Dungeon/Adventure Map Themes

[John Stark]

I've spent a lot of time making maps for my megadungeon the past year or so, and have more levels than I'll probably ever run, heh.

Right now I'm trying to work on some stand alone module ideas though, and I'm finding my mapping ideas to be running low. Looking at my megadungeon maps, I see that in some ways they are starting to look alike, and it made me realize that I'm starting to get a bit too uniform in my design, and I don't want my stand alone module maps to look like this.

For a stand alone type of dungeon, I really want to create something like G2 Glacial Rift. I won't go so far as to say that G2 is the epitome of dungeon design or anything like that (and of course its not a megadungeon), but I really love this adventure. Its an icy ravine with lots of frozen caves, populated by frost giants and other assorted ice monsters.

G1 really fires the imagination for me as well. This isn't the usual cave full of hill giants, its a freaking steading! A wooden fort with all manner of neat ideas that mesh well (I particularly like the wolves and the wolf keeper, as well as the rebel orcs in the dungeon beneath).

D2 gives us the lovecraftian "deep ones" theme with the kuo-toa, their vile godess, and so on.

This list could go on.

I guess I'm trying to get at two points here. The first being that these maps all did something different than the standard, run of the mill dungeon map like we find in the AD&D DMG (and I'm not knocking that map, I've used it a lot and have drawn a lot of inspiration from it). The Glacial Rift is simply a cool map idea, as are the Hill Giant Steading and the Shrine of the Kuo-toa. So, how do folks go about drumming up themes for their maps, or parts of their maps, that break the mold of the "standard" dungeon map like we find in the DMG?

And more broadly speaking, how do folks work up themes for their adventures in general?

One way that used to really get things flowing for me was reading monster descriptions and picking out little details from them to expand upon. Looking at illustrations from various books and modules helps a lot too.

Lately though I'm starting to feel that a lot of the iconic monsters have been done to death, although I don't necessarily feel that all of them have been done well. Drow? Mind flayers? Beholders? Giants? Undead? Etc. They've all been done in one form or another.

I have a ton of my own monster written up, so I guess I should work from those to come up with some new dungeon ideas. All of the old modules almost always had new monsters in them. Of course, not all of the old modules had a dungeon or adventure with a theme particularly based upon those new monsters either.

Reading literature is often mentioned, particularly the stuff mentioned in Appendix N, and I've done a lot of that. However, I don't really want to get too derivative, and overall I'd like to come up with my own ideas rather than rehashing Conan or whatever (as much as I enjoy those).

I often think that all I really need are some good basic ideas, some kernals, to fire the imagination, but I seem to be running dry on simple, good dungeon or adventure ideas these days.

Even rolling up stuff using various random systems seems to be same-old same-old. Look, more orcs! Another red dragon! Bleh.

When I read how imaginative other people are when it comes to encounters and overall dungeon themes, it makes me feel that my ideas are so cliche and hackneyed. I can draw maps, create new monsters, spells, and magic items. I can even come up with some decent set pieces and encounters, but overall I don't feel that I'm being that original with my adventure ideas.

Any thoughts?

(I'm probably not getting across my thoughts very well, heh.)

[Stonegiant]

John-

I totally understand where you are coming from, you have stated many of my dilemmas. One of my problems is remembering a cool idea when I finally get a chance to sit down and draw a map, I mean I make notes of ideas but when I am finally able to sit with pen and paper it seems that either I can't find and/or understand the note or like you it seems the idea is very cliche, etc. One thing I have been trying lately is to challenge myself by trying for ideas in arenas that I would normally never have worked in. (eg. I have never made an underwater adventure nor have I ever run one beyond a small underwater encounter. Than one day I was sitting watching Jaws III when this strange idea popped in my head how about a level called Hell's Aquarium, the entire level would be filled with water except for a rocky center with tunnels, observation decks, airlocks, etc. I then started reading up on all of the water beasties I could find and that helped to inspire me on that level and several other levels.), so maybe something to do once and awhile is to go where you have never gone before and do something fresh that will distract you. Just my 2cps YMMV.

[wulfgar]

I just got ahold of the Ready Ref sheets the other week, and using the random cave generator really turned out some really good stuff. I'm not a cave expert but I've been inside several and the caves I created had a "true to life" feel to them. Lots of water, passages 2 ft by 3 ft as well as enormous vaults. At the same time I think they'd be a real blast to explore as adventurers.

If you're dungeons are all starting to look the same and your imagination is a bit fried, I'd suggest using a random dungeon generator (Ready Ref or some other one) to get the creative juices flowing.

Have you looked at:

planet-thirteen.com/Dungeon.aspx

I just found this (thanks to Jeff Rients!) and will be using it shortly to start my own dungeon complex. I think I'll use for the big picture and then the ready ref random generators for the actual level maps.

[jochen]

Running out of ideas... oh I know this problem very well; Sitting in front of your blank sheets and having no brilliant idea on how to fill this room with something original. But I see it this way: The problem is more on a level of designing than one of playability. You might find it a little dull to fill your dungeon level with the usual stuff one expects in a dungeon. But how often does it happen that the most exciting encounter of a game session actually is an encounter you felt really uninspired the moment you filled your map with when you sat there and fleshed out your dungeon. Well to me it happened countless of times that I was surprised how much fun the players have although you really did not expect it because you felt like your preparations lacked of ideas good enough. Let's not underestimate the role of the players when it comes to making the dungeon experience an exciting! Sometimes you just need to provide the very usual and it is still sufficient to the players. At least I think my players decided to come to my table because they want to play a session of D&D and they will not be disappointed if they are provided with all those familiar things D&D is about. Of course I would say too that if you play on a regular basis the need for original encounters and events might grow, but as a referee one should not feel under pressure because of that too much. Sometimes you just happen to have an amazing brilliant and original idea and sometimes you just don't.
John, did your players complain yet? Well in my group it usually happens from time to time that players seem to lose interest in D&D for a while but after a time again they are always sure to return to the table and look foreward to sling their dice against some monsters and take their stuff. If I come with some extraordinary setting then they will love it even more, but if they just get the "usual" they are not disappointed either.