I would like some advice on how to make this work well for my game. Basically what I am picturing is a big book that has metal interchangeable plates in it that are almost like a puzzle. If the plates are moved in the right way then they reveal patterns that might show maps, words, diagrams and so on. I pictured that the book has three parts--a sort of frame, and two inner parts which connected together enable the reader to use the 'puzzles' to determine things.
My question is mostly this: how can I make this work in a game-mechanical sense?
I would probably work out some kind of puzzle for the players to solve to represent the puzzle the PCs are solving (not necessarily the same puzzle, especially since I wouldn't know how to create such a book).
Another option would be to just say they figure it out. If it's important to the plot, why should it need to be random.
If you prefer some kind of die roll:
1) Intelligence check - this is the closest, but ability checks are problematic b/c there is so much variation. So you'd have to set it low enough one of the PCs is likely to get (say 11 or 12).
2) Decipher Script. Not exactly the same, but it does seem like working out ancient books might be covered.
3) Knowledge (arcana) - kind of a magical puzzle, and deals with dragons.
4) Just roll a d4 and say it takes that many hours to figure it out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism
I pictture a book, with the kind of mechanisms that are described in the link above.
Game-mechaics wise, I had a box that was similar to the book you describe. (whole playing sessions went into this thing).
I'll give you some ideas how i'd do it, feel free to ignore or use what works. But the real fun in something like this is to give them different puzzles that take different solutions.
I love the metal book, by the way. The image is pretty strong.
I'd have it locked on three sides, with three very different locks. The outside would be bare, almost no markings. Just 4 round sigils in the corners (Lore checks reveal these are the ancient symbles for the 2 suns on the left corners and the 2 moons on the right corners)though if they move it, they can hear tmetal sliding against metal, and feel weight shifting slightly.
At this point, no lore check will reveal what it is.
a 'spot' or 'discern' check will note that 1 sun and one moon sigil have tiny lines radiating from them. what this means is that the players must have the book in the light of the right moon and the right sun only, while the others aer down, to bring the title of the book out.
Now we egt to the decipher script, once that is seen. Only a few rhymes will be found about, as well as dire fates of people that supposedly held it.
seperate rhymes lead to the finding of the three keys.
once open, something like a metal pop-up book, where little metal parts of the figures can be moved. But parts need to be moved in the right order. You could have some historical figures in a small section have clearly moving parts, but unless they move them in the right historical order (move this arm with this sword into this person, move the wizard morward, then the crypt door pull open) then behind the lich who gears move out of his tomb, the players can see a scroll with the formulae for the arrow of red dragon slaying...
feel free to use a few pieces, or not. I'll chaeck back in a few days and see what has 'popped up'.
Lord Vreeg: I really like the ideas you have for how it actually looks and works.
Phoenix Knight: Thanks, that gives me some clearer ideas about how the mechanics work.
Tyblat, in the initial post you mention a number of possible uses for the book. Do you have anything specifically in mind yet or just the general idea.
The idea of multiple maps in the book to hidden or forgotten places is very nice. You could also use certain configurations as oracle pages where the future could be predicted.
The book is key to learning about places specific to ancient draconic and elvish magic, that is the main idea. I intend to basically use it as you say, a kind of oracle/adventure hook.
Maybe the puzzle can be solved in different ways to give different information, then? Like, solve it one way, get a map to a location. Solve it another, it reveals a clue to a prophecy. Seems like you could milk the oracle book for quite a lot of adventures/plot revelations.