The Mushroom Press Design Blog

So, after a few test runs, I have created the first draft of the free sample dungeon for the Patreon.

Some notes:

1. It is missing the rumors chart and adventure hooks in this draft. That is because I stayed up all night finishing the key and I am tired. They will be added to complete its utility.

2. It is OSR/BECMI compatible, but has not been upgraded to be fully compatible with 5th edition D&D yet. This will also be done, given time.

3. This dungeon is meant as an introductory adventure. It adopts the OSR mindset of level-neutrality in that, aside from a general power curve around 5 HD, there is no thought given to encounters being "level appropriate". Daring this dungeon should be done with caution, every time, by everyone.

4. I have a copy of deities and demigods, which when filtered through the strange genius on exhibit in this article, spawned this dungeon. I hope you like Celtic Deities.

5. Wow I am really tired.

6. I have never done anything in publisher before. I kind of hate it. I had to resort to drawing the map in bloody ms paint. If anybody has any helpful pointers for better mapping or how to wrangle publisher to not be a jackass, I would very much appreciate it.

7. As a GM, I am a bit of a Monty Haul. There is a lot of treasure in this thing. Most of it is balanced by a horrible drawback, but your characters stand to gain a lot by risking this dungeon. You've been warned.

THE NEXT DAY

Okay, so I've slept now. Time to unpack:

Some of the thought and effort that went into this dungeon

1. The Jaquays technique (http://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/13085/roleplaying-games/jaquaying-the-dungeon)

This series of articles inspired the nonlinear layout of the dungeon.

There are multiple entrances to every level, allowing players to explore the dungeon in a unique way each time they encounter it.

Also, as you guys can see here (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaD16z1FQGeKmdCyqxdjvdu7h7pJTnSXE) (if you’ve got a few hours) the dungeon plays different depending on how it is approached. This is one of the coolest things offered by the Jaquays technique.

Removing the linearity of the dungeon means that there is no set “encounter path”: the story and history of the dungeon is learned holistically as it is explored. Each room and level reveals a little more.

The dungeon reveals itself through play( http://dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-i-want-to-hear-about-your-setting.html ). When you crawl through this ancient, monster-infested church, the nature of it sinks into your bones.

You don’t just encounter an ogre: you encounter a Fomor. Rather than attacking, he engages you with an impossibly cultured voice, constructing a case for his loathing of the gods.

You don’t just find a magic item: You find a Tathlum, made from the head of an ancient bloodline’s kin.

You don’t just see a painting of Arawn, the god of death: the skeletons in this room see it to, and they’re spellbound.

2. Get some mileage out of the Deities and Demigods (http://dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com/2012/10/deities-and-demigods-is-totally-book.html)

That blog post really inspired me to take another look at Deities & Demigods. Thumbing through it, I realized just how gameable its contents were.

The unique features in rooms, most of the items, enemies, wolves, waterfalls, statues with hideous faces: all of it comes from the Celtic God’s section of that book.

Like, did you know what a tathlum is? Because I didn’t. But now I’m glad I do!

3. Something cool in every room

No article link for this one, because I can’t find the quote that inspired it (drat)

But the basic idea is this: if a room is in this dungeon there has to be something cool in it.

Just to throw out a single example: there is a stone pair of hands that crushes anything placed between them to powder. There is another room where 3K GP’s worth of gold is sitting on the floor but oops: it’s cursed, and turns into flesh-eating scarabs every night.

My players took the cursed gold and crushed it with the giant hands: bam, 3K’s worth of gold dust. Brilliant

And I didn’t design that. I would never have thought of it. Players are rewarded for being imaginative and combining the unique features of the dungeon in unexpected ways.

4. More than one thing going on (http://dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com/2011/03/zaks-ez-adventure-making-chart_30.html )

The core of this dungeon looked a little like this when I started:

Chaos sorcerer/Cursed sword/ Troll/ Magic healing fountain/ Ghost

Then I used the technique outlined in the linked article to define all of these element’s relationship to each other. For example:

Chaos sorcerer: Covets the cursed sword, controls the troll by bribing it with the water from the magic healing fountain, which he manipulates. Fears the ghost, which guards the sword (like a ringwraith, because those are the best ghosts)

The Fomor came in at a later design stage, when I was trying to give the dungeon rival factions. But he fits really well (Like, it makes sense that he can’t overcome the sorcerer’s troll despite his fire attack, because it’s not possible for it to do enough damage to slay the troll. But his power is enough that the sorcerer wouldn’t just attack him outright)

That final level with the wraith is creepy as hell too. It’s the deepest layer, and it’s cramped, and you’re alone. And all of the entries to the hero’s tomb are ominous (and if you’re smart, you’ll realize that they’re keeping the wraith trapped in his grave!)

This kind of churning factions/rivalry angle is pretty forgiving on players, because they can stack factions against each other and loot the place in the chaos.

5. Everything seems hostile

Nearly every single room has a feature (or an environment) which could house a trap. Or be cursed. Or have consequences if it’s screwed with.

The big rocks blocking the doors on level 1? If you move those, then the goblins raiding from the northern mountains will have two ways to harass the troll. The rock by the stairway is discouraging the Fomor from continuing his war with the Chaos sorcerer.

This dungeon is silly with ancient, blood-streaked statues. Adventurers have to balance their curiosity (or good intentions) against the very plausible possibility that interacting with these statues can call down the wrath of the gods (Don’t mess with those stone pillars of Dunatis, you could cause a landslide!)

Again, speaking from experience (and you can watch this on our playthrough) this makes the dungeon a place that players tend to crawl inch by inch, which gives it a great table presence.

6. More stuff

But frankly that’s enough bragging for now. Trust me in that a lot of thought and careful construction went into giving this thing a reason to be at your table!


EDIT: This dungeon is no longer on the patreon (that's been re-purposed for Lone Wolf fists). However, if you still want to check out the dungeon, here's a link to it!