Page 101 - Dungeon Master's Guide

The Dungeon History table notes key events that
NPC CLASS
can transform a site from its original purpose into a
d20 Class d20 Class
dungeon for adventurers to explore. Particularly old
Barbarian 9 Paladin dungeons can have a history that consists of multiple
2 Bard 10 Ranger events, each of which transformed the site in some way.
3-4 Cleric 11-14 Rogue
5 Druid 15 Sorcerer DUNGEON HISTORY
6-7 Fighter 16 Warlock d20 Key Event
8 Monk 17-20 Wizard
1- 3 Abandoned by creators
4 Abandoned due to plague
DUNGEON PURPOSE
5-8 Conquered by invaders
Except in the case of a natural cavern, a dungeon
9-10 Creators destroyed by attacking raiders
· crafted and inhabited for a specific purpose that
11 Creators destroyed by discovery made within the
influences its design and features. You can choose a
purpose from the Dungeon Purpose table, roll one at site
;--andom, or use your own ideas. 12 Creators destroyed by internal conflict
13 Creators destroyed by magical catastrophe
DUNGEON PURPOSE 14-15 Creators destroyed by natural disaster
d20 Purpose d20 Purpose 16 Location cursed by the gods and shunned
17,-18 Original creator still in control
Death trap 11-14 Stronghold
19 Overrun by planar creatures
2-5 Lair 15-17 Temple or shrine
20 Site of a great miracle
6 Maze 18-19 Tomb
7-9 Mine 20 Treasure vault
DUNGEON INHABITANTS
10 Planar gate
After a dungeon's creators depart, anyone or anything
Death Trap. This dungeon is built to eliminate any might move in. Intelligent monsters, mindless dungeon
creature that dares to enter it. A death trap might guard scavengers, predators and prey alike can be drawn
the treasure of an insane wizard, or it might be designed to dungeons.
o lure adventurers to their demise for some nefarious The monsters in a dungeon are more than a
purpose, such as to feed souls to a lich's phylactery. collection of random creatures that happen to live
Lair. A lair is a place where monsters live. Typical near one another. Fungi, vermin, scavengers, and
airs include ruins and caves. predators can coexist in a complex ecology, alongside
Maze. A maze is intended to deceive oi- confuse intelligent creatures who share living space through
those who enter it. Some mazes are elaborate obstacles elaborate combinations of domination, negotiation, and
that protect treasure, while others are gauntlets for bloodshed.
prisoners banished there to be hunted and devoured by Characters might be able to sneak into a dungeon,
the monsters within. ally with one faction, or play factions against each other
Mine. An abandoned mine can quickly become to reduce the threat of the more powerful monsters.
infested with monsters, while miners who delve too For example, in a dungeon inhabited by mind !layers
deep can break through into the Underdark. and their goblinoid thralls, the adventurers might try
Planar Gate. Dungeons built around planar portals to incite the goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears to revolt
are often transformed by the planar energy seeping out against their illithid masters.
through those portals.
Stronghold. A stronghold dungeon provides a secure DUNGEON FACTIONS
base of operations for villains and monsters. It is A dungeon is sometimes dominated by a single group
ually ruled by a powerful individual, such as a wizard, of intelligent humanoids, whether a tribe of orcs
·:ampire, or dragon, and it is larger and more complex that have taken over a cavern complex or a gang of
ilian a simple lair. trolls inhabiting an aboveground ruin. Other times,
Temple or Shrine. This dungeon is consecrated to particularly in larger dungeons, multiple groups of
a deity or other planar entity. The entity's worshipers creatures share space and compete for resources.
control the dungeon and conduct their rites there. For example, orcs that dwell in the mines of a ruined
Tomb. Tombs are magnets for treasure hunters, as dwarf citadel might skirmish constantly against the
well as monsters that hunger for the bones of the dead. hobgoblins that hold the citadel's upper tiers. Mind
Treasure Vault. Built to protect powerful magic items !layers that have established a colony in the lowest
and great material wealth, treasure vault dungeons are levels of the mines could manipulate and dominate key
: eavily guarded by monsters and traps. hobgoblins in an attempt to wipe out the orcs. And all
the while, a hidden cell of drow scouts watches and
HISTORY plots to slay the mind !layers, then enslave whatever
n most cases, the original architects of a dungeon are creatures are left.
ong gone, and the question of what happened to them It's easy to think of a dungeon as a collection of
can help shape the dungeon's current state. encounters, with the adventurers kicking down door

CHAPTER 5 I ADVENTURE ENVTRONMENTS
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