---
name: ability-gate
description: A door that needs a verb, not a key item. Ask none vs tool-gate vs story-flag vs both. The gate teaches the verb on the safe side first.
---

# Ability gate

Ask the column:

| Column | What opens it |
|---|---|
| none | geography only |
| tool-gate | bomb, hook, swim, climb |
| story-flag | plot flag |
| both | verb plus a flag |

## Rules

1. Soft lock: player sees the gate, lacks the verb, can leave. Hard lock needs a published rest-site behind them.
2. Tutorial of the verb happens in a room that does not kill on fail. See tutorial-design.
3. Do not hide the only story key in pity-table.
4. Map pins may mark a gate the player chose. No arrow carpet. See world-map.
5. New-game-plus may keep verbs. It must not skip the first-session accept.

## Accept

A player can point at a locked gate and name the missing verb. Getting the verb makes an old room newly readable.