How To … Make a Classic Dungeon.

Supplies
1 sheet Notebook Paper
1 Piece of Grid Paper
Pencil
Pen

Key Points
Take a few minutes to decide the location and type of dungeon. It does not have to be to involved.

Location
Where is the dungeon. Is it on a mountain top, swamp, cave or other location.

Type
What was the dungeon previously a prison, keep, monastery, or some other structure.

Theme
A theme is the dominant idea or flavor of the dungeon. Each room has a bit of the theme in it. Items and monsters, and NPC’s carry the theme through out. A few examples are : An evil undead haunted temple. A mushroom filled echoing cave. A salt encrusted wrecked pirate ship beached on the rocks.

Maps
Compass rose - This gives the directions of North, South, East and West.
Legend - This shows what the symbols on the map represent. It shows what the symbols for doors, bars, gates, secret doors, concealed door and furniture are.
Room Key - A room key gives a description of each rooms. Some rooms have non wandering monsters, non-random traps, and non-random treasure in them. Some rooms may be empty.

Tables
Wandering Monster Table - This random table provides a list of monster’s name and number encountered while traveling from room to room and outside the dungeon.
Monster Restock Table - This random table provides a list of monster’s name and number that repopulate the dungeon once the monsters on the wandering list are killed.
Trap Table - This random table provides a list of traps encountered in the dungeon.
Treasure Table - This random table provides a list of treasure found in the dungeon.
Rumor Table - This random table provides a list of rumors about the dungeon.

Lists
Bestiary - This lists the monsters and NPC’s in the dungeon and their stats and behavior. Some monsters may be armored, wield weapons and cast spells. Think about which monster fits best in the dungeon.
NPC - NPC means Non Playing Characters. A list of helpful NPC in the starting area.

The Step by Step Method
Step 1
Starting Location
A safe small settlement is usually the best way to start. This is where the PC’s learn about the dungeon. A farm village, tavern or inn is a good starting place. Name the starting location.

Step 2
NPC LIST
A list of helpful NPC in the starting area. A few good NPC”S to populate the starting area are cleric, blacksmith, inn keep, and provision provider.

Step 3
Rumor Table
This random table provides a list of rumors the players have gotten fro the local people about the dungeon. They may be true or false. Note wither they are or not on the rumor table.

Step 4
Naming the Dungeon
This is an name given the dungeon by the local people who fear and dread it. The name may be completely unknown. The players should only learn of the name in play.

Step 5
Mapping the Dungeon
Draw the Dungeon Map on graph paper with pencil. After you are finished use a pen. You don’t have to use all the sheet. A few rooms varying in size connected be halls, stairs, ramps or ladders. Don’t forget to make at least on entrance. Include a few empty safe rest stop rooms so the PC’s can heal between encounters. Add a compass rose or arrow pointing north to the map.

Step 6
Number and Key the Rooms
Number each room starting at the entrance and going deeper with the dungeon. Make a room key on the blank note book paper listing all the numbers of each room. Don’t forget to leave space for descriptions and notes.

Step 7
Bestiary and Monster tables
On the sheet of note book paper write a Bestiary. Then wandering monster table. After that a restock table.

Step 8
Traps and Treasure Tables
On the sheet of note book paper write a Trap Table and then a Treasure Table.

Step 9
Check for Problems
Take a couple of minutes to see if there was something you forgot to add or something you wanted to change.

Step 10
You’re done!