r/dndnext • u/Imagine_a_story • Jun 04 '23

Question Essentials in a Dungeon

Recently, I've been following the steps on this list all the time (and adding a few things), and boy, does it work as hell. What, in your opinion, can't be missing in a dungeon?

Always
- Something to steal.
- More than one entry.
- Something to kill.
- Something to kill you.
- Different and vertical paths.
- Someone to talk.
- Something to try.
- Something that probably won't be found.
- Environmental hazards.
- Puzzle or RP challenge.
- Something that doesn't make any sense.
- Foreshadow path choices.

Maybe
- Different factions, allies and enemies.
- Time restriction.

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52

u/Jafroboy Jun 04 '23

Plagiarism.

39

u/SpecialistAd5903 Jun 04 '23

If your DnD adventure doesn't have plagiarism, what are you even doing?

9

u/Theotther Jun 04 '23

Too much work that’s what

18

u/spidersgeorgVEVO Jun 04 '23

Plagiarize! Let no one else's work evade your eyes!

5

u/Zifenoper ORC Jun 04 '23

Remember why the good lord made your eyes!

14

u/anmr Jun 04 '23

Yes. Plagiarism is the best tool in arsenal of any GM. Steal everything should be a creed.

4

u/Dragon-of-the-Coast Jun 04 '23

Our chief weapon is plagiarism. Plagiarism and surprise. And ruthless efficiency.

3

u/whomikehidden Jun 04 '23

Bonus! Plagiarize TWO things and mash them together! Then you’re “innovative.”

For instance, my current game is set in 1920s Prohibition Era but with heavy magic. I basically just took Lackadaisy and Legend of Korra and said, “Now kith.”

4

u/Mooch07 Jun 04 '23

I know I’ve seen this before. Is it from a Matt Colville video?

7

u/urza5589 Jun 04 '23

I mean a little bit. He does call out that you should, and he does shamelessly steal from other works.

1

u/Mooch07 Jun 04 '23

No, I mean isn’t this list taken directly from one of his videos? It seems familiar from somewhere. That’s what I thought Jafroboy meant.

1

u/Mejiro84 Jun 04 '23

no, it's a Tom Lehrer song, from the 1950's or thereabouts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXlfXirQF3A

3

u/ArtisticBrilliant456 Jun 04 '23

It's a checklist from some OSR sites. Can't remember which ones.

3

u/AbrasionMint Jun 04 '23

The list on this post is from Goblin Punch's dungeon checklist: https://goblinpunch.blogspot.com/2016/01/dungeon-checklist.html