Table of Contents
The Dungeon
The labyrinthine dungeons in fantasy settings are not just a maze of traps and monsters—they are storybooks etched in stone, where each corridor, each chamber, and even each ominous marking on the wall tells a story. Crafting such a detailed dungeon is no easy feat, but the reward for both the Dungeon Master and the players can be a truly memorable experience. This guide aims to unravel the layers of complexity that go into designing an unforgettable dungeon. Whether you are new to dungeon mastering or a seasoned veteran, this comprehensive essay will provide a roadmap to the labyrinth of your imagination.
A Dungeon’s Reason
Before you even sketch the first trap or pen down the stats of a monster, it is essential to understand why the dungeon exists in the first place. Just like everything else in a world brought to life by logical underpinnings, a dungeon should have its own backstory that justifies its existence. This could be as straightforward as the vault of a long-dead king, filled with treasures and traps to keep looters at bay.
It could also be complex like an underground society, representing a haven for outcasts from the world above. Each room and corridor must be a conscious decision by its original architects, rooted in the dungeon’s reason for existing. This purpose will guide everything from the dungeon’s layout to its final boss, creating an integrated and sensible environment.
Historical and Geographical Context
The age and origin of the dungeon significantly contribute to its atmosphere and condition. An ancient, crumbling dungeon would look and feel different from a newly built underground fortress. Knowing the age can help in determining factors like the condition of the perishable items, the presence of artifacts, and even the types of creatures that may have made the dungeon their home over the years.
Here is a list of Dungeon History:
Dungeon History Table
Architectural Psychology
The personality and idiosyncrasies of the dungeon’s creator can shape its architecture in interesting ways. If the dungeon was designed by a maniacal wizard, it might have rooms filled with magical traps and puzzles that can only be solved by applying arcane logic. On the other hand, if the dungeon was an abandoned military outpost, its design would be practical, focused on defensibility and strategic movements. The style of the dungeon reflects the creator’s mindset, making it an architectural manifestation of their personality, quirks, and preferences.
Here are 70 traps for your dungeon to consider: 70 Traps
70 Traps
Division of Space
Another essential consideration is how the dungeon’s space is divided. Are there multiple levels or is it spread across a single, expansive plane? How does one level connect to another? Is there a grand chamber that acts as a central hub for the dungeon? These decisions will not only affect the dungeon’s layout but will also impact the player’s experience as they navigate through it. Some dungeons are designed like a web, offering multiple routes to the end, while others may be more linear, with a single critical path that players must follow.
Items Found in a Dungeon (400 item suggestions)
| Rusted mace |
|---|
| Rusted long sword |
| Wine bottle (full) |
| Dented bronze basin |
| Glass vial (full of a red liquid) |
| Ancient key (bone) |
| Arrow (bone) |
| Map of a nearby town |
| Wooden box |
| Rusted short sword |
| Rotten wood |
| Old rope |
| Dead snake |
| Copper ring |
| Mosquito trapped in amber |
| Bent tin fork |
| Goblin skull |
| Orc skeleton |
| Broken arrow |
| Dead goblin |
| Arrowhead (iron) |
| Dwarf skull |
| Broken long bow |
| Dwarf skeleton |
| Silver ring |
| One gold piece |
| Wooden box |
| Old blanket |
| Ornate beer stein |
| Adventurer's notebook |
| Broken short bow |
| Map of the dungeon |
| Butterfly carving (jade) |
| Dead orc |
| Elf skeleton |
| Gold ring |
| Bronze candlestick |
