Collapsing Structure Traps
Collapsing structure traps are a type of fictional trap or trap room where a ceiling, chamber, or even an entire building has been rigged to collapse when the trap has been triggered. In narratives, this often occurs once a treasure has been removed from a treasure chamber and is especially common in ancient temples and ruins. It also regularly happens in villain lairs once the big bad has been deposed, leaving rag-tag bands of heroes in a frantic dash to escape (or walking calmly away as everything comes crashing down behind them).
| Synonyms: Falling roof traps, demolishing buildings |
| Example Mythonyms: the Chamber of If I Can’t Have It No One Can |
| Traps |
Designing Collapsing Structure Traps
Archetypes
Overview
Often in fictional settings the collapse of a structure, particularly ancient ruins, may be explained in part because of the effects of time. However designers may wish to consider what other methods were put in place to help the structure transition successfully into rubble. Carefully crafted support beams poised to give way, the use of explosives, massive boulders, and ancient machinery are all possibilities.
Thematically, often places collapse in narratives to symbolize the destructions of what they represent. For example, the collapse of an evil palace may be used to symbolize the collapse of the fascist faction to which it belongs. The collapse of an ancient library may represent the loss of that knowledge and a transition into a darker age.
