There is a very common concern I see among new players as they enter escape rooms. They believe that the placement of some easily moveable items is a clue, or the solution to a potential puzzle. As they start the escape room, they want to take meticulous notes before touching or moving anything incase the initial setup may be part of a puzzle. For example, hands on a clock or the direction a prop is facing. This would be a poorly designed puzzle for an Escape Room and here's why.
Escape rooms are designed to encourage critical thinking, teamwork, and communication, but they also have to be designed for players to be self-sufficient in exploring. If the players can easily derail, or “break”, a puzzle, it is detrimental to the enjoyment and ambiance of the room.
It is best for us to avoid creating puzzles that can be accidentally ruined by players or staff. Imagine a player or game master bumping the table on their way into the room, knocking the clock hand just out of place. Once players realize a clock is important, there is no way to get back to the original setup (correct answer). The puzzle chain is broken, and the players either have to blindly guess, or ask for a clue for the original setup. Each puzzle should be solvable with needing outside help.
So when first entering a room, explore! Touch things, see what can be moved and what is held fast. Be adventurous and have fun. Don't be afraid of making a wrong move that will break a puzzle-chain. Channel your inner Ms. Frizzle, take chances, make mistakes, and keep on puzzling!
