D&D General Do You Use "Dungeons" In Your Game

[payn]

Thoughts on the "I don't really run dungeons in my D&D/fantasy RPGs anymore...". I think folks mean, first and foremost, they dont run megadungeons. Secondly, they likely don't run dungeon crawlers either, where the campaign takes them from one dungeon to the next. Then, its likely that the game loop and challenges are not centered on resource accounting and overcoming challenges like darkness, mapping, safe resting, etc... They dont play old school style anymore is the bottom line.

 

[abazaba]

Thoughts on the "I don't really run dungeons in my D&D/fantasy RPGs anymore...". I think folks mean, first and foremost, they dont run megadungeons. Secondly, they likely don't run dungeon crawlers either, where the campaign takes them from one dungeon to the next. Then, its likely that the game loop and challenges are not centered on resource accounting and overcoming challenges like darkness, mapping, safe resting, etc... They dont play old school style anymore is the bottom line.

I guess that quote/unquote 'sorta' applies to the campaigns I play/played in ? Definitely no 'mega' dungeons, but there definitely were smaller dungeons as well, like the 'lost mine' (cave ?) of 'Lost Mine of Phandelver'. Darkness was not an issue because of darkvision, but 'safe resting' definitely was an issue, as was 'mapping' (to a degree).

 

[Reynard]

That's the point. They mean two completely different things to me, depending on what I'm looking at. Yes, what "sometimes" and "regularly" mean is subjective, but whether we are looking at those terms across all campaigns or within each individual campaign isn't subjective, and that's what I was asking you. Do you mean regularly across all campaigns, or regularly within a campaign?

In any given campaign you run in D&D.

 

[Reynard]

Thoughts on the "I don't really run dungeons in my D&D/fantasy RPGs anymore...". I think folks mean, first and foremost, they dont run megadungeons. Secondly, they likely don't run dungeon crawlers either, where the campaign takes them from one dungeon to the next. Then, its likely that the game loop and challenges are not centered on resource accounting and overcoming challenges like darkness, mapping, safe resting, etc... They dont play old school style anymore is the bottom line.

I think it is pretty well established that there was never any real consensus on the appropriate level of mapping, calling, resource management, etc... once D&D got out of Lake Geneva.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Mapping is something we did maybe couple of times as kids and never again. Players redrawing the GM's map is a colossal waste of time and effort.

 

[Reynard]

Mapping is something we did maybe couple of times as kids and never again. Players redrawing the GM's map is a colossal waste of time and effort.

For some flavors of dungeon delving, it is an essential part of the experience.

 

[Cordwainer Fish]

For some flavors of dungeon delving, it is an essential part of the experience.

And it's fun.

 

[payn]

Mapping is something we did maybe couple of times as kids and never again. Players redrawing the GM's map is a colossal waste of time and effort.

Yeap.

For some flavors of dungeon delving, it is an essential part of the experience.

I've known a few. The juice was never worth the squeeze when I did it.

And it's fun.

 

[Reynard]

I've known a few. The juice was never worth the squeeze when I did it.

I think I have managed to make it interesting as GM like twice in 40 years, and don't really bother anymore. I just wanted to point out that it isn't inherently bad, just an acquired taste.

 

[payn]

I think I have managed to make it interesting as GM like twice in 40 years, and don't really bother anymore. I just wanted to point out that it isn't inherently bad, just an acquired taste.

A big part of the reason is my longtime local group was very bad at managing any game resource. Tracking initiative, mapping, etc.. any of the things folks often delegate to their players was a nightmare for me. They would lose focus on the game, not be ready for their turn, get persnickety about details that didnt matter... I've just had to get the reins tight and manage the pace so the players can just focus on their characters and the narrative without distraction.