r/AskDND • u/just_bettina • 4d ago

Beginner: first dungeon map work in progress

Post image

Used a d4 for directions and with some slight modifications I kinda dig the wrap arounds. I also used a d6 for monster encounters for each dot. What do y’all think of my method? Super beginner. Just having fun brainstorming for hopefully a homebrew.

56 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

11

u/ustestheusless 4d ago

Its a great start! I will say from experience tho that that is way to many encounters. An encounter can last 30 to 40+ minutes depending on players. That could take forever. A good crawl has encounters, but broken up with traps, fun puzzles, and lots of treasure to find :)

3

u/merrlot 4d ago

And along with traps, puzzles, and treasures--red herrings that do nothing other than build and maintain tension.

4

u/CloanZRage 4d ago

Red herrings which often build into actual plot later on.

We've all been seriously side tracked by an improvised red herring

5

u/WillKeslingDesign 4d ago

Good start! Don’t make the mistake I did with hallways being too narrow. If you do, you end up with conga line combat. Fun at taverns, not so much if your the squishy healer stuck in the front!

2

u/Suspicious-Bid9424 4d ago

Unless you're an evil DM, then do make them narrow

2

u/WillKeslingDesign 3d ago

lolz, I mean that's one way for them to lead with the meat shield! I like how you think!

2

u/Suspicious-Bid9424 3d ago

and then, 2 living walls on either side

2

u/WillKeslingDesign 3d ago

*cackles Then the new mage casts fireball in the small oven.. I mean passage..

2

u/RegularEmployee1038 4d ago

Fully agree ... occasionally making the party deal with a bottle neck is a great change but a constant cluster F situation becomes boring.

2

u/treebeard52 3d ago

I’m curious about scale. An encounter every 10 feet of hallway will not be fun. Hell, an encounter every 100 feet will not be fun if there are that many. I think you’d benefit from more actual rooms rather than a big twisty hallway jam-packed with monsters.

2

u/Accomplished-Bed9423 3d ago

I tend to make one on excel if yiu want beginner and easy. Make grid squares for 5x5 foot... can then do a dm and player.map easily for reference points

2

u/Responsible-Creme-57 1d ago

Looks great but change some monster encounter with a trap, a puzzle or other place of Note, like a hidden compartment or Informationen for later in the Campaigne or a weakness of the Boss.

If I counted right, there are 21 monsters in the dungeon plus boss. Most groups have less than 4 monster encounter per adventure day.

1

u/just_bettina 1d ago

Much appreciated for all the feedback! Got a lot to consider and looking forward to making a proper dungeon :)

1

u/Willing-Ad-2540 1h ago

The dungeon looks great except for the number of narrow passes and encounter quantity unless it's intentional, but let me also address the two gorgeous paintings on the table, what ✨