I gave up in frustration, and texted my co-DM.

 

She said "not to worry", and we would wing it for this first piece.   But the Dr's suggestion sent me online looking for various supplies, and I came up with what should be an even easier way to do this. 

I found some "Design your own" keychains online that happen to be the same diameter as the inside of my pringles can, and ordered them.  With them, I'll be able to pop in transparencies, maps, etc. to play with different ideas. So I'll not only be able make one for this series of adventures, but I should be able to reuse it as well. 

Qwyk - the colored transparency idea is awesome, thanks.  

Once I get them in, I'll post a pic here.

Thanks guys, I should have asked sooner. 

[Bonwirn]

Thanks guys, I should have asked sooner. 

 

Welcome to Procrastinator's Annonymous!

[Loim]

For lenses in a variety of shapes and sizes be sure to check dollar stores for cheap magnifiers. If you need a specific color go with Doc's suggestion and sharpie them. Or an ink was ;).