Hi there,

I have got a problem with the portcullis rules. The rules (page 8) say, that if you want to go through a portcullis you will have to make a strength test. But what should I do when I encounter an unexplored space and have to draw a Dungeon Chamber and this Dungeon Chamber is a portcullis with the entering arrow behind the portcullis. Should I obey the portcullis chamber rules on page 31 or should I first roll for the portcullis following the rules on page 8. 

Both ways could make sense, if I do not have to make a strength test when I draw this Dungeon Room and enter it, it could be that the portcullis is some kind of a trap and closes when I entered the room and take a Dungeon Card. Otherwise we could say, that if I encounter a chamber with a portcullis, that I will have to make at first a strength test to see if I am able to enter the portcullis room and then take a Dungeon Card after a successful strength test. Does anybody have a solution?? 

I think that particular room you actually enter the room - and to backtrack you will have to open the portcullis.

So yes - in a nutshell you enter the room and the door has closed behind you... I do not believe you need to make a strength test to actually enter that tile.

Page 31 should hopefully clear it up in the manual. (PDF version of the manual - not sure if they follow the same page #'s.)

SoylentGreen said:

Yes, I know but I mean a portcullis room with more than one entry. The rules on page 31 says that the next turn is important, so thiscould be an indication that the portcullis strength test initial counts at the the next turn and if you wish to move through it or you choose to take an alternative route through another entry if there are more than once!? Thx...

Take that room on page 31 - BUT - add an open passageway at the top of it. (I believe these tiles exist)

You enter into the room - portcullis closes behind you. You encounter the room. End of turn. On the next turn - you can freely move through the open passageway on the top of the tile - but if you choose to backtrack - you must first pass the strength check to get through the portcullis.

That's how I've played and read it. Anyone else?

I'm pretty sure Soylents interpretation is correct.

 When you enter an unexplored room through the portcullis ( As far as I can tell, all portcullis rooms require you to enter through the portcullis on the initial entry ), then it immediately slams shut behind you preventing escape from a monster combat.

However, every OTHER time you encounter a portcullis ( when the tile was already explored territory ), you must pass the strength test to go through it.

SinisterCheshire said:

Just to further clarify...

So lets suppose the tile I described. Portcullis on the bottom - open on the top. If you were to exit the top - and circle all the way around it and come back up through the bottom - would you agree that you would need to open the portcullis on the bottom of the tile to enter into the room? BECAUSE the tile has already been explored. (I know this is extremely hypothetical - I can't think of a time when I would circle all the way around like this - unless some funny catacomb movements take place.)

SoylentGreen said:

Thats exactly how it works. Once the tile is explored, the portcullis always remains down and requires a strength check to pass in either direction.

SinisterCheshire said:

YAY! I was bound to get one right this week!!! :)

Thank you all, that seems to be the solution. Your interpretations addicting sense, now I how to handle such situations... :)

Not sure I see the portcullis this way. The rules for the portcullis, on page 8, are quite specific, and make no mention as to whether or not you are dealing with a "dungeon chamber" or a "unexplored space".

"Moving Through a Portcullis

If a Hero attempts to move through a portcullis, he must fire make a successful Strength test . . . If the Hero succeeds, he continues his movement as normal . . ."

I don't see in the rules an exception for entering a dungeon chamber with a portcullis for the first time, i.e., a previously unexplored dungeon space, without taking the test.

If you were trying to leave a tile with a Portcullis - I think we all understand that you have to pass a check to move through the portcullis... but:

"Player Turns
DungeonQuest is played over a series of turns, beginning with
the First Player and then continuing to the left. When a Hero
takes his turn, he must perform one of the following actions:
 

Move into an adjacent space
 

OR

Search the space he is in

After a hero performs one of these actions, play continues
clockwise around the table."

If you are able to freely leave a tile - you move into the next room - even the arrow is past the portcullis on the tiles...

Also - and more clear hopefully is the tile instruction for the Portcullis on page 31: "Draw a Dungeon card. You cannot escape from Monsters while you are in this chamber; you must attack instead. On your next turn, if you choose to move through the portcullis, you must test Strength. If you succeed, you lift the portcullis and move normally. If you fail, the portcullis is too heavy and you must stay in the chamber. Next turn, you may try to lift the portcullis again or may exit through a different passage."

I didn't need to quote that much - but - the first direction for that tile is to "Draw a Dungeon Card" - there is nothing that says you have to first open the gate - the room pictured on Page 31 would be really pointless otherwise - as who would enter that room willingly?

OKay. So, if the entry arrow pointed to a door, rather than a portcullis, you would not have to open that door either?

Aged One said:

Are there any tiles that have an arrow that point to a closed door? The picture of the portcullis that started this discussion has the arrow after the door... Are there any tiles with closed doors that would put the arrow BEFORE the door and not AFTER like the pictures portcullis?

Where is that "light bulb goes on" symbol?

There aren't any tiles that point to a closed door when you enter. There are plenty of tiles with doors that you have to exit through. This can easily present a situation where you have a closed door followed by a portcullis.

But in that case, you pass through the door, and then the portcullis slams shut behind you on your first entrance into the room.  any subsequent movement through that entrance will require a strength check and a door check. A failure of either will require you to stay in the room you were trying to leave, and make both checks again.