| Small leaf (glass) |
| Bloody rags |
| Old belt |
| Rusted needle |
| Halfling skeleton |
| Dead bat |
| Tiny scarab (gold) |
| Old candle |
| Quill dipped in blood |
| One copper piece |
| Faded painting |
| Goblin skeleton |
| Rusted chain |
| Keyring |
| Dented tin cup |
| Voodoo doll (with pins) |
| Map of a bandit camp |
| Bent tin spoon |
| Old torch |
| Orc skull |
| Loaf of moldy bread |
| Glass vial (empty) |
| Wine bottle (half full) |
| Dead rat |
| Ceramic funeral urn (full of ashes) |
| Rusty nails |
| Small lizard statue (ivory) |
| Rusted iron ring |
| Decayed scroll |
| Dented bronze cup |
| Rusted dagger |
| Broken chair |
| Feather (gold) |
| Rotten wood |
| Wooden chest |
| Broken table |
| Small polished black stone |
| Broken wine bottle |
| Dog skeleton |
| Small polished red stone |
| Human skull |
| Ogre skull |
| Rusty hooks |
| Rusted battle axe |
| Decayed book |
| Metal chest |
| Old boot |
| Human skeleton |
| Canvas |
| Ceramic funeral urn (empty) |
| Human skulls |
| Small dragon statue (jade) |
| Arrowhead (flint) |
| Glass vial (one drop of clear liquid) |
| Dagger (new) |
| Rusted shackles |
| Elf skull |
| Halfling skull |
| Broken clay pot |
| Small elephant statue (lapis lazuli) |
| Cat skeleton |
| One silver piece |
| Key (iron) |
| Oak leaf |
| Brooch (silver) |
| Goblin teeth |
| Orc teeth |
| Dagger (goblin make) |
| Tinder box |
| Dead raven |
| Burned body (gnome) |
| Brooch (gold) |
| Half a copper piece |
| Mirror |
| Burned body (elf) |
| Small glass orb |
| Pewter bowl |
| Pewter cup |
| Lead balls |
| Orc fang |
| Shattered mirror |
| Blocks of wood |
| Eagle beak |
| Dead squirrel |
| Dead chicken |
| Rusted iron spikes |
| Tiger skull |
| Broken porcelain vase |
| Hymn book |
| Rusted iron spikes |
| Fireplace poker |
| Jar with a human eye floating in liquid |
| Blocks of wood |
| Leather strap |
| Severed goblin foot |
| Rusted iron spikes |
| Broken lantern |
| Decayed leather armor |
| Fossilized walrus tusk |
| Pile of large bones |
| Raven beak |
| Dead raccoon |
| Rusted iron spikes |
| Bear skull |
| Blocks of wood |
| Broken long sword |
| Button (silver) |
| Eagle talon |
| Goblin tooth |
| Goblin teeth |
| Human teeth |
| Half a silver piece |
| Goblin droppings |
| Severed orc hand |
| Button (copper) |
| Mouse droppings |
| Button (gold) |
| Dead butterfly |
| Silver nose ring |
| Sharpened iron spoon |
| Long sword (Orc made) |
| Stuffed lizard |
| Blocks of wood |
| Blocks of wood |
| Golden feather |
| Iron Shears |
| Broken porcelain bowl |
| Lead balls |
| Broken short sword |
| Goblin teeth |
| Blocks of wood |
| Lead balls |
| Wooden bowl |
| Rusted iron spikes |
| Rat droppings |
| Dead lizard |
| Dead beetle |
| Rusted iron spikes |
| Short sword (goblin made) |
| Orc teeth |
| Human tooth |
| Dead robin |
| Lion skull |
| Pile of small bones |
| Blocks of wood |
| Hawk feather |
| Human teeth |
| Raven feather |
| Blocks of wood |
| Small stone with "M" carved in it |
| Orc teeth |
| Bear claw |
| Orc droppings |
| Goblin teeth |
| Hawk talon |
| Half a gold piece |
| Burned body (human) |
| Dead mice |
| Orc teeth |
| Rusted topaz ring |
| Ivory earring |
| Large clay pot |
| Small woven basket |
| Copper pieces |
| Holy symbol |
| Soap (half bar) |
| Colored pebbles |
| Copper pieces |
| Candles |
| Silver pieces |
| Severed human finger |
| Chalk |
| Copper pieces |
| Scarecrow |
| Handkerchief with an "S" on it |
| Book sealed with a wax |
| Dagger with a bone hilt |
| Broken broom |
| Small wooden flute |
| Beads |
| Broken harp |
| Glass jar with an orc ear inside |
| Flask of oil |
| Chalk |
| Silver pieces |
| Bear trap |
| Chalk |
| Stuffed ox tail |
| Wooden staff |
| Silver pieces |
| Chalk |
| Candles |
| Broken staff |
| Moth‐eaten jerkin |
| Colored pebbles |
| Colored pebbles |
| Signet ring of a missing noble |
| Lantern |
| Candles |
| Ripped pouch |
| Cat of nine tails |
| Beads |
| Bone staff |
