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May 20, 2013, 1:37am

Original D&D Discussion :: Dungeons & Dragons (1971-1978) :: The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures (1974) :: About mapping the dungeons

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Topic: About mapping the dungeons (Read 1,091 times)

benoist
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Re: About mapping the dungeons
« Reply #15 on Sept 17, 2012, 2:36pm »

Sept 17, 2012, 1:35pm, gronanofsimmerya wrote:

I played in Blackmoor after Greyhawk. Dave ran it the same way, but when there was an encounter he'd get out a laminated hex map and draw the area and place figures.

OK. I'm asking because apparently the Blackmoor game used some sort of table that Dave had to transport from the Cities to Lake Geneva to demonstrate the game to Gary, if I remember correctly. I was wondering exactly how that diorama was used in the game.

Sept 17, 2012, 1:35pm, gronanofsimmerya wrote:

I love the 'eye candy' aspect but in a large dungeon where players can explore as they wish it doesn't really work; what if they go to an area other than the one you've so painstakingly set up?

Given three clear directions in which to proceed, PCs will choose the fifth.

Ain't that right LOL.

The way I do it is that I organize the dungeon complex differently.

A level or single plane of the complex is organized in terms of contained exploration units which are good for a session or two of exploration. That's basically a game unit in space rather than time. So rather than say a session = an expedition back and forth to the dungeon, you have a particular 3D set up = a session or two.

So on that diagram each fleshed out area is a "game session unit" so to speak.

[image]

Each particular set up has a defined number of exits. Now of course the players can leave the neatly prepared set up any time they want. When the players basically leave the area, you go on with the game with a 2D support instead (I use white boards and tact-tiles) or simply do it for the remainder of the session using just vocal descriptions and sketches.

Then the next session you set up the new area they are in. And rince repeat.

Something like this...

[image]

Doesn't work with the kind of set up I just explained because the map itself hasn't been built in terms of diorama-units as I just described above. You can still use some 3D stuff occasionally though, particularly if you end a session knowing where the PCs are and you have a cliffhanger on some sort in the middle of a huge battle for instance, and then using that knowledge, you can build the immediate tactical terrain for the next session, finish the cliffhanger, and then go on the exploration using more standard means (i.e. the DF was a set piece, once the PCs leave the area you move on for the rest of the session and use some white board or no minis at all or whatnot).

« Last Edit: Sept 18, 2012, 11:40am by benoist »