Typically I will not fear about it.
To start with, do not consider brute forcing as dishonest. Consider it as taking the enjoyable out of the sport (particularly should you make the mixture longer). Typically, you wish to make discovering/deciphering/following clues the enjoyable half. You need gamers to get pleasure from doing that, in order that they wish to do this as an alternative of brute forcing※.
※: Zibelas has superb level in feedback: if folks can look it up on-line (or ask anyone who already accomplished the sport), that’s simpler than brute forcing the mixture lock, and thus extra probably that individuals will do it. Some video games will randomize the mixtures to get round this.
To encourage folks to search out clues, give the participant a clue early on. Ideally one thing that they’ll strive instantly, even when it’s a misdirection. The purpose is to get them to work together with the mechanic, and to inform them that there’s stuff they’ll discover. It can be a chance for some lore exposition (e.g. that was the previous mixture, however they modified it as a result of purpose).
About some penalty, generally I’d be towards. However should you actually wish to have a penalty, take into account if this may stop gamers to expertise the sport to the top. Completely locking part of the sport is OK so long as it’s non-obligatory. In any other case, you would possibly as effectively give them a sport over. What occurs on a sport over? They’ve to start out from a save/verify level or the start? – Nicely, that could be a set again. You’ll be able to provide you with a greater set again… Simply ready a while might be boring. However you could possibly have the participant do some process to allow them to get extra makes an attempt (e.g. get some consumible merchandise).
As I stated, I am towards a penalty. As a substitute, I counsel to alter the puzzle extra attention-grabbing. A mixture lock is similar to a key lock, besides that you may both discover the mixture or guess it. If you wish to take away the opportunity of guessing, then make it a key lock. In any other case, add a wrinkle to mixture lock puzzle, for instance that once you enter some digit it adjustments others. In order that it’s not solely determining what mixture to enter, but in addition easy methods to enter it. And you’ll all the time mix it with another form of puzzle.