| Bent crowbar |
| Gold pieces |
| Tree branch |
| Stone basin |
| Broken hammer |
| Stuffed beaver tail |
| Beads |
| Gold pieces |
| Iron tongs |
| Small glass globe with a figurine inside |
| Beads |
| Colored pebbles |
| Rusted lock |
| Silver pieces |
| Silver pieces |
| Lamp |
| Piece of coal |
| Whetstone |
| Stuffed cat |
| Gold pieces |
| Chalk |
| Broken lyre |
| Broken shovel |
| Shovel |
| Message in a bottle |
| Hammer |
| Shattered hourglass |
| Old sack |
| Iron arm bracelet |
| Broom |
| Copper pieces |
| Flower in a small vase |
| Copper pieces |
| Beads |
| Broken viol |
| Colored pebbles |
| Small glass swan |
| Dog tooth |
| Wolf tooth |
| Silver pieces |
| Colored pebbles |
| Clay figurine of a warrior |
| Leather whip |
| Copper pieces |
| Severed dwarf finger |
| Small seashell |
| Pan flute |
| Gold pieces |
| Snake skin (') |
| Candles |
| Ivory staff |
| Chalk |
| Cat tooth |
| Gold pieces |
| Moldy rations |
| Beads |
| Flask of holy water |
| Pouch (empty) |
| Gold pieces |
| Unfinished poem on vellum |
| "Gulwulf" scratched into the floor |
| Silver brooch with a leaf design |
| Small green glass bottle |
| Pile of dead flies |
| Copper button with a crown design |
| Piece of coral |
| Dead dog |
| Silver pieces |
| Ivory button with a whale design |
| Puddle of blood |
| Copper pieces |
| Silver fork |
| Crystal shard |
| Square gold coin with a torch design |
| Severed kobold head |
| Broken abacus |
| Bust of an ancient queen |
| Dead cat |
| Burnt dwarf body |
| Tiny glowing stone |
| Child's rag doll |
| Dagger |
| Brass spoon |
| Moldy piece of cheese |
| Dead weasel |
| Elephant tusk |
| Glass slipper |
| Small stone statue of a dwarven warrior |
| Ball bearings |
| Burnt elf body |
| Severed human head |
| Dead goblin |
| Burnt halfling body |
| Ball bearings |
| Dead chicken |
| Wolf tooth |
| Gold pieces |
| Fragments of a hatched egg (small) |
| Severed orc toe |
| Fragments of a hatched egg (large) |
| Bloody goblin footprint |
| Pair of bone dice |
| Ripped and bloody jerkin |
| Piece of red glass |
| Tiny jade lion statue |
| Gold button with a lion design |
| Rusty horseshoe |
| Cocoon |
| Silver button with an anchor design |
| Gold pieces |
| Shattered onyx orb |
| Remains of a campfire |
| Silver key with a star on it |
| A bag of bones |
| Iron key with a skull design |
| Mushrooms |
| Broken vase |
| Copper pieces |
| Large cat paw print |
| Arrowhead |
| Gold necklace |
| Silver coin from ancient kingdom |
| Rotten water skin |
| Small piece of quartz |
| Silver spoon |
| Tiny silver dragon statue |
| Silver necklace |
| "Morling" scratched on the wall |
| Brass key with a dragon head design |
| Half burned love letter |
| "Fuller" written in blood on the floor |
| Gold pieces |
| Silver button with a "S" design |
| Gold key with a shield design |
| Copper coin from a legendary kingdom |
| Belt buckle |
| Leather pouch (empty) |
| Silver pieces |
| Dragon scale |
| Rope |
| Tin fork |
| Small clay figurine of an elven female |
| Map case (locked) |
| Cracked crystal orb |
| Burnt gnome body |
| Brass button |
| Melted gold piece |
| Bloody hand print (human) |
| Jawbone of a donkey |
| The History of Alchemy (book) |
| Pile of dead ants |
| Silver pieces |
| Copper pieces |
| Broken spear |
| Copper arm band with battle scene design |
| Small paintbrush |
| Broken chain link |
| Bloody bandages |
| Lute string |
Utility and Function
A dungeon isn’t just a pile of stones; it’s a functional space, and considering the utility of each room is critical. Did this room serve as a prison, a storeroom, or perhaps an ancient laboratory? The utility can dictate the room’s size, the objects and artifacts that adventurers might find, and the types of creatures that inhabit it. For instance, it would be logical for the armory to be near the barracks in a military dungeon. It would make sense for a treasure room to have the most formidable traps.
