D&D General Jaquaying the dungeon - a term to avoid

[Lanefan]

Sure, but it is kind of nice to have easily understood concise terminology (even when it is not perect). "Megadungeon" is a ubiquitous term that has meaning but took a little time to get absorbed itno the broader community conversation.

So, assuming Jaquays actually does not want her name attached to the term, I propose we here at ENWorld have a dedicated thread with voting have everything that develops a new term that encapsulates the design ethos, without referencing Justin Alexander.

I like this idea, but in all fairness "Xandering the dungeon" should probably be included as an option on that poll even if nobody votes for it.

My initial thoughts on potential terms:
Warren style (as in, rabbit warrens)
Thracian style (for obvious reasons)
Dungeoneerism/ist (to tie it to her entrance into the industry)

Or, to be dry as dust about it, "multi-loop" dungeons.

 

[Jahydin]

Have to admit, I like "xandering" much better.

It's close to "wandering" while also having an "x", which makes me think of crossed paths.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Or, to be dry as dust about it, "multi-loop" dungeons.

Indeed. And really, it's just a more precise formulation of what "non-linear" means.

There is currently a general movement in scientific fields against naming things after people.

 

[Lanefan]

Immediately clear to everyone. Perfect.

(edit to flag @Paul Farquhar as well, as this reply also applies to his post)

Except "non-linear" up to now has referred to a type of dungeon design that is more complex than linear but less involved than multi-loop or interconnected. Non-linear IME most commonly equates with "dendritic", where the dungeon branches from a single entrance like a river system or a tree.

The original White Plume Mountain is neither linear nor interconnected.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The oroginal White Plume Mountain is neither linear nor interconnected.

It's three linear dungeons connected at the entrance.

A more interesting study might be The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan. Parallel paths? (Interconnecting at a couple of nodes).

UK 5 Eye of the Serpent is another interesting dungeon for path analysis.

 

[Lanefan]

It's three linear dungeons connected at the entrance.

Indeed, but overall it's still non-linear.

Keep on the Shadowfell is an odd mix of dendritic and linear: each of the two main levels is dendritic (i.e. linear branches off a stem) but there's a chokepoint at the single vertical connection.

Contrast this with Secret of Bone Hill, which truly is interconnected both vertically and horizontally; particularly if the outdoors counts as a level.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Indeed, but overall it's still non-linear.

Keep on the Shadowfell is an odd mix of dendritic and linear: each of the two main levels is dendritic (i.e. linear branches off a stem) but there's a chokepoint at the single vertical connection.

Contrast this with Secret of Bone Hill, which truly is interconnected both vertically and horizontally; particularly if the outdoors counts as a level.

I've never read those too, I must try and look them out (I'm not really a fan of dungeon crawls though).

From a narrative perspective, I would still call WPM linear, since you have to do the whole of each of the three branches to complete the adventure. Aside from the order, it doesn't really have choices.

 

[Lanefan]

I've never read those too, I must try and look them out (I'm not really a fan of dungeon crawls though).

You haven't missed much with KotS. It's poorly written, and even the hardest-core 4e fans will generally say it wasn't a good way to start the edition. I can't recommend Bone Hill highly enough for its dungeon design, though; it really is excellent (but skip the town, it's irrelevant).

From a narrative perspective, I would still call WPM linear, since you have to do the whole of each of the three branches to complete the adventure. Aside from the order, it doesn't really have choices.

Fair enough.

 

[Autumnal]

LI know this is cynical but I am curious if there is any independent confirmation of that harassments. because the blog post is very vague and does not explain the potential harassments very well.

For years, lots of out in public. I saw plenty of it on Facebook and Twitter, when we had mutual friends whose posts we’d both reply to. Utterly, boringly, typical misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Winding Dungeons Design would be good, I think.
I do like the sound of ''Warren''. Its pretty evocative.