This prologue and it’s follow up parts will look at my prep, thoughts, research, for getting ready to jump in and start creating my contribution to the dungeon23 hashtag.

In this opening post I’m going to look at the Dungeons chapter starting on page 50 of Izirion’s Enchiridion of the West Marches (IEWM). I should point out this will not even be close to the sort of in-depth discussion The Tome Show did on the chapter as part of their look at the book. The focus here is totally different.

Oh and before I start a small disclaimer. Later posts may contradict what I’ve written here. None of what I’m writing is set in stone. These are ideas, and things will change as I read more, and even as the dungeon develops.

In IEWM they say creating dungeons revolves around the following three essential questions, “what’s the hook? Second, how is difficulty telegraphed? And third, what do they learn?” (Page 50)

The Hook

This is probably going to be my hardest bit to come up with.

I want to produce a megadungeon that is setting independent. That could be dropped into any D&D 5e setting.

IEWM defines the hook as “…that which draws the player in; the obvious, noteworthy, easily-visible thing that captures the players’ attention.” (Page 50)

It then goes on to say that the hook should be “… intriguing, noticeable, and mysterious. The hook is to lure players to the dungeon, to tempt them with dangers and riches within, and to keep it on their minds when planning missions.” (Page 50)

It’s a lot of pressure to come up with a hook that lives up to those criteria.

My current thinking is about a mysterious evil force gathering forces into their service, subjugating nearby towns and villages.

How Is Difficulty Telegraphed?

“…it is important that a dungeon telegraph its difficulty, and do it early.”

My early ideas since learning of this hashtag and deciding to participate was to start off with the Prismatic Owl puzzle. Which would effectively lock any party of adventurers in the dungeon until they solve it.

However IEWM says the following about locking players in. “While locking players in dungeons might seem an exciting challenge, it is arguably the most dangerous trap of all, as it means that if they misjudged the dungeon’s overall danger, they are more than likely doomed.”

So although I really want to use this puzzle I think the plans of when to use it need to be reconsidered.

Which leaves me with the question “just what level am I pitching this megadungeon?”

What Do They Learn?

“…dungeons should not only pose challenge and reward loot, but also illuminate secrets”.

This bit is all about using the dungeon to not only tell the story of the dungeon itself, but also to foreshadow or telegraphing using the authors words, threats.

In the book they ask us to “…consider what information is implicit in its physical creation” or that “…many dungeons can provide other, more direct sources of information. Scrolls and writings, reliefs and carvings, prophecies and decrees—all can be found in dungeons, and thus all can provide insight into the world.”

This post about “Megadungeon Lessons from the Pyramids” gives some great ideas.

All the above adds up to making “empty” rooms more interesting and useful.

Types of Dungeon

Next IEWM has us consider the type of dungeon, and provides a table of suggestions,

“Often, the best starting place in designing a dungeon is to consider the dungeon’s original purpose, which may still be its current purpose. This in turn informs how the dungeon itself should be designed.”

“…which your players will be able to narratively access the history and legacy of your setting.”

Obviously the type of dungeon plays a big part in telling the story of the dungeon.

I like the idea starting off with one dungeon type then transitioning into one of the other types. Each new type adding to the narrative that the dungeon itself is telling.

The dungeon type I’m thinking of starting with is a temple or similar that is being used to recruit followers.

The rest of the chapter expands on various elements such as difficulty, tier levels, etc.

Obviously being a megadungeon it will have tiered levels, each being tougher more challenging than the previous.

IEWM sees the dungeon as something a party of adventurers will return to on multiple occasions. Each time getting deeper into it.Having to “deal with the dungeon in chunks.” It also discusses Persistent Dungeons. An idea I like a lot.

Another idea that I’m keen to explore in this hashtag and discussed in IEWM is Treasure Rooms as Narrative. “The best-designed treasure rooms are oddities, exceptions, and anomalies to the normal story of the dungeon. They should be strange, intriguing, unusual, and, above all, tempting.”

The questions IEWM gets you to consider are most definitely ones I need to think about not only before I start but during as well.

In the next post I’ll revisit the hook but in the light of one of my other references.