[BFRPG] BF5 Megadungeon

[Solomoriah]

Announcing!

BF5 Megadungeon -- March 3, 2009

The classic "megadungeon" doesn't begin as a giant dungeon; rather, it begins as a "normal" dungeon, from two to perhaps four levels. A group of beginning player characters enter it for their first adventure, and after several playing sessions, they've mostly cleaned it out, gained a few levels, and are ready for that first wilderness adventure.

Later, the player characters find themselves recalled to the dungeon, which in the interim has become reinfested with monsters. But beside the new inhabitants, the dungeon itself has changed. Perhaps the new monsters have built new areas, or opened up neighboring caverns. Possibly there were previously unsuspected areas or even whole levels. Traps previously sprung may have been renewed or replaced, and new traps have been built.

The player characters clear away the new evil, of course, and in time move on to another adventure. But the dungeon remains, and in time it gains new inhabitants and grows larger and deeper again.

This is the genesis of the traditional megadungeon, and this is the progression you will see with this module. This edition represents the starter dungeon, as playtested by my group. When, in the fullness of time, they return, I'll rebuild it and release a new version; with luck, there will be a third edition, and perhaps even more.

http://www.basicfantasy.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Regarding this release: Within, you will find maps for the first four levels of the dungeon. A hidden staircase descends to the 10th level, but it won't be used until the third iteration of the dungeon is released; I've included it only so that I can ensure the space required doesn't get used by something else. The dungeon key is auto-generated, and probably nonsense. The automatic contents should be revised or replaced (and will be, as I proceed with the development of this dungeon).

If you'd like to participate, feel free to post your content in this thread and I'll incorporate it into the document. I'll be actively working on the 1st level right away, so you might want to work on rooms in the lower levels.

[Guthlac]

You can always go with the classic earthquake as an option to open up new levels, either older constructed levels or cavern complexes which used to support an underground river or something.

[Solomoriah]

That was my thinking, yes. Or previously undiscovered areas behind secret doors "not found" in the previous round of dungeon-clearing.

[Solomoriah]

Announcing!

BF5 Megadungeon, Release 2 -- March 5, 2009
This second release includes some detailing of the 1st level rooms, including a couple of "specials."

http://www.basicfantasy.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Solomoriah]

Announcing!

BF5 Megadungeon, Release 3 -- March 5, 2009
More details for the 1st level... it's almost done!

http://www.basicfantasy.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Guys, I'd love a little help with the contents of the boxes and kegs in the wizard's secret room (#15 on the 1st level). My wife has helped me some, and it shows (she's devious).

[Solomoriah]

Announcing!

BF5 Megadungeon, Release 4 -- March 6, 2009
This release includes wandering monsters for the 1st level, guidance on using the NPC encounters, and a few room details for the 2nd level.

http://www.basicfantasy.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jdn2006]

Guys, I'd love a little help with the contents of the boxes and kegs in the wizard's secret room (#15 on the 1st level). My wife has helped me some, and it shows (she's devious).

In case you still need help: the R4 pdf I have stops at #2 for the small boxes and states a roll of 1d6. I added a couple in case you don't like some of them; seems like I heard most of them from somewhere (edit and use as you want to; I fixed a half dozen typos just reviewing it for posting):


3. This box contains what looks like a mummified monkey's paw with the fingers stretched out. Picking it up and waving it or trying to make a wish from it causes the user to suffer a magical shock and they must make a saving throw versus spells or run around out of control for 1-6 (1d6) turns, jibbering and chortling like an enraged monkey complete with hooting and hollering. If thy make the save, they shake off the temptation and know what it wil do to anyone who tampers with it.

4. Immediately upon opening this box a 2-7 (1d6+1) dull gray beetles scuttle out -- and if it is being held, they attempt to get to the skin of the victim and burrow into it doing 1-2 (1d2) damage each; generally they attack as 1 hit die monsters, to help account for any armor worn and dexterity. They quickly die regardless of any success they have, leaving dessicated husks behind.

5. This is a green and blue colored box. Opening it reveals a smaller red and yellow colored box. Opening the smaller box causes the larger box to disappear. Inside the smaller box is a box which if opened swells up to reveal it is the original green and blue box (as it swells up the smaller box disappears -- and of course is now back inside the green and blue box).

