Node-Based Megadungeon: Drilling Deeper

I thought I’d expand somewhat on the Node-Based Megadungeon Design I started yesterday.  I’d said the same processes and techniques are usable at multiple levels and that the nodes shown on the previous diagram can be expanded in a similar manner.

Time for me to show that.

I will point out that the initial megadungeon design (node graph) was just that. As I flesh out the individual nodes I have found that there are places the edges (links between nodes) should be changed.  I most add new ones, but there may be some others removed.

In each of the following pages I will present another graph for the specific node.  Each new node identifies an area of interest in the map, and

… vocabulary could be a challenge, since I’ve got ‘node’ as a legitimate term at multiple layers in this exercise.  This is what happens when things go fractal, I suppose.

Anyway, each node in the maps expanding the high-level nodes identifies a region of interest.  ‘White nodes’ are specific to the region, the shaded nodes actually indicate the nodes in the megadungeon graph.

I hope that makes sense.

  • Abandoned Tower: Abandoned, broken-down wizard’s tower.
  • Wolf Den: A large wolf pack bent on mayhem and domination of weaker creatures.
  • Goblin Warren: Desperate goblin clan looking for a way to escape their erstwhile ‘allies’.
  • Clockwork Hell: Mechanical madhouse, with lots of inexplicable machinery (and servitor automatons to protect and repair it).  I am suddenly reminded somewhat of Castle Heterodyne from Girl Genius, and of the ‘advanced civilization’ areas of recent Zelda games.
  • Dwarven Safehold: Military base staffed by professional soldiers.  Not a lot of amenities, but dwarves don’t need them.
  • Fungoid Cavern
  • Aristothanes’ Sanctum [Mad Wizard’s Sanctum]: Sanctum of an eccentric wizard who wants to know “how everything works”, and is prepared to disassemble anything needed to figure this out.
  • Pit of the Misshapen
  • Aboleth Conclave Outpost: A sink of depravity and treachery, where those in power oppress their subordinates while appearing to work together until active betrayal becomes a viable path to power.
  • Fane of Baalshamoth [Dark God’s Altar]: Alien source of knowledge, though the price is often misunderstood.
  • Shalthazard the Pale
Megadungeon: Drilling Deeper
Megadungeon: Drilling Deeper

 

2 Comments

  1. Pingback: Node-Based Megadungeon Status Check | Keith Davies — In My Campaign - Keith's thoughts on RPG design and play.

  2. Pingback: Path Extensions: Transitions in Node-Based Design | Keith Davies — In My Campaign - Keith's thoughts on RPG design and play.

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