Questions tagged [story]
A puzzle that is dressed up as a story or a longer description of a situation.
1,052
questions
7
votes
1
answer
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Is this maths equation leading me through the first or second door?
I needed to speak to my professor who has gone into hiding.
I followed her directions, leading me underneath the university until I got to corridor with two doors, labeled with the Roman Numerals: I ...
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4
votes
2
answers
227
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If the door in Monty Hall is opened by a person without knowledge of where the prize is, and also does not reveal prize, do the odds change?
Here is the quiz variant.
After the candidate chooses one door for the first time, and before the master (who knows which door hides the prize) intentionally opens another one to reveal no prize, an ...
14
votes
1
answer
693
views
Is Daryl's Mail Legit This Time?
You are the lead mail inspector for a large prison. One of your jobs is to check all incoming and outgoing mail for any contraband and for any hidden information or codes, which are often of a ...
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15
votes
1
answer
453
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The Cryptic Safe
A safe was dropped off at a local police station, supposedly belonging to a highly wanted criminal. Police have suspicions that whatever is inside the safe will lead to this person’s whereabouts. Only ...
- 1,008
3
votes
0
answers
207
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Will you regret solving this puzzle?
It's February and you walk into the Smithsonian American Art Museum. A piece of artwork was recently bought for $2,061,966 USD, but you are confused that the museum bought this ugly artwork that even ...
- 982
10
votes
1
answer
407
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Puzzle for Olivia
June 11, 2022
Dear Olivia,
Over the past few months we've noticed that you've been spending all your free time creating and solving puzzles online. We are glad that you have found something that you ...
- 15k
5
votes
1
answer
311
views
The Doors in the Hallway
On the phone, an acquaintance of yours sounds panicked
I know it sounds crazy, but you gotta listen to me.
Earlier today I got assaulted by a group of robed people, and now I just woke up in the ...
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17
votes
1
answer
618
views
In vino veritas
Somewhere in England in the 12th century
The Golden Goblet Inn has reported a robbery and needs your investigative skills. Rumor has it that the local blacksmith conducts some shady business practices ...
- 7,591
6
votes
2
answers
186
views
Ernie and the Menacing Monopoles
While driving home from a fishing trip Ernie and I saw a road-side sign pointing down a gravel track that announced ‘MYSTERIOUS SOUTH SLOPING TREES’. It was getting well on into the afternoon, and I ...
- 12.7k
2
votes
2
answers
263
views
I'm not a robot, I'm not a MONKEY
The city of Roboville has been invaded by robots, monkeys, and dancers, who will dance if the beat's funky. Some of the invaders can be two of them (e.g. both monkeys and robots) and some can be all ...
- 157
3
votes
1
answer
109
views
Which door to the party?
As you stroll on a walk with your friend, your friend talks about moving. Your friend doesn't have enough money to move to a good apartment, so he contemplates moving to a cheap hotel, but this hotel ...
- 542
22
votes
1
answer
809
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An Ambiguous Text from the Oracle
Oscar: Hey bra, let's go to the pub and tie one on.
Peter: Naw bra, don't you know Mercury's in retrograde?
Oscar: Hmm, let's consult the Oracle.
Oscar texted the Oracle and the Oracle immediately ...
- 6,899
2
votes
1
answer
156
views
Entry to CIA Part #2
Previous Part: Part #1
After successfully completing Part #1's puzzle, you receive another message from the CIA on your black screen:
Dear Reader, we are glad to state that you have been accepted ...
- 542
22
votes
3
answers
4k
views
The Ultimate Chess Strategy
I’ve been trying to learn chess so I was googling chess strategies. When I saw an ad for “The Ultimate Chess Strategy,” I instantly followed it and put in my credit card number. A few days later I ...
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6
votes
1
answer
220
views
Find the hidden treasure
You wake up in an unfamiliar location. Struggling to your feet, you see at least a dozen other people scattered nearby, some rubbing their eyes. You take a look at your surroundings and notice that ...
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4
votes
1
answer
583
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Entry to CIA Part #1
As I searched for different topics on Google, my whole screen suddenly went black and gave me this letter:
Dear Reader,
if you have come across this message, you may be applicable for the CIA.
We are ...
