More on the stair challenge

[lionkingcmsl]

kamau_d_lyon suggested that I "hide" the un-needed portions of the stairs so no-one could try to climb them that way.

Good idea, except for one problem: How does one effectively block the un-needed parts of a rotating spiral staircase?

Keep in mind that I want this to look like it was feasible in the middle ages, so no modern composites or other building materials. This makes cantilevering very hard for long distances.

I think I came up with a workable solution:



The left side shows the "wood blocking" that keeps people from climbing the stairs without facing the "challenge". The right side shows the "stone" facing that hides how the stairs operate until you are at the challenge. The blocking goes from the rear wall to the facing, so they are not cantilevered.

BTW, I think its neat that people have taken a liking to this challenge. :=3

And here you thought I was mild mannered all the time. ;=3

< Bugs Bunny voice> You don't know me very well, do you? < /Bugs Bunny voice>

Comments

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

Be sure to dribble oil on the very last stair. It's the little touchs that add so much to life... :)

[kamau-d-lyon.livejournal.com]

Not bad but I think you just gave them another straight ladder to climb that way. I'd suggest enclosing them in a cylinder and leaving only the center open. This way if someone attempts to climb the non challenge part they come to a dead end and if they stay there it will truly be a 'dead end' as the stairs rotate.

[lowen-kind.livejournal.com]

Those ends of the blocks aren't accessible, remember. They are seated in the facade.

There is only an inch of clearance between the ends of the steps and the walls.

If someone would try to climb the blocking when the treads had just cleared, I think they would be in a rough time. The openings are only about 3" inches in width and spaced 16.5 inches apart.

It is not obivous from this angle, but the rear of the side walls do curve to follow the sweep of the stairs. I guess I could make the front of the side walls curve to follow the sweep also.

Try climbing that with some whirling around at 4 rpm.

That's not terrribly fast, but fast enough that you can't hesitate.

[yaochi.livejournal.com]

In older times, one or more stairs would be a bit longer of a step than the others. This would be intentional. The defenders would know which step was the long one. Attackers would not until they were facing it. Imagine a sword battle upon a staircase. You are defending the path and know the stairs inside out, and up and down. Your foe does not. As you back up the staircase, your foe follows. You make the long step easily because you know it is there. Your foe stumbles upon it. You skewer him. Touche.

[ceruleanst.livejournal.com]

There should be a room on the other side. Then some might first think they only need to get through it and not even look up. Then they'll be on the other side wondering why there's no further passage through. The more brutish ones will have whacked most of the steps off.

*snicker*

[ionotter.livejournal.com]

Your players hated you with a passion, didn't they?