Think about the cave complex a bit, where did it come from, how big is it, why are the Kobolds there, how does that "boiler room" work?
Do some online research on what you'd find in large limestone caves.
If it's a cave complex that's part of a hot spring network ( for that "boiler room" ) or other water feature, then you can have a deep chasm carved by the underground river. Perhaps part of tunnel network that the Kobolds have built opens up on this large underground chasm, and uses hanging balcony/walkways over the "cliff face". Perhaps there are treacherous caves with periodic steam vents in them.
Are the Kobolds mining anything? If so what are they mining, why, and what do they do with it? Are there any hazards in the mine?
How about a large moist warm cave where they're growing various fungi for food, and other purposes? Are there any other fungi or creatures which leave Kobolds alone ( why do they leave the Kobolds alone, again? ), but would be a hazard for non-Kobolds?
Also - what other creatures would be living in the cave complex with them peaceably? Have they domesticated and/or are raising any subterranean creatures for food, or as beasts of burden ( possibly to haul loads in that mine )? Are there other creatures in the underground cave complex which just leave them alone, and the Kobolds don't bother them?
Have the Kobolds caged some fearsome cave dwelling creature, and are keeping it fed, as a defensive weapon ( turn it loose on invaders )?
Is there a deep shaft where the Kolbolds are throwing all their refuse? What creatures might be living there, and off of that?
Are there any parts of the complex which are extending really deep into the Earth, and the Kobolds just don't go there for fear of what's down there ( and have built some subterranean fortifications to block off part of the cave complex )?
Do the Kobolds have any place of worship for a Kobolod deity, like Kurtulmak? Is it a little shrine, or have they hollowed out a respectable underground temple? Does that mean they have a priest or shaman?
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Volo's guide to monsters has a pretty legit breakdown of kobold lairs. Treasure room, mushroom farms, root cellars, craft areas (with kilns), and plenty of mines and escape tunnels. I highly suggest checking it out.
Think about the cave complex a bit, where did it come from, how big is it, why are the Kobolds there, how does that "boiler room" work?
Do some online research on what you'd find in large limestone caves.
If it's a cave complex that's part of a hot spring network ( for that "boiler room" ) or other water feature, then you can have a deep chasm carved by the underground river. Perhaps part of tunnel network that the Kobolds have built opens up on this large underground chasm, and uses hanging balcony/walkways over the "cliff face". Perhaps there are treacherous caves with periodic steam vents in them.
Are the Kobolds mining anything? If so what are they mining, why, and what do they do with it? Are there any hazards in the mine?
How about a large moist warm cave where they're growing various fungi for food, and other purposes? Are there any other fungi or creatures which leave Kobolds alone ( why do they leave the Kobolds alone, again? ), but would be a hazard for non-Kobolds?
Also - what other creatures would be living in the cave complex with them peaceably? Have they domesticated and/or are raising any subterranean creatures for food, or as beasts of burden ( possibly to haul loads in that mine )? Are there other creatures in the underground cave complex which just leave them alone, and the Kobolds don't bother them?
Have the Kobolds caged some fearsome cave dwelling creature, and are keeping it fed, as a defensive weapon ( turn it loose on invaders )?
Is there a deep shaft where the Kolbolds are throwing all their refuse? What creatures might be living there, and off of that?
Are there any parts of the complex which are extending really deep into the Earth, and the Kobolds just don't go there for fear of what's down there ( and have built some subterranean fortifications to block off part of the cave complex )?
Do the Kobolds have any place of worship for a Kobolod deity, like Kurtulmak? Is it a little shrine, or have they hollowed out a respectable underground temple? Does that mean they have a priest or shaman?
Hope that sparks some ideas :)
Really like some of these ideas. For the boiler room I had figured some form of machinery to use natural heat from the planets core, but springs might actually make a lot more sense... I will definitely look into that.
Steam vents could also be useful as an extra hazard in a room
The idea of other cave-dwelling animals had come to me, but I'm a bit sparse on ideas for different cave dwellers that would be unique relative to other dungeons, any ideas?
Volo's guide to monsters has a pretty legit breakdown of kobold lairs. Treasure room, mushroom farms, root cellars, craft areas (with kilns), and plenty of mines and escape tunnels. I highly suggest checking it out.
Can't get that in time for the next session, but should be able to for sessions after that. I'll look into it.
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Remember to give the kobolds at least a few opportunities to fight in big open areas. Pack Tactics are one of the features that make kobolds really shine. It would be a shame for them to always engage the party in places where they couldn't mass up on the attack. Also, since they are sensitive to sunlight, it would be cool to have a few areas where the cave ceiling is open to the daylight and the kobolds would naturally want to move around those areas and only go through them at great peril.
