tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post420950026278830554..comments2024-03-26T01:17:49.256+00:00Comments on Roles, Rules, and Rolls: Dungeon PoeticsRoger G-Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594440701279968693noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-39234417280144559152013-04-01T21:23:38.380+01:002013-04-01T21:23:38.380+01:00This reminds me of the rather extensive detailing ...This reminds me of the rather extensive detailing work I did to Barrowmaze. It's a pretty reasonable basic concept on its own, and it provides an additionally reasonable amount of content, but the over-all depth (pun involving how it's a sprawling but ultimately one-level dungeon notwithstanding) is somewhat lacking, and I spent several hours with inspirational books (like Gnomestew's Masks NPC book that I had hither-to not yet found a use for) annotating the PDF with additional flavor, turning "unmarked pit trap" into objects that might be interacted with by astute players, and inscribing on non-descript "+1 dagger"s bits of flavor from their previous owners that might be explored.<br /><br />The end result was quite excellent, though also incredibly time-consuming, so I can see how a solitary author of a 200+ room dungeon might come up short and just publish what they've got.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-30132250435068065692013-04-01T06:18:00.096+01:002013-04-01T06:18:00.096+01:00Great post. Seriously good stuff.
This is also co...Great post. Seriously good stuff.<br /><br />This is also convincing me I need to get pieces of Numenhalla out the door.-Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02331863932906631618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-46657303717554538922013-03-31T17:56:08.602+01:002013-03-31T17:56:08.602+01:00The snake could have at least fallen on someone wh...The snake could have at least fallen on someone when the secret panel was opened. The characters could have a "fight" with a "monster." After they "kill" the skeletal snake, the DM shouldn't reveal that it wasn't animated. If one the players chooses to use Detect Magic, they'll figure it out on their own.<br /><br />I like that the room is anticlimatic. It's ironic and reminds the players that they're playing a game, but there are more sophisticated ways to go about it. Natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08139078951913130843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-73179975039476631202013-03-31T16:47:32.757+01:002013-03-31T16:47:32.757+01:00The way I've heard it said (though i can't...The way I've heard it said (though i can't remember by who): the DM's job is to tell the dungeon's story, and the players' job is to write the next chapter. I would rather see "Skeletal remains of a snake, set here to watch the room and then forgotten by Sothis the wizard, coiled around the pillar's capital" than just an oddball description which is meant as a decoy for real tricks, traps and monsters.Roger G-Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594440701279968693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-84963786380163088292013-03-31T16:05:32.656+01:002013-03-31T16:05:32.656+01:00The idea of "dungeon as story" has been ...The idea of "dungeon as story" has been an interest of mine for sometime. I think there's a definite correlation between good literature and good dungeoncraft. The challenge of dungeoncraft though is to subtly imply the story instead of railroading your players to the plot. I look forward to reading more of your posts on this subject.Natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08139078951913130843noreply@blogger.com