6. Inside this box is a fine white powder. Various tests can be performed, and if tested on the nose, violent sneezing occurs. This is a common spice accidentally stored here during one forgetful day.

7. This box contains several items that look like glass eyeballs (2-10 : 1d4 + 1d6). They are indeed eyes preserved by a system that turned them into a hard glass-like substance. One is rather large and has green colored veins prominently in it; it radiates magic. Once week, if pointed iris forward at a victim and squeezed, it will emit a petrification effect like a medusa or basalisk and a victim must make a saving throw or be petrified.

8. Opening this box indoors reveals a fine, pretty voice that sings a merry song accompanied by a flute or fife. Nothing can be seen inside it; it looks like an empty box. If it is opened outside near any wooded area a sprite appears and flees to disappear into the undergrowth.

[Solomoriah]

jdn: Good stuff. My players haven't made it to that room yet, so I can slip these items in. I'm posting R5, which has some more info for that room, but I'll add your stuff for R6.

Please email or PM me how you want to be credited (that is, how you want your name to appear). Thanks!

[Solomoriah]

Announcing!

BF5 Megadungeon, Release 5 -- March 10, 2009
More details have been added; about half the second level is keyed now, and the first level is almost done.

http://www.basicfantasy.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Solomoriah]

Announcing!

BF5 Megadungeon, Release 7 -- April 10, 2009
For this release, I've completed the third level and started on the fourth.

http://www.basicfantasy.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hmm, looks like I missed the R6 announcement...

[Solomoriah]

Okay, so the fourth level has me stymied.

There is a secret room in the middle of the whole shootin' match. Four secret corridors lead to it, each with a statue in an alcove.

Yeah, you can see it coming. Living statues, protecting something.

But what? And why?

What is the main question. I'm thinking it should be a nicer-than-usual magic weapon, maybe +2 or +3, or perhaps a very low end sentient weapon. I'm resistant to the latter because I'm not 100% happy with my current sentient weapons supplement, and I don't want to let one of those weapons into the game until I like how they work.

Or maybe a wand, staff, or rod? This is dungeon level 4. While I usually roll treasure randomly (as stated elsewhere ), when I place a magic item, I want it to fit the dungeon and work with the party.

Ideas?

[steveman]

Just a few ideas, some may not be appropriate for what you're looking for right now, but they might be useful in the future.

A heavy two-handed sword crafted from dirty iron and left unpolished and without a scabbard. This weapon is called "Black Avenger", though it is unlikely the players would know this at the time of acquiring the weapon. It is a two-handed sword +2. When the sword is used in battle, its wielder goes berserk; dealing double damage on a successful hit. The wielder attacks the nearest enemy within sight, and contuses to do so until he can not longer see anymore unfriendly creatures. While this weapon is cursed, it is easy to be rid of, if the character can pass a saving throw vs. spells he can choose to leave the weapon behind, never carrying it again. However, if the character is carrying this weapon he will always draw it as his weapon in battle.

A simple-looking scimitar crafted from fine steel with it's grip wrapped in red silk in a scabbard wrapped in the same cloth. This weapon is called "Ghoul Slayer", it is a weapon that many clerics and paladins might recognize on sight. It is a scimitar +1, +3 vs undead and grants immunity to the energy draining powers of undead creatures. When unsheathed and in the presence of undead (50 feet), the blade of this weapon radiates a soft green glow that sheds like as a torch.

A dusty, albeit nondescript book titled "Concerning the Dead", it is a book of fables and fairy tales about beings for the netherworld. Within the margins are hand-written notations placed by a former owner. Some of these notations seem like rambling on about the tales; how some are true stories, how others are basted on truth, and even some are flat out falsehoods. The book carries a terrible curse, anyone who picks up the book and reads it must pass a saving throw vs. Spells or become obsessed with the book, studying it's pages at every opportunity, trying to unravel any secret truths it may hold.

[Solomoriah]

Ur. Never thought about that... what if the magic item was put there by the "lawful" guys rather than the "chaotic" ones? So it might be something dangerous, rather than something useful, to a group of heroic adventurers...

[steveman]

Deos this mean you like one of the items I offered?

[Shonuff]

New artowrk for this should be arriving this weekend to you, Solo.