World's Largest Dungeon in actual play [Spoilers!]

[jim pinto]

some things to remember:

hallways on the map do NOT always have to exist

not every door needs to be unlocked

not every passage needs to be easy to traverse

not every dungeon must have the same 16 maps

okay

enough preaching

enjoy

btw... are people finding the random encounters useful
in Regions A, B, or E?

 

[OblivionsLot]

btw... are people finding the random encounters useful
in Regions A, B, or E?

With my group still in Region A I've found the random encounters rather helpful. At first I was useing them a bit more randomly - I'd roll my random encounters in advance and when it was close to the check time I'd make it happen. Now I still roll them up in advance, but then insert them when appropriate. In fact, there's a pack of darkmantles waiting for them after they finish recovering from a near TPK.

When they found the Krenshar stables there were six of them plus Turag. I had tossed in the extra rat swarm and had them both in the upper corners and one in the lower corner. When the Rogue and the Paladin spotted the rats feeding on one of the dead cats the Rogue called back in a loud voice, "Rats!"

And with a single squeek, the rats stopped feasting in favor of fresh meat.

Suddenly, the rats were all over them while Lady Luck left to powder her nose.

Turag was gone, people were getting knocked down to zero hit points, cracking open potions of healing and whiffing attacks like nobody's businnes. Fortunately the Wizard (who is an elf) decided to watch for an ambush, so they were not completely taken out when the other two swarms came down.

But it's really hard to run when you're grossed out by the mountain of rats on top of you.

The Rogue went down, everyone else maded it out the south door except for one - the Cleric. He was caught on the other side of the swarms, took one out, and proceeded to run West. He also was the only one with the map.

After wandering corridors and checking into rooms to find a place to possibly hole up, he made it back to the party intact and just in time to help with the healing process.

And now three of them (all the fighters) have a case of the Devil Chills.

But for their efforts, I let them gain a level, so the group is not level two and a little more hardy.

Which is good, because the rat swarms are still around.

Jon

 

[BlueBlackRed]

btw... are people finding the random encounters useful

Absolutely.
Only had 2 actual combat encounters, but neither resulted in real combat.

I do seem to be rolling the "distant scream" random encounter a lot. Like 5 times so far. I'll probably have to throw something in to explain that...hopefully something more climactic than a krenshar.

 

[CrimsonScribe]

I go tmy first opportunity to use the random encounter tables last night and the only one I rolled that was of use was the tremor. Everything else just didn't fit the current sotuation (like a dead kobold turning up in the room while everyone is sleeping).

I'm sure I'll get luckier on the roles soon enough though and those trogs playing cards will be a surprise for the party.

 

[twofalls]

Why bother rolling, consider it a list of ideas and just plug in what looks interesting for at the time...

 

[PaulofCthulhu]

It's an interesting matter whether you subscribe to:

1) Dungeon Master controls the dungeon, not the dice.

2) Dice allow improved impartiality in the game.

Our DM is using open rolling (no screen) - not that it matters much - we don't know the numbers he needs...

I once heard tell that Gary Gygax just chucked random dice behind his DM screen for the sound, and then made the results up for whatever seemed most entertaining.

 

[jim pinto]

I go tmy first opportunity to use the random encounter tables last night and the only one I rolled that was of use was the tremor. Everything else just didn't fit the current sotuation (like a dead kobold turning up in the room while everyone is sleeping).

I'm sure I'll get luckier on the roles soon enough though and those trogs playing cards will be a surprise for the party.

waking up to find a dead kobold in your bed is like the opener to every godfather movie, isn't it?

 

[CrimsonScribe]

Not when you have a warforged fighter sitting against the only door in the room all night long.

 

[Bestopheles]

Not when you have a warforged fighter sitting against the only door in the room all night long.

Yeah, we have a good sized party and a few war forged, so there are 3 people on watch during every shift. I've tried to lure them out of the room with screams, sounds of fighting etc, but so far they've wisely decided to rest it out.

Jason

 

[twofalls]

It's an interesting matter whether you subscribe to:

1) Dungeon Master controls the dungeon, not the dice.

2) Dice allow improved impartiality in the game.

Our DM is using open rolling (no screen) - not that it matters much - we don't know the numbers he needs...

I once heard tell that Gary Gygax just chucked random dice behind his DM screen for the sound, and then made the results up for whatever seemed most entertaining.

I use a combination. I roll my dice openly, and soon (almost immediatly) my players stop paying any attention to my rolls what so ever. So its nothing if I roll the dice then choose whatever is most interesting at the time, or fudge my combat numbers to make a particular combat go the direction I want it to (be that hurting or helping the group) because no one looks at my dice, not really. What this does is reinforce the feeling that anything can happen in theminds of the players becouse they think I never fudge (which keeps that edge going) and allows me to controll all the action in order to weave the story in what I feel is the most entertaining fashion.