Spelljammer …Wait till you see Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage (Spelljammer?)

Staccat0 · Sep 21, 2018

machineelf said:
Who made that rule?

I'm not a big fan of mega-dungeons usually, although I don't mind one existing in the world with a history like undermountain. The largeness of it is part of the lore; something the adventures can get lost in if they choose to, but it's completely optional.

But if someone is going to publish a dungeon, whether large or small, give all the details. I can always change whatever I want as a DM, but I don't, frankly, get the idea that you're going to publish something incomplete for the DM to complete it. That's just me, though. Opinions differ.

To me, it doesn't sound very big if someone mapped it all and made it a product. Hitting the major features with, with guidance and most-importantly clever random tables might make it both easier to run and also infinitely large. Different strokes and all, but I think these sort of products tend to work best when they let the DM use the product as a tool. Sorta like how I don't want every building in a city keyed or every corner of a forest.

Joseph Nardo · Sep 21, 2018

Reynard said:
Rapan Athuk isn't a megadungeon. It is a big awesome dungeon for sure, and lots of fun, but the term "megadungeon" has specific connotations. One of those connotations is that it is never finished.

The main dungeon has almost 60 levels. There are over 1000 numbered encounter areas. I'm pretty sure that rapan is considered a mega dungeon. Now add in all the new 5e material which includes additional main dungeon levels AND brand new dungeons and I doubt it could be finished short of five years of playing.

Joseph Nardo · Sep 21, 2018

MNblockhead said:
The 1,875 backers who pledged $165,722 on Kickstarted to bring FGG's Rapan Athuk to 5e disagree.

Waiting until October for this masterpiece of art!

Demetrios1453 · Sep 21, 2018

I imagine that since its going to cover 23 levels, we're going to get a theme for each level, some areas in each fully detailed, and then some guidance for deatailing the remaining sections of each level.

LordEntrails · Sep 21, 2018

machineelf said:
This makes it look like this is more of an adventure through Undermountain rather than a complete guidebook on it (which I didn't think could be done in a single book anyway). This makes me a bit less excited about it, honestly. Still excited, but less so. I guess I'll have to collate all the previous material myself to have a complete conversion of the entire Undermountain.

Yes, DotMM won't be exhaustive. A single book can't detail it. It's in the neighborhood of 4000-6000 unique locations. Even at 4 rooms per page that's over 1000 pages.

vpuigdoller said:
This looks very promising and I can't wait to read thru it.
@machineelf Maybe they offer a map of the Undermountain level and a short adventure to run in it?

Nope. They will offer partial maps of all 23 levels. According to comments on the SoME, they will be leaving much of each level unmapped.

machineelf said:
Well, Undermountain is 8 or 9 main levels, and multiple sub-levels. It's HUGE. I thought they had made the claim that this book would cover all of the levels. I took that to mean, it would cover them all exhaustively, which frankly would be impossible in a single book without cutting major corners. It looks like it's going to be more of an adventure that gives you a little glimpse of each level, but isn't going to be a sourcebook of the entire Undermountain.

23 levels. 1000 plus pages. Or a database.

Reynard said:
... but the term "megadungeon" has specific connotations. One of those connotations is that it is never finished.

Anything that is not infinite can be fully detailed. As for your connotation of megadungeon, I've never heard that before and it's not what it means to me.

darjr said:
It’ll be augmented on the DMsGuild too.

I've already started. Expect the full first level soon (tm). https://www.dmsguild.com/product/252761/Undermountain-Locale-Altar-of-the-Spider-God

MNblockhead · Sep 21, 2018

Reynard said:
Rapan Athuk isn't a megadungeon. It is a big awesome dungeon for sure, and lots of fun, but the term "megadungeonC" has specific connotations. One of those connotations is that it is never finished.

Cite, please. I've never heard or read this. The term "megadungeon" has been used to mean "a big-ass dungeon" since the 80s. I like GnosticMoron's definition posted in a discussion on the topic at Matt Colveille's Reddit Page: "A mega dungeon is big enough to be the sole or overwhelming focus of a long campaign." (link)

robus · Sep 21, 2018

LordEntrails said:
I've already started. Expect the full first level soon (tm). https://www.dmsguild.com/product/252761/Undermountain-Locale-Altar-of-the-Spider-God

Cool, though I have a small suggestion: Ditch the textured background behind the text (or make it much more subtle). My old eyes would get very tired very quickly reading through the doc (this is based on the preview - so if that's misleading then OK..

)

Lidgar · Sep 21, 2018

I expect this will be similar to the 3.5e Ruins of Castle Greyhawk Hardbound book. Have some set piece encounters, with the remaining levels/areas being treated as dungeon wilderness.

Crashed spelljammer ship? Mindflayers? Boo? I'm pumped.

Joseph Nardo · Sep 21, 2018

I'm 100% sure that the clues to how dungeon of the mad mage is designed lies in the main dungeon of princes of the apocalypse

Joseph Nardo · Sep 21, 2018

My best guess is that this book will have around 500 numbered encounter areas with the passageways mentioned by Chris Perkins that will allow for DM expansion

Spelljammer …Wait till you see Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage (Spelljammer?)

Staccat0

First Post

Joseph Nardo

Explorer

Joseph Nardo

Explorer

Demetrios1453

Hero

LordEntrails

Hero

MNblockhead

A Title Much Cooler Than Anything on the Old Site

robus

Lowcountry Low Roller

Lidgar

Gongfarmer

Joseph Nardo

Explorer

Joseph Nardo

Explorer

Similar Threads

Related Articles