Let's talk about dungeons.

[Wycen]

I've been wanting to play a good old fashion random dungeon crawl with old maps and no over arching theme. The sometimes Pathfinder Game I'm in seems to fit the random geomorphic block idea, but the DM has some form of over arching theme.

I'd really love to see the DM role up treasure on the spot, rather than have specific things drop.

 

[Reynard]

I'd really love to see the DM role up treasure on the spot, rather than have specific things drop.

I always roll random treasure whenever it is a random encounter, right in front of the players (or have them roll for me).

It's a beautiful little piece of tension and anticipation.

The problem I run into is that in earlier versions of the game, there was lots of things to burtn money on (not least of which training) and in 3.x the only real expenditure is gear, so a single outsized roll can cause a lot more problem in 3.x than 1E.

 

[Garthanos]

I can't quite tell from your post -- did you only engage in a dungeon adventure once, 30 years ago?

My initial impression and rejection of a "Dungeon" the D&D definition - was indeed formed thirty years ago... I quit playing D&D around 82 and only started playing again recently) you might note that the post I was directly reacting to was from ... Philotomy Jurament... and his links to an OD&D rationalization of the completely irrational OS dungeon so it was a style of play that I found particularly unpleasant...about 30 years ago ;-)

Have "Dungeons" changed over the years... maybe.... there are people glorifying theme-lessness and randomness I associate with those early years so that implies.. its not gone.

 

[Antithetist]

Have "Dungeons" changed over the years... maybe.... there are people glorifying theme-lessness and randomness I associate with those early years so that implies.. its not gone.

Surely the key distinction here is that some people glorify that style of play. There are plenty of other people in this thread who are coming up with great ideas for how dungeons can be coherently themed and incorporated as a sensible part of their setting. The OD&D-style dungeon crawl is pretty niche these days, so whatever your feelings on it, I don't see why you would use that brush to tar the whole concept of 'dungeon'.