What is Dungeon Delves?

Ogrork the Mighty · May 30, 2009

I've heard this term being floated around and not in the context of minis.

What is Dungeon Delves? Is there a link on the WotC site?

Klaus · May 30, 2009

Dungeon Delve

Dungeon Delve provides the DM with an array of small, easy-to-run dungeons each specifically designed for a night of gaming.

This book is designed for groups looking for an exciting night of monster-slaying without the prep time. It contains dozens of self-contained, easy-to-run mini-dungeons, or "delves", each one crafted for a few hours of game-play.

The book includes delves for 1st- to 30th-level characters, and features dozens of iconic monsters for the heroes to battle. Dungeon Masters can run these delves as one-shot adventures or weave them into the campaign.

Ogrork the Mighty · May 30, 2009

I think the context is WotC sending out kits to hobby stores to run Dungeon Delves.

Are these just one-shots from the Dungeon Delves book?

Weregrognard · May 30, 2009

No. The RPGA's Delve Night adventures are not the same ones from the Dungeon Delve book, but they are designed in a similar fashion. They are composed of about four encounters so you can run one once a week or all four once a month. Each month they're supposed to come out with a different Delve Night adventure. They're meant for casual play.

Holy Bovine · May 30, 2009

Ogrork the Mighty said:
I think the context is WotC sending out kits to hobby stores to run Dungeon Delves.

Are these just one-shots from the Dungeon Delves book?

They aren't from the Dungeon Delve book but do follow its format - 3 encounters with (sometimes) a skill challenge or two. The encounters link together to form a (short) adventure that can be used pretty much anywhere. I've used about 10 of the 'delves' from Dungeon Delve and envision using many many more. Very handy little set pieces.

Festivus · May 30, 2009

And just to mention it, the entire format of the current D&D Delve Night is changing from it's current incarnation of encounters tied together with a very flimsy plot (and I haven't seen a skill challenge yet in one), to a story that will unfold over a 9 month period, taking the players on a level 1-3 journey, one encounter at a time.

More story, perhaps some combat skill challenges, certainly more engaging that what we currently get, and aimed at new players who can use the free character builder or the pregens that come with the kits.

The will bump the level of the encounters every 3 months (I think) and start over after they cap out at level 3.

At least that is the current rumor mill. Someone from WoTC or who has gone to a sneak peak event can share more no doubt.

Dragonhelm · May 30, 2009

How are dungeon delves different than dungeon crawls?

Inyssius · May 30, 2009

[edit: cannot brain today, i have the dumb]

FireLance · May 30, 2009

Dragonhelm said:
How are dungeon delves different than dungeon crawls?

I'd say dungeon delves:dungeon crawls::short stories:novels

Kinneus · May 30, 2009

Dragonhelm said:
How are dungeon delves different than dungeon crawls?

Dungeon Delve is a book (series of books?) that contains a number of ready-to-use dungeon crawls. So Dungeon Delve contains many dungeon crawls.
Asking 'how is a dungeon delve different from a dungeon crawl?' is kind of like asking 'how is a monster manual different from a monster?'