Buzzshot's Escape Room Guides

Managing Your Players

To give all your players the best possible experience you have to manage their expectations, their game play and their environment. Your Games Master needs to have a box of tricks to cover all eventualities - the failing players, the players who are rushing through. 

How do I deal with players who damage things?

Make your escape room robust. Always think about how you can stop breakages in the first place. On a practical level though there will always be accidents, puzzles that wear out.

If they do happen then your first response should be a business driven customer care response - how do I reassure the players and repair the damage? Obviously willful and malicious damage is a separate issue, but luckily that is extremely rare.  More often it is an boisterous crowd who have, perhaps, had a few drinks who will be more heavy handed than most and cause accidental destruction.

Then you will need to calm the group down, but it's important not to overreact - most times even the loudest and clumsiest of players will be very apologetic. You need to keep a cool head and bear in mind that accidents do happen! 

Sometimes it is the case that one or more of your players is too intoxicated to be in the room properly. This is a serious problem that needs tactical handling, you need to de-escalate the situation and not inflame it.  But above all remain quiet and firm - you may need to suggest that the offending player take a break outside the room.  Often others in the group will be helpful - do gauge this and use them to take the more inebriated player aside.

Check out this article on the Buzzshot blog for more information.

How do you give hints in an Escape Room (without ruining the game)?

Top tips for hints:
  • Reinforce and encourage  them if they are on the right track.
  • Redirect them if they're completely at sea - suggest an area of attack.
  • Provide pre-prepared graded hints for your more difficult puzzles 
It's important not to go in too early unless your players really are stuck. Keep a vigilant eye on their progress - you'll often sense when players are struggling well before they ask for help.  

It's never OK just to give the answer or too blatant a hint. Your players are there to solve it themselves - don't take that away from them!