Dungeons & Dragons gives players a massive degree of freedom when it comes to what they want to do, with the sky truly being the limit in regards to exploration. However, as one would expect from a game called Dungeons & Dragons, a frequent inclusion within campaigns are the inclusion of dungeons.
Dungeons can range from smaller affairs that are less than ten rooms to elaborate labyrinths. However, for newer DMs, designing a dungeon can be somewhat overwhelming. So today, we’re going to examine ten tips for new DMs when creating your first dungeons for D&D.
10 Provide Incentive
Before even entering a dungeon, apathy should have some degree of incentive to want to delve in. Perhaps the party heard tales that a dungeon is full of valuables or magic items, or maybe even that a given dungeon is the home of a monster that has been terrorizing a nearby village.
Whatever it may be, most parties will require a degree of prodding before they decide they want to enter a given dungeon. Being aware of the motivations of one’s party members can help shape why a party would be entering a given dungeon and what the dungeon may hold.
9 Make A Map Of The Dungeon
One of the most integral elements of constructing a dungeon is for the DM to know its layout. How many floors does it have? How many rooms? Which rooms connect to each other? Are their secret passages or secret rooms? Where are traps located and where is treasure kept? What rooms contain monsters?
As this is the information that players will likely be looking for, it’s integral that the DM knows these answers, though they don’t necessarily need to provide the party with map information they wouldn’t have access to.
8 Tie Into The Setting
Tying the surrounding environment into a dungeon can provide it with a great deal of personality and flavor.
For example, a dungeon found within a coastal environment would likely have several implementations of water and aquatic monsters, while a dungeon found near a volcano could feature fire-based traps and monsters.
7 Sprinkle In History And Lore
One way to immerse players within your dungeon is by providing it with history and significance within the world of your campaign.
How long has the dungeon been here? Why was it originally built? Has in been repurposed or forgotten? Dungeons can be used to provide additional world-building, making the setting of a campaign feel more authentic and lived in.
6 Theme The Loot
One of the most exciting things about exploring dungeons within D&D is the act of finding a magic item or a rare piece of loot. However, it is recommended that rather than simply haphazardly throwing random magic items into a dungeon, the items within the dungeon pertain to the dungeon’s setting or theme.
Continuing the coastal dungeon example, a dungeon by the sea may contain items like the Cloak of the Manta Ray, or a lost shrine to a god of the forge may contain a powerful magic sword.
5 Reward Player Creativity
When including obstacles and puzzles within a dungeon, a DM will likely have an intended means of overcoming said obstacle. However, if there’s one thing to expect from players, it’s that they will do the unexpected.
While there are definitely blatantly wrong answers to puzzles, it’s not uncommon for a player to approach a problem they find in an unexpected and creative way. If such an occurrence were to take place, it’s often better to reward a player’s critical thinking and creativity rather than insist they overcome an obstacle in a rigidly outlined manner.
4 Balance Combat And Puzzles
Dungeons can be kind of like a buffet, with a wide variety of different scenarios jam-packed within a single setting.
As much as a party may prefer puzzles or combat, including a solid blend of different obstacles that use different party members’ skill sets can break up the monotony, stop things from getting stale, and force players to use different solutions to their problems.
3 Make Encounters Memorable
As a DM, you have a nearly infinite degree of freedom in what you can include within your dungeon. Encounters with monsters within a dungeon can be some of the most memorable aspects of a dungeon crawl. Bear in mind that monsters likely aren’t simply waiting and twiddling their thumbs while they wait for adventurers to come murder them.
What are the monsters doing when the party arrives? What monsters are in the dungeon and how do they connect to the rest of the dungeon? Are they directly connected to the history of a dungeon or are they simply squatting? Does the party meet anyone else who happens to be delving into the dungeon? Do they find anyone who failed to reach the end? The answers to these questions can make a dungeon a much more memorable experience for players.
2 Tie Into The Campaign
While providing players with incentive to enter a dungeon can get things started, a DM can use discoveries within a dungeon to directly move the campaign forward.
Perhaps the party uncovers lore that pertains to a character’s backstory, a major antagonist, or even information that directly impacts the deity of a cleric or paladin. Information and treasure found within a dungeon doesn’t need to end with the dungeon, allowing it to have a lasting impact that helps continue the narrative of a campaign.
1 Upend Expectations
When creating a dungeon, one of the most memorable things that can be done is upending your players’ expectations. This can be as simple as finding an unexpected treasure within the dungeon or uncovering a secret within the dungeon such as its origin as a holy shrine or tomb to a hero forgotten by time.
Maybe the goblins within a dungeon are willing to join forces with the party to fight a bigger threat that lurks within a lower floor. Whatever a DM decides to do to keep their players on their toes, it likely won’t go unnoticed.