- 542
7
votes
0
answers
391
views
The Alchemist's Secret
This is Part III of a series. Other parts: The Alchemist's Grimoire and
The Alchemist's Cauldron
Yet again told from the perspective of my fantasy self.
The story nor the front of the letter are ...
- 1,341
14
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How Did Bill Save His Brother-in-Law?
Cathy:
[4:39 am, bites nails and breathes heavily as she races to her brother's house while calling him]
Come on, answer Bill, wake up, please!
[No answer, but she whips into his driveway and barely ...
- 15k
19
votes
1
answer
595
views
The Monopoly tournament's secret prize
The image below is the aftermath of a secret tournament of Monopoly played here on PSE.
Akin to something that might come out of a subreddit like r/anarchychess, the board has been massively scrambled ...
- 1,341
6
votes
1
answer
220
views
A musical response
This puzzle is my own creation.
The other day one of my coworkers asked me whether I was up for a challenge. I said sure, so he handed me a piece of paper.
"Find the response that's hidden in ...
6
votes
1
answer
529
views
The new paper shredder
B: God, what happened here, it looks like a bomb went off...
C: That's why we're here, Inspector Bolton, this tech company had no business exploding.
B: They did acquire a new drink machine recently ...
- 5,324
-1
votes
1
answer
157
views
Quite the Namesake
Me and a friend of mine named O were once trapped in a room with a
shapeshifter (long story). I had a gun (even longer story), which was
good because me and O needed to kill the shapeshifter (possibly ...
- 617
7
votes
1
answer
952
views
My angry new boss
It had to happen with all the people leaving and the confusing devices at work. My old boss resigned, leaving us with a new, quite peculiar replacement. He fires people, and then he hires others, all ...
- 5,324
12
votes
1
answer
528
views
Who put these roof beams over the chimney, I'd like to know?
Before you read this, the credits: I came up with this puzzle entirely by myself, and the photo is mine.
I just bought a house last winter, and I was all ready to cozy up next to a warm fire in the ...
9
votes
1
answer
341
views
Who Are The Final Two Contenders, and Who Won?
Hello! I'm Mike, and welcome to your 3rd annual "Needle in a Haystack" awards!
We'll have just five rounds of competition, followed by judging, then your champ!
In each round, the ...
- 15k
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
The new office printer
Coming back from my week-end, I sit down at my desk and look across the open space in horror. They installed a new printer, nothing scary, but given what happened last time, staying alert is the best ...
- 5,324
5
votes
1
answer
580
views
A streamer's diet
I'm in dire need of help.
I've been hired to take care of a certain streamer during a charity event, but the instructions they gave me for meals and games are just, way too confusing!
This one ...
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26
votes
1
answer
3k
views
The new drink machine
At work today, they installed a new machine, it has a keyboard instead of the usual buttons to select my drink of choice. This morning, I went to take a coffee, so I typed in "coffee", and ...
- 5,324
3
votes
1
answer
197
views
Welcome to the Documented Discovery Complex!
You have been hired by a new company in town, their offices look like a giant cube, and you've heard the job never gets boring. As you enter the cube-like building, an android salutes you
Welcome new ...
- 5,324
6
votes
1
answer
307
views
The Great Hat Magician
Welcome, welcome!
What an audience we have here tonight, the great Puzzling SE,
I came here with a small riddle, I hope you are all ready!
Let me put my first hat, a hat with a fat belly,
Now I am a ...
- 5,324
4
votes
1
answer
514
views
Pay Close Attention - A puzzle for all those who can think outside the box
Reclining in his chair, Watson wrapped his arms around himself in what could be conceived as a bear hug, had there been another person there. Waiting patiently, Watson hummed a small tune to himself ...
- 617
6
votes
2
answers
214
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Ernie and the Disguised Donors
I was spending the morning helping Ernie dig up the potato patch when he got an emergency phone call from the Society for Absent-Minded Mathematics Professors – it appeared that they had “A bit of a ...
- 12.7k
2
votes
1
answer
223
views
Dark Ring III - The Combo City™
So uhm, it's a bit embarrassing, but I've spilled some coffee on my brand new Dark Ring III combo manual (Thank you all lots for the previous games!). I've been loving the game, I even bought it brand ...
- 5,324
3
votes
1
answer
174
views
Dark Ring II - Scholar of the First Combo™
I need your help again people! After finishing Dark Ring I, thanks to you all, I went and bought the second game in the series. It's a lot more complicated, but I also learned a lot more from the ...
