Definitions for Words Describing Dungeons

[Dartanian]

This is where I am going to be posting my definitions and I have to refine them with discussion by all of you.  Tonight I am laying a few threads out and then I am off to bed for the night. That way you can get an inkling of what I plan with this project.

[Dartanian]

First, lets take a look at what the 3 Little Brown Books say about dungeons/the underworld.


Men & Magic under PREPARATION FOR THE CAMPAIGN:

The referee bears the entire burden here, but if care and thought are used, the reward will more than repay him. First, the referee must draw out a minimum of  half a dozen maps of the levels of his “underworld,” people them with monsters of various horrid aspect, distribute treasures accordingly, and note the location of the  latter two on keys, each corresponding to the appropriate level. This operation will be more fully described in the third book of these rules. When this task is completed the participants can then be allowed to make their first descent into the dungeons beneath the “huge ruined pile, a vast castle built by generations of mad wizards and insane geniuses.”

The Underworld & Wilderness Adventure - THE UNDERWORLD

Before it is possible to conduct a campaign of adventures in the mazey dungeons, it is necessary for the referee to sit down with pencil in hand and draw these labyrinths on graph paper. Unquestionably this will require a great deal of time and effort and imagination. The dungeons should look something like the example given below, with numerous levels which sprawl in all directions, not necessarily stacked neatly above each other in a straight line.

In beginning a dungeon it is advisable to construct at least three levels at once, noting where stairs, trap doors (and chimneys) and slanting passages come out on lower levels, as well as the mouths of chutes and teleportation terminals. In doing the lowest level of such a set it is also necessary to leave space for the various methods of egress to still lower levels. A good dungeon will have no less than a dozen levels down, with offshoot levels in addition, and new levels under construction so that players will never grow tired of it. There is no real limit to the number of levels, nor is there any restriction on their size (other than the size of graph paper available). “Greyhawk Castle,” for example, has over a dozen levels in succession downwards, more than that number branching from these, and not less than two new levels under construction at any given time. These levels contain such things as a museum from another age, an underground lake, a series of caverns filled with giant fungi, a bowling alley for 20’ high Giants, an arena of evil, crypts, and so on.

In laying out your dungeons keep in mind that downward (and upward) mobility is desirable, for players will not find a game enjoyable which confines them too much. On the other hand unusual areas and rich treasures should be relatively difficult to locate, and access must be limited. The layout of a level will affect the route most often followed by players. Observation of the most frequently used passages and explored rooms will guide the referee in preparation of successive levels, which, of course, should be progressively more dangerous and difficult.

[Mighty Darci]

I can't wait to see what you do with this!

[Dartanian]

Definitions - these are necessarily Arbitrary by nature and I will entertain amendments to them if you make a clear case for the changes. These are just to make discussion simpler by having a common nomenclature. Please add to the list and I will amend this post as we go.


Mini Dungeons - any dungeon regardless of the number of levels having  500 or less rooms or spaces total.

Medium Dungeons - any dungeon regardless of the number of levels having 501 up to 4000 rooms or spaces total.

Large Dungeons - any dungeon regardless of the number of levels having 4001 up to 10,000 rooms or spaces total.

Mega-Dungeons - any dungeon regardless of the number of levels having 10,001 or more rooms or spaces total.

[Dartanian]

Underworld - This refers to the dungeons and any directly associated naturals caves or caverns that are incorporated.

Underdark - This refers to the extensive (an understatement) caves, caverns, tunnels, underground cities and other extended areas that riddles the upper 2-3 miles of continental crust and they extend beneath the oceans connecting the entire subterranean world together.

[Dartanian]

Wormholes - These are the ever present tunnels throughout the world drilled by the ubiquitous Purple Worm. These tunnels range from 10 feet to 30 feet in diameter and range from very twisty to running almost straight for thousands of miles. It has been observed that near large bodies of water, these tunnels never breach a separating boundary between the tunnel and the body of water. These tunnels intersect natural caves and caverns and have been known to penetrate completely through a dungeon.

[hengest]

This is intense! Mini has up to 500 rooms! That's kind of awesome, if daunting...