Remember to give the kobolds at least a few opportunities to fight in big open areas. Pack Tactics are one of the features that make kobolds really shine. It would be a shame for them to always engage the party in places where they couldn't mass up on the attack. Also, since they are sensitive to sunlight, it would be cool to have a few areas where the cave ceiling is open to the daylight and the kobolds would naturally want to move around those areas and only go through them at great peril.
I had a couple ideas for the kobolds, once knowing of the party being in the area, burrowing through walls or the ceiling to surround the party. Either that, or party members being isolated via traps or something and then surrounded.
Hadn't considered using light too much though. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the idea.
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Party is about to enter into Kobold territory, wondering what kind of different rooms and unique encounters I could throw at them.
Currently have a Nest room, boiler room (to heat the nest and other areas), barracks, some store rooms, and a nursery (along with a number of traps).
Think about the cave complex a bit, where did it come from, how big is it, why are the Kobolds there, how does that "boiler room" work?
Do some online research on what you'd find in large limestone caves.
If it's a cave complex that's part of a hot spring network ( for that "boiler room" ) or other water feature, then you can have a deep chasm carved by the underground river. Perhaps part of tunnel network that the Kobolds have built opens up on this large underground chasm, and uses hanging balcony/walkways over the "cliff face". Perhaps there are treacherous caves with periodic steam vents in them.
Are the Kobolds mining anything? If so what are they mining, why, and what do they do with it? Are there any hazards in the mine?
How about a large moist warm cave where they're growing various fungi for food, and other purposes? Are there any other fungi or creatures which leave Kobolds alone ( why do they leave the Kobolds alone, again? ), but would be a hazard for non-Kobolds?
Also - what other creatures would be living in the cave complex with them peaceably? Have they domesticated and/or are raising any subterranean creatures for food, or as beasts of burden ( possibly to haul loads in that mine )? Are there other creatures in the underground cave complex which just leave them alone, and the Kobolds don't bother them?
Have the Kobolds caged some fearsome cave dwelling creature, and are keeping it fed, as a defensive weapon ( turn it loose on invaders )?
Is there a deep shaft where the Kolbolds are throwing all their refuse? What creatures might be living there, and off of that?
Are there any parts of the complex which are extending really deep into the Earth, and the Kobolds just don't go there for fear of what's down there ( and have built some subterranean fortifications to block off part of the cave complex )?
Do the Kobolds have any place of worship for a Kobolod deity, like Kurtulmak? Is it a little shrine, or have they hollowed out a respectable underground temple? Does that mean they have a priest or shaman?
Hope that sparks some ideas :)
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Volo's guide to monsters has a pretty legit breakdown of kobold lairs. Treasure room, mushroom farms, root cellars, craft areas (with kilns), and plenty of mines and escape tunnels. I highly suggest checking it out.
#OpenDnD. #DnDBegone
Kitchen?
Really like some of these ideas. For the boiler room I had figured some form of machinery to use natural heat from the planets core, but springs might actually make a lot more sense... I will definitely look into that.
Steam vents could also be useful as an extra hazard in a room
The idea of other cave-dwelling animals had come to me, but I'm a bit sparse on ideas for different cave dwellers that would be unique relative to other dungeons, any ideas?
Can't get that in time for the next session, but should be able to for sessions after that. I'll look into it.
Thanks!
I"m not sure unique relative to other dungeons is really relevant; you'd kind of looking for creatures that you'd naturally find in a cave anyway.
Various forms of fungus, oozes, slime, jellies - these seem they'd naturally occur in underground caves.
Shrieker mushrooms - which the Kobold guards have a means of pacifying as they walk by - would be a natural alarm system
Carrion crawlers or even a Otyugh could be living in the shaft which the Kobolds dump their garbage and sewage down.
Violet Fungus, Flail Snails, Gas Spores, Giant rats - these could all be present.
Maybe they employ giant lizards as pack animals in the mines?
I like the suggestion also of including crafting or manufacturing areas - perhaps they're mining for metal and smelting it on site
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Remember to give the kobolds at least a few opportunities to fight in big open areas. Pack Tactics are one of the features that make kobolds really shine. It would be a shame for them to always engage the party in places where they couldn't mass up on the attack. Also, since they are sensitive to sunlight, it would be cool to have a few areas where the cave ceiling is open to the daylight and the kobolds would naturally want to move around those areas and only go through them at great peril.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
I had a couple ideas for the kobolds, once knowing of the party being in the area, burrowing through walls or the ceiling to surround the party. Either that, or party members being isolated via traps or something and then surrounded.
Hadn't considered using light too much though. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the idea.