Teaming with Strangers in Escape Rooms
Most of us have been there, we go to an escape room with our group, but it’s not the room maximum and then we’re put with some people we don’t know. Teaming with strangers in escape rooms can be a very awkward situation and may lead to everyone’s gameplay suffering.
Teaming with Strangers in Trap Door Escape Rooms
At Trap Door we have techniques that we use both in game design and presentation that are aimed to minimize those effects. For example, our “Bogeyman” experience in Red Bank has two different “starting areas” where we can split a group and each can play half the game to themselves even though they are teamed with others.
But what if, for some unfortunate reason, you are not playing at Trap Door? How can you deal with strangers? Well, you can’t control other people’s behavior, but by following some of these tips, you can make the experience more enjoyable for yourself, and maybe defuse a potential situation.
1. Don't Be Afraid to Break the Ice
At Trap Door we often have our gamemasters ask the groups to introduce themselves to each other and answer a question like “what is your best escape skill?” It may seem very elementary school, but it’s a good way to break the ice between groups. If the gamemaster doesn’t do this, don’t be afraid to do it yourself, it will definitely help.
2. Remember, They Are On Your Team
When teaming with strangers in escape rooms you are not competing with each other, their goal is the same as yours. Yes, I understand “I want to win” and “I want to win with a good time” but far more often more heads are better than fewer when it comes to winning an escape room, so consider them an asset.
3. Listen To What They Have To Say
The reason more heads are better is because different people come at things from different perspectives, and their opinions can bring a different way of looking at a problem that can help solve it quicker.
4. Speak Up!
Some of the worst escape room experiences come when one person is doing all the shouting and someone with the right answer gets drowned out, especially when teaming with strangers in escape rooms. I’ve been on both ends of that myself. If you think you have the answer, but the other group is louder, don’t be afraid to get you opinion in. Better to try and fail in front of other people than fail having had the answer the whole time.
5. Allow Them To Open Locks Too
Don’t monopolize time in front of a lock, especially if you don’t have the answer. Other perspectives could lead to that answer. By the same token, don’t let the other group monopolize the time in front of a lock. Ask nicely if you can take a crack at it.
6. Don't Be Afraid To Double-Check
I personally played a room where I was giving someone from another group the answer, they put it into the lock and said it was wrong, only for us to find out after time ran out that it was right. Obviously, that’s very frustrating.
Don’t be afraid to double check the others group’s lock work, however, for the sake of everyone, do it nicely. Don’t push someone away from a lock, call them stupid or rub it in if it turns out you were right, it’s just rude, and if you’re rude, they’ll be rude back, and nobody wants that.
7. Allow Yourself To Be Double-Checked
Just as you would want to double-check the other group’s lock work, allow them to double-check yours as well. Who knows, maybe you were just putting the digits into the wrong place?
8. Remember They Are Different From You
You’ve played 100 rooms and these noobs come in and think they can help? Keep in mind what it was like for you to play your first game. You want them to have the same joy, that’s what will keep escape rooms going. Everyone has different life experiences and puzzle experience, and the most important thing is that everyone has fun.
Concluding Thoughts
One final piece of advice, watch this video from our “Escape Room Unlocked” series and don’t bring these people.
If you’re still hesitant to play with others, this blog from Room Escape Artist has some great tips for trying to secure a private game without having to buy every ticket.
Mentioned Experiences
You are a Paranormal Investigator trying to recover missing children taken by the Bogeyman.
$45 Per Player
There are 60 minutes to escape the theme at $45 per person plus tax. At a minimum of 1,000 square feet of playing space, this theme is sure to provide a thrilling adventure. This Poconos Escape Room is three times larger than the average escape room experience. All bookings are private.
Trap Door Escape Company
Trap Door Escape Room has 4 locations: 3180 Route 611 in Bartonsville, PA in the Poconos; 60 White St. in Red Bank, NJ; 34A Speedwell Ave. in Morristown, NJ: and 77 Wind Creek Blvd in Bethlehem, PA. The Red Bank location was the first of the 4 locations, opening in the fall of 2015. Morristown followed in the summer of 2017, and Bartonsville opened during the holiday season of 2018. Wind Creek is currently undergoing construction and will be opening in September 2022.
History
The idea came to Tone Purzycki back in 2011 after he wrote a screenplay that developed into a live-streaming game. The game revolved around an actor trapped in a situation and the audience had to solve puzzles to figure out where he was trapped. The “Find Me Event” had more than 1,000 people playing over the course of several hours. After the success of several other streaming events, the idea of an escape room was born.
Location
Each location has different rooms from which to choose. Our Morristown location is home to Day of the Dead, Witch Hunt, and The Greatest Freakshow. In Bartonsville, you’ll find Cure Z, F5 Tornado Escape, Fear the Bogeyman, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, We’re All Mad Here, and Prisoner Z. In Red Bank we currently have Everest – our first 2 story escape room. Ripper of London is also available at this location. Our pirate themed games will soon be open at Wind Creek.
Trap Door Escape Room also offers team building, streaming events, and birthday parties. For more information on any of our games, prices, and locations, explore our website or call 570-234-3366