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Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Handful of Dice random dungeon generator

 Outline for a dungeon randomization method to apply to the Bakemono Caverns by the Mountain Crevasse Bridge. Will be running this location tonight in the Bushido flavored Barbarians of Lemuria campaign, thought of this approach on my walk to lunch, fleshing out a bit as I write this up.


When generating a room or cave:

Throw a die for each of these categories. Dice that come out high will mean that feature is present, for some in a binary fashion, for others in a scalar, with 4 meaning some, 5 meaning more or larger, 6 meaning a lot or very large or intense.

If applying to other locations, some categories might not be appropriate, like leaving out or reducing odds on horror or weird elements.


Monsters - Scalar

Other complications/dangers - environmental or traps - Scalar

Horror - Scalar

Weird - binary

Treasures - Scalar, add 1 each for monsters or dangers being 5 or 6, a 6 total or more should include something magic.

Plot hook characters 5 or objects 6

Something significant is concealed/hidden (about location or paths to leave it) binary, on 5-6

If not already mapped:

Natural/Constructed transition vs previous location- on 6

Termination vs branching 1,2 termination, 3 single path beyond, 4 Two paths 5-6  branching 

Elevation change - 5 Up 6 Down, could be the space itself or a branching in that direction on exit


Branchings can loop back to connect to previously discovered branchings as appropriate.


Test:

411156223


Yields:

Some monsters

A character or characters that are a plot hook

Something concealed - will be the monsters or plot hook character(s), since no exit paths or other things

Terminal room on this path