The Narrative Thread
What is a dungeon without its stories? Each room could be a chapter in a grand tale. Whether it’s a mysterious message scrawled on the walls or a seemingly ordinary room hiding a terrible secret, narrative elements can enrich your dungeon manifold. You can drop subtle clues or narrative hooks that make the players keen to explore every corner. These could be fragments of lore that come together to form a complete story by the end of the dungeon, or a sub-plot that adds emotional weight to the dungeon-crawl experience.
Dynamic Environments
In a world dominated by magic, divine entities, and otherworldly forces, dungeons need not be static. Rooms can change shape, walls can have minds of their own, and traps could reset themselves. Introducing dynamic elements keeps the players on their toes and makes revisiting areas an entirely new experience. Additionally, environmental factors like flooding chambers, shifting walls, or even a timed event that alters the dungeon can create a sense of urgency and excitement.
Dungeon Crawl Creator
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Player Agency
A well-designed dungeon allows players to make meaningful choices. Whether it’s deciding between taking the well-lit corridor or the dark, ominous pathway, the freedom to choose adds to the excitement. Multiple pathways to reach the goal, hidden rooms that can only be discovered through careful exploration, or challenges that can be approached in various ways empower players, making their choices and actions genuinely impactful.
The Element of Surprise
Monotony is the bane of excitement. If players can predict what’s around the next corner, the thrill diminishes. Incorporate the element of surprise to keep adventurers guessing. This can be achieved by defying dungeon tropes occasionally. For instance, not every treasure chest needs to be trapped, and not every monster has to be hostile. The element of surprise can also be enhanced through secret passages, unexpected allies, or sudden plot twists that alter the dungeon’s dynamics.
The Inhabitants
No dungeon is complete without its dwellers. Monsters, NPCs, and even flora can add layers of complexity. It’s crucial to align the inhabitants with the dungeon’s theme and purpose. For instance, an aquatic-themed dungeon could be filled with water-based creatures and sea monsters, while a dungeon situated in a forest might be inhabited by woodland creatures and plant-based life forms. Keep in mind that the inhabitants also have their own ecosystems, alliances, and conflicts, which can add an additional layer of depth.
Over 5,000 monsters ready and able.
Puzzles and Challenges
Combat may be the bread and butter of most RPGs, but it’s not the only way to challenge players. Puzzles, riddles, and intellectual challenges can provide a well-deserved break from combat, engage players in different ways, and offer rewards that can’t be obtained through brute force. Consider incorporating various types of challenges to cater to a diverse set of skills and abilities among the player characters.
Conclusion
Designing a dungeon is both an art and a science. It requires a careful blend of narrative elements, architectural considerations, and gameplay mechanics to create a memorable, engaging experience. From the purpose that underlies its very foundation to the intricate traps that guard its treasures, every element should be a harmonious part of a grander scheme. As a Dungeon Master, the world—nay, the dungeon—is your canvas. So, pick up your quill, don your architect’s hat, and let your imagination run wild.
Read more about 100s of Interesting Items Found in a Dungeon
