CHAPTER ZERO
The Bloated Toad
The Bloated Toad is a tavern popular among adventurers and citywatch guards. The establishment has been around for centuries and has seen its reputation rise and fall across generations.
The tavern keeper has made an unusual petition that caught the King's attention. It was claimed that an unusual hex, known as a Puzzlfy spell, has cursed one of their backrooms. It is unknown how long it will be until the spell spreads from the backrooms to the rest of the tavern, and then onto the city itself!
Citywatch failed to contain the spell, but they believe there's a short window of opportunity to strike. You gather your team of Kingsblades and ready yourselves to save the city from toadal destruction!
Choose Your Character
Each character has their own unique storyline and puzzle path. Choose wisely!
- Bard of Lore – Equipped with a music sheet and a feathered hat. Musically inclined and revels in telling a tale to a captive audience.
- Cleric of Industry – A dwarf with a specialty in Runesmithing, equipped with ancestral runes that can spell out new fates.
- Ranger of the Wildes – A master of animist runes and the balance of nature, seeking wisdom by joining the Kingsblades.
- Rogue – A nimble halfling equipped with a lockpick and a proclivity for theft. Many underestimate your knack for mischief.
- Paladin of Justice – A holy warrior wielding a shield of their order and a torch of truth, determined to root out corruption.
- Wizard of Alchemy – Equipped with potions and haunted by numerophobia—a fear of numbers. Everywhere you look, you are tormented by math.
Replayability
This game is replayable! Choose a new character each time to experience unique puzzles based on the number of players and characters selected.
Some puzzles are only accessible if a specific character is present. For example, the Bard carries a music sheet, which is only relevant if the Bard is in play! (Though the piano will still be present in other game sessions, you just won't know which song to play!)
Other puzzles will always be available to provide a consistent challenge. Some puzzles may be more difficult than in our other games. However, not all puzzles need to be solved to "complete" this game—it is high-score based. Players are encouraged to discuss challenging puzzles outside the game and return to tackle them in future playthroughs!
A Meta Narrative
This is Chapter 0 in a series of 4 different games! If this is your first time playing at Next-Gen Escape, start with this or Chapter 1!
Want to learn more about The Bloated Toad?
Accessibility
Deaf and Hearing Impaired: Our games feature visual clues, and never rely on sound to complete. Text-based instructions are available upon request.
Wheelchair Accessible: Our rooms and facilities are designed to accommodate wheelchairs, ensuring everyone can navigate the adventure.
Adaptive Lighting: This game features thematic lighting which can be dynamically changed upon request to ensure everyone can enjoy. Flashlights can be found in the room to give players further control over the lighting of the game.
How many players at a time?
Bloated Toad can host between 1-6 players at a time.
We may allow groups of 7 to play, but space and puzzles are limited!
What's the minimum number of players?
The minimum number of players is 1. There are no puzzles in this room requiring players to be in two or more spots at one time. While it would be a challenge to do by oneself, it is entirely possible.
What's the maximum number of player?
The maximum number of players is 6. Space concerns aside, this game was made to be approached by up to 6 players at a time.
What's the recommended number of players?
Based on the number of puzzles in the room and the general challenge, groups of 3-5 have the best ratio of number of puzzles to difficulty.
Groups of 2 can beat the game under time if they have good reading comprehension and communication. Groups of 6 or more regularly get out under well under time.
How is this game replayable?
Each time you play, you will choose a new character! Each has their own storyline and puzzleline to explore.
Are there special game mechanics?
Each character has their own unique game mechanic which is only present when that character is chosen!
How do characters works?
How many puzzles are there?
There are 34 puzzles. The highest number of puzzles in a single game we've ever made.
Each character has 3-5 unique puzzles exclusive to their storyline.