- 5,324
7
votes
6
answers
601
views
Breaking the Heart geometrically
The King of Geometro nation has 2 very smart wives. On the Geometro Wives day he gets a nice heart shaped cake made. It has a number of icing flowers on it.
The King wants to split the cake in half so ...
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6
votes
2
answers
321
views
Dark Ring I - Prepare to Combo Edition™
My friend showed me a game recently, it's a little indie game called Dark Ring I, it's honestly pretty good and... I should get to the matter at hand. I'm reaching the final boss, and I tried looking ...
- 5,324
5
votes
1
answer
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23 people wearing hats with a bell ringing [closed]
24 extremely intelligent people get invited to a really important party. Since it's really important after 9pm (the start time of the party) a guardian will guard the door to enter the party.
All of ...
13
votes
1
answer
717
views
Annual letter from my friend
I have a friend who sends me a letter once a year. It's usually pretty clear what they're trying to say, but this year they sent me a weird block of squares, and I have no idea what it means. What's ...
- 8,568
8
votes
2
answers
1k
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What am I pointing at?
I go into a store and point. I say "How much for 1?"
The storeowner replies "20 cents".
I then ask "So, how much is 12?" His answer: "40 cents".
I decide "...
- 2,587
1
vote
0
answers
209
views
What's with the flip?
Uh-oh... We should've taken Professor Kernighan's advice before taking this trip and learned the local language. This desert is dreadful and we just want to reach civilization again, as fast as ...
- 10.5k
1
vote
1
answer
140
views
Zettler's Encyclopedia
On epiphany 1735, Sir Zettler, who was a great publisher from the old continent, promised to issue a "Great Universal Encyclopedia of Collectible Wisdom". It was meant to be affordable for ...
- 545
6
votes
1
answer
331
views
The Alchemist's Cauldron
This is Part II of a series. Part I can be found here: The Alchemist's Grimoire
Again told from the perspective of my fantasy self.
The story is not needed to solve the puzzle, but may contain some ...
- 1,341
12
votes
1
answer
719
views
The Alchemist's Grimoire
Told from the perspective of my fantasy self.
The story is not needed to solve the puzzle, but may have some useful tidbits.
So earlier today, I finally decided to sit down with my newest party ...
- 1,341
1
vote
4
answers
510
views
A big kid plays with other kids while everyone else is guessing about a kid. No I'm not kidding at all!
A little while ago my friends had an elaborate baby shower to celebrate my friend's first pregnancy. I admit that I'm a giant man-child who loves playing with kids more then pretending to be an adult ...
- 1,461
24
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Did you witness the Event?
Always seeking to arouse curiosity in his grandson, Grandpa has another challenge for him:
Grandpa: Say, Billy, have you heard of the Event?
Billy: What event Grandpa?
Grandpa: Well, the Event comes ...
- 12.6k
17
votes
1
answer
438
views
Binge drinking with a purpose
I was in a rut.
Something terrible had happened to me, and as a consequence I had descended into alcoholism, drinking one cocktail at the nearest bar every non-Sunday night for nine straight weeks:
...
- 3,681
28
votes
1
answer
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PSE Advent Calendar 2021 (Day 11): What Child – Er, Game Is This?
This puzzle is part of the Puzzling StackExchange Advent Calendar 2021. The accepted answer to this question will be awarded a bounty worth 50 reputation.< Previous Door Next Door >
I. The story
...
- 3,299
8
votes
1
answer
200
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Ernie and the Christmas Stars
Although Ernie professes to be an atheistic rationalist, he does love the Christmas season. He thinks long and hard to find appropriate gifts, brushes up on his Christmas Carol repertoire, plans a ...
- 12.7k
4
votes
2
answers
534
views
How many seats around the table?
This puzzle is very much inspired by a recent, excellent, one, posted here. If anyone, in particular the author of the other puzzle, prefers this one to disappear, I will immediately do so and I ...
3
votes
1
answer
219
views
The Mermaids' Rooms
You have been tasked with assigning rooms to some mermaids who have visited the hotel. There are 9 mermaids:
One is bald and bare-skinned
One has a layer of fur
One has a thick bark on their back
One ...
- 941