Magical traps do not have to be based on high powered spells, or even spells that cause damage to be disruptive. Creatively used, cantrips can even cause havoc as the below trap illustrates.
Message Blast (CR 6)
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As you walk into the room, you begin to hear whispers, which get louder. |
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Type: magical; Perception DC 25; Disable Device 25 Trigger location; Reset None |
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Effect |
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When a character sets off this trap, he begins hearing voices as per the message spell at CL 6. The messages build up to a dull roar, and last for an hour unless dispelled. While hearing the message, a caster must make Concentration checks in order to cast spells, and all skill checks are at -2. |
What makes this trap work is that it is pretty harmless by itself. However, if you place this in a situation in which casting or skill checks are going to be needed, it becomes quite effective. As an added plus, many cantrips, this one included bypass Spell Resistance and have no Saving Throws, so even the most twinked out party is not immune. You can also use something like this to push a storyline. Perhaps the incessant whispering stops if you answer riddles correctly, or maybe this is a side effect of a haunt. In any case, whatever you choose, you should have fun, especially if you ham it up and act out the whispering.
I like this, clever, annoying but not in itself a danger. It is what come next that will be a real problem for the characters.
I like that it allows a lot of flavor to be built in by what is whispered…
Imagine the panic that can ensue if there is a local story about folks going mad and killing themselves due to the whisperings they hear 🙂