D&D 5E The Classic Dungeon

[Will Doyle]

I'm going to draw a one-page dungeon. I want it to channel all the classic D&D dungeon elements into a single site, however old-hat they may seem now. The sort of thing you'd run for your children on their Very First Adventure.

So far I have the dungeon situated under a tavern, with a tavern brawl being the opening scene. Underneath, I have a room that's a big chessboard puzzle.

What would you add?

 

[iserith]

A quest-giver that turns out to be the villain.

 

[delericho]

Giant rats. It's always giant rats.

And some sort of expedition into the sewers.

 

[wedgeski]

* Magic mouth with riddle to open locked door
* Pit traps, shrinking room traps

 

[Valador]

Gelatinous Cube.

 

[BoldItalic]

Illusions. Fake walls, fake doors. Fake piles of treasure.

A forty-foot dragon in a 10x10 room and the only entrance is down a narrow tunnel it couldn't possibly fit through.

An evil necromancer who is just on the point of creating a bunch of zombies unless you stop him in time.

Lots of strange noises.

A flooded passage leading to an enormous cavern with a waterfall. There's a secret door behind the waterfall.

 

[iserith]

A secret door in a place nobody in their right mind will search with absolutely no telegraphing at all.

 

[KahlessNestor]

Ooo. Treasure chest mimic.

 

[Rya.Reisender]

Heh, putting together all suggestions makes it almost exactly like the very first adventure I had designed. Just can agree with all suggestions.

The only thing that's missing in the suggestions above are treasure chests. There should be some of which some are locked and some are trapped.

 

[BoldItalic]

A mysterious engine tended by gnomes. If it ever stops, the world will end. They need more grease for the bearings. Can you find them some?

A well shaft guarded by kobolds for no apparent reason. They will attempt to buy or steal your ropes and your helmets (to use as buckets). If you kill them, you get 3cp.

A grease monster at the bottom of the well-shaft. If you kill it, it turns into a pile of grease but, being made entirely of grease, it's immune to non-magical weapons.