DESIGNING (THIS) DUNGEON'S THEME
In the last post, I talked about how easy it was to make a simple dungeon that could fit on 2 sheets of paper, but random stocking can only get you so far. Intentionality can really help a dungeon sing! That is what Designing Dungeons is all about: gluing fragments of ideas, vibes, and inspirations together just enough to get the dungeon to the table for play.
Let's look at Chapter 3, Refining Theme, and Chapter 5, Dungeon Checklist to see what we can do. We need some factions and a dungeon lord. And let's review the minimal key (see link above) to see what we have to work with:
- 10 kobolds with their vorpal bunnies in #19
- 6 undead kobolds in #21
- Rooms 20 to 23 are more isolated
- Deafened character in #02
- Skeletons with a silver idol
FACTIONS:
Okay, let's say the 10 kobolds were originally part of the same group but have now been split into two. The living kobolds in #19 are composed of the greedy leader who is seeking out the treasure here. Since a lot of it is invisible or hidden, the leader has a literal keen nose for sniffing out coin- will help but have to cut a deal and also likes vorpal bunnies
The 6 undead kobolds in #21 were a search party who encountered, I dunno, the Pillars of Orcus, which can convert the living to the unliving. When encountered, they are curiously trying to cover themselves to hide their milky white eyes, decay, and such. They speak weirdly in unison as if inhabited by one mind because they are- something has invaded it (Black Lion)
Okay, let's say the 10 kobolds were originally part of the same group but have now been split into two. The living kobolds in #19 are composed of the greedy leader who is seeking out the treasure here. Since a lot of it is invisible or hidden, the leader has a literal keen nose for sniffing out coin- will help but have to cut a deal and also likes vorpal bunnies
The 6 undead kobolds in #21 were a search party who encountered, I dunno, the Pillars of Orcus, which can convert the living to the unliving. When encountered, they are curiously trying to cover themselves to hide their milky white eyes, decay, and such. They speak weirdly in unison as if inhabited by one mind because they are- something has invaded it (Black Lion)
Deafened character in #02 could be an inexperienced cleric sent on a mission to clear this area. Let's say it was a shrine fallen to ruin. I'm gonna use "The Black Lion- the ever-hungry black maw" which is a small god that I often throw in dungeons I write. This cleric is "deafened" because they are caught in a spiritual battle with the Black Lion- perhaps bless will help; otherwise, messing with them for 3 turns will cause them to attack.
LORD:
The Silver Idol in #14 (which can be glimpsed across the river and bridge from 04 to 06) is one of the Black Lion itself. Perhaps the 4 skeletons are devoted acolytes whose flesh was devoured by the Lion as an offering. These skeletons are 2HD, turn as ghouls, and if PCs intervene with the cleric in #02, they will start hunting the PCs.
DESIGNING (THIS) DUNGEON'S CHECKLIST
A reason to explore: Treasure, a magic ring, destroy a profane idol
A reason to talk: Cut a deal with a kobold treasure hunter
A reason to fight: zombies, undead kobolds, vorpal bunnies (?)
A reason to flee: Very evil skeletons that hunt PCs (Could be stronger, maybe the silver statue animates)
A reason to breathe easy: Nothing really sticks out
A reason to experiment: Hell gate that turns things undead
A reason to be surprised: Hell gate that turns things undead
A reason to return: Ehhh, nothing really here but the Hell gate could work
So, we have a small dungeon, randomly generated and improved that scores about a 5.5 of 8 on the dungeon checklist. Not too bad for really quick work generated over about 2 breakfasts.
With the improvement of theme, the dungeon moves from a very generic fantasy dungeon, so one where we might have friendly kobolds with treasure noses, an evil cult, a hell gate, and the threat of possession all in the backdrop of hidden treasure, collapsing ceilings, and rickety bridges over bottomless pits.
In my opinion, this is a pretty nice quick dungeon! And if you liked this, please vote for